Living Room Curtains & Chandelier
After my last post, I couldn't stop thinking about my big pine farm table. When I bought it 15 years ago I didn't realize how huge it was and it's never had a home. For the last year it's been in the shed, isn't that sad?
Sooooooo.... I'm going to make my living room into a formal dining room! It's become the reno storage area (lovely first impression), and I'd like to use it and be able to have dinner parties. I loooove dinner parties.
I had painted the room my favorite cream last year, so the first thing I did is put up curtains, and I did it all with things I had on hand. The rods and sheers I bought at IKEA 2 years ago and hadn't put up. The linen panels (from Wal-Mart) were leftover from the old house. I sewed the panels together to make them big enough and up they went.
I also moved the big table into the middle of the room. Unfortunately it is currently holding all the stuff for the endless bathroom reno, so I can't show it..... yet!
I also moved my chandelier from the kitchen dining area into the middle of the room. It was too big for the kitchen and made it feel crowded, but it's perfect in here. Gootz put a plug on it so I could swag it over to a plug. I'm also particularly proud of myself for making a cord cover for it out of another of those old linen curtains.
I really want some new shades for the chandelier, something fresh and cottage-y. Maybe yellow or green. Would green make people look sickly at the dinner table?
I also have to relocate our book collection. I don't know where, but the books are just so dark and heavy, and I'm picturing a pretty, light china cabinet on this wall. I'm not sure where the books will end up, but I'm sure I'll figure out something.
I'm really feeling motivated with my new project. More soon!
Comments (11)
Love that lamp, Angela.
Posted by Gail | May 5, 2009 9:27 PM
Posted on May 5, 2009 21:27
I have visited yours (and many other) blogs in the past and this is the first time I've seen someone convert their living room into a dining room. I have done the exact same thing and was having challenges regarding lighting. I noticed you swagged your chandelier... I wanted to hire an electrician to put power on the ceiling but this seems like an easier alternative. Can I ask you how the chord looks going down the wall? Did you hide it behind something? I'd love to see more pictures of your dining room. I'm also happy to send you pictures of my room in progress (although I don't have a blog).
Posted by Patti Wilson | May 6, 2009 6:36 AM
Posted on May 6, 2009 06:36
hi angela! i made my living room into my dining room (and v.versa) in my first house. LOVED IT! i hope you do, too. i like the books in the d.r., but you have a look in mind that is lighter. have fun moving them!! (ha?) your house looks so roomy; you have many options for arranging. i like your chandelier. i bought some glass beads of varying shapes, and i'm going to try crafting some beads on to my plain chandelier. your photo will give me guidance! we'll see if d.h. likes the embellishment. remember he called chandeliers grandmotherly... hmmm,WHATEVER! jkj
Posted by jane | May 6, 2009 8:37 AM
Posted on May 6, 2009 08:37
Love your chandy! I just bought some
shades from this company and they did
a great job mailing them to me and
were cheaper than most places I could
find.
http://www.onthebrightside.com
Posted by Joy | May 6, 2009 1:15 PM
Posted on May 6, 2009 13:15
Hi Angela,
I did the exact same thing. I had a formal living room and a huge formal dining room that rarely got used. I moved the formal living room stuff to the attic. Moved the formal dining room to the living room place that is the first place you see when you enter the house. It is nice as it isn't overly crowded and you can decorate a dining room for every season, holiday etc. I then took the huge former dining room area and made it my craft studio.
Concerning your books - why not keep some of them so you don't have too many to move and cover them with butcher paper- it is white paper) that would leave a clean look and you could do fancy font of the book names on the spines. Many people are combining their dining room to include libraries. Or you could cover the books with the paper that looks like old paper bags..sorta burlappy looking. That is very cottagey.
It looks wonderful and I love checking on your progress. My blog is just starting but feel to take a look. Maybe you can help me out with stuff.
tammy
http://yarboroughhouse1929.blogspot.com/
Posted by tammy hebert | May 6, 2009 4:56 PM
Posted on May 6, 2009 16:56
Hi Angela,
The room sounds like it is going to be great, can't wait to see the finished project, love the chandelier.
Cheers Linda
Posted by Linda | May 6, 2009 5:04 PM
Posted on May 6, 2009 17:04
Great idea! So often we are hesitant to step outside the box so hurray for you! Can't wait to see the finished room. ~Melissia
Posted by Melissia | May 7, 2009 4:16 PM
Posted on May 7, 2009 16:16
Great job!! Gotta love a repurpose!!
Elise
Posted by Elise | May 8, 2009 10:17 AM
Posted on May 8, 2009 10:17
Hello Angela!
I have been googling "switching formal living rooms into dining rooms. We live in a 1980's ranch house with a good sized formal living room, small dining room, and a good sized family room. My parents always had a formal living room, with furniture that we were not allowed to sit on. I swore that I would never have that kind of room~unfortunantly I did the exact same thing with my formal living room. Well, I am ready to change it. I am going to put my dining table, china hutch and buffet in the formal living area, and use a smaller kitchen table in the "dining room." Thanks for the insperation!
Posted by Kelly Toedtli | June 2, 2009 12:35 PM
Posted on June 2, 2009 12:35
I just googled "converting formal living room to dining room" -- just as others above me did. I have a large, formal (never used) living room but no formal dining room. We have a big family room that gets all the action. I often wish I had a dining room because we have holiday meals at our house with guests sitting at a zillion card tables everywhere. Here is my question -- how important is it to have really close access to the kitchen? My living room entrances (two doorways) are each about 10 feet away from my kitchen. You'd have to go through an entryway hall or my family room to get to the dining room. I don't know if that would be a problem or not....................
Posted by Joan | June 23, 2009 10:32 AM
Posted on June 23, 2009 10:32
Transcend microSD 4G + переходник на SD
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Posted by Mofidiolanula | March 9, 2010 2:19 AM
Posted on March 9, 2010 02:19