Hey friends! I took a couple of unexpected days off from blogging this past week to focus on getting the house ready and making final decisions for the projects ahead. We’ve made steady progress, and the biggest transformations are coming soon — I can’t wait to share them with you.
I’ll share more about our kitchen plans and the Dutch doors soon (our kitchen demo begins in a few weeks), but today I wanted to show the other side of the dining room for anyone who asked to see more after I posted the shiplap wall. This side has been slower to come together, but bit by bit it’s shaping up.
Here’s a reminder of how this side of the room looked a few weeks ago — a blank slate ready for change.
before
My vision for this area is a cozy, casual breakfast nook rather than a formal dining room. We positioned the table near the window to take advantage of the view and ordered a dining bench to tuck under the window. To keep the space feeling fresh and bright, the walls are painted a soft warm white.
Below I’ll outline what we’ve added so far and what’s coming next.
We recently installed bamboo shades and are very pleased with them. They’re mounted above the window frames, but we left space above in case we decide to add curtains or crown molding later. I’ll post more details about the shades in a future update; they’ve already added warmth and a natural texture to the room.
Our Parson’s chairs have arrived and are comfortable and well tailored. We compared several local options for style, quality and comfort before choosing these. The linen slipcovers soften the look and make the seating feel relaxed and inviting.
To ground the space, we added a seagrass rug. The texture instantly made the room feel cozier and more anchored. While rugs in dining rooms require maintenance, seagrass is sturdy and gives a natural, layered look underfoot.
In the next few weeks our long, upholstered dining bench should arrive. I ordered a Bristol bench with driftwood-toned legs and a linen-and-navy stripe fabric. I requested a sample first because stripe scale can vary between photos and actual fabric. The padded back will help fill the space under the window and complete this side of the room.
The biggest changes will come from adding architectural details. Beyond the new shiplap wall we installed, we plan to enlarge and arch the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. The arch will frame the view into the new kitchen and introduce more shape and softness to the space. The current opening is small, so the arch should make a noticeable difference.
We’ll also have an electrician move the light fixture box so the new wood-beaded pendant can be centered over the table. The fixture has been waiting in a box for a while; it’s large enough to make a statement without overwhelming the room. A photo with my daughter holding the fixture gives a better sense of scale.
We’re debating adding sheer, breezy curtains to the windows. I prefer patterned curtains for softness and visual interest, but heavy fabric felt too heavy for this light, airy corner. Sheer panels would add movement without blocking light.
I found a set of sheer panels with a subtle swirl pattern and managed to track down the last few pieces online. Two panels are in place now, tucked around the shades to visualize how curtains might feel. If we install full curtains, they’ll be on a rod outside the window and the drape will be fuller than what you see here. I’ll decide after the bench is in place; either option could work.
Finally, we plan to refinish the oak floors to a warmer brown tone to reduce the orange cast and help the floors flow more cohesively through the house. We’re working within a budget, so we’ll update key areas to improve the overall continuity of finishes and color throughout this older home.
That’s where things stand now — steady progress and a clear plan for the next steps. I’m excited to see how the architectural changes, the bench and the lighting will complete this cozy breakfast nook.
Have a great Monday!
*UPDATE: See the progress on my home in my Fall 2016 House Tour!
ROOM SOURCES:
Seagrass rug
Leather sofa
Blue and white rug
Gray and white striped pillow
Curtains
Dining bench
Glass sideboard (antiqued taupe)
Wood beaded light
Slipcovered linen chairs
Woven wood shades
Rattan shelf – thrifted
Bird botanical canvas art (out of stock)
Blue and white swirl lamps
Rattan and white round mirror on shiplap wall
And as always, you can find more sources in my shop!