©Moya Mc Allister
Following up on my recent invitation for readers to DECORATE MY DINING ROOM, here’s a wider view of the sad and barren room. Â I got some great feedback in the comments to my first post and I hope you will keep the tough love coming.
First things first, this room needs a rug to both warm it up and anchor the table.  We are all in agreement on that point.  Yesterday I ordered nine samples from Flor and I’m leaning towards creating a custom rug out of the interchangeable squares. Because of the long skinny shape of our table (7′ X 2.5′), a custom rug is the only way to get the right proportions.  Here are two of the samples I ordered.  Do you think I should stick with a neutral or go for a splash of orange?
Flor "Corrugated Rib" in Cinnabar
Flor "Well Suited" in Bone.
The table is staying because it is a rustic workhorse that stands up to our dinner party festivities and to Scott’s stencil cutting. Â The much panned ceiling fan is staying for now too. Â It’s just impossible for me to consider replacing a ceiling fan with a groovy chandelier in the midst of this sweltering New York summer.
I was surprised that only one reader suggested a paint color change. Everyone else seemed to like the light aqua walls. I was also surprised that nary a one of you suggested wallpaper!   Perhaps this is because I was so emphatic about my budget limitations.  Well, I’m inspired now to invest a bit more time and money in the dining room, which is central in our floor plan.  Wallpaper might be just the right company for those lonely vintage ship’s sconces.  Besides, wallpaper is my favorite topic.  So, let’s discuss.
Is wallpaper sheer madness?  Or is it just the pick-me-up that this sad room needs?  Send me some links please to your favorite wallpapers.  Think graphic, irreverent and gorgeous. Perhaps something a bit tamer than this, though I do adore it.
Chloe Sevigny's wallpaper from a House & Garden spread.
Next up in the dining room series:  I’ll post wallpaper samples and also some mood boards(when I have a bit of time) that incorporate all of your great ideas. If you haven’t already done so, subscribe now to my rss feed (on the top right rail) to receive dining room updates.
Big thanks to Steve, Allie, Jackie, Rachel, Melissa, Barnaby, Devon, Doris, Kate, Ati, Kara, Thirty, herlongwayhome, and Samantha for your great comments. Please keep them coming!
Happy decorating (by committee), ADD
22 Comments
Hello – I just found your blog through a guest post on Brooklyn Limestone and I’m really enjoying it!
While it’s hard (without being in your space) to be able to tell if this would work or not, but have you considered doing wallpaper in the room framed by molding? Not only would it add extra detail, but you could size the molding “frames” to fit the size and shape of your room. Then you would get all the fun and impact of a great wallpaper pattern without having it overwhelm the room. And this way you would only need 1-2 rolls – much more budget friendly.
I’m actually currently working on a wallpaper project in my living room right now and am framing it with molding. It’s a 1920s house with lots of original detail work and trim, but the rooms are small and easily overwhelm. I wanted a bold pattern and fell in love with a beautiful wallpaper but didn’t want to overwhelm the space – framing the paper in molding on key walls so far has worked well for me.
There’s a great example online too on Apartment Therapy:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/house-tours/house-tour-summer-and-joshs-pumped-up-traditional-chicago-065851
Why not try a stencil on the walls like the ones you can find here at Sunny’s Goodtime Paints – http://www.sunnyspaints.com
P.S. I LOOOOVE your kitchen!
This way, if you aren’t happy with it a few months (or years) down the line, you don’t have to go through the agony bringing down wallpaper; just repaint!! Sunny does custom stencils too so you could find something perfect to anchor (haha) those ships sconces! Just an idea – I’m in the middle of gut renovating a carriage house in Clintion Hill and am considering these for a bathroom or two…
I’m very anxious to see what you think of Flor. I also have an odd space I’m trying to cover with a rug. I looked into the Flor stuff, but it just seemed too thin. There weren’t clear (aka obvious in my 5 minute search) directions on the website of how the carpet squares go together. Please update as soon as you get them in your hands!
