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Design Dilemma Before & After Dining Room

Antiques in dining room - how to add in modern touches

last month

Hi there! I recently moved in my grandparents antique dining table, buffet and side table. The room obviously still needs accent pieces. How would you suggest balancing it out to feel a bit more modern? Any ideas on chairs? Thank you so much!

Featured Answer

Julie Herbert

last month

How lovely to have such beautiful items from your grandparents, you can add a cream chair as suggested, this will tie in with your couch, a large rug will lighten the room, you could look for really modern looking lamps and items for the buffet , add artwork on wall or you could stack them on buffet, even an arch mirror could look great, or add your precious items, even add a tall modern lamp for height.

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Comments (12)

dreamer
last month
Maybe these type of chairs. I feel that you have enough timber colours already, so a light coloured fabric chair with black legs may work. With a large floor rug that takes up 3/4 of the floor space, (the flooring is making the room dark), artwork and a drinks tray or favourite piece on the buffet. Centre the side table. The lighting is also dating the room. What other colours do you have in your home? I can see greys.
dreamer
last month
If your not afraid of colour, this is a wonderful example of different woods and wonderful fabric chairs. With a large rug to lighten the room.
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robandlyn
last month
I would definitely start with a very large light coloured rug to break up all the wood.
siriuskey
last month
Check this out for modern chairs to suit your Ball and Claw table

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/191895634096379878/
siriuskey
last month
Because the room doesn't appear to get much natural light it could be fun to use Replica Ghost Chairs, think about the conversations held around your lovely table
wendyec
last month
I love antique furniture but you do need to consider the whole of the room to avoid it looking old fashioned. I think your wall colour not only makes the room darker but adds to the old feel. Crisp white walls would instantly give it a modern feel. Add a light coloured rug as suggested and chairs that will complement your table without being too modern to work. The chairs Julie has posted would look great, or timber cross back chairs ( provincial living or early settler both sell these) with bone coloured cushions. Add some nice artwork and a few plants, maybe some chunky candles and the lamps to finish it.
wendyec
last month
Just found this photo on houzz
Kate
last month
And change the light fittings. They are wrong for both the table and rest of house
dreamer
last month
And if the columns are not structural, I would look at removing them, to also bring the entire room more casual. If structural, then square them off. They make the room look very formal, when your other furniture does not appear formal. And the antique furniture can be less formal with the correct chairs and brightening of the entire room.
Emily Forgash
Original Author
last month
Thank you all so much!
PRO
Eden House Designs
last month
You have beautiful furniture, I would keep most of your items antique with a modern twist. I would ideally change the wall lights and pendant, add a light colour vintage rug. If you had the budget wall panelling would really elevate it

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