I’ve been on a long home decorating journey these past eight years, working towards making our dining room a more bright and inviting space – a place I actually want to eat in, hang out in and just be with our family and friends. I started out, as a newlywed, with a dark wood dining table and set of chairs. While it was a beautiful gift and I treasured it, as time went on I realized I wanted something that would lend itself to being more of a clean canvas – one that I could work on with more ease.
It took some time to get there, though. The speed at which I decorate is very much so a slow and steady pace. I can’t just simply overhaul an entire room in a day. I don’t have the means (or the mental capability) to take on such a task. I have to let a room “bloom” over time – finding a deal on a rug here, an antique from a random shop or flea market there and then realizing I need to paint a piece of furniture or rearrange the entire room and then…I see the room slowly, but surely evolving into a space I treasure and appreciate.
So. On that note, let me tell you a little story about these chairs. My chairs. The chairs I stare at, sigh over and kiss goodnight. Just kidding on that last bit, but gosh. They were meant to be in our dining room. I found them a little over 4 months ago…by chance, mind you. I wasn’t even looking for them, but then there they were. I am so thankful I did, too, because they have MADE the room what it is now. I am so happy with with it all. So much so that I do most of my work at the dining table (I am currently here now, actually). I just want to be in here all of the time.
I guess my whole point in telling you about these chairs is that it was worth the wait AND some times it just takes one thing to finish a space and make it complete. Also, the chair story is really the perfect example of how I decorate. It’s very much so just happenstance that a room actually gets “finished”…and I say “finished”, because I am never really done (more on that another time…).
Anyways, all of this to say that I’ve been wanting to share some simple home decorating posts here on TME – ones that very easily show you how I’d put a room together.
I’m starting out with a simple and bright dining space, much like my own…
Shop The Space
- Calvin Industrial Pendant Light – classic, simple, bright. It could go solo or be doubled up, depending on the length of your table and the size of the room. It’s amazing what a new light can do for a room. We switched out or old chandelier for a simple, clean looking pendant and WOW. Game changer!
- Wooden Candle Holder – wooden bottle candlestick holder, handmade from the Ukraine. I like the modern element it would bring to a tablescape, especially mixed in with other candle holders of differing heights. Etsy is a great place to find unique , modern candle holders.
- Hip Vintage Norwell Candlestick (set of 2) – sleek look, which I love, and they are a antiqued silver finish, which brings just the right amount of faux French country style to the table.
- Faux Fuchsia Tulips (pack of 12) – you can always do fresh, real flowers. I mean, you can’t beat that, BUT I do like to have faux flowers for those times when a certain flower isn’t available…and because they don’t die. I can bring them back out when the season comes back around (provided I store them well). FYI: I do have to dust our faux flowers to keep them looking more *alive* – I just take a napkin and wipe down each petal every so often.
- Moto Silver Polished Metal Pitcher – this is brass with a pewter finish and I love it. It’s incredible. I have this thing with pitchers – they can be so handy and beautiful. There’s nothing prettier than a simple pitcher on your tabletop, filled with flowers or greenery. It instantly makes the room more fresh and inviting.
- Calvin Hi-Gloss White Floating Shelf (24″ & 48″) – along with the dining table in the collage, this style of shelf brings the modern to a room. I like how simple and clean they look, which provides you with a canvas, if you will, to add your own style and treasures to. When I have a free shelf around our home, I do a little dance and work with different ways to style it (usually one that is away from the hands of our two year old wrecking ball).
- Decorative Books, Modern Granite Colorpak – this color combination has me dying. Its such a lovely grouping of soft, pretty hues. They would look so lovely on one of the white floating shelves (either kept in the twine or stacked in different ways). If you aren’t about that $99-for-a-set-of-decorative-books life, check out your local thrift shops, flea markets or even check out Etsy for decorative books.
- Glass Apothecary Cloche Bell Jars (set of 3) – a simple way to add some style to the wall shelves. I like the idea of putting succulents in them…or maybe even a couple of pillar candles in one and plants in the other two. I wish we had the surface space for these, because I want them.
- Hodedah Imports Bucket Studio Chair (white) – these look great around a light wood dining table and add just enough white to brighten up the space even more. Also, these are incredibly easy to clean! PARENTS. You want this type of dining chair if you have messy kids. We had the kid version for our play room table…and I’ve had black marker drawn all over them. I just spray them with cleaner and wipe right off.
- New Pacific Direct Rectangular Dining Table (75W x 35.5D x 30.5H in.) – this table is solid acacia wood, long enough and wide enough to fit 6 chairs…and it’s got that sleek modern farmhouse look to it.
Let me know if you like this style of home posts. I’d love your feedback!
I think I may share our entire dining room, with before and afters.
What say you, lovely readers?
Cheers,
Cams
Find me over on Instagram (@camilledipaola) & say hey! I share more of our life, home, everyday-type outfits & random kid stuff over there, so it’s fun…and messy/crazy.
I love the paint color – what is it?
Behr, Frozen Pond.
Awesome, thank you!
I’d love before and afters! I’d also love your tips on how to do the work while also taking care of littles. I’ve been wanting to repaint a room but I’ve got a 19-month-old underfoot and I just can’t seem to figure out how to start.
Can’t speak for how Camille works her magic, but I painted a room over two weekends by hiring a babysitter for an hour or two each time, and being satisfied with a rushed and imperfect job. It’s been five years since I painted that bathroom, and I don’t even see the spots where I hit the ceiling with my roller, honest. 🙂
Mike specializes in rushed and imperfect. We were big fans of the all-night painting sessions for a while. They were so…..bonding (snort) that whatever the color was, we’d leave it up for, oh, say, 5-10 years. 🙂
Yes! Exactly. We rush and get paint on the ceiling and baseboards. It works, though! I did give up and hire a painter to finally finish our kitchen (after it was 1/3 of the way done for 6 months. eeeee)
Yeh, sooo…we don’t aim for perfection, that’s for sure. Matt and I (or just me) have managed to paint a room during nap (on a weekend) OR one will entertain and watch out for kids while the other paints. That’s how we’ve painted multiple rooms in our home. I hope that helps! It’s not very relaxing haha, but it works. Cheers, Cams
Love it, especially how you’re merging French country and Danish. I’d like to see more pics of your dining room. Is that a buffet behind the table? Pretty storage tips are always appreciated in decor posts.
Is that what I’m doing? haha. No, thank you! I am trying to do a mix, definitely. I appreciate your comment so much! It IS a buffet. I got it online from Target about two years ago. It has been one of my favorite finds. I have been thinking of doing storage and organization posts, so I will definitely keep you in mind. Cheers, Cams
Beautiful! show before and after! yes! what did you use for a pendant light?
I’d love to see more pictures of yours too. And where is your rug from?
Rugs USA, jute rug 🙂
Totally relate to your design process – same over here! Especially as the rooms evolve after we get rid of more and more baby/toddler stuff. Goodbye high chair! Goodbye bottles! Definitely share more before and afters. I appreciate that there’s some good affordable options in here too, and that your process feels so relatable!
Exactly! It is a constant process of change. I have grown to love it, instead of be frustrated by it…as I was as a new mom. 🙂 Cheers, Cams
I’d love to see before and after!
Awesome! Keep an eye out. They’re coming. Cheers, Cams