[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hings are a little crazy right now on the Larkin home front. As you know (haha), we’re in the middle of a massive construction project, which has temporarily wrecked other parts of the house. The guest room and office, for example, are now storage rooms… and what few closets we still have access to are overflowing with displaced stuff. Keeping up with clutter has never been more difficult!
To keep ourselves sane, we’ve committed to making sure that the living and dining rooms–which are located in the front of the house–remain nice and orderly. And we’re continuing to decorate ’em. Because that’s what new homeowners do, right?! Slowly but surely, they make improvements.
As I’ve already given you a peek of what our living room looks like, this is the current state of the dining room! Interior design isn’t exactly my forte (as much as I want it to be), but I’m really happy with it so far. Mitch actually made the farmhouse table from old wood found in his grandfather’s barn, and MegMade is responsible for the incredible navy dresser-turned-buffet at the far end of the room. And you can find the other details at the end of this post. ;)
Side note: I wanted to go larger on the rug, but the space to its right actually functions as a hallway (#tinytownhouse), and it looked way too weird when it overflowed into that area. Oh well!
The one thing we think the room is missing? Artwork. Specifically artwork for the wall above the navy buffet.
A few months ago, I teamed up with Minted to create my dream gallery wall in our living room, and the whole experience was amazing. The quality was off the charts, the customer service was outstanding, and the speed of delivery was, well, shocking. (I figured custom work would take at least a couple of weeks!) So now, I’m teaming up with Minted once again, this time to bring a little more life into our dining room!
But here’s the thing: I’m kind of struggling with the dining room. Part of me thinks I should go with a single huge frame over the buffet, and another part of me thinks I should do three frames across, or four in a box-like design. And then another part of me thinks I should do the whole gallery wall thing again. I just don’t know. And what about the prints?! There are so many from Minted that I love!
So, a couple of questions:
- Would you go with a single (extremely large) frame over the buffet, or would you opt for a multi-frame design? (And if your answer is the latter, please elaborate!)
- What print(s) and framing options would you choose? I’ve included some of my favorites below! (And if you know of some great prints I missed, I’d love to hear about them!)
- I’m clearly obsessed with the color blue. Should I try to incorporate other colors, though?
Thank you so much for your insight!
Minted special offers: Use code “VALENTINE16” to take 15 percent off stationary and art gifts now until 1/31; use code “BOUQUET16” to take 10 to 15 percent off wedding orders $150+ now until 2/1; and use code “HEART16” to take 10 to 15 percent off Valentine photo card and postcard orders now until 1/30.
Room Details:
Pier 1 Rug, Garden Stool, Hydrangeas, Topiaries, Dining Chairs and Accent Chairs c/o / DIY Farmhouse Table (Mitch is in the process of writing a how-to post!) / MegMade Buffet / Kate Spade Coffee Table Book and Wedding Frame / CB2 Narwhal / “Dogs of Central Park” / “Elements of Style” c/o Porch / Laura Dro Designs Ginger Jar Painting c/o / Chevron Jar
I love how the dining room is coming along! The wooden table and those navy chairs look gorgeous together. I would suggest sticking to one large print, and my favourites for it would be the top left or bottom left options, depending on which shape you would go for. I think the bottom left would be the best to make the room seem bigger and take your eyes higher if you know what I mean. The colours are a paler blue on the print so they would add some brightness while still staying within the colour scheme and style. I hope you can get organized soon, I can’t imagine my home being upside down because I’m so OCD about these things, so I totally feel for you! Good luck :)
Lindsay, you are SUCH A sweetheart! Thank you so much for this!! Do you mind telling me which prints you like? The silly widget mixes ’em up every time the page is reloaded. (Not the best design, haha!) THANK YOU, Girl!! XOXO
Sorry I only just saw your comment! My favourites are the two ocean and sky ones, very similar, just that one is taller and the other wider. Sorry if it’s too late! I didn’t realize the widget mixed them. Good luck, and p.s. Your new hair is gorgeous :) Clip-ins are great for those days when you just don’t feel too great about your hair.
Your dining room is absolutely gorgeous! I have a tiny apartment, but I have two gallery walls. Definitely need that pineapple print you linked to for one of them :) I can’t wait to see the art that you choose!
XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
The pineapple print, RIGHT?!?! I actually have this one in my living room: http://bit.ly/1PQ1nIc — But could be REALLY cute to continue the theme into the dining room. (It’s actually just one big room that we’ve sectioned off, haha.) Thanks, Girl!
