I've decided to share 1/2 of our kitchen with you this week. This is our dining space. Our only dining space. The kitchen and dining room are one long narrow open room. The picture below is what it looked like when the house was on the market.
Love that ceiling fan? We were blessed to find several similar ones in the house. I will do a happy dance the day the last one is removed.
This is how it looks right now. The pics are a little dark but I got tired of waiting for a sunny, picture taking day. There is still plenty to do on this side of the room but it is in much better shape than the kitchen side. You will have to take my word for it until I unveil it next week.
So far we've painted trim and walls, removed some of the brass strips from the fireplace, beefed up the trim and painted out the fireplace and replaced the light fixture. Long term we will do built in shelves on either side of the fireplace (hopefully with windows above to let in more light, rip out 2 layers of sub-floor, install new flooring, rip out the ceiling, raise it and install wood paneled or smooth ceiling, gut that fireplace and start from scratch and replace the french doors.
Short term I still need to paint the remaining brass fireplace pieces with high temp black paint, paint the dining table and find a furniture arrangement that works for us. This room houses our only fireplace and I hope to find a way to make it a sitting area as well as a dining area. I'm thinking a comfy settee facing the fireplace with the table turned the other way and a bench on the opposite side with a chair on each end. I'll need to just remove the long, narrow white buffet side table if we go that route.
I'd love to hear any suggestions you guys have about arranging this room. I also need to decide what color to paint the kitchen table although I would dearly love to replace it with a wood finish table. Maybe I will make enough money at my upcoming garage sale to fund some new purchases in here.
How NICE to have a fireplace in your dining room! AND the settee sounds perfect!!! Can't wait to see that kitchen!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great Jen ~ I love that color on the walls, please share? What a difference you guys made with what you have already done!
ReplyDeleteI think the room looks great already. What would you be replacing the french doors with?
ReplyDeleteIt is looking great Jen! I love your idea of turning the table and adding a settee!
ReplyDeleteI never noticed the cool legs on your dining table. Since jim is handy you should have him replace the top of the table with some pretty boards maybe even some reclaimed ones and then paint the legs white and distress them a little. Just a cheap short term thought. You're doing an amazing job!
ReplyDeletei love it. it looks so much bigger now. amazing what a difference paint makes. i can't wait to see the kitchen side.
ReplyDeleteYour room looks great! Great idea for turning table and adding sitting area, we have a sitting area in our dinning as our wood stove is in ours to, our favorite room and place to be during the cold months.... Love it your room, but have to ask... how do you get through Indiana summers without ceiling fans? We only turn our air on when it gets in the
ReplyDelete80's..... I know that they are out with new decorating trends, but we use ours all the time.
The room looks great! I love it-it is just so serene looking. I was going to suggest exactly what you suggested yourself! I would turn the table sideways and add bench seating to one side of it. If you had a couple of chairs that had arms on them could you use one on either side of the fireplace and then pull them to the table as needed?
ReplyDeleteWe have kind of a similar situation in our kitchen/great room. I have a side table much like yours. I placed it kind of as a divider between the dining area/kitchen and slid two chairs under it that face the fireplace. That way when we need a couple of extra chairs (and have too many people for the table) someone can sit there and eat. I keep a small vingette on it too. I find that the little kids like to sit there and color or draw also (which I didn't think about that happening-but it is perfect).
You will just have to play with it until it feels comfortable though...and you will know when it is right for you! xo Diana
That's a beautiful dining room set you have! One idea: You could turn the table long-ways. Have a loveseat or couch back up to the table. Have the loveseat or couch face the fireplace. Have the three chairs on the other sides of the table. That would be what I'd do anyway.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
love the new light fixture and your mantle display sounds like you have a great plan for the space. so are you taking out the corner pieces eventually? Love the idea of windows by the fireplace. And love NanaDiana's idea of using the side table as a sofa table to divide the room.A couple of questions: what are you replacing the french doors with?
ReplyDeleteDutch doors? I saw chairs like yours with the back and seat slipcovered recently very cute.
i lOVE your room! What colour is on the wall, will you share please?! This room screams cosy... :)
ReplyDeletejust blog hopping and came across your blog. Love your dining area and the corner hutches.
ReplyDeletebeautiful transformation.
ReplyDeleteI thought your first photo was from a magazine! Well, it's magazine worthy, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous, JJ. Peaceful, calm and homey.....just like you!
Love it...you have made this area look much larger by painting it white...Oh by the way I love the table!
ReplyDeleteWell, I think it is all absolutely beautiful! What a bunch of work you guys have done! The buffet table and mirror are so gorgeous. And I really like the dining table you have- it has a great set of legs. Whatever you choose to do with it, I would suggest pulling attention to those legs.