I love, love, love our Flor rug. We did two different colors to make our own. One of the colors is a lighter shade of green and shows dirt and stains but that’s ok! When certain squares get beyond spray rug cleaner help, we pull them up, take them outside, and clean them with woolite and the hose.
When we originally ordered the rug, Flor gave us some extra “dots” (round stickers that you use to connect the squares) but consider ordering more as the adhesive doesn’t hold up to removing and resticking of the squares (the adhesive develops a stronger bond as time goes by). Also, the rug cleaner that Flor sells is fantastic – we don’t regret buying it (it is a bit pricey) when we recently ordered more dots.
I personally love Hicks Hexagon from Cole and Son. But here is a lit of fun wallpaper sites, if you want to explore yourself:
STUFFY BUT GREAT –
http://www.cole-and-son.com/
http://www.degournay.com/
http://www.sandbergtapeter.se
http://www.osborneandlittle.com
http://www.scalamandre.com
http://www.trustworth.com/wallpaper.shtml
http://www.clarencehouse.com/newproduct.htm
http://www.achome.co.uk
FRESH & SPUNKY
http://www.twenty2.net/
http://www.2jane.com/walls-and-windows.aspx
http://www.tapettitalo.fi/ekai.html
http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/circuit
http://www.studioprintworks.com/wallpapers/wallpaper_1.htmlhttp://www.walldecoration.dk/
http://www.timorousbeasties.co.uk
http://www.maxalot.com/xpsf/xpsif_all.shtml
http://www.wookkim.com/
http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com
So great to hear a real-life review. I love the concept of Flor (I’m especially hopeful that it won’t off-gas atrocious chemicals), but have never pulled the trigger for some reason. Thanks Suzanne! Would love to see pics of your house some day.
I think wallpaper could really give the area an added interest.
A medium to larger scale geometric print would look great.
Check these out:
http://www.romo.com/laurito-wallcovering.html?colour=calico
http://www.omexco.be/English/Collections/jazz.html
http://www.villanova.co.uk/collections/lucida-wallcoverings/
Good luck!
I saw your beautiful kitchen remodel and amazing sofa transformation over on AT. Looking through your blog I saw this dinning room question. I think you place is very elegant, timeless and with the natural wood I would shy away from any trendy or bold wallpaper. I think a grasscloth in a hue or bit of color might be nice on the dining room walls and maybe use it somewhere else that would make sense to tie it in some how. I like the suggestion of framing with a small profile of molding, it would make it a bit more formal.
I think one large Persian style rug with jewel colors would look nice, and keep the pathway open a rug would anchor the table and make it more cozy and intimate. I would try to stick with using natural fibers in keeping the richness that is already there. You could try the Ikea asian rug if you have a tight budget.
Other than the walls sconces what other lighting are you planning? Needs one intimate low light somewhere, maybe a lamp on the side table or another small buffet. Or a pretty glass pendent?
Here is the picture of the grasscloth color in a picture I found a while back then I found the source. I will include the source too, maybe you can find something similar.
See who the wall covering grasscloth looks here in Neptune-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44713708@N00/4363251904/in/set-72157622103111178/
See grasscloth, color Neptune it would look great with the dark wood and the rest of your place-
http://www.twenty2.net/wallpaper/pages/grasscloth_page.html
or something rich and luxe like one of these Moroccan rugs-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mymarrakesh/4682111495/in/set-72157604504345411/
I love these lights-
http://supermarkethq.com/product/jug-light
Anyway, you already have a lovely space to work with. Look forward to seeing it completed.
