Indiana Babies

Laura/Kelley/Beth/Ashley/decorators...

help a girl out!

So I wanted to wait to post anything until we're totally done, but I'm stuck and need some help. 

We're redoing our dining room.  So far we've pained (from dark red to beige), gotten a new table set, a new buffet table (given to us, and new curtains (also given to us).

Here is a before picture.  Here are some in-progress pictures.

I got some plain shelves to layer on the blank wall by the stairs.  (One is about 3' long, the other 2' long.)

I have 2 questions:

(1) What kind of chandelier do you think would look best? 

The black one hanging is from a garage sale, I don't think it looks awful but wouldn't mind replacing it now that I have some spending money.  I was debating between brushed silver, something more rustic, or a lantern-style, or anything else you might suggest.

(2) What should I put above the buffet table? I was thinking a mirror (if you have any other good ideas let me know).  Again I'm not sure what style or how big it should be. 

Karla suggested oval and I wondered about this.  (It's much smaller than the table but I'm not sure that it matters.)

I love this rustic look, but I don't feel like it would go. 

Any other ideas?

Most appreciated!!

p.s. the canvas pic will likely move to the right or someplace.  I haven't moved it yet so it's kind of awkward right now.

 

 

 

 

Re: Laura/Kelley/Beth/Ashley/decorators...

  • Kathy it looks great so far!  Honestly, it looks 10x bigger with the beige paint.  Great job!

    I think the chandelier looks fine, but it looks like it could be lowered closer to the table.  I believe the correct height for a chandelier above a table is between 30 and 36" from the bottom of the fixture.  I think a lantern would coordinate with the furniture well, but you'd have to get a pretty big one for the size of your table.  If you're set on replacing the fixture, I'd probably go with either another black or oil-rubbed bronze fixture. 

    An oval or a rectangle mirror would look great above the buffet.  I do agree about the scale though.  HomeGoods is an excellent place to shop for reasonably priced mirrors.  Measure your space and then go shopping! :) 

     

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  • I like the oval mirror idea and I love this chandilier - option to have 2 different looks.

    Rawlson Chandelier, 4-Arm, Bronze finish

    ::butting out now::

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  • Do you like either of these they are both on Overstock.  I think it depends on which mirror you pick on what type of light more modern or rustic.

     image

    image

     

  • Thanks!  I like both of those Amanda, maybe I should choose the mirror, and then choose a light.  Baby steps are good. :-)

    Good idea to check Home Goods. 

    Stupid question but as far as the mirror, is there a rule of thumb for scale?  Like should the mirror be how wide relative to the table width?

     

  • imageIU_baby:

    Kathy it looks great so far!  Honestly, it looks 10x bigger with the beige paint.  Great job!

    I think the chandelier looks fine, but it looks like it could be lowered closer to the table.  I believe the correct height for a chandelier above a table is between 30 and 36" from the bottom of the fixture.  I think a lantern would coordinate with the furniture well, but you'd have to get a pretty big one for the size of your table.  If you're set on replacing the fixture, I'd probably go with either another black or oil-rubbed bronze fixture. 

    An oval or a rectangle mirror would look great above the buffet.  I do agree about the scale though.  HomeGoods is an excellent place to shop for reasonably priced mirrors.  Measure your space and then go shopping! :) 

     

    I just measured and the bottom of the chandelier is 33" from the top of the table!  It is as low as it can go (I guess we could buy more links?) :)

    I wonder if the chandelier would be improved by different shades?  or if you ended up keeping the chandelier for now (we'll see what I find after I get the mirror) do you like those shades?

    I got the chandelier at a garage sale for $1.  I think it seems smallish to me, but maybe I just overanalyze it since I know it was $1. haha.  I also stole the shades off the brass builder lamp that was installed in our house when we moved in.  So I wasn't sure if they went or not, it's just what we had.

     

  • First of all, I want to comment on how great it looks already! I think the beige was the way to go. Did you paint it yourself? It looks really well done. I love the furniture and the curtains too (esp the buffet). 

    (1) What kind of chandelier do you think would look best? 

    I like that one, but I feel like you need a chandelier with a little more presence - maybe one with a little more spread. I think that one would be good in a kitchen nook, but you could deal with something bigger here. I think a rubbed bronze piece would be great ... and I love the lantern/rustic look. What about this, this or this? I did a search on lightingdirect.com and got a lot of options.

    (2) What should I put above the buffet table? I was thinking a mirror (if you have any other good ideas let me know).  Again I'm not sure what style or how big it should be.

    Mirrors are my favorite item with which to decorate. You can find some awesome statement pieces (with thicker frames), it's easy "art" and it makes the space look bigger and brighter. So, yes, I think a mirror would look great there! It's always great to hang a mirror on the opposite wall from a window because then it'll reflect the most light, but in this case, I think it would make the most sense to hang it above the buffet. I think the one from C&B might be a bit to plain (at lease for my taste, and judging from the PB mirror you posted, maybe for your taste too). Do you have a Home Goods, Pier 1 or Kirklands near you? I've bought great mirrors at those places, along with Target and ZGallerie. Just be on the lookout for a great one and it'll come along. You could even do an arrangement of 2 or more mirrors like a grouping of these (but not those maybe, because they're expensive!). I do like the PB one you posted, but I think the white distressed look isn't for that room. I would pick something framed in a brushed bronze or subtle gold.  Don't be afraid to go big or "interesting". I've taken a chance on decor items that at the time, I thought were outside my comfort zone.... and those items tend to be the pieces that "make" a room and get the most compliments (and the ones that I LOVE the most).