ReplyDeletewonderful, beautiful job, jen! it looks really great. i love your style.
ReplyDeletequick thought -- wonder if you could alter the table a bit like, sand the top to wood or do some kind of faux zinc table top look? it's a great set. my 2 cents would be work some mojo and use $ elsewhere.
mojo mojo mojo!
xo
elyse
It is beauty full, Jenny June!! What a huge difference! Perfectly you. :)
ReplyDeleteyou could also have two comfy chairs, like wingbacks on the ends of your table, and then turn them to the fire when you want to enjoy it. Maybe keep a few puffs or ottomans in front of the fireplace that you can pull up to your chairs and put your feet up... It is looking lovely! I have always wanted a kitchen with a comfy sitting area too.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so nice!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Finland <3
JEN! when i first opened your blog i thought you were sharing an image from pintrest....wow!! i love it. you table & chairs are so pretty and what you've done with your space is fabulous!
ReplyDeletewe have those gosh awful ceiling fans in most of our upstairs room because of the heat here. but the pendant light you purchased is awesome! i want one!
i'm so not good with design but a settee in front of the fireplace with a bench at the table sounds perfect. plus i know whatever you do will look great!
Love the changes so far, but my suggestions are bit different. Although I agree with the table top being a wood, or the current trend, a zinc top...I feel you need some wood tones to tie in that great mirror on the wall. Also, a "wicker" type rug under your table would warm up the space and tie it in. Also, I love your staging above the corner hutches (love them), but I'm not sure about what is above your mantel. I think you need one large piece there (mirror to make it look bigger, or large picture), and possibly some pieces on the ledge. Also, I feel your light fixture is hung too high. Maybe it's just the photo, but it's so interesting in the room, and there is a standard height for fixtures above tables (google it). Overall, I'm loving it.
ReplyDeleteoops, one more suggestion....since you see the light bulb in your fixture, maybe your could change it out to one of those vintage looking clear ones. Pottery Barn sells them, I believe.
ReplyDeleteJen this is a wonderful transformation! Maybe paint the table/chairs black but add a wood top to the table. Like the idea of the setee and/or wingback chairs at the head of the table. So anxious to see the rest of the kitchen!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks SO much better! Can't wait to see what else you do! My parents old house had a fireplace in the kitchen and there was very little room to do much around it. My mom found this antique windsor rocking chair that was perfect. I'm sure whatever you do will be fantastic, I like the bench idea!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this space...wouldn't change a thing! The pops of black are wonderful! Pinning away!
ReplyDeleteI think that room looks great now and I love the table and the french doors. Are you going to take out the doors altogether or just replace them?
ReplyDeleteok you will have to let me know when you have the garage sale! i'd love to come shop!
ReplyDeleteit looks so lovely jen. it makes me want to redecorate...and then makes me excited about our next move! i love the settee idea...
ReplyDeleteJENNIFER LOUANN SUZANNE!!!! i hafta know what is on that table!! where'd ya git it? is it oil cloth? tell me! email me! please!
ReplyDeleteash
p.s. all is beautiful. really beautiful. i almost wanna curse its so beautiful. bye!
I agree with Bonnie's suggestions for adding a bit more warmth to the room like some type of seagrass/sisal rug. Love your idea of adding the settee and turning the table.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that jumps out at me is your fireplace. Specifically, the brass rails.
ReplyDeleteThey are jarring to the eye compared to the serene grey and white.
Some fireplace or matte black appliance paint would be a quick fix.
And perhaps a substantial antique mirror in a warm wood tone over the mantel instead of the small frames. It could be a way of introducing some warmer tones to the room without losing the calm whites and greys.
You have done a wonderful job on your room.
I think having two cozy chairs by the fireplace would work better with the room. I think dividing the room with a settee would just make it look small and obscure the fireplace. If you really want the settee, I'd look for a round table, maybe one that has a leaf for larger dinners. It would make the space feel larger than the rectangular table turned to accomodate the settee. The colors are beautiful and it looks so much better than the before pics. Oh, beware the high temp paint will rub off on everything...I peeled off brass strips and had to repaint. Looks great, just can't touch it.
ReplyDeleteI think it already looks pretty fantastic so can't imagine that you really have all that extra work to do. Looks so much better than it did when you first purchased it. Have a great day. Tammy
ReplyDeleteI agree ~ with turning the table long-ways. Have a loveseat or couch back up to the table.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine replacing the french doors though ~ I love them.
Love the room. Could you rip the top off of that table and find a good looking pallet to then use as the top and stain and wax that.? Just a thought till you can get what you want.
ReplyDeleteLove it,
tammy
Love your pictures and beautiful furniture. Just one question on your recipe. Is the flour (Allpurpose or self rising? They look really good and would love to try them.
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