Layer by Layer: Dining Room Update
So many changes. I resigned from my full-time remote graphic design position this week. I’m really excited about new opportunities to grow in my creative pursuits, both with interiors and in crafts. I’ve felt a stirring for a long time, wanting more for my life than a remote job that doesn’t excite me in the least. I am keeping an open and abundant mindset that it won’t be long before I am deeply entrenched in the things that fill me with joy.
Like redecorating! The dining room is finished! Except for finding a plate stand. The one I ordered didn’t work out. We received a beautiful platter for our wedding and I want to show it off! It’s the first piece I reach for when planning a party in my head — what can I put on this beautiful piece? A pile of pasta? A giant chicken? It’s one of those heirloom quality pieces you hope to pass down.
Long ago, in one of my first apartments not long after finishing undergrad, I decided to pursue illustration and graphic design. I had no money for artwork so a friend gave me one of her undergraduate paintings. It reminded me of the fashion illustration I was obsessed with at the time. I have kept the painting and hung it proudly the last 15+ years in every apartment I’ve lived in and finally! had her properly framed with Framebridge.
In our previous apartment
Remember my post about forgetting to bid and losing out on great pieces. Well, it happened again with this work. What a bummer!! $75! But truth be told we priced out the shipping and it was out of budget. However, we did win a really special painting at auction. It turns out the artist, Christine McGinnis, and her husband who owned a gallery in Philadelphia, Rodger Lapelle, were one of David Lynch’s first supporters. Their financial support enabled him to pursue his dreams. If we could all be so lucky!
The Dining Room - First Go Around
The makeover started with a painting I wanted for two whole years! I watched and watched hoping no one would scoop her up. Luckily, they didn’t. I have no idea why because it is an amazing piece. Once Diana arrived she threw a wrench in our current set up. Jason is really keen to collect more and more records. Diana, my vintage credenza that Jason’s record collection was outgrowing, and our antique dining table weren’t vibing together, especially with the orangey hardwoods. I was overwhelmed by brown!
We tried a West Elm console that was ridiculously small once in the room. That went back. It paled in comparison to the craftsmanship of the credenza. And while longer, provided even less storage.
I was inspired by two separate spreads in different shelter magazines of wall to wall books in the dining room. Below is Virginia White’s open living + dining room with a modular metal shelving system from Vitsoe, originally designed by Dieter Ram in 1960. It was out of budget so we turned to the Ikea Boaxel system which was shockingly inexpensive. We created a floor to ceiling shelving system with the intention of adding many more books and decor throughout the years. I really love the book to book wall to wall shelving look but we aren’t quite there yet.
Virginia White
The credenza moved to another room but we still had to tackle the brown floor. I looked everywhere imaginable for a 10x14 rug. I wanted to cover up as much floor as possible. It’s a 100 year old house with who knows how many tenants over the years scratching up the wood. Not to mention, the orange stain. Ah! I can’t stand it.
The phone hears and sees everything and was sending me all sorts of rug ads on Instagram but they were all well outside our budget. Knowing many manufacturers turn to artisans in Jaipur, India, I went straight to the source! Etsy. We found a 10x14 wool/jute rug with free shipping for $486. With tax it came out to a little over $500. We chose our custom colors and waited patiently.
The rug arrived. At first I found it a little jarring because a kilim doesn’t really go with the adjacent living room but I’ve warmed up to it. Jason put his foot down and exclaimed it added a masculine touch. Fair enough.
I’m really happy with the simple changes we made, yet they have huge impact on the room! I always wanted something BIG to cover the large blank wall the credenza sat against, but very large works of art were out of our price range. I also knew I wanted to show off all the books and decor we’ve been collecting as individuals and as a couple. They were piled up in closets. So it is a best of both worlds - Jason gets to expand his record collection and I get to display all the beautiful things that make the home uniquely ours.
Despite being in a rental, we have put our stamp on the place and it really feels good. I love being here on both sunny and rainy days but look forward to a new position that will get me out of the house and into the community! And hopefully into people’s houses to help them decorate and love their space as much as I love mine.
