Dining Room - Improvement Suggestions

ntjoyce2010

11 years ago

I do not like the look of my dining room and is unsure how to improve it.

I have chosen sheer curtains as the room can look dark during the day.

Really unsure what to do with the area.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Featured Answer

Leesa Millhouse

11 years ago

I'm not sure on the overall design features in your home but thought that perhaps some plantation shutters could work really well on the window in a white. this would brighten up the space and look great with your new light fitting.

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Comments (25)

Barbara Dunstan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
@ntjoyce2010,
Beautiful room, first and foremost, lovely wall colour.
If it were possible, a floor to ceiling window or better still a sliding door or bifolds but I don't know if that would suit, if there is somewhere to go outside this window.
The window looks wrong for the room, it looks quite wide so maybe a wall of windows and no door but there must be some sort of view for the window to be so large.
PRO
Inside Out Colour and Design
11 years ago
Agree. The window doesn't work with the room especially with the sheer curtains. They seem to accentuate the window not enhance it. Floor to Ceiling full curtains would make the room look taller and grander. I understand you want to bring in natural light so maybe put solid curtains on the wIndow as well. If the dining room is only used at nighttime, then natural light isn't an issue. A pendant light above the table could help in creating something visual to look at too.
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PRO
Wolfe Designs
11 years ago
I agree the sheers aren't helping. Is the room wide enough for you to have the table running the other way, which will be more in keeping with the window being oblong. Drapes full length pulled to each side with tabs will add a bit of luxury and from the ceiling to the floor would be good. The vase would look better with longer larger white display and a large pendant over centre of table to finish off.
ntjoyce2010
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all so much for you recommendations. I greatly appreciate it.

Ok, sheer curtains must but but what colour curtains should I get?

Wendy, unfortunately the table can not be turned so that the length of the table is parallel the window as the table is too long to fit the other way.

Light pendant - I have attached a photo of the pendant I was thinking of getting, what are your thoughts? If you dislike what do you recommend I get?

Thanks all for your help
ntjoyce2010
Original Author
11 years ago
Leesa, great idea. Platinum shutters sounds great. Do you think I could have the shutters and block curtains on both sides look ok? Getting excited.

