Friday, October 23, 2015

One Room Tour - My Dining Room

Ok, so I  might be a little obsessed with my dining room.  The sun shines in at a certain time in the  mornings and the curtains glow and the crystal sparkles and the wood glows and it just makes me smile. I look into the room while I'm making my coffee in the morning and it just feels like I'm exactly where I am supposed to be. You know that feeling?  If you don't,  I truly hope someday you do....

My morning view from the coffee maker
The light is changing - the leaves are falling rapidly, many of the trees are already bare, and we're heading into that thinner winter light. 


I don't care, I'll take it. I think this house gets more sun than any of the other homes I've lived in. I'm absolutely crazy about the sunshine in my new home. And pretty much my new home in general. 


My dining room isn't trendy by any stretch of the imagination. I don't have a big farmhouse table with skirted chairs or a painted hutch or white china. That's a gorgeous look but I tend to go more for a country feel with color and warmth and plants galore. 

I bought the table with the house because I loved it so much and thought it really suits the space. There are 2 leaves in it right now but when they come out it's a perfect little round table for 4. The antique chairs came with the table and 3 of them had to go out for repairs - the cane on the seats was destroyed.  I can fit 8 around the table comfortably, which works very well for dinner parties. 


My china cabinet came from Craigslist last year, before I even moved into my new home. Back in those long months when I was waiting for the closing. Long, long months. I paid $125 for this piece, delivered to my house and carried inside. I love the old look of it and it's just the right size for this little corner. I keep my crystal and wine/cocktail glasses in this piece, with napkins and placemats in the drawer. There wasn't enough room for my tablecloths, so they are in the basket under the hutch. And some are in the linen closet. Yup, I might have a few too many tablecloths. Oops. 


The basket came from Pottery Barn and of course I bought it on sale with a coupon. I refuse to pay full price! Refuse, I tell you!!


I bought a set of casters and attached them to the bottom of the basket simply using zip ties. Then my sweetie cut a piece of wood to set into the bottom of the basket to make it a little stronger - those linens can be a little heavy! 


In the other corner is my bar. We like to entertain and it's nice to be able to offer people their choice of cocktail when they arrive. This little bar is actually a dry sink that I bought at a yard sale about 15 years ago for $40. I just gave it a good cleaning and have loved it in each of my homes since. Underneath I keep cocktail mixers, soft drinks, straws, ice bucket, shakers, etc. In the drawers are taper candles to the left and after-dinner chocolates to the right - except that I may or may not have eaten them all. I'm not saying. 


The picture above is a daily reminder of an item on my bucket list - for my next big birthday I want to travel to Paris with my two beautiful daughters. They need to start saving!


All my infused alcohols are set out on the bar ready for sampling. Who will be my first taste tester? Any volunteers?


In between the china hutch and the bar is this little bench that used to be right inside the entry of my rental house. I placed it here a few months ago for lack of a better spot for it and I found I really like it there! I can sit on it and look out the window, almost like a window seat. And it can also serve as extra seating at the table if we are really trying to cram more people in. 


Oh, and the little Monkey has decided it's hers. She likes to watch the world outside and then settle in for a snooze. 



You can see how the dining room relates to the kitchen - it's an open space, perfect for entertaining. When I'm cooking people can sit at the counter and be right there with me for a chat. I love it. 


I can be at the stove cooking and still part of the gathering. As you know, everyone always loves to gather in the kitchen! 

I bought small scale stools for this counter so that they took up less space in the dining room but also so the backs didn't protrude too far over the counter top for passing dishes from one space into the other. 

Smart, eh? I told you. I had tons of time to think and plan. It took 5 long months to close on this house. I thought I was going to lose my mind. 

Anyway. 


This is looking back towards the dining room. One big happy space. Well, not that big. but compared to NYC apartment kitchens? Ginormous!! Perfect size for me. 


In the other corner I have my little wine cabinet. Most of my wine is stored in the lower level now  but I keep a few bottles up here. This little corner is just perfect for the wine cabinet. And of course every wine cabinet has to have a red sequin sparkly high heeled pump to hold your current bottle, right?

Of course. Duh. 


From that corner looking into the dining room there's a view of the mountains out the window. And tomatoes everywhere....ripening slowly. Remember the giant harvest? Yeah. We're going to be eating lots of meals with tomatoes....and celery. Hey, nothing wrong with that!!



So now you got the whole tour. What do you think? 

Doesn't have to be "trendy" to be awesome. Go with your heart. If you love it, it will show. 

I'm in love. 


25 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful room, classic, elegant and filled with the things you love. Now that is what I call fabulous interior design! :) And while I am not a drinker, I just peeked at your infused alcohol post and everything looks so good!

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    1. Thank you, Kim! I agree - that's what it's all about - decorating your home with the things you love. Because at the end of the day it's not about the photos but rather about the way it makes you feel when you walk in the door.

