Dining room dilemma!

8 years ago

Hello! We bought our first home last year. It’s a mid terrace Victorian. We’re very very lucky to have high ceilings and original floorboards.

Now we can finally start buying furniture, we can’t decide what to get! How would you style our dining room? We need to start with a new dining room table. Industrial? Mid century? Scandi? We like all of the above but don’t know where to start. Help!

Nothing in the photo needs to stay, apart from the rug. It’s all second hand and very old!

Thanks :-)

Featured Answer

mehdiadeco

8 years ago

Hi Lucy,

Such a beautiful room!

For the table I was feeling something with wood, at least on the top part, like your door (on the last pic) and that cute little bench you've got (first pic). Also, aaaah your floors *sigh*

Anyway, wood will bring some lovely natural texture, it will soften the grey of the walls, and it links with the 3 styles you mentioned. Now the question is what style of table, and I think that for the dining room you can then go from there to decide for your overall style.

For example, for each style, I tried to give you 3 options:

Scandi

Sylt Lofts · More Info

Carl Hansen & Søn · More Info

Celsiusgatan 3 · More Info

Industrial

River North Loft · More Info

Rue Gordon, Montréal · More Info

暮らしやすさとデザイン性を両立した家 · More Info

Midcentury

Stoke Newington House · More Info

Westchase Townhome · More Info

Pearson Residential Remodel: Dining Room · More Info

Just a note, even if you choose one style, don't go overboard with it. You don't want your dining room to look like the poster room for XYZ style, you want it to look like your dining room that reflects who you are and how you live and entertain.

Loving the art too, can we get a closer pic? It seems that there are bits of colours that you could get inspo from for the accessories and tie it all in with your rug (is that bit green or blue? little hard to tell on my small screen).

Hope it inspires you!

Mehdia

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

Lucy Hardaker
Original Author
8 years ago
More pics!
A B
8 years ago
You are lucky in that imo a Victorian terrace suits virtually any style. I find looking at lots of images and saving anything I like helps hone down my style for a room. Plus it’s enjoyable! Another option would be to work with a designer to really wow the room. They can be surprisingly affordable:)
Related Discussions
Dining room dilemma
Q
Comments (9)
Hi. I'd go for a Roman blind, perhaps in a retro pattern. Do you have a corner to put a potted plant as that may also reduce some of the echo? If not consider a rug but see how it is after a fabric blind is fitted or you could also add a faux sheepskin over one of the chairs (any fabric should help!). Agree with Stephen and would continue the film posters. I might also paint the radiator in the wall colour and add a vase of good faux flowers on the table or even something simple like faux eucalyptus which you could add real roses to when wanted
...See More
Kitchen/dining Room dilemma
Q
Comments (7)
Hi, I can now see the bigger picture here. This problem is very similar to one I looked at the other day on Houzz. I general I would always recommend using the dining space as circulation rather than the kitchen or sitting area. I suggest that you just look at the L shaped room and ignore where the doors and windows have been placed initially. You have an understandable requirement for 3 primary spaces. Kitchen, Dining and Sitting area. I would suggest that you have a U shaped kitchen in the niche space to the left hand side of the double doors as you enter from the hallway. Have a window to the garden from the kitchen not a double doors. To the right you have copious space for dining and then the whole of the new extension can become the generous sitting area you desire. I would suggest a door to the side elevation and picture windows looking into the garden. The addition of a peninsular or island unit as a breakfast bar is optional. Please make a donation to shelter https://www.shelter.org.uk/ for this advice
...See More
Dining room furnishing dilemma: Gray style or White style
Q
Comments (1)
I know grey is the in colour but don't you think that it makes the room look cold? i prefer the other picture as it looks light and airy
...See More
Dining room lighting dilemma
Q
Comments (17)
I'm following this with interest; we bought a 16th century cottage and I'm still struggling with its peculiarities. Personally, I quite like this and I think it could work in your space if you can find a way to fit it: https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/barchester-double-pendant-light/barchester-double-pendant-light-in-antiqued-brass-3312ab?returnurl=%2fbarchester-double-pendant-light%2f In fact, I'm considering buying all my light fittings from Jim Lawrence, I just love their products! If your husband doesn't like to see the bulb (I don't either!!) you should look for lights that have lampshades with diffusers. Or, as a wild card, maybe consider something like this, which I think could also work in a cottage setting despite being a LED lamp. https://www.bespokelights.co.uk/shop-by-type-c4/ceiling-hanging-lights-c29/forest-modern-black-led-linear-ceiling-pendant-with-antique-brass-lamp-holders-p18296
...See More
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I would go modern. Check IKEA for dining table. I would cover the radiator with some modern cover/console imitation and get some wall art above. This is big wall has to look good.
Juliet Docherty
8 years ago
I would mix things up a bit to avoid a themed look. An industrial style table such as the John Lewis Calio one would work with orange mid century Eames chairs. A large wicker pendant would be good or a Fly Kartell one.
PRO
User
8 years ago
The geometry or your room is very square, lots of right angles. How about a statement round table like this to soften things down a bit?
mehdiadeco
8 years ago
@Home by Christina, loving your idea :-) Seeing the proportions of the room, I'm thinking that an oval table would maybe work out better though?
PRO
User
8 years ago
Oval too, yes, depending on what other furniture needs to fit in there.
Magnus Pettersen
8 years ago
A vintage Ercol or a Macintosh table are nice options. Both good quality, affordable and they keep their value.
Lucy Hardaker
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow! What wonderful advice!

