Perfect Balance

In today's world, formal dining rooms are beginning to become obsolete.  Be honest, how many formal gatherings do you have where you actually eat in the dining room?  The formality that typically comes to thought when thinking of dining rooms tends to make people feel like they need their pinky in the air with every swig of coffee and the posture of a princess while eating dinner.  

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The dining space above is perfectly adaptable to today's changing view of formal dining rooms.  This space could be created in any nook of your home.  There is a fashionable casualness to the selection of colors and materials.  There are elements paying homage to your traditional dining space, such as the oval back Victorian inspired chairs and the silver tea service, but there are also more casual elements like the upholstered banquette and rustic iron base table.  

Click to Enlarge- Factory Table, CUC3023

  The combination of wood and iron creates instant charm without all of the stuffiness of a matching dining set. With this table, you can create a transitional space or even an industrial space.

Click to Enlarge- Medallion Side Chair, B004 E106 C003

With a nod to history, French and otherwise, this chair adds a feeling of history, but the mid-tone wood stain and neutral fabric exude a modern flair.  Mixing wood finishes adds a casual, collected vibe to any room.

Click to Enlarge- Bombay Bowls, Set of 2, 2498

Large wooden bowls will be the perfect center piece to fill with interesting finds, greenery, candles, or food items.  A collection of interesting accessories on a dining table provides instant dining conversation as well as strays away from the expected center floral arrangement or candle sticks.

Click to Enlarge- Antique Silver Oval Madison Tray, R275

A large silver tray will provide the perfect sparkle to a dining table.  Fill the tray with any collection of items your heart desires.  When you have a sprawling dinner party, you can easily remove the tray to clear up table space, or even re-purpose the tray from holding decorative items to food items.  Do not be afraid of mixing your metal finishes; think of them as neutrals that coordinate with any color scheme.
 

Click to Enlarge- Pinders Rectangular Chandelier, CUC9389

 The light fixture in the original inspiration image is unique in the fact that it does not look like a traditional tiered chandelier.  More of an island light, the fixture adds an instant focal point that grounds the rest of the collected table accessories.

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For a large open wall like the inspiration image, a grouping of multiple framed pictures adds drama without the large price tag of one over-scale art piece. The variety of images will keep any dinner party interesting.  Pick inspired visual topics like images from your travels, antique botanical images, machinery close ups, or still life layouts.




You can find all of the featured products on The Great House Store's website at www.thegreathousestore.com