dining room

My buffet project …

November 2, 2012

Ever since I blogged about this idea I saw on Pure Style Home back in May, I’ve been thinking about trying it out on my own dining room sideboard.

You see, my poor buffet has seen better days …

It is a wonderful piece we purchased at Mig and Tig many years ago, and it has seen a lot of love …

… and unfortunately, one too many bowls or plants that have left their mark.

But we love it … and I have tried to cover the spots by strategically placing things over them …

But … sometimes it’s felt a bit cluttered and I haven’t used it much for actual serving because it looks so bad when you take everything off.

I know we could have it refinished … but this chalkboard idea has stuck with me as a great and inexpensive alternative. And so, as part of my dining room makeover, I decided it was time to give this project a try.

At Home Depot I had them cut a wood board to size …

I sanded the edges and applied a coat of primer.

Next up, the chalkboard paint.

I opted for the Moonstone color to mimic natural stone or slate.

The can says to do 2 coats, but I did 3 just to be safe … and because it was so easy.

The can also says to wait 3-4 days before “curing” it with chalk. Because I’m a little impatient, I only waited two, then took the long side of a piece of chalk and covered the entire board with it …

… and then erased it … still leaving a little bit of a chalky residue.

You’re supposed to wait another few days before wiping it down. (I think I waited 2 again.)

And Voila!

Of course … it’s more fun like this …

I love how it looks like slate. Everyone who’s seen it before cannot believe it’s actually a piece of wood. Fun for serving and writing what’s on the menu.

So … just a sneak peek of my dining room makeover … I’ll do a “full reveal” soon, I promise!

Have a great weekend!

My crush on a chair …

September 11, 2012

… I’ve had it for awhile now and the attraction is real.

Everytime I see these Louis XVI-style round back dining chairs, my heart goes a-flutter.

via Sherry Hart Designs

via Decorpad

Traditional Dining Room design by Dc Metro Interior Designer Dream House Studios

I love that they provide a round, curvy element amidst a dining room of sharp angled tables and buffets.

Traditional Dining Room design by New York Interior Designer AMI Designs

And I love their vintage look … yet they still seem to remain timeless.

Like any schoolgirl crush, I often wondered if I’d ever really be able to get know them …or if I would have to always admire them from afar.

Happily, this weekend, 4 of them came to live with me!

(We are in the process of a mini-dining room makeover … new chairs and new paint, so this is just a little preview.)

After looking and comparing at several different places, I decided on the Vintage French Round chairs from Resoration Hardware. I’m in love with their linen upholstery and the gray weathered wood.

So those are my new side chairs. I think it will be a long and meaningful relationship!

And for the end chairs I picked these tufted beauties from Arhaus.

Tufted + Wingback + Nailhead Trim = Perfect chair for me.

The fabric is a wonderful smokey blue grey linen.

Next up choosing a paint color … I’m leaning towards a pale gray with a tinge of blue …

… and I may look into refinishing the table with a lighter, more natural stain.

What do you think?

P.S. If anyone is interested in my old dining room chairs … they are in great condition and super comfortable.

Contact me if you’re interested!

Steal this idea …

May 1, 2012

I just had to share an idea I came across on the blog, Pure Style Home, by Lauren Leiss.

Check out the sideboard. It’s actually an older piece that was lacquered in white, and the top is …

… simply a wooden board painted with chalkboard paint! How fun is that?

It kind of looks like slate, doesn’t it? (Much less expensive.) What an elegant way to repurpose an old piece of furniture. Especially, perhaps, if you’re dealing with a surface or top that has seen better days.

Of course, the entire room is quite swoon worthy … you can read all about it here.

Dream Home 2012

April 13, 2012

Wednesday night Kristy and I had the pleasure of previewing the 2012 Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart. Some of the city’s leading interior designers collaborated with the the Mart’s incredible showrooms to design these unique and sophisticated rooms.

We wanted to share a few of our favorites with you … and where better to start than this stunning kitchen?

(Most of the photography is from the brochure we were given, done by Dave Burk Photography. Because there were so many people in each room for the event, it was difficult to get many of our own pictures … some rooms were very crowded with admirers!)

Gorgeous, right?

We swooned over the thick slab marble countertops, the crisp and clean custom cabinetry from Plain & Fancy, the glass-front cabinets painted black inside …

We loved the cozy butcher block table that was an extension of the island, perfect for a cozy dinner for two, breakfast for the kids or homework area.

The adjacent wall housed inset glass-front cabinets and a whole row of beverage refrigeration!

Here is my little snapshot … I cropped out some of the people …

I want this refrigerator!

And how’s this for a cute idea? Instead of the traditional chalkboards you see in a kitchen, they used pretty antique mirrors.

(We are trying to figure out what kind of marker you can write on a mirror with that will erase? Does anyone know? Maybe just a Crayola Washable?)

We also loved the dining room for its flexibility in functioning just as easily for large scale entertaining as for intimate gatherings.

The large reclaimed wood and iron table pushed up to a banquette sofa by Henredon serves as a place to dine or lounge. One of the designers suggested using the table to serve food buffet-style while your guests sit at the glass “Bubbles” table. It’s a great way to turn a “used-for-special-occasions” dining room into an every day living space.

We especially loved the huge sea urchin from Holly Hunt hanging on the back wall!

And check out this outdoor patio … the pergola is draped in rectractable sunbrella fabric for a waterfall effect. With that fantastic chandelier, lamps and upholstered chairs the idea was to create a space that felt as comfortable and stylish as indoors.

Dream Home opens to the public today, April 13.

Cheers!

In a black mood …

October 20, 2011

Ok, so I am not trying to be a Debbie Downer. It’s just that I have a folder of black rooms saved on my computer. I’ve been saving them for awhile. Maybe it’s because I’d like to work up the courage to paint a room black in my own house and I feel like I need to look at these every once in a while to work up the courage to do it.

On a cold blustery day like today these rooms seem perfect … cocoon like. One of my favorites is a picture I saved several years ago of Jenna Lyon’s bedroom in her lovely Brooklyn townhouse. Perhaps you remember it from the cover of Domino.