Tuesday, March 19, 2013

My dining room

May I apologize for my recent lack of posts but show you what I've been up to? As you may know I moved a few months ago into an older 'fixer upper' Coop apartment. I left downtown for the Cleveland Park neighborhood for numerous reasons, one of which was the need for more space and specifically a dining room.
Before I moved in the dining room had an ugly chandelier and wood shutters.  Heavy wool wall to wall carpeting was throughout. That was a few months of some hard work ripping it all out!
You may recognize a lot of these pieces if you've been reading my blog for awhile; they're just finally coming together in their proper space. The chair in the top picture is one of my 'haunted chairs' which I decided to upholster in the Ralph Lauren plaid.
The large pastel drawing above the bookcase has been with me for a few moves now and I never feel at home without it. This room contains many of my favorite objects but probably the most beautiful is my Capri decanter from Baccarat beneath the drawing, I just love the classic lines..
I love having books here in the dining room which I use not only for every meal but also to spread out and study the latest magazines. Probably the largest project I tackled myself (other than the reconfiguration of the walls for which I hired a contractor) was painting the window sashes black to match my doors. I love how they turned out!
The view through the archway into my foyer shows a sneak peak of some more of the apartment. I know many of you like seeing table settings and here is one below from a little housewarming dinner party I put together after finally pulling the room together.
I already have a pair of bamboo shades I was contemplating hanging in the windows for a layered look behind the curtains.  What do you think, do I need them? Practically speaking, as the window receives a lot of light I thought it might help with glare particularly in the summer. I suppose I could always take them down if they look too cluttered.  Thanks for visiting and let me know what you think about the blinds!

41 comments:

  1. How lovely! You have created such a special spot to celebrate dining amongst friends or even having tea there must be so decadent.
    I think the blinds would be a wonderful addition. They would create such intimacy as well.
    pve

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  2. Your efforts certainly paid off!
    I think blinds would look and function nicely.
    Great job!
    I see many lovely dinner parties in your future:)

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  3. It looks gorgeous and you must be thrilled to be settled in your new home with all of your lovely pieces. The view into your foyer is stunning!!

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  4. I, too, love the big drawing over the bookcase which I presume you meant to say was watercolor and ink rendering in pastel colors. It is a lovely house and garden, in any case. Do you know if it is a school project or a residence that was actually built?

    Candlelight always makes for a beautiful dining room; I appreciate your care in balancing the light. Congratulations on the success of your many improvements.

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  5. John - yes the drawing is, more specifically, a student project (i've collected many over the years) from the teens which is pencil and watercolor which is colored in with oil crayons or pastels I believe.
    Lighting is the most important feature of any interior!

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  6. I love all your photos but the first one is wonderful..such a perfect space!

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  7. Looks amazing! I love how the black sashes disappear when it's dark. I have bamboo blinds and think they'd look great behind the drapes. You can get them custom at Sears.com for a great price. The entry looks gorgeous too! I can't wait to come and visit! Hope the guestroom is ready!

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  8. Really lovely Stefan. I think I'd like the bamboo blinds behind your curtains. Just another layer in an interesting room.

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  9. Hello Stefan, I really like the black sashes--at fist I thought they were expensive and old-fashioned metal ones. I like everything you have done here. The surprise is that compared to the Before picture, the room actually appears lager after you have added so many items to it.

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  10. Thanks everyone!
    parnassus, I think it has to do with the scale of the furniture. All of my furniture is old so the scale is small. I saw the same apartment 2 floors down the other week which is for sale and it looked SO much smaller with their huge over-stuffed couches and furniture in general. Scale is so important!

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  11. I, too, think the blinds would be perfect here!
    When I come to visit I want to be seated in the chair that looks directly on to the foyer! Frankly, I love every last thing you do, Stefan! I'd follow you anywhere!

    xo

    Andie

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  12. Looks amazing! Love that you went w/the Lauren plaid. Really adds to the established, elegant feel of the space. Not to mention the other room w/the mirror - fab too!

    Yes, to the blinds. Do you have enough length in your curtains to raise them to be right under the ceiling? I think the blinds then will give it all a clean line.

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  13. Michelle -they're as high as they can be with the structural post and beam. They sort of fill that niche space and hide the assymetry. I had originally planned to have them straight up to the ceiling.

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  14. Your place looks very elegant, Stefan! I, too, vote yes for the bamboo blinds. They will tie in nicely with the floor and chairs.

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  15. This looks so lovely! I hope that you don't mind, but I pinned it.
    Margaret Hess

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  16. Great! I love the drawing above the bookcase and the idea of having a bookcase in the dining room is terrific. I often sit at the dining table with a book especially art and ID books. We have one large abstract piece (a painting?) on metal which reminds me no end of Turner – well, one tiny piece of it does – and it fits nowhere else but the place we first hung it.

