Next Project Announced and the Before
Remember a few weeks ago I polled you lovely readers on what you would like our next project to be?
Well, two rooms were neck and neck and ultimately the kitchen makeover won out by just a few votes over the dining nook. Since we are coming off a big bathroom renovation, I don’t think you will be too cross at me if I go for the more fluffy of the two winning options. We are doing our kitchen this year, but I just need a break from the dust battle for a few months. It’s like it never lands and I am constantly vacuuming and sweeping! It baffles the mind!
So, yes, the dining nook is next on the list after we reveal Phase Two of the Bathroom Remodel. We are putting the finishing touches on the shower and it will be ready for its close-up real soon.
As for the dining room plan, I have this situation going on…
I’ve been staring at wallpaper samples for a week now and I feel pretty good about the direction I want to go with things. I’m the type that has to have one selection nailed down to build the rest of the design around it.
When I think of what I want this space to be these words come to mind:
MODERN
TRADITIONAL
CHINOISERIE
It is definitely going to be a mix of styles, which is how we do at Chez Cadwallader. Before we get into the details we need to see what we’re working with first.
Back in the day when we first stepped foot in this house, the dining nook looked like…brace yourself…
There was a lot of golden oak, dark wall colors, and a floor I was not crazy about. To make it not give me anxiety, when we bought this home we painted the walls, installed hardwoods to match the rest of the upstairs, and de-oaked. I found a clearance light fixture for $25 and we installed that to give the room some better light, but I wasn’t head over heels about it.
It’s not 1990’s country anymore, but it has a long way to go. It’s pretty much a blank slate for me to work on which just happens to be my favorite. It’s pretty vanilla, pretty boring, but I didn’t want to work on it until I was able to be all in. It’s such a funny room too. It has become the dumping ground for tools when we are working on other spaces. I painted one wall white for Creating with the Stars last year so I would have a backdrop for my project. It has some crappy furniture that I am excited to do away with. The room pretty much has nothing going on except the floors are nice.
Since this is our only dining space and it is not a proper dining room, but more of an eat-in kitchen nook, I want it to serve as both formal and informal. I want it to be comfortable for everyday use, but have enough style to feel like a wonderful dining space when we want to do it up.
To achieve a more formal feel, I am looking to the walls to give it that proper dining room look. I was really inspired by the homes I toured out East last summer that had smaller dining rooms with details like moldings and traditional murals. Those classic details speak to me. Then, this year, my blogging friend, Gwen The Makerista, installed a fab wall mural in the dining room of her new home. You can see her wall treatment and wallpaper mural here.
The lighting is where it really starts to mix it up for me. Originally, I thought I wanted a bamboo chandelier in a bright pop of color, but I am really loving the idea of a more modern fixture against all the traditional elements. A Sputnik or a brassy gold modern something…
I have wanted a tulip table ever since I was eighteen. This space is small, so it will work well and I actually prefer a round table instead of a rectangular one. It won’t ever fit more than six people. It would be really uncomfortable to squeeze more than that in this tight space. I really wanted to just collect the pieces I love and play around. I think I have a good lead on a teak buffet that is the right scale. I lucked out a few weeks ago and scored a vintage Thomasville set of chairs in great condition. I think I am going to have custom cushions made for them. The rest will be some serious play time and I am really looking forward to just having fun with this one…not that the bathroom wasn’t fun, just very labor intensive!
I am starting to hunt and gather the key pieces and I am so excited to work on this space!
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