…nor “Vintage”, nor “Beachy” but you kinda want to be!
Or for an alternative title:
When you want to add some of the decor elements you so envy admire
in the homes of your fellow bloggers but you don’t know how to ’cause your style is different.
Ok, so here’s the thing about my home.
The actual “house” itself, just lends itself to a more traditional/formal design.
Let’s take a peek!
The actual “house” itself, just lends itself to a more traditional/formal design.
Let’s take a peek!
See what I mean?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my home (minus the green carpet) and feel immensly blessed.
But, the architecture and lines of it are definitely a certain style.
Add in traditional furniture and other elements that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and you have what could lean slightly towards the “stuffy” if you aren’t careful.
And, as I visit all of you talented folks here in blogland, I fall in love with so many styles and design ideas but have struggled with how to incorporate them into my existing decor.
So, I decided it was high-time to bite the bullet and figure out how to breath some fresh, new life into some of my more “traditional” spaces.
And, as I visit all of you talented folks here in blogland, I fall in love with so many styles and design ideas but have struggled with how to incorporate them into my existing decor.
So, I decided it was high-time to bite the bullet and figure out how to breath some fresh, new life into some of my more “traditional” spaces.
Case in Point…the Dining Room.
Here it is a few months ago, and as you can see there is dark furniture (which we have had for 12 years) a brass chandelier (which will be going bye-bye very soon!) and other more “formal” elements.
Here it is a few months ago, and as you can see there is dark furniture (which we have had for 12 years) a brass chandelier (which will be going bye-bye very soon!) and other more “formal” elements.
And, I feel almost ashamed to admit this because so much of what I see nowadays is “casual”, but…
I actually like a little bit of “formal” in my life!
Most of my life is filled with toys and stuffed animals and potty training and messes so a hint of formality here and there helps me to feel less…ummm…one dimensional. You know what I mean?
That being said, I’ve realized that the line between “formal” and “stuffy” can get a bit blurred.
And I don’t want anyone to ever feel like my home is for show and not for real living!
I actually like a little bit of “formal” in my life!
Most of my life is filled with toys and stuffed animals and potty training and messes so a hint of formality here and there helps me to feel less…ummm…one dimensional. You know what I mean?
That being said, I’ve realized that the line between “formal” and “stuffy” can get a bit blurred.
And I don’t want anyone to ever feel like my home is for show and not for real living!
So, I decided to attempt to add some character to my dining room and started with this sofa table which currently acts as a kind of “pseudo” buffet table.
It got a nice coat of black paint which helped to break up the tones of wood in this space.
This of course led to the next issue which was how on earth to hide those cords. I had taped them up before in a series of confusing twists and turns but it never really seemed to truly disguise them.
But, before I get to my solution…
It is CONFESSION TIME!
I think I have committed a cardinal home decor blogging “sin“.
I’ve had two vintage suitcases stuck up on a shelf in the kids’ playroom for the last 3 years.
I just heard the collective GASP!!
Shocked? Horrified? Ready to kick me out of blogland?
“How on earth could she have vintage suitcases tucked away and not be creating darling little vignettes with them like all of the rest of us do?”
I know, I know. I’m so ashamed.
But, I’m repentant and ready to make a fresh start!
I rescued these beauties from my in-laws garage sale and just love the details.
And with a basket filled with greenery sitting on top, they provided the perfect “hiding place” for my cords and added a touch of “vintage” charm to my dining room.
Can we just all pretend that the green carpet is actually lovely dark hardwood floors?
We can? Good!
Next came one of the decorating dilemmas I always seem to struggle with.
What to put on top of a table.
When I found this darling cupboard-door-turned-tray I knew I had my starting point.
Would this count as “Vintage” or “Shabby Chic“?
Maybe both?
Either way it really helped bring even more warmth into the space.
A grouping of decanters and my little tiny cloche, helped to add just a hint of formality to tie back into the design sensibility and purpose of this room.
Dining Rooms need to have some “Bling” if you ask me!
A vintage-inspired planter with greenery spilling out helps to soften and brighten the color and lines of my dining room table.
