Unexpected ways to make your dining room chic and gorgeous

My dining room is one of those rooms that is visible from most other rooms in my home, so it's really important to me that it's easy on the eyes.  Here are some fabulous dining rooms, big and small that I would be more than happy to have as my own...

via homeremodelnote

Loving this clean and chic dining room.  It is small, just like mine, so how genius is the floor length mirror at one end of the dining table.  I will definitely be trying that trick.

via homedesignlove

I'm a big fan of bench or settee seating at the dining table. You can put a bench on just one side or on both.

via Lonny Mag

Feeling risky? Go all out and get full bench seating! I would still have two simple mix matching chairs to put on each end to maximize the seating in this space but I love the idea.

How cool is this bench?  And those blue velvet chairs?  The chandelier is often the conversation piece in a dining room, making the chairs the focal point is a nice change of pace.

via Pinterest via La Dolce Vita

I LOVE the idea of combining a library and a dining room.  I grew up in a family that often reads and eats at the same time ( I know, I know...not always a healthy environment for books)

via Pinterest via feedly

Tips for bringing a touch of red into your home

With February right around the corner and Valentine's Day coming up soon, what better time to experiment with that powerful and passionate color: red.

 Artwork is a great way to test out red.

 Or a great statement piece of furniture.
2 above via Elle Decor

If you already use a color in your home that is complementary with red, adding a few accents will be easy and look thought out.
via Traditional Home

via houzz

Throws and lampshades are great budget friendly ways to bring a little love in the room without breaking the budget.

via houzz

A new piece of wall art can change up the room and adding a few pillows and a bench seat or stool can tie it all together!


Do you use red in your decor?

Lovely, inspirational fall images from some of my favorite blogs

Hope you enjoy some of the inspiration and prettiness I've found on some of my favorite blogs!

This image from Brook Farm General Store.

ahhh...we've started building fires in the evening and they're wonderful

This is a great modern elegant pattern


via Mochatini


Such a lovely autumn image!

I love seeing real, lived in interiors like this living room.
via Lovely Happenings



I think these chairs would be such a lovely solution for a wedding reception or ceremony, they're also something you could do yourself
via Deco and Design

Spring clearing - the dining room (lots of dining eye candy too!)

This room will probably be one of the easier rooms in your home. With the uprising of eat-in-kitchens many of us find our dining rooms not used. Save this room for a day when you don't have a lot of time or pair it with another task.

• Dust down the ceiling and corners
Consider if the walls in your home need to be washed. Check here for information on how to clean different wall surfaces. Don't forget air vents and switch plates.

• Dust and clean all wall art. Be careful when cleaning framed art and photographs. Never spray cleaner or water onto the frame. The liquid can seep behind the glass and damage the pictures. Instead lightly wet a clean cloth to wipe the frame and glass.

• Clean the Ceiling Fan.You know what's worse than a fly in your soup, a large chunk of dust from your ceiling fan in your soup. Dust the fan and fan blades. You may need to use a gentle cleanser like Murphy’s Oil Soap mixed with water and a cleaning cloth. Take down light fixtures and gently wash and dry them before replacing.

• Take down draperies and curtains to wash or have cleaned according to the directions. Dust down any blinds and other window treatments. Dust down and wash window sills and corners. Wash the inside and outsides of windows. Take down and rinse off screens, before replacing.

• Wash down the dining table, chairs, and any other furniture thoroughly. If you have wood furniture that needs to be oiled or waxed, do this now. If your chairs have an upholstered seat, spot clean the seats.

• Clean the carpet and rugs. You can choose to use a carpet professional, rent a cleaning machine, or vacuum and spot-treat according to soil level.

What You Need:

• Dust mop (preferably with a long handle)
• Step-ladder
• Cleaning cloths
• Small bucket with handle
• Sponges
• Vacuum with attachment
• Gentle cleanser
• Rug shampoo machine with upholstery attachment (optional)
• Spot remover for upholstery or carpets (optional)

via About.com

I'd love to know more about you guys and your homes! Which dining room comes closest to yours?

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

L.

M.
Happy clearing!

images via House to Home

My new favorites at Chiasso!

I always like finding Chiasso in my mailbox, because they always have something new that I haven't seen before, or something really unique and quirky. Also, they aren't ridiculously priced, so you can actually get some of the stuff that you like!


I love these colorful and bright doormats, when mine wears out I'll definitely be getting one of these!
I love this rug, it's simple but dramatic. I wish they'd add some more color options.

These candle holders are probably my favorite item Chiasso is carrying right now. They're modern, elegant, and clean.





$128 for a set of two is a great deal on these chairs.
So sweet! Little silver dove salt and pepper shakers

decor8: Inspired on a Budget

One of my favorite decorating blogs is decor8, and I just had to share some of the images from Car-Mobel, (sadly in Germany), which they featured in a recent post. I also went to the Car Moebel site myself and picked some of my favorite inspirational images.






















Go to Decor8's post