My love for entertaining requires a dining room that can easily change and adapt. That’s why I designed a very neutral dining room. It is the perfect backdrop for any occasion. I have mixed formal elements, like this existing chandelier…

A chandelier over a dining room table
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with non-traditional pieces like this antique dresser that has been passed down at least 4 generations {but I believe 5} in our family. It’s a great piece for occasional storage of linens, place card holders, and games.
 
A room filled with furniture and vase on a table
 
While I eventually plan to include my mother’s {previously grandmother’s} dining room table, for now,  the room hosts my harvest table. The table expands to accommodate additional guests using the chairs from our living room.
 
A frames picture of a bird.
 
Simple artwork in brass frames can be changed with each season or event that I host.
 
A frames picture of a bird.
 
The brass bar cart is another adaptable element in the room. It is mobile and works well as a beverage or dessert bar.
 
A gold Bar Cart
 
Brass curtain rods keep the room traditional along with sheer belgian linen curtains that puddle for a more formal flair, but allows natural light. Also included in the room is my Great Grandmother’s piano, which often doubles as a serving buffet.
 
A dining room with gray chairs
 
Click here for a full home tour.
 
See why this room works - simple tips to make a space great!

This image is one of my most pinned images & last night, I took a step back to contemplate why. Honestly, I’m not a mind reader & I’m not sure exactly why it has been pinned time & time again, but I’m going to speculate.

It’s light, bright & calming. I originally posted this photograph of my dining room in a post about the neutral paint palette we used throughout our previous home.  Obviously bold & beautiful always works as well!

It’s not perfect. I never completed the room & only added makeshift art. Something most can relate to.

It’s a blend of old & new. The chandelier was original to the home, the bar cart & harvest table were Craigslist finds I revitalized. The piano was my Grandmother’s, the dresser {not shown} a Great, Great Grandmother’s & only the chairs were new. Even some of the accessories were family heirlooms. The lesson? There’s something beautiful in the history of a piece.

I used mixed metals. Brass, pewter, tarnished silver – combining them adds a little depth.

It’s layered. The chairs have pillows & throws to make the room a little more cozy. I added a burlap table runner for texture.

It gives you a glimpse into another space. You catch just a glimpse the stairwell.

It’s relatable. Do you have a space that’s incomplete or that you’d like to take further? A room with furniture that you never really intended to live in the space? This room is everyday life. That’s why it’s beautiful. It’s a reflection of us, our history & how we like to celebrate with friends.

Great lighting is always a must. It’s one place I’m willing to invest in a home. This was a rare instance where I didn’t have to.

I decided to dissect our dining room because I realized there’s perfection in imperfection. That’s something I desperately need to remember as we remodel & decorate our new home. Embrace how far you’ve come & tweak it along the way. It makes a room more interesting & often, more beautiful.

Tips to designing a space that works

Want to know more about this room? Here are a few posts you may enjoy:

how to hang platters

how to create a gallery wall

stairwell makeover – removing the carpet to reveal treads & risers

What do you think? What are your favorite elements of a space?

Julie

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