Thank you all so much for your input.
kayliwild
11 years ago
The ceiling painted the same white as the trim would make the room feel taller. I like the idea of the shutters and the pendant. The sheers aren't working in that space.
safronpixi
11 years ago
Definitely consider plantation shutters...they work wonders!!! Sadly, sheer curtains can be difficult at the best of times......
Terri Turner
11 years ago
Yes we all agree the sheer curtains are a no no sorry. I think the walls are to dark with your furnishings. If you paint the ceiling and walls a soft warm white it and yes the shutters would improve the whole look. depending on your budget, Windows to the floor would make a wow factor. What do they look out to? Garden, pergola or side fence? Maybe take a picture during the day looking out the window and post. This would make a difference on our response. Just a few pics of mine to give an idea about letting the outside in. Good luck
Barbara Dunstan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
@turner3477,
Wow, lovely room and the blinds are stunning!!!
They are blinds aren't they???
Love the pelmets, I intend to have them in my new home to be able to hide simple curtain rods with the curtains on the inside and blinds towards the outside.
Did you try both tables in this room or do you have two table settings??
I'm thinking now that this is your kichen / dining area, all with stunning garden views??
Must be a large area if you do have the two settings.....any more pics??
Cheers,
Barbara
Terri Turner
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Barbara, Yes it is dining/ kitchen and around the cnr Family room & other side the formal useless rm which I love, but really with only 2 of us at home now, we don't use it.. So lucky to hv all windows all around. No I only have the lge wooden setting now. The white I had when I moved in but gave to my daughter. I was showing both angles of windows. The drapes are pulled up by a chain on side. They fold into each other as they open up. I don't have any curtain rods underneath as didn't want to block the view outside. The photos above were taken 2 yrs ago. I can take a photo of the curtains down if u like? I've attached a few more pics for u. The family room and the other room are off the dining. I am a garage sale freek. I go to as many when looking to furnish. All my furniture is all second hand from garage sales or vinnies. I do the up all myself. I am 62 and hv done so since I was 21, as when when we were married couldn't afford new. I love designing my garden also. Amazing what one can do if they try. Good luck with your curtains. Feel free to ask any questions.
Terri Turner
11 years ago
Barbara as your thinking about drapes and pelmets, I'm also showing drapes in Bedroom. They were throughout the house when we moved in. Must say when we bought the house I HATED them. The prev owners were European (Which I am to ) but they had woggy furnishings also. The drapes were going down. Once we moved in and put my furnishings in, I loved them.
Barbara Dunstan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
@turner3477,
Hi Terri,
Wow, wow and wow, what beautiful taste you have.
I don't think I have ever seen such beautiful rooms!!!
I too am from euro heritage although born in Australia but you made me laugh when you said the furnishings were "woggy" ha ha.....I know exactly what they would have looked like.
The bedroom curtains are very over the top even for me but you're dead right that once you dressed the rest of the room with your own taste, you complemented the curtains for sure and it's the most elegant bedroom I've ever seen!!
Almost all the furniture that I have purchased to put into my home when complete eventually, have all come from ebay, second hand.
A tv cabinet hand made from real timber not MDF was $400, a beautiful hardwood coffee table with draws was $99, leather ottomans $100 each and the best buy was a solid redgum table for just over $600 the list goes on.
All tha'ts left to buy is a lounge suite and 2 beds for the spare rooms.
Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to re-furbish like you but you have made the very best of your talent and it's a credit to you!!
As for your comments about gardening, I too designed my garden on paper first and then it slowly came to be, in fact the garden is almost complete except right along the perimeter of the home, as we have only just finished the frame, so there is the brickwork to do after the roof goes on after Christmas hopefully.
Looks a bit funny having a perfect looking lawn and garden and only blue paper on the frame to look at ha-ha
I would love to see pictures of the curtains down and indeed more of your home and garden when you have time and thank you so much for entertaining my questions.
Cheers,
Barbara
Terri Turner
11 years ago
Barbara, Thanks for your compliments. Amazing how different things appeal to diff people. My eldest daughter hates my bedroom. She hates black n white. I would have the hole house the same colour if I could, but I have to think of hubby. I will take more pics for u of the curtains, after new yr. I'm new to Houzz, I just love it. I just stumbled onto it. Not sure how to move around it as yet. I spent till 4am the other morn! Do u have an email address I can send photos of drapes direct to you. As I don't feel right having conversation with u about our houses, When ntjoyce is wanting help. Sorry ntjoyce. - Has any of the above helped u? Have u decided which way to go. Honestly take 1 step at a time and you will achieve what ur looking for. cheers Terri
Barbara Dunstan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Terri,
Save displaying my email for the world to see I can give you my mobile number and you could text me your email if that's ok with you, or I'll put my email up for a few hours, whilst I can still edit, you just have to let me know if possible a suitable time to get it copied.
You feel the same as me about trying to stick to the forum, I have apologised at times to other Houzz readers for going of track but everyone seems to enjoy the diversions anyway.
As for the forum at hand with ntjoyce, many of us have given our advice and I agree that I'd love to know which direction she she has gone.
I believe the window needs replacing to give the room a wow factor, as in fact you too suggested but that's a big task which would no doubt involve tradies from a builder, possibly electrician etc...lots of $$$$$
Cheers,
Barbara
happisue
11 years ago
Like you said, you obviously have a light issue in the room due to the addition of the corner ceiling light and the need for sheers. Maybe paint the ceiling white. Definitely replace sheers with white plantation shutters and add your beautiful chosen pendant lights over the table.

As the table is long maybe you can have the light above the window (and if there is a third one further along) moved in to have them over the table. If the pendant is very large have only one or two and remove the extra light/s altogether.

