Homes to Love
HHello! What a week it has been. I’m sorry I was a little absent — I missed you! I didn’t mean to disappear; sometimes life piles up faster than expected. I’m tired, but excited to be back and ready to share.
I recently attended Bloom Bash in Seattle, a creative workshop for entrepreneurs hosted by Michaela Warner and her business partner Ashley Slater. It was an inspiring, beautiful event and I can’t wait to tell you more about it.
Today I want to share ideas for our new dining room — get ready for lots of photos. If you’re new here, I moved into a 1950s house in Seattle a few weeks ago. That means starting fresh: fun, a little overwhelming, and full of possibilities. You can find links to previous posts at the end of this article to catch up.
Between settling in and other projects, I haven’t made as much visible progress on the house as I hoped. I’m giving myself some grace — moving takes time — and now we’re finally shifting into full house mode. I’m so excited and already planning the first steps.
We’ve taken the sensible approach of living in the house for a bit before making major changes. That pause has been helpful: living here has clarified what this space truly needs versus what I imagined when we first toured the house.
This dining room feels partly like a pass-through to the kitchen, with three openings and the path to the kitchen running right by the table. Compared with our last dining room, it feels slightly larger but the layout and the lower ceiling make it different to work with.
The central light fixture is hung off-center on a chain, which doesn’t align well with our table. While it’s a nice fixture, it obstructs sightlines a bit. We’re looking at options that will lighten and open up the room visually.
Most walls are already painted white, which we like. The wall leading to the living room is tan now, and we plan to paint it white for consistency and brightness.
Above is how the dining room looked on move-in day. It’s essentially the same now, minus boxes. Right now we’re using a World Market console table as a coffee station along the back wall.
When we first saw the house we briefly considered opening the kitchen completely to the dining room, but that proved complicated. Removing the wall would require reconfiguring appliances and would be affected by a nearby stairwell, not to mention the added expense. We may slightly widen the doorway to create more breathing room between the rooms, but only by a few inches if we do — I’ll explain the kitchen choices in a separate post.
From the dining room window we can see the little shed in the backyard. I can already picture it spruced up and painted — a perfect backdrop for sunsets and water views.
I appreciate that the room is essentially a blank slate with nice wood floors and abundant natural light. The large window makes it a pleasant room to spend time in, and the view of the water is a huge bonus.
I’ve been thinking about adding built-ins along the dining room wall that faces the kitchen. Built-in bookcases would give the space a library-like feel while adding storage for books, dishes, and accessories. It’s not a finalized plan yet, but the idea feels right: character plus practical storage.
Emily A. Clark
BHG
Blair Harris / Cobble Hill Townhouse
The Makerista
Decorating-wise, I’m still refining the vision. I’m leaning toward a modern cottage look: fresh, warm, and clean without anything fussy. While some inspiration photos show more ornate molding, our approach will favor simple, clean lines and honest details.
I’ll share more about the decorating plan in a future post since there’s a lot to cover.
If you have ideas for doorbell chimes, I’d love to hear your suggestions!
PS. My book release is in less than a week — I can’t believe how fast it’s coming! Tomorrow I’ll share a fun way to showcase your own inspired rooms.