<\/span><\/h2>\nThis reader needed some help making their dining room feel better and simply, more \u201cfinished\u201d. Here are their exact words and requests:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do I do to make this dining room look finished?\u00a0Rug (8\u00d710)\/Curtains? Artwork!!? Color? Not a fan of a gallery wall, what would you recommend?\u00a0Any advice is welcome. Thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/figure>\nThey didn\u2019t give a budget so I tried to keep it on the more affordable side just in case:) But the exciting news is that with this space a little will go a long way. All the furniture stays, great! But let\u2019s move that china cabinet closer to the desk leaving room for either a real or faux plant or tree in the corner. Then to finish off the window side of the room, I really think curtains would add a much-needed softness to the room, plus add more elegance and warmth. Don\u2019t forget to hang the rod high! Here\u2019s our guide for all things hanging curtains. But to really warm it up with texture, if it\u2019s in the budget, layering in a medium-toned woven Roman shade would look so pretty. Ok, back to the desk\/cabinet wall. Since the reader isn\u2019t a big gallery wall lover (I\u2019ll try not to take that personally! just kidding:)), stacking two larger pieces on top of each other in between the cabinet and desk will add a calm but high-impact art moment this room could use. Then to add a little ambiance and bring in the woven Roman shade, getting a woven design lamp is not only beautiful, it\u2019s practical! Finally, I think a rug is optional and very much up to the reader\u2019s preference. Some love having a dining rug while others really don\u2019t. Given the pattern on the pillow on the desk chair, I thought our Oregon Plaid rug would bring in some great pattern and a little color. Lastly, I think the dining table\u2019s centerpiece could be a little more visually impactful (but still functional). So a slightly modern, large footed bowl would look awesome and finish it all off beautifully. Come see what specific pieces I\u2019m thinking of\u2026<\/p>\nTable Lamp | Art (top) | Art (bottom) | Rug | Linen Curtains | Woven Shade | Curtain Rod | Faux Tree | Footed Bowl Centerpiece<\/p>\n
This is the vision! It\u2019s calming, works with the darker woods, and the sage desk color. Those curtains are the same affordable ones that Caitlin put in her living room (and RAVED about). I personally love a French return rod and I think a black color will balance best with the existing dark tones. The woven shades seem to be super customizable too! The two art pieces come in a ton of sizes, have multiple delivery options (even a digital download), and the colors really pick up on the desk color and have just enough blue to work with the rug. The lamp is so cute and affordable (plus adds a hint of glam with the brass details). The footed bowl is just modern enough to add freshness but doesn\u2019t look too out of place and that tree is a faux option but a real one is equally as wonder\u2026if they can keep it alive:) Onto the next!<\/p>\n
<\/span>Embracing The Quirk\u2026Even If Involves Seashells<\/span><\/h2>\nThis reader has a bathroom that is FULL of personality and charm (some of it love, some of it less so). I\u2019ll let you read their incredibly charming email to get an idea of what the pain points are:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the upcoming Fix-It Friday, perhaps you can help this blah bathroom? It is my 1910s home\u2019s \u201cprimary\u201d bathroom, used by myself and two teenagers. Most of what is in the room is original\u2013the seashell tiles, the subway wall tiles, the mud-set and perpetually grimy-looking floor tile, the clawfoot tub, the stained glass window, and the medicine cabinet with the broken mirror (did I mention one of those teens is in that phase of sudden growth where he is not sure where his body ends and the wall begins? I am getting this fixed lol). I DESPISE the seashell tiles but respect their game and have tried to neutralize them with the dark green wall paint and the pink line art. Not original is the beige ceiling light\/exhaust and the above-medicine-cabinet vanity lighting. We\u2019re pressed a bit for storage in here even though we are not a family that uses a lot of grooming products.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