I love the orange rug. The color seems to announce “This is our fun and festive designated dining area!” I would love to see a big contemporary painting on the facing wall, or a panel of chinoiserie, or one of these??? Metallic! Also dig out your old Spring/Summer ‘05 Domino for lots of wallpaper inspiration…
Thanks for the ideas Robin. Everyone, meet Robin. She designed diywithadd.com
Graham & Brown – Utopia Leaves
http://www.grahambrown.com/us/product/43296/Utopia%20Leaves?show=
Robin said it first, but the walls behind the stairwell are crying for modern paintings like this I took at a gallery in Montreal http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?pid=4513601&id=587492950
I know it is not cheap, but now you need to rest a bit with your husband, cook some nice meals in that lovely kitchen and save some money for some paintings on those walls. the sconces are beutiful, but they look like tiny stamps on a giant envelope….
go with neutral FLOR, put splashes on the walls with ART. Go this weekend over at the art galleries in LIC, there are some super talented artists showing their art and I am certain you will find smth that you like and start saving toward it.
http://product.grahambrown.com/assets/tile/329×405/329x/grahambrown/prod/17790-pattern.jpg
Graham & Brown Helsinki (brown & green)
I’d only do that one wall (1st one in the stair well)& put a large scale painting/photo in the middle of the stairwell (between those 2 sconces).
last thought – you run a risk of making your space too much DYI by framing wallpaper or doing patterns on the walls and whatnot. You need your space to be looking as if you had hired a professional to put it together. Up to now it looks all clean, modern and eclectic. Don’t make it look like you hired a amateur to do it up. Original art on the walls
ADD, I think I agree with Ana here…your style is so elegant (yet modern) that some wild wallpaper might just knock it down a notch. We have contemporary art in our old-timey craftsman-style dining room and I really like the juxtaposition. Plus it’s colorful, provides a focus where there isn’t a window, often starts conversations, and steers clear of decorating cliches. Of course it helps the budget when your husband is an artist…hey, wait a minute…
1) Rug: I vote pop of color (but not sure I’d go with Flor–won’t you be moving the rug and table often? It looks as though it stays in that spot close to the stairs when not in use.
2) Artwork (Papering that room looks like a nightmare. Art you can change)
3) DONE!
Is your table a vintage find? I am seeking a narrow table for my own weird dinette (not even a “dining room” but rather a pass through from living room to kitchen).
ps Your kitchen makes me happy.
<a href="http://www.timorousbeasties.com/products/Wallcoverings/superwide/317"
The above wallpaper in silver/grey would be so cool, but not cost efficient. Also, hanging wallpaper seems like a huge hassle. Perhaps a really cool stencil?
So many great suggestions in the comments!
I like the idea of framing some fantastic wallpaper or fabric so you can change it out.
With the rug selection…ugh, I’m in the same boat. I thought about the Flor carpet tiles but realized that the dog likes to run and would probably pull them up. I’m also in the same ceiling fan boat. We so need them!
I love your dining room table. Will you be considering changing out the chairs? Maybe some metal?
Hi Lisa. Yes, I am looking at metal and at some groovy plastic ones. Thanks for the suggestions and stay tuned.
Ana says “You need your space to be looking as if you had hired a professional to put it together” – I think this mentality is the EXACT OPPOSITE of good design/style in a home.
Mix it up, take chances, make mistakes (that you can fix), have fun & last of all; don’t ‘professional’ it up so it turns into something unreal/not you – your home is your comfort – not a showroom.
Looking forward to seeing what else you add to the room!
I just found your site through homepodge.
I love the space, and to be honest, as it is. But I know many may not like the bareness.
I would actually suggest either a neutral Flor product like your second option or go for full on plush and fluffy rug. At the end of the day, you can send a rug out to be washed. So having a big fluffy texgtured one is not as much of an issue. Look at Ikea, they have a great green shag one that I am actually thinking of using in my sons room and I think it would be great in your space. Colourful enough to add oomph but muted enough to not overwhelm.
I would also consider usuaing wall decals instead of a wall paper. If you don’t like them you can easily remove them and you can accent certain areas rather then doing the whole room.
Just my two cents.
Looking forward to keeping an eye on the progress.
Andrea
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