    I like what you've done with your new place – it looks very inviting and comfortable

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  17. Yes on the blinds! If you don't want to invest alot, go to Orientalfurniture.com and check those out. Its a good way to try a look with very little $$. I love your space and your treasures. I can tell it feels like home!
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

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  18. Yes on the blinds! If you don't want to invest alot, go to Orientalfurniture.com and check those out. Its a good way to try a look with very little $$. I love your space and your treasures. I can tell it feels like home!
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

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  19. Stefan, really lovely--and ditto what blue said

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  20. Ha! What a delightful post and changes! Love the new dining arrangement and chandelier! I haven't beeb posting much as well, due to much work, but here I am, back with much vigor!
    Happy spring, Stefan!

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  21. I like all the symmetry and the (obvious to me) effort that has gone into hanging your pictures so well. As for having a blind, I would be inclined to do so, as the sun on your pictures will damage them, which may be difficult to imagine in your part of the world at this time of year!

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  22. It's all quite lovely, especially the fall of the curtains with the width of the framed drawing and bookcase. Yes to your use of symmetry and the idea of bamboo shades! If you have them already, it won't be an added expense if you decide you don't like the result. Bet you will though. Such a well-thought out room! Bravo.

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  23. I agree. Looks great. Lives great. I'd say yes to the blinds. Texure is always a good thing in creating warm, inviting spaces. Books always make a space feel better!

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  24. I would hang a shade and see if you like it.

    I would like a rug under the table and chairs.

    And to balance things a bit perhaps a glass bowl with that decanter.

    All around, your dining room is personal and inviting. What more is there?

    Ann

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  25. I wonder if an Indian print similar to your dining table cloth (unless my eyes are deceiving me which they may well be) used as a Roman shade across both windows would work well? Bamboo would work perfectly well but you have to be careful at night as the people outside (if you're on the ground floor) can see in unless the blinds are lined. As to weight, if they are lined, ask Jennifer (PoC). Have you thought of the same plaid as is on the Hepplewhite style chair if that chair is in sight of your dining room? Could be visually heavy, though.

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  26. Blue, privacy isn't an issue as I'm on the 5th floor. The view is actually quite nice and I do worry about blocking it (and the light which is pretty fantastic). I do however, to bring up Columnists point, worry about the lights affect on the art over time.
    You're right -it is an indian print tablecloth that I use for everyday - it relaxes the room a bit as does the plaid fabric I have on the 2 chairs I have as extra seating. I like the idea though of the print!

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  27. Gorgeous! Love the peek through the arched doorway, too!

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  28. Well, the pictures show why you've been sort of MIA. And it's all good, but the placement of that handsome Empire console and mirror on axis within the arch to the hallway creates the illusion of spaces beyond. I do the same thing when I can. As Sir John Soane demonstrated, a mirror in an alcove has twice the impact of one on a flat wall. And in the same photo (at least on my small computer screem) the curved backs of you chairs at first made me think you had found a place with a circular dining room.

    The only thing I might do--if it's possible--would be to move the rug a few inches, so that its center motif aligns with the bust, rather than, as it may be, having the rug centered rug in hallway.

    All in all, this looks like you've been here a long time, Stephan, not just a few months. Congratulations.

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  29. LOVE the mirror console and its curved top behind the arched wall opening. Makes an interesting space. Nice picture hang too. Symmetrical but not identical, which is always better than too slavishly putting only pairs everywhere. Can the one just above the mirror be raised an inch though ?
    Well done, waiting for invite now.

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  30. Timeless elegance!

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  31. Gorgeous. Love the change. Absolutely loathe used wall-to-wall carpeting... first thing to do is rip it out!! Your choices are great including the bookcase addition, books and food go together. The empire piece is smashing and makes me want to see more!!

    I like blinds, have you ever seen those awesome Chinese-style blinds? Tiny bamboo strips and a very cool way to hoist them up... they hang on decorative large hooks. Really looks sharp and visually interesting.

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  32. Well done, Stefan!

    It has the look only truly loved, really used rooms have. Some of my favorite elements are the fabrics: plaid on chair, that fab paisley tablecloth, other blue seats. It's all just so timeless and chic. Glad you posted.

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  33. PS -- Hope you enjoy your new home! Looks like you are so far.

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  34. really great. love the shot looking into the foyer. and the large drawing is the BEST. just my kinda thing.

    I'd vote yes for the blinds. I have just done them in a room under panels and am crazy about the layered look they give.

    more shots around your place please! donna

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  35. Great job! I loved seeing the finished space
    come together. Well done.

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  36. Hi Stefan, sorry I am late to the party! I LOVE what you've done in this room. Of course you already know I love your very classic style. The first thing I noticed was the black-painted window. Gorgeous. I guess I am contrarian as I vote for no blind. I love seeing the geometry of the black window and if the light is nice, why waste any of it?

    So nice to see this elegant glimpse of your space.

    xo Terri

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  37. Oh, and I am MAD about that darling little sunburst mirror you hung in the middle. LOVE!!! :)

    Again, Terri

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  38. The changed or remodeled room is just looking awesome. Love the gorgeous chandeliers.

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  39. wonderful decor!The chandelier looks amazing providing the room a gorgeous look...

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  40. Looks great...go with the bamboo shades my dear.

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  41. What an exciting post. I wondered when you were going to give us a glimps into your new home. Everything is so tasteful and inviting. Great job! Please share more.

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