So, WWJD? My thoughts so far are to swap out the vanity light (I kinda like\u00a0this? Which is leaning into the pink but maybe this old house wants something more classic\/classy? But I\u2019m not sure I am classic\/classy?) and do something not so depressing with the ceiling light\/exhaust. (Since this room has a window I don\u2019t by code have to exhaust to the outside, so a fan could work.) Maybe swap out the outlet covers for something more chic? More clever options for storage or for corralling the things that are just going to always stay out? The gingham shower curtain is a new addition that I like but maybe I should have been bolder? (My taste in patterns runs geometric.) My budget is about $750 if I stagger purchases over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\nThere\u2019s so much to love but if you read the email there are some pain points. Let\u2019s start with the main medicine cabinet and light. If you look at the photo below there\u2019s another wooden medicine cabinet in a darker stain that I think is so pretty and would love her to try to match if possible. That will help bring a little more consistency with the varied wood tones where each tone has a designated feature. Now, I really love the idea of the pink vanity light she linked in her email but I\u2019m really not sure if it will sit above the cabinet in a way that will totally work. I can\u2019t tell where the junction box sits. If it\u2019s high enough where there is space between the top of the cabinet and where the bottom of the light sits lowest then great! Otherwise, I have another idea below. <\/p>\n
Aside from that it seems that a few other cosmetic changes could make a big impact \u2013 A colorful bath mat, black metal outlet covers, hanging the art a little higher, or replacing it with something more graphic are all options. Oh, and I say keep the shower curtain! It\u2019s very cute:)<\/p>\n\nI did really struggle to find a decent storage solution with the photos I was sent. But also, it just might be one of those cool old bathrooms that simply doesn\u2019t have the space or layout for good storage. I have one idea I\u2019ll show you below\u2026<\/p>\nCeiling Light | Black Metal Outlet Covers | Toothbrush Holder | Wall Art | Teak Wood 2 Tier Basket Stand | Bath Mat | Vanity Light<\/p>\n
Ok, here\u2019s the whole thing. Now, I have almost no experience in exhaust ceiling fans\/lights. This beautiful big flush mount I found is likely not going to work. Just didn\u2019t want to suggest an exhaust fan and not have any idea what I was recommending. But for things I can confidently recommend, art! I do really like the pieces that I was sent (sorry, one didn\u2019t make it into this post). But I do feel that the scale of the art in the photo above is too similar to the scale of the seashell border. I think trying a large-scale abstract pattern like in this piece might feel better, visually. I also like the idea of a thin black frame to tie in with the other black elements. But the piece they have works great but should be raised a bit if it stays:) Ok, back to lighting. If you flipped this vanity light so that the bulbs were at the top, it would sit nicely on the medicine cabinet (as the current one does) but it looks cleaner and modern, yet has an MCM \u201cvintage\u201d feel. Measuring is key though before ordering! Just because something looks like it\u2019s going to fit doesn\u2019t mean it will. Then if the vanity light is a matte black, let\u2019s change all of the outlet covers to a metal matte black. Simple, chic, and doesn\u2019t compete with the wall paint. A bath mat is a must and this one looks like it could work great. It\u2019s not too busy but does have some pattern for a little life. And finally, my only storage solution was this 2-shelf teak basket stand to go under the console sink. It won\u2019t solve all of your problems but will hopefully help a little!<\/p>\n
<\/span>Adding That \u201cFinal Layer\u201d To A SWEET Dining Nook<\/span><\/h2>\nThis kitchen\/house was impossible not to include which you\u2019ll see in a second. I truly don\u2019t really think they even need help but I know more than anyone, having someone to bounce ideas off of even if you have a good plan is CRUCIAL to the process. So I am here to *hopefully* be that person for this reader. For this one, we are going to look at the space before we get into what they asked for in their email.<\/p>\nYes, I know, SO DREAMY. <\/p>\n\nAnd it only gets better!<\/p>\n\nTheir living room for reference. Incredible!<\/p>\nThis dining room is SO fun and is the room next to the kitchen. Again, they know what they are doing! But here\u2019s the email:<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is my kitchen breakfast nook. I\u2019ve been stuck on how to handle window\u00a0treatments, lighting, and just\u00a0generally\u00a0making my breakfast nook more layered and cozy. We have a dining room but honestly, this is where everyone tends to congregate, so I want it to feel much more layered, cozy, and fun. We\u2019re not afraid of color or quirk (I very much resonate with\u00a0this version\u00a0of Emily\u2019s dining nook) but I also still want it to generally fit in the vibe of our Spanish revival home. Me, my husband and our five year old live here but we have people over all the time, so I want this to feel like a space that everyone can pile into.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here are the current issues:<\/p>\n
