Blending the Old With the New

I know many of you have this same dilemma that my clients had. You are stuck with hand-me-downs that you can't afford to or bring yourself to get rid of. Here I will give you some ways to give that old set some new life!

First find an inspiration fabric or something to start you off and build from there. We found this traditional print done in a fresh new way at Calico Home and used that as our starting point. We pulled in the wall color from the fabric which is BM Whitall Brown, then added the off white bead board wainscoting to keep it from feeling too dark. We made the drapes out of the fabric and to keep the cost lower we added an inexpensive brown to the bottom. We only needed 2 1/2 yards of the printed fabric per panel.You can do this trick with store bought panels, as well.

Grandma's Dining set is given new life!

If you have older chairs, we just slip covered these and added two new transitional chairs to the head of the table.  Now the set feels more up-to-date! The rug really adds that hit of contemporary to the room. We found this gorgeous dhurrie rug at William Sonoma Home on sale, it was a little bit of a splurge, but the result was worth it! The final touches like new dishes and accessories really pulled the whole update together. Now she and her family can have that sense of history by keeping Grandma's pieces. But at the same time, enjoy a fresh new dining room that reflects them. It's the best of both worlds!

My "real life" take on dining rooms!

They are the most neglected room in the home, but usually the first room you see when you walk in the door. Yes, we want them to look good, but how do we create a room that welcomes guests and can be used on more than just the special occasion? Here's my philosophy on creating a "real life" dining room.

Keep it casual and inviting!

I feel the biggest mistake we make is we create this formal space that is filled with the traditional dining "set". We paint the walls dark reds or brown and think we can only use the fine china. Then we  neglect the room for the other 362 days of the year! That is such a waste! Here's are the elements, as seen in the picture above, that I think make a more inviting space that you will use so much more than 2 or 3 times a year.

1. Keep the colors brighter - I love using blues and greens or versions of those colors against the deeper browns of the wood. You can also use warm soft neutrals, like It keeps the room from feeling heavy, dark, and stuffy!

2. Make the furniture more casual - I like using upholstered chairs, because they create comfort and make you want to hang out and relax at the table. I also think mixing in a different chairs or a bench to keep it casual is a fun idea. Mix in a more casual table. I love round tables, because they promote conversation. Then add in  a buffet for storage and serving. Just remember all the pieces don't have to match! You can even just slip cover an old console table.

A simple slip covered console keeps the room light and casual

3. Keep the decor simple and casual - You are not going to use the room if you have to unset the table and remove a bunch of bulky decorations every time. So a simple center arrangement is all you really need. If you have a long table add 2 candles on either side of the centerpiece. I like using baskets and natural elements to keep the feeling light and casual. Put your centerpiece on a woven tray or try a jute or sisal rug instead of a formal wool rug, plus it's less expensive!

Voila! The room will be ready to use! 

• Use it for a change of scenery on the weeknights and make spaghetti night a little more special!
• Don't have a sitter? Use it as a special date night room on the weekends to give a more elegant and romantic setting for dinner for two.
• We use ours every Sunday as our breakfast room. Bacon just tastes better served in the dining room!

Most of all enjoy gathering together  and spending quality time with friends and family. I mean isn't that what "creating home" is all about!

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