my drab dining area

mjm · #1 10-09-2010, 12:39 AM

so while I was drawing up the plan for my kitchen I extended it and included the dining area, its not a big area and it is dark and dingey with no windows and in a corner.... I really need to warm this area up, at the moment it has the puddle walls (warm beigeish colour) on it but that needs to be changed
could this be a dark red corner? mirrors? lol more tiles? a paint with shimmer?

also I have been thinking about having a different kind of seating than the norm, I don't have a formal dining area, just the one off the kitchen area.
was thinking about a seat that attaches to the wall to make the most of the area so you don't have to allow for pulling the chairs in and out. I've seen similar things at the pub but not sure what they are called? club lounge maybe? anyhow here's some plans I've been messing around with (ignore colours please

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mjm · #2 10-09-2010, 12:43 AM

sorry if you can't read it, I don't know how to make it smaller and it gets shrunk when I post it

dmplus3 · #3 10-09-2010, 09:26 AM

I love the banquette (sp?) idea, MJM. All the cool people are doing it - like Candice and Rod & Natalie! Check out the websites of Divine Design and Marriage Under Constrtuction. I can't find the photos I had from Marriage Under Construction, sorry.

I think it is a great way to spruce the area up, and of course, so practical. If I can find any of the pictures I have, I wil post them for you.

dmplus3 · #4 10-09-2010, 09:44 AM

Some inspiration for you, mjm...

Julie-Ann · #5 10-09-2010, 10:14 AM

Dmplus3 I have never seen Marriage under construction- when is that on?

Mjm the banquette idea is great and would work well with the space. I like the round tables as it gives a little more space.
What is the little red square near the proposed hall door? And could you put a dresser or sideboard in the recess opposite the dining table?

The best way for us to read the detail is to crop the image to be just the dining area and not include the kitchen- that should allow the detail to be seen. I say this as I am sitting here with glasses on, I have zoomed the screen in 3 times and I am still squinting to read the image. I now feel very old

mjm · #6 10-09-2010, 10:24 AM

oh thats great dmp, thanks for that

they all look good, is that what they are called, banquette style? the middle one appealed to me straight away, but that could be because I thought it was logs at first ... oh to be a wood nymph.. anyhow.. that one looked like the same sort of corner I need to fit mine into. I really like the other two as well but they wouldn't be suited to fit the area

oh hey I just had an idea, you could insert a flat tv into that panelled bit that sits across the corner up highish so you could watch tv while you eat, well the two people on the single chairs could anyway

I guess that would be the toss up, do you pick the big comfy lounge seat to sit on and no tv to watch? or do you pick the more uncomfortable unwelcoming single chair and get to happily watch tv while the rest of the family watches on in envy? hmm
decisions decisions

mjm · #7 10-09-2010, 10:26 AM

ok I'm off to crop now julie, and funnily enough the words you couldn't read in the recessed area said "possible dresser and mirror or painting above"

mjm · #8 10-09-2010, 10:31 AM

well that was easier than I thought it would be

oh that red square, I was thinking maybe a planter, plant pot, just to extend the dining area a little maybe?
the other red line is a door I'd like my OH to put in seperating the front hall from the living areas

Julie-Ann · #9 10-09-2010, 10:37 AM

I can see, I can see- it's a miracle

.

I was going to suggest a mirror to add some light in to the room. You could put a timber framed mirror above a timber dresser- I'm just appealing to your rustic nature here

. The planter is a great design idea but I think you will end up having to use silk plants if there isn't much light in there. I would skip the TV idea from a design point of view and too many arguments.
Have you thought of adding a skylight in the dining room? They are not that expensive and can make a huge difference.

dmplus3 · #10 10-09-2010, 10:45 AM

I forgot to add this one from Candice. It doesn't suit your corner, but it was the first image that popped into my head when I read your initial post.

Julie-Ann - Marriage Under Construction is on How To on Wedesdays at 8:26pm EST. This season hasn't been as good as the last one I saw (which had the banquette), but still some good ideas.

Goodness me, awful spelling in my last couple of posts, sorry.