Friday, April 02, 2010

Room By Room

We've lived in our house for just over a year now, and I'm starting to feel more antsy about getting everything more.... decorated. Just for the record, I'm not a big fan of "stuff" and try to limit my decor to functional items, beautiful artwork, a few treasures from traveling, photos and good books. The first room I've set out to conquer is the dining room. It's already gone through a few changes since we moved in and I have the main pieces in place. Here's what I'm starting with:
The table is a mid-century piece I picked up on sale at my cousin's consignment shop. I love it because it has three leaves, allowing it to expand for large meals with lots of guests. The table top is painted a beautiful tiffany blueish teal and the legs are creamy white. The hutch is one I bought off of craigslist and have been meaning to paint (this will happen this summer, promise). The chairs were 4/$10 at DI and I recovered them with red stripey fabric from IKEA before I got the table. They need to be repadded and recaned, so I'll probably recover them once again in the process. The jute rug (Pier 1) was also a find at my cousin's consignment shop. The blinds are an ivory on linen damask pattern. Also, I have blue and white dishes in the hutch.

Now for the mood boards. I can't quite decide on the color palette, so I made two. I'm starting with a very neutral base and plan to use everything I have, but I want to make a few changes to add a spalsh of color and tie it all together.
The teal/blue room would involve painting the hutch a creamy white, while adding teal beadboard to the back (wouldn't that be pretty with the blue and white dishes?). I'd hang white curtain panels at the windows and sliding door and give the table top a fresh coat of paint to match the beadboard. I'd buy and frame "almond branch" by Van Gogh from allposters.com and hang it on the wall next to the hutch. Also, I would recover the chairs in a blue/teal/white stripe or pattern to match.
In the red room, I'd paint the table top red, find a cool piece of artwork to hang, recover the chairs, but probably in a similar fabric to what they are now, hang Chris Madden checkerboard curtains, and paint the hutch a creamy white.

Oh, I also forgot to mention that I'm planning on doing a family history wall on the wall that currently has three photos on it. It will be similar to this:
I think the color schemes are both good options, but can't really decide. Thoughts?

5 comments:

jackie said...

wow what a steal for those chairs! i really love the teal combo. plus i've heard red makes you eat more so maybe that would be dangerous for a table? i'm sure either one will look awesome, can't wait for the "after"! even though i think it looks pretty fab right now

Meg Ruth said...

You know I'm going to say teal since I'm completely obsessed, but I really like your checked curtains from the red board too. I think they would look great in your teal room also.

I love your idea for the teal bead board in the hutch, magnificent!

Heather Richardson said...

Teal for me too, it looks so calming and beautiful! And the family history wall is gorgeous - I'll have you help me with something like that on your next trip down!

Krista said...

TEAL!

Katie said...

Wow, Sarah- what a bargain hunter! Love the teal ensemble, and I'm super impressed that you know how to re-cover chairs. I might have to pick your brain on that one sometime if I can find some awesome cheap chairs like that.

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