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  2. I have to say Debbie, you put out a wonderful welcoming post once again :)) I don't blog , I've been encouraged by some blogging friend's, but I follow roughly 50-60. At this point I'm rating you in my Top Ten Fav's !!!! Your are not pretentious at all and you come thru as someone I'd call my friend, that's the attitude you exude :))
    I like some shabby chic but being raised on a farm , I love a good piece of wood furniture, the warmth of wood. Your china cabinet was a great price and I love it. The basket underneath is perfect. ( I'm going to put caster's w/zip tie's on a very old one I have) Your dog is the sweetest !!! I lost my Pom of 15 yrs April 1st, Woody.
    My daughter and SIL went to Europe for 3wks , 2 year's ago and Paris was her favorite !!
    I think we're kindred spirit's in more way's than one. I plan on starting a blog or selling antique's on Etsy next year, my son is a senior and will be off to college. I have rented the same home for 8 year's, I plan on finding a small home with only MY name on the deed !!!!! I congratulate you on purchasing your OWN adorable home, you rock !!! Oh and by the way, I volunteer to be your taste tester !!!! Just let me know when to stop by, I'll bring the appetizer's. Lol Take care and keep sharing your delightful life and home. Have a fab weekend !!!! TT

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    1. Tammy your comment nearly made me cry!!! Thank you so much for your sweet encouraging words and for taking the time to read my blog and write such a lovely comment! Oh by the way I had a Pom, too, and lost him very suddenly when he was only 7. Nearly broke my heart. That's when I adopted my older girl, Lily, who is 13 now. The little Monkey (Daisy) is her daughter - she's 6 now. Time flies by, huh? I'm sorry for your loss. Truly. When you have a pet they are part of the family.
      Big hugs.

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  3. It's all very cozy and warm! Love all the light, too. You have some fantastic pieces that you got for such amazing prices! I heartily volunteer to be a taste-tester. Hoping that you go on that trip to Paris!

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    1. Thanks, Amy! Let me know when you'll be in town for that tasting!!!

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  4. Debbie, I love all of that beautiful sunshine also. Your dining room is gorgeous and I love that you have so many wonderful pieces in this room. The china cabinet is exquisite and the dry sink turned bar is fantastic. What a great idea! And if you hadn't of eaten all the chocolate, I would have. Chocolate is my weakness and there is always some in the house...well, except when I've eaten it all and am heading to the store to buy more...LOL. Paris has always been one of those cities that I wanted to visit....it's on the list for us. Hope you have a fantastic weekend! Hugs!!

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    1. Hi Benita! My sweetie has already been to Paris and pretty much everywhere else in the world so he's not one bit interested in going. Which is fine because what an amazing trip to take with my daughters, right? We will bring him back some chocolate.....if it makes it back without being devoured!

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  5. Let's see...I want a tomato sandwich and something infused with raspberries while I bask in the warm autumn light....so cozy there :)

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    1. Let me know when to start slicing the tomatoes, Deb, and I'll be ready!!! Hey...now I want a tomato sandwich!! Why do I never think of those until someone mentions them? A tomato sandwich is one of the simple amazingly delicious pleasures in life!

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  6. This is such a happy space!! I love how light and bright it is, and how it is made for entertaining. The dry sink with all your concoctions stacked up is so cool. This room to me says sit and enjoy each other's company for a while. Such a nice feeling it has!

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    1. Oh, Lisa, thank you so much!! That's exactly the feeling I want it to convey to my guests!!!! I am soooooo overdue a dinner party at this point....I think I just have to schedule it before 10 more invites come in and more weeks go by!!

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  7. I love the lighting in these pictures mom. And also- that last line that if you love it it will show and you are in love- you're so cute!!

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  8. I can definitely see why you love your new home. When there's sunlight it's always sweeter. I see so many things I like. The sheers, the bar, the cute light fixture over your kitchen sink and of course that precious puppy!!

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    1. Thanks, Stacey!!! That precious puppy is a bold brat at times but I love her dearly!

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  9. What wonderful light you have in your room, and I love all of the plants. Can we ever have too many? I don't think so. Looking forward to getting to know you better At The Women's Room. xo Laura

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    1. Thank you, Laura, and apparently we are on the same wavelength about plants! Although now that I brought in some large Begonias for the winter I may need to shift some things around to make room....so maybe I do actually have too many plants? Oops!

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  10. The sunlight pouring into your room makes it very welcoming. The chairs around your table are absolutely wonderful and the china cabinet was an amazing find.

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  11. Thank you for your kind words, Marie, and your visit!!

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  12. You have such lovely, meaningful pieces that are basked in such warm, glowing light.

    One thing I couldn't help but notice was your liquor stash! Girl, you must have some fun parties!

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    1. Thanks, Doreen! And yes, we do have some fun parties....mostly dinner parties but they can get a bit rowdy at times! Nothing like the parties I enjoyed in the old days....I am no longer a night owl, those days are long past!

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  13. I can definitely see why you love your dining room so much - what a beautiful space! I love the warm wood of the dining set and the plants and the cool booze cart and the beautiful antique china cabinet...I love homes like yours that have character and charm and really show the personality of the home owner instead of trendy!

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    1. Oh thank you so much, Melanie!! I try not to get too trendy because let's face it, right around the corner is yet another trend and then what do you do with all the stuff you just bought? I just fill my home with things that make me smile...and looking around my home it must be working because I'm super with my non-trendy space!! :)

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