\nBench:\u00a0<\/strong>The bench that our contractor built isn\u2019t deep enough and it\u2019s the wrong height. I\u2019d like to put in a new built-in bench and am wondering if it should wrap around all three walls or just be a lower and deeper version of the current one. However, if it wraps equally on both sides, it could only be 46\u2033 long because it would have to stop before the window on the left. I sketched out the space below.\u00a0<\/li>\nOverhead light:\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019d like to swap out the light fixture for something that hangs and is maybe more of a statement? Like\u00a0this\u00a0is huge but maybe could be a cool statement?\u00a0<\/li>\nWindow treatments:\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019d like to figure out how to bring in some color\/pattern\/softness via upholstery on the window seat and\/or window treatments. I havent been able to add pillows to the bench because the bench isn\u2019t deep enough and the molding of the stained glass window molding cuts into your back. The stained glass window is curved so no idea how\/whether to do a treatment there or just on the other window on the left side.\u00a0<\/li>\nTable\u00a0+ chairs:\u00a0<\/strong>Table is fine but I\u2019d also be fine getting rid of it \u2013 if we did a wrap-around bench would an oval table be better? Chairs definitely need to go \u2013 they\u2019re uncomfortable outcasts from my previous apartment\u2019s outdoor space.\u00a0<\/li>\nMolding color:\u00a0<\/strong>The molding around the stained glass window is white and the molding around the side window is blue. Should I paint them to match one another and if so what color?\u00a0<\/li>\nInspo:\u00a0<\/strong>These\u00a0spaces\u00a0feel very cozy and layered. I think we\u2019d want that vibe but with more of a hit of modern quirk. I also added two pictures below of other rooms in our house to give you a sense of our style.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nI could hear myself (aka real design paralysis) in this email so I wanted to help! To start, if they have the budget absolutely do a wrap-around bunch and have it stop at the same point on both walls (before the window on the side wall). That should leave them with plenty of seating plus the adding dining chairs. But, of course, when they have it designed, map out the number of seats to make sure they are happy with it:) I\u2019ll get into how to make it fun and cozy in a second. For the light, I LOVE the pendant they linked. I am a huge oversized light fixture lover when it\u2019s done intentionally like this. Plus it will absolutely add warmth to the space. I would then skip a window treatment on the stained glass window but if they wanted to put a Roman shade on the other window that would totally work. As for the trim color question, I would either keep them different or have them both be white. Maybe that\u2019s a later decision once they see everything else in there! And finally, if they do a wraparound bench, an oval table would be ideal and maximize all the seats. <\/p>\n\ndesign by\u00a0lea johnson | photos by\u00a0sage e imagery | from: lea\u2019s open concept pass-through dining room design agony \u2013 solved!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen I was thinking about the bench, Lea\u2019s stunning custom bench came to mind. Of course, they have different needs, but the striped back and velvet seat is such a fun but not overwhelming combo! Since they are also worried about the trim digging into their backs, making a low (sturdy) back cushion would easily solve that issue (even if it covers the bottom of the stained glass window trim) and then they could layer fun pillows in front of it! <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what I\u2019m envisioning\u2026<\/p>\nWicker Pendant | Dining Table | Black Dining Chair | Leather Dining Chair | White Centerpiece | Abstract Pillow | Sea Green Pillow | Blue Italian Velvet Pillow | Yellow Velvet Round Pillow<\/p>\n
For the bench seat cushion, I would go for a warmer rust color. That way it warms up the kitchen which is pretty cool-toned and also works nicely with their purple dining room. Then for the pillows, I would keep them pretty solid if they go for something like the striped back cushion. I noticed in the living room they aren\u2019t afraid of fun pillows, so that light rust one is SO playful but also extremely cool. From there they can easily layer in other great colors in multiple fabrics for that inviting, cozy feel. I do think adding one minty-toned one is a good idea to bring in the kitchen cabinet color. And yes, look how great the pendant looks (not sure how to scale that is, ha!). I went with a darker wooden oval table to add visual depth to the nook and to have a different vibe than the dining room. I then chose two different chairs based on the vibe they want! Remember that the backsplash has that bold black-and-white pattern so bringing in a couple of black wooden chairs might balance that all out beautifully. However, if they want to keep it light, I really love that wood and leather chair. Looks comfortable and as Emily has pointed out, young kids have a hard time with dining chairs that have arms. Lastly, can you tell I love a big white footed bowl as a centerpiece?? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
<\/span>An Artist\u2019s Office<\/span><\/h2>\nI was stunned when this incredible artist, Alyssa Zack, whose work I love and admire asked me for design help! But look, we all could use a fresh set of eyes on a space we\u2019ve been looking at for far too long. Here are Alyssa\u2019s design issues:<\/p>\n
