Becca's Before and After

Hi Christine,

You probably don't remember, but I emailed you back in February of 2009 for advice on my living room  (here. and here and here and here and here)  I thought it was so fun to get on your blog and see my pictures and get some advice from you.  Great advice, by the way.  Well, I never sent you "after" pictures because I didn't exactly follow your advice.  I've had some serious guilt issues about that.  How rude of me not to respond with my finished room.  Well, I wanted to send you some after pictures because I've been following your blog/new site and although I didn't follow your exact advice for my room, I have tried to apply the principles you talk about and I'm pretty happy with the end result.  Thought you might like to see it.  Thanks for all you do.  I love to hear what you have to say!

Rebecca

ps - I'm so embarrassed when I look back at the before pictures.  How did I have any friends???

pps - big chunky crown molding makes the biggest difference in a room.  So worth it.

 

Hi Rebecca,

You really did a beautiful job!  It's a good thing that good friends don't care about how well we decorate.  :)   They do make great before and after photos!  I LOVE the lighter paint.  I love how you took care of your TV.  Your use of scale on your wall decor is infinitely improved!  Good Job!

Do you want to take it to the next level?  Consider a lighting plan.  Check out the advice I gave Cara on her dining room.  A rectangular shape on your light would be so much nicer.  While I was replacing the light, I would move it.  (Even if you just use a chain and hook)  Move the table 90 degrees to face the other direction.  Center the table with your new fabulous wall decor, as well as the window-  then hang the light above the new location.  I see that you have a vent near where that location might be, but you can make it work. It might require shifting your set of nine perfectly hung pictures.  But- the most important thing is that we get it right, right? ;) Then I would put a nice large plant in the corner with an uplight.  Consider also adding an eyeball light accenting your art, and a sconce between the window and door.  Look at the advice I gave Kim on her lighting plan.  Use the advice in both of your rooms. 

The last bit of advice I have is to finish it off with a rug.  (You might use this table every day and have small children and prefer the hard floor for practical purposes)- but I will tell you that from a design standpoint, the space would benefit greatly from the softness of a rug. 

Be sure that the rug blends nicely with the rug in the family room.

I found the rug above on homedecorator.com.  Rebecca, I can't thank you enough for sending in after photos.  It makes me happy even if you didn't do every thing exactly- you did a fantastic job.  There are many good ways to decorate a room- and you did very well! 

Thanks again,

Christine

Carla's Dining Room Light

Hi Christine,

My cabinetry and trim is all cherry -- And as you can see, there's a lot of it. My floors are hickory, except in the hall, which is multicolor Rajah slate. The walls are a light-manila folder/butter color. Overall I'm happy, but there's just so much wood to deal with -- and it makes the interior quite dark, even in daytime.

In Oregon, in winter... it's darker still.

What I think I need is:

1) A unifying chandelier over my dining table. The present 3-pendant fixture is just not cutting it. Hung too high, style is wrong and, worst of all -- it doesn't provide nice light to eat by. I envision something like the Niermann Weeks beauty I saw in an old post of yours. Would that I could truly afford such a thing. Anyhow, it had an antiqued acanthus white/gold thing going on, plus a whole lot of candelabra lights. Ah, found the photo, attached it for you. Thoughts?

- Carla

Hi Carla-

1. I would not go round over your table. You have a rectangular room, a rectangular table- an oblong/ oval chandelier- would really fill the space nicer.

2. Also- the style is really wrong for your room. You have a very clean line- somewhat craftsman interior- with more contemporary furniture and rug- that distressed look is not going to fit in. I would consider a look more like the one below- or this onefrom Visual Comfort. If you want to change your furniture and rug- you can go more traditional- but even then- not as distressed as the one you selected.

Personally- I like shaded light in a dining room. I prefer the light quality in a dining setting that you get from shaded light rather than direct light. It is forgiving and romantic. This is not task light- light over a kitchen island. The object in a dining room is to have more atmosphere from your shadow, with areas of light and areas without light. If a light is too bright from above- you lose all atmosphere. This is the difference from dining at a fast food place compared to a sit down restaurant. Remember that your dining room should be the sit down restaurant. If the room needs to double as homework or scrapbook central- add can lights that operate separately from the chandelier- for options in different layers of light.

If your concern with your current light was that it does not provide enough light- or is too bright- I would go to a real lighting store- not a big box or chain store- but a store where the people who work there could answer the question- "How many lumens does that light have compared to that light?" If they can't answer the question- and act perhaps like they don't know what a lumen is- go to a different store. ;) Find a knowledgeable lighting designer that can help you get the light you need in your room. It is an awful lot of work to get a light installed only to find out that it does not give off enough light (or is too bright)- and know that some stores will not allow a return or charge a re-stocking fee for already installed fixtures- especially if chains are cut- etc.

I hope this wasn't too disappointing- as I can see that the lights I suggested are incredibly different from the one you had selected- that is the beauty of me- I tell it straight. ;) I will tell you what will really work well. I split your questions up- and will address the others in another post.

Thanks for writing in,

Christine