@mehdiadeco thank you so much, you’ve obviously got an eye for this...we were leaning towards mid century but following your comment about trying not to stick with one style, we think industrial could be more versatile. Like every picture you posted.

The print is of different branded pencils, and the rug has blue and green tones. The floor is staying as it is, we love it!

We will keep you updated!
Lucy Hardaker
Original Author
8 years ago
@colourhappy thank you so much! We love this combination with the industrial table and rust chairs. It would warm up the room I think. If we don’t dare, I’ll definitely think about how we can bring this colour into the room.
PRO
Feature Radiators
8 years ago
Def upgrade the rad if budget permits. Am thinking an industrial style one would work like our Core radiator or similar:

Radiators in industrial spaces · More Info

Or Scandi - this Woody can come in horizontal versions in various wood finishes and sits close to the wall?
Radiators in Scandinavian themed settings · More Info

Or mid-century?

Radiators in mid-century (40s, 50s and 60s) themed settings · More Info

The radiator world is your oyster!
E D
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Lucy, I like some of the 'feel ' of your room the way it currently is. It appears to have a (your) personality, with some of the quirky, playful choices of furniture ( f.e. your table).

Ok, maybe it's a little stark and not quite finished, but it would be a shame to loose this, unless you actually want a showroom home :).

I can't give any concrete advice but perhaps you can live with your home a while and get a feel for what you really want and what would fit your home and personality?

Give it some time, rather than go for a complete overhaul in one go.
Macy Hwang
8 years ago
Like your floor colour and wall colour. Could be great with some lighter wooden colour or oak finishing dining table with some lovely colourful chairs to bright up the room.
Resh
8 years ago
As others have said, depends on your overall style. We went a bit country/rustic with walls and floors, but to avoid it looking too twee, I found a period appropriate table, painted it and put period inappropriate chairs around it to make it all a bit less serious.
claire morgan
8 years ago
I think an industrial type table would look nice but with a wooden top - something like this.

Someone mentioned art work but I would look at doing different prints on the wall, this site offers a load of affordable ones and can come in different sizes -(called desenio, here is what some look like when hung up). i think this would be nice as you could have some black and white images but also some colour for example your rug is green so it could make the colour pop a little more)
graceh32
8 years ago
Hi Lucy, I work for a TV production company and we're currently looking for homeowners in London and the South of England with a design dilemma to feature on a new home makeover series for a major UK broadcaster. Our renowned TV property guru is looking to work with homeowners to help you transform your space.

If you're interested in finding out more about our exciting new series please get in touch on the details below:

Email apply@outlineproductions.co.uk or call 02031502742

Many thanks!

Grace
PRO
J.N.Rusticus
8 years ago
Hi Lucy, what a fantastic house ! we offer a whole aray of furniture that would look great check out our website even if its just for inspiration https://www.jnrusticus.com/furniture-c1. Regards to your dinning room please see attached pictures.

Reclaimed Wooden & Recycled Steel Thetford Table · More Info

Industrial Style Rustic Elk Table · More Info

Chairs & bar stools · More Info