And the “chippy” charm of these candlesticks bring an element of relaxed elegance as well.
And I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I could get away with adding these huge white iron sconces to my dining room. They really help to soften and add just a hint of “shabby chic” style to it!
So there you have it! My attempt to add some new design elements to my Dining Room.
A little bit of “Vintage“…a touch of “Shabby Chic“.
And amazingly, it all works beautifully with the “Traditional“.
Next time, I’ll show you how I added a touch of “Beachy” style to my home!
Thanks so much for joining me today at the Fence,
This post is partying at the following places:
The Blooming Hydrangea: Someone’s Trash is My Treasure
A Stroll Thru Life: Tabletop Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
DIY By Design: Sizzle into Summer
No Minimalist Here: Open House Party
And Then There Was Home: Plate Wall Party
Elements Interiors: Whassup Wednesday
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
Green Door Designs: Saturday Spotlight
Your changes are just stunning. I love the addition of the tray and the suitcases, then the beautiful candles and floral on the dining table, it all works beautifully. Love it. Hugs, Marty
You did such a great job! I have the same struggle sometime…there are just so many beautiful things in blogland to “choose” from!
Kelly
Vanessa, I LOVE what you have done, and I love the formal aspect too. I think there is way, way too much casual in the world, lol!! I do love the suitcases too! I always try to hide cords too, they drive me crazy. Beautiful job as you always do and I think being different is so refreshing!! Oh, and I love that you painted the table black and not white. The only painted furniture I have around here is black also.
It looks great Vanessa! Of course I liked it before too. I really love a formal look too.
Just perfect! I love how you arranged the suitcases below the table! I have a tray like yours, but you have inspired me to transform it into something chic & shabby…
Looks great Vanessa! I love a formal style, as well. It would be too expensive to change everything in your house as styles change. A timeless, classic look with a few trendy accessories is beautiful, as well as practical!
Very pretty, Vanessa! The touches you added look great in your dining room. You have a beautiful home!
xo Cheryl
It looks really, really great! I, too, like a few fornal spaces in my house…the dining room being the main one and then I have a little more formal sitting room off the front foyer.
Are you taking the brass chandelier out? I kind of like the lines of it. My daughter painted hers Heirloom White and then added some beaded shades to it and it looks like a million bucks!
Have a great week- xo Diana
Hi Vanessa! Now I love your home and I tend to go a little more formal in my ‘special’ rooms too. I love seeing all of the pretty white and chippyness in Blogland, but I love color and it’s just not me.
I love your changes and you’re the smartest one using those suitcases to hide the cords. I have a similar problem but I don’t have any suitcases! 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
What a difference painting that table made! I really like how you decorated with the vintage suitcases and that they also solved your cord dilemma. Where did you put the sconces and planter?
I love what you’re doing, and yes, I totally understand. My furniture is all ornate and massive, much chosen by my hubbs, but our house dictates the style. I am trying to lighten and ease up and go less fussy. Those suitcases are great!
xoxo Debra
The change you made definately make for a more summertime look! So happy you rescued those suitcases and finally brought them out. Great touch!
Vanessa, I love it all! You have really beautified the space. I like your solution to the messy cords…how clever you are!
Small changes often have the biggest impact… It looks great and you have a beautiful home.
🙂
It’s beautiful Vanessa! I love the black table and the vintage suitcases! I know what you mean about not being this style or that. I drool over the all white shabby chic rooms. But when it comes to my own home, every single room is painted a different color!
Hi my friend LOVE LOVE your new touches!! The table looks awesome black and love how you added the vintage suitcases and greenery under it!! Great job! Martina
PS- LUV your blue plates around the mirror:)
My goodness, friend … where do I begin ?! I absolutely love your dining room and everything you’ve done … the beautiful plates framing the mirror above your lovely “new” table … the “sin”ful suitcases … the awesome tray … the beautiful glass/blingy vignette and, of course, I *love* your dark hardwood floors (lol)!! You’ve outdone yourself … I’m off to take another peek as this gorgeousness !! xoxo
Great job switching everything up. Of course