Christmas Dining Room Inspiration and Thanks

Hi all.  Is this the craziest time of year, or what?

With Christmas getting closer, you might be looking for some inspiration for your dining room and your table.  Again this year, Scot Meacham Wood of his Adventures of Tartanscot blog, is holding a Christmas decorating contest, and the dining rooms are quite lovely.

Click here to be transported to some really pretty images.  And then, scroll through the previous post to see stunning entryways and Christmas trees.  And my thanks to Scot for including my dining room in his contest.

While we continue struggling to lift our heavy hearts,  I encourage you to join me in indulging in the spirit and the inspiration of the season.  I'm choosing to believe that 26 angels are enjoying their most joyous Christmas ever, and I'm sure they want you to feel the peace of the season, as they are experiencing now.  And, continue to pray for their families, won't you?

Carol

A Dinning Room To Study

While blogging around tonight, I came across a new-to-me blog, Thistlewood Farms.  I nearly died when I took Karrie Anne's house tour, because she had among her images her stop-me-on-my-laptop tracks... dinning room...

Thistlewood Farms

Oh my good glory, this is one of the most beautiful dining rooms I've come across.  Why, you ask?  What moves me?  Everything about it.  Let's start with the bones of the room and then move right into those fantastic, one of a kind window treatments -- the texture, the simplicity, the unexpected smocking of a rough looking fabric.  And houndstooth on the chairs?  Please, I can't take the gorgeousness.  Add in simple-line host chairs in an unassuming, linen looking fabric with the texture of the ornate gold frame in the background.  Oh, and the pretty, pretty, pretty chandelier.  In my decorator's mind, this room is a brilliant example of perfectly mixed textures and pieces that give it a look that is all its own.  No copy-cat look here.  One hundred percent authentic. True.  Love.

I have nothing left to say.
Sigh.

Carol

Before and After: My Dining Room

I finally finished (well, almost), my dining room, so I'm sharing the before and after.  Here's the view from the living room, and then I'll show you the before...

At Christmas, the brown Jacobean print wallpaper was up, and it just had to go.  Don't ever do something you don't love!  This paper lasted exactly two years.  I would have taken it down the day after I put it up, but I couldn't.  I thought maybe it would grow on me.  It didn't.

Here's how it looks today.  No more oriental rug (yeah!),  no valances, no darkness :)  The mirror is from the before shot.  I painted it and plan to age it, as it's way too white and matchy.  It's there until I find the mirror I'm looking for.

Here's the rest.  I used my sugar and creamer from this post...

 I brought a chair in from the living room because I think it works better in this space...

 Or do you think it is better without it? (Uh oh.  need to paint that outlet cover!)

The Majolica plates that I bought here have made the wall.  I love the unexpected whimsy of them and their worn imperfections...

The two signed prints on the right are of my husband's quaint hometown in Connecticut.  I love the personal meaning they bring to the room.

My plan is to someday exchange the predictable hutch that was purchased about 12 years ago, and replace it with something French, old, and perhaps painted.  I will also change out the host chairs to fabric when I find the perfect ones.  Time and patience.  I will find them.

So that wraps up my weekend!  Nothing like a deadline (hosting a wedding shower in two weeks) to get things done.  These days, that's what it takes for me!

Talk to you soon,
Carol

Ben Moore Beach Glass in A Dining Room

I posted here about my client Barbara and the color palette I suggested for her beach house, including Beach Glass for the dining room.  After a weekend spent painting, Barbara sent me the "after" shot, thrilled with the results...

Before, Ben Moore Linen White...

After, Ben Moore Beach Glass...

Bravo on the painting job, husband of Barbara!!  It's amazing how color alone can transform a space.  When the linen drapes are hung, this room will beckon Barbara's guests.

As for my own dining room, I wallpapered all last weekend, on my own.  Have you done that?  It's exhausting, but totally worth the effort.  Once the drapes are back up, I'll share my progress.

Talk to you soon,
Carol

PS  Check out Carla's before and after client's remodel on Design in The Woods.  I just saw it, and it's gorgeous...