I love the beach print with the red umbrella! I love the little pop of red! The pineapple print is fantastic too…definitely have that somewhere if it isn’t in the dining room!!
The beach print with the red umbrella is Mitch’s favorite, too! :)
Ohhh I say one large print horizontal with a big white frame since you have the gallery wall in the living room! I love the ocean scenes and those cute palm trees pictures that’s inverted! YAY for house progress – you guys are the champions of home ownership by the way!
See I ASSUMED I was supposed to go for a vertical print, but now the horizontal print makes SO much more sense, stylistically! Omg. Thank god for Shaheenieweenie. SEE YOU TOMORRRROWWWWWW boo
I would go with a large mirror over the buffet.
I am partial to the three cityscapes, along with the two florals.
I’m clearly obsessed with the color blue. Should I try to incorporate other colors, though? Yes.
Hahaha — Yeah, definitely. I’m trying… I don’t know what’s wrong with me! Thinking some pops of pale red would be helpful :)
I definitely think you need something large hung vertically above the buffet/dresser. A vertical piece would create a nice flow, drawing your eye down the length of the table and up the wall. The gradient of the Marbled Wake print would be perfect to accentuate the high ceilings without seeming like it’s just floating on the wall because the dark at the bottom grounds the piece.
Girl, you need to get a large horizontal picture, that will double as the focal point for your home. Since you will see it as soon as you walk in, it needs to be something that brings you happiness, or something that is memorable (perhaps a print from Jersey that reminds you of the board walk?) When you have a large picture frame, you will have to do very little otherwise. that corner next to the painting will also be the most perfect spot for a plant!! Don’t let all that sunlight go to waste. You can be basic, and get the fiddle leaf fig, or unique and try something different that is also low maintenance! IKEA has a ton of options for really good deals!! looking forward to the final product!!
I love the look of one large print, preferably one that is horizontal rather than vertical in direction. I’m glad you are making progress!
-Maggie http://www.thatgirlmags.com
My vote is one single large print! You already have a gallery wall and one single print should keep it from looking too busy! My vote is for the overhead ocean shot or girl diving into the water. Photography is so classic and never goes out of style! Can’t wait to see what you pick!
i love it the way it is, less is more!
I think you need a different color print or it’s just too much blue. I like “Behind the Veil” (artist from Chicago!) or “Golden Now.”
You seem to have a lot of space there, so maybe a gallery wall would work. I love how you did your other gallery wall. And I like all the water prints.
You seem to have a lot of space there, so maybe a gallery wall would work. I love how you did your other gallery wall. And I like all the water prints.
Your dining room is looking fabulous! I think you should do one large print because you have a gallery wall elsewhere. I really like the photo of the rolling wave. Have you thought about enlarging one of your own photographs? You have so many gorgeous photos from vacations and travels!
-Monica
http://www.newenglandclassicbeauty.com
I think a funky (but not to modern) mirror would look great, and mirrors always make a room look bigger (West Elm & Z Gallerie are my favs) OR if you wanted to do a print, I would do one big one, with a pop of color….It’s your space though and you have to pick what makes you happy. Good luck and share the ‘after’ pics……
I’d go with one large picture, but I might put it where the two small ones are now and then do a mirror over the buffet. As much as I love blue, I’d tend to choose one of the prints that incorporates another color, as I think the accent will actually highlight the blue even more. Good luck – decorate is both fun and slightly terrifying in my experience – at least for me :-)
The dining room looks great! I think a giant statement print is what you need since you have a lot of small items on top of the buffet. I would go for something bold and sassy, like the girl swimming! So cute!
-Meg
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com
The dining room looks great! I think a giant statement print is what you need since you have a lot of small items on top of the buffet. I would go for something bold and sassy, like the girl swimming! So cute!
-Meg
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com
I really love your dining room! how about a little details?like a little gold pieces?
Your dining room is so pretty! I love the idea of a gallery wall, my favorite prints are the waves, the whale, and the flowers! Can’t wait to see the final product!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
I grew up in Lincoln Park!!!! Ok, to answer the question…I would do several smalls above the buffet – something meaningful to you both! OR a shelf or 2 with barware might be fab too!!! Maybe move the smaller prints you have on the wall to the left of the window above the buffet BUT under the bar shelves? And do a larger print where the 2 smaller ones are currently. LOVE the rug -the navy is FAB and a pop of color would be PERFECT!!! (magenta – maybe your guy won’t like, mustard or kelly green)