Studio McGee
I absolutely love how the dining room layout and overall vision are shaping up. I’m moving forward with a clear plan to bring this space together, and this post shares inspiration for dining chairs similar to the ones I’ve ordered.
BHG
We rearranged the furniture and lived with the layout for a while before committing, and I’m so glad we did. Pulling the buffet cabinet onto that wall helped define the arrangement and gave the room a warm “breakfast room” feel. With great natural light, the room already invites us to sit and linger at the table.
About the doorway: for now I’m keeping the existing walls but plan to open the room up to the kitchen with a slightly wider, arched opening. I’ll share more kitchen updates and details soon.
Lauren Liess
My seating plan is three chairs around the round table with a longer bench under the window. The table will sit close to the bench so it acts as additional seating; when we add leaves to make the table oval, the bench will accommodate two or three people. Fortunately, I found a suitable bench in the garage, so I won’t need to buy or build one right away. Keeping existing pieces has saved money and simplified the process.
Atlanta Homes
We’ll also keep our current table for now; it still works for our needs and helps us avoid an immediate purchase. Next, we’re getting the living and dining rooms painted to provide a fresh, cohesive backdrop. The existing wall paint is too creamy and the ceiling has a faint blush tone, so after testing samples we decided to paint both walls and ceilings the same crisp Swan White used in our entry. A simple, light backdrop will keep attention on the windows and view.
Residence in Wainscott by Sawyer Berson
Now, back to the chairs.
We still like our metal café chairs, but because this room is a smaller pass-through space they don’t tuck under the table and take up too much room. Since we’ll spend a lot of time in this room beyond just meals, we wanted comfortable seating we could use all day. The metal chairs will be stored for occasional use, and our wicker chairs will be used elsewhere.
I wanted simple, matching chairs with an understated, classic feel—nothing overly trendy. After ruling out wicker and bamboo (we have plenty of those materials in the house), Parsons chairs with tailored linen slipcovers felt like the right fit. They offer a relaxed yet refined look with a hint of modern French country style and will help soften the room.
Restoration Hardware Parsons Chair (not sponsored)
I searched stores and online until I found slipcovers and chair proportions that felt right. Many slipcover styles were either dated or too fussy; I wanted a linen color and quality that felt relaxed but tailored. After considering several options, the Restoration Hardware Hudson Slipcovered Side Chairs in Belgian Linen Sand were the best match for my taste. The slipcover fabric, the chair’s weight and finish, and the comfortable back slope made it the winner for our needs.
I sat in a few top contenders in-store—including Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel—to compare comfort and fit. Both were nice, but RH felt better for this space because of the slipcover quality and the chair’s comfortable dimensions. I also looked at Parsons styles with sloped arms, which I liked visually, but they wouldn’t slide under our table easily so they weren’t practical for this layout.
HGTV Dream Home 2015
There are many Parsons chair options available in a range of fabrics. I tested a few and chose the best mix of comfort, fabric, and clean lines to complement the room.
One more update will help pull the dining room look together: a new light fixture with personality that still feels understated and casual. I’m excited about it and will share photos once it’s installed.
Next steps: get the rooms painted, order blinds, and wait for the new chairs and light fixture. We’re close to having the living and dining rooms feel finished and comfortable, and it won’t be long before the space feels exactly how we imagined.