    Michael & Ashley . 9.19.2008 . http://bartoblog.com

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  • imagealoveindy:

    Do you like either of these they are both on Overstock.  I think it depends on which mirror you pick on what type of light more modern or rustic.

     image

    image

     

    I was just about to post this one -- it's along the same lines. I love it. 

    Michael & Ashley . 9.19.2008 . http://bartoblog.com

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  • imagelemen99:

    Stupid question but as far as the mirror, is there a rule of thumb for scale?  Like should the mirror be how wide relative to the table width?

     

    Not a stupid question... I'm not sure of a rule of thumb, but personally, I'm not sure I would go wider than the buffet. However, use as much height of the wall as possible; it'll make the room feel taller. If you see a rectangular mirror that is too wide horizontally for the buffet, turn it vertically. 

    Michael & Ashley . 9.19.2008 . http://bartoblog.com

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  • imageMrs.Ashley:
    imagelemen99:

    Stupid question but as far as the mirror, is there a rule of thumb for scale?  Like should the mirror be how wide relative to the table width?

     

    Not a stupid question... I'm not sure of a rule of thumb, but personally, I'm not sure I would go wider than the buffet. However, use as much height of the wall as possible; it'll make the room feel taller. If you see a rectangular mirror that is too wide horizontally for the buffet, turn it vertically. 

    Is it ideal to have it as wide as possible, but without overhanging the buffet?

  • Since it's such a big wall, I think you want to go with something as wide as possible - and the upper limit maybe roughly as wide as the buffet.
    Michael & Ashley . 9.19.2008 . http://bartoblog.com

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  • It's looking really good, Kathy!

    I think a mirror over the buffet would be good (oval seems like it would be nice, too).

    Now, I'm going to throw this idea out there for a light, but it might not be everyone's taste.  I love this light and we plan on doing it at some point - whether in our current home or our next (I eventually want a gorgeous craftsman style home and I think it'd "fit" there - with the new dining room table we plan on doing in our current home I think it'd be fine, too, but we're playing it by ear).

    https://karapaslaydesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/diy-mason-jar-chandelier.html

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  • It looks great!

    As far as lighting, I'm with Beth.  Something a bit rustic, not so traditional.  I think the canning jar idea is awesome, but the square tables are really large.  I wonder how the scale would look...

    What about two pendants like this one from PB...

    image 

    The had a rectangle version of the jars...you could DIY it in a square.

    image 

  • My thoughts:  Agree that the light fixture needs more presence.

    Agree that the mirror should be almost as wide as buffet but not wider.  

    Agree that it looks awesome so far!  

    I'm currently obsessed with Barrel Shade Chandeliers.  I am also planning to copy this idea with a mirror we have, although with a less ornate frame and monogram.

  • I love the rectangular-shaped mason jar arrangement! ... and the PB one Kelley posted!
    Michael & Ashley . 9.19.2008 . http://bartoblog.com

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  • imageeclaires:

    It's looking really good, Kathy!

    I think a mirror over the buffet would be good (oval seems like it would be nice, too).

    Now, I'm going to throw this idea out there for a light, but it might not be everyone's taste.  I love this light and we plan on doing it at some point - whether in our current home or our next (I eventually want a gorgeous craftsman style home and I think it'd "fit" there - with the new dining room table we plan on doing in our current home I think it'd be fine, too, but we're playing it by ear).

    https://karapaslaydesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/diy-mason-jar-chandelier.html

    I would love this idea in the kitchen dinning area but if you want to be more "formal" I would stick with the chandelier idea.  Just my two cents.... :)

  • Thanks everyone!

    We are VERY casual not formal people at all, so that is part of our vision.  I'm going to have to look at these closely but I really love these ideas! 

    :)

  • I also love drum shades, and we put this one in our dining room:

    image

    I think that would look great in your space, it's a great mix of casual and formal.

  • imagemrsdrmorgan:

    I also love drum shades, and we put this one in our dining room:

    image

    I think that would look great in your space, it's a great mix of casual and formal.

    pretty!

    Out of curiousity, how did you know the beige would look good?  i would have thought to choose white to match woodwork (we have white woodwork too), but I do think the beige looks nice in your room.

     

  • imagemrsdrmorgan:

    I also love drum shades, and we put this one in our dining room:

    image

    I think that would look great in your space, it's a great mix of casual and formal.

    I love this!!!

  • If you want to do a drum shade pendant, you can easily diy using a lampshade! I'm using this and this as a guide and doing a short pendant for our guest room (started today!).
    Michael & Ashley . 9.19.2008 . http://bartoblog.com

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  • I love the transformation so far Kathy!  Looks fabulous! 

    For a light, I do think you need something bigger.  Since your table is square, I would either do a round drum shade or something in a square pattern.  Or get two of the linear type things or some pendants and make a square.  I love the Veranda Linear Chandelier from PB that someone posted (I'd link but it's not working), but think it would look strange with just it over a square table and would do two of them parallel.  That would just be pricey since each one is $329.

    For the mirror, I would do no more than 4" total smaller in width than the buffet.  I don't think I would want the exact same width because it would look too boxy.  And I think oval would be pretty, but I'd prefer a rectangle.  The Hemnes mirror from Ikea is what comes to my mind.  I'd love it in a different color and that Hemnes mirror comes in blue which I think would be gorgeous.  I really like the beige walls and the furniture, but I feel like you don't have a "signature" piece for the room and the mirror would be a great place to do that.  

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