You could also possibly add two wall sconces to the wall opposite the windows depending on the overall room. If you physically can't electrically fit lights on the walls now consider battery candles in the glass flutes. This would give lovely mood lighting.

Have the white plantation shutters with no additional curtains but have a very large striped rug either the same red as in your photo with creamy beige to blend with lighter wall; or a light blue and white/ creamy beige rug. The light blue stripe would give a relaxed sense to the room. You may need to have these rugs made up.

On the table, change to a larger silver tray and look to improving its content holders to silver and glass, light blue china and one low wide rounded fresh flower vase in silver.

For dinner, remove your tall vase of roses and replace with a couple of large glass fluted candle holders with silver base rims with pillar candles either side of the tray.

Best wishes.
Terri Turner
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Barbara, didn't realise u could edit?
Barbara Dunstan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Terri,
In the right hand corner of your post is a drawing of a pencil and if you click on it even after you've clicked send, you can edit if you find you've made a typo.
It seems possible to do this for at least 4 hours but I'm not super sure what the cutout actually is.
Anyway, I have you mobile so please free to delete it if you like.

Cheers,
Barbara
gissmf
11 years ago
I don't think your dining room is too bad, maybe with the greens and wooden table you could style the table top with more earthy colours using a table runner and a big earthy vase or something. Im not a fan of the sheer drapes on their own, maybe you could keep them but make other drapes to go on the sides for decoration (and just keep the heavier drapes open if you're concerned about the light)
Sharon Dransfield
11 years ago
Lighter colour, light fittings, shutters- as the others have suggested. A long bevilled edge silver tone mirror running parallel to the table at chest height. It will bounce light around the room and make everything appear larger.
leeda7
11 years ago
If it is not practical to make the window larger I would put up the white plantation shutters and have a dresser base in white as wide as the window. It could be quite narrow if space is lacking. I think the light fitting would look good too. Because of the length of the table I'd lose the tall floral arrangement and replace it with TWO low white/pale coloured floral arrangements about 10" or 12" diameter
Iris Chan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Barbara, the colour of your dining table and dining chairs are very similar to mine so I thought I'd share with you how I've decorated my dining area (see pictures below) to give you some ideas. I have used a combination of a) a pair of pillared candles in glass hurricanes with seashell/sand fillers; b) fresh flower arrangement as the centrepiece, with c) a neutral table runner to spruce things up. Sometimes you'll be surprised how simple accent pieces can give things an instant makeover. If you wish to have something more modern and minimalist for the flower arrangement, you can try fresh gerberas in a narrow tinted bottle like the one I did, also works well.

I agree with everyone that shutters would work much better.

I notice you have a corner next to the windows. Perhaps you could consider placing a plant plant (like palm) or a very tall floor vase to add interest.
ntjoyce2010
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi, I was just scanning back on my old post and thought to give you all an update on what I ended up doing. Please find attached picture of the area, pretty much I knocked down the grey wall and moved my dinning area to a difference place of the house. My dining set is a little big for the new area but it will do for now. I am attached to my dining set and do not want to downsize to a smaller table so I have to figure out how to make it work...
LouieT
10 years ago
Wow ntjoyce2010 the transformation is amazing! Where is the dining room in the picture? Looks like you have been very busy & the result is a lovely space with lots more light. Well done!
ntjoyce2010
Original Author
10 years ago
LouieT - My family and friends all think we have really transformed the house as well. All renovations was done by my husband, dad and myself and I am fairly pleased with how it turned out. What we did was got rid of a wall to open out the space, removed the old grey tiles and replaced it with floorboard look tiles, repaint the walls as we had grey and sea blue feature walls. Now I am trying to fine tune my styling before I revamp the beast, the kitchen.

I am trying to finish restyling my console, this large entertainment room and front garden first then I will move on to restyling my dining area. I will sure to post a pic asking for advice.

Thanks so much for your compliment. My family and I have worked hard on revamping the house on the weekends and I am glad it looks fairly great. This weekend we are putting in a skylight in the kitchen as the area is dark without a window