\u201cI have this weird pass-through room to the backyard that I use as my office\/studio. It obviously needs to be functional but I would also really like it to be cuter! My budget is around $800 and would ideally like to work with existing bookshelves, desk, and the large utility storage drawers. I do have the wall pops Chris Loves Julia floor tiles that I was thinking of using on the floors. The room is about 9.5 x 10 ft.\u00a0<\/p>\n\nHere are my initial thoughts that will hopefully spark some additional creativity from Alyssa:) First, let\u2019s start with the color palette. I wasn\u2019t sure which Chris Loves Julia floor tiles she has (I guess in the product board below) but whether she covers her current tiles or not, I think this palette will work beautifully. Please take a look at the Instagram photos below:<\/p>\n
Since this is a pass-through room, I think keeping it light and warm could be a good move. A warm blushy sand would be so so pretty and not too overwhelming when she\u2019s trying to create. Now, I also love the idea of playing with a maroon trim of sorts. Putting it a bit below the ceiling makes it feel a little less formal but adds a little something extra to the room. But a completely blush room where she also paints the existing bookcases also sounds pretty awesome. I mean with a fresh coat of paint and a little reorganization, those bookshelves will look brand new. <\/p>\n\nAside from the new paint, adding in a great new rug, replacing the outlet covers, getting a new chair, and putting up even more wall storage (is there ever enough in an office?) she is pretty set! <\/p>\nBrass Outlet Covers | Wall Shelves | Blue Spray Paint | Removeable Floor Tiles | Rug | Office Chair<\/p>\n
Here is the overall vibe. Again, since she\u2019s an artist I consider this board more as a jumping-off point for her to run with. That\u2019s the kind of blush tone I\u2019m envisioning. Soft, not too pink, not too tan. Then aside from maybe a maroon accent, giving new life to her small rolling cart with a cool light blue is another easy opportunity for a pop of color that won\u2019t take over the room. Those floor tiles might be the ones she has and if they are I\u2019m a big fan! But a rug to protect those tiles and add some texture isn\u2019t a bad idea. And while I\u2019m partial I love this rug from our first collection (did you see Alexandra Gater use it in one of her reveals?) I really do think it would look so good in there. Now, she totally might be happy with her current desk chair, this one is a little more elevated:) Oh, and how could I forget about adding that cute shelf above the large utility storage cart (which is awesome)? While she could use some more closed storage to help with less visual chaos, that wall is asking for some shelves. She could fill it with practical things or style it out with pretty things and plants. And now that I\u2019m thinking, I\u2019m wondering if she could add simple wooden doors to her bookcases if she would prefer to have less happening visually in there. Just an idea:) <\/p>\n
Go check out her work if you haven\u2019t already!<\/p>\n
<\/span>Quick Fire Curtains Solution<\/span><\/h2>\nThis one is going to be a quick fire because my heart really went out to this reader and we\u2019re not sure we have a perfect solution (yes, I consulted Arlyn). Here\u2019s the email from the reader:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy design dilemma revolves around curtains and troubling angles. My husband and I moved into our new home about six weeks ago. We\u2019re super lucky that pretty much all of our furniture and decor fit seamlessly. But the curtains situation has me stumped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We have two living areas in our new house with big beautiful, tall windows on our back wall. \u00a0I quickly (read impulsively) bought a curtain rod and curtains to hang up. Unfortunately, I did not notice that the ruling is sloped quite a bit on one side leaving me stumped. Thoughts?\u201d<\/p>\n\nAs you can see, this is VERY tricky. When I asked Arlyn this is what she said, \u201cUmm I think because there are so many all over, lower them all below the transoms to be even across both rooms.\u201d I agree with her even though that may not be the perfect solution since the rod on the angled ceiling side will be slightly covering the half-circle window. I also understand if the reader wants to cover the transom windows. <\/p>\nAnother option, that still doesn\u2019t solve the transom window issue, is to get Roman shades for all of the lowers and not have to deal with any rod covering anything. I think this one could be a group discussion to help this reader! Let\u2019s talk window treatments!<\/p>\n
Well, that\u2019s it for today! Hope this was both fun and helpful (especially to the readers who have rooms in this post:)) Happy Friday and see ya tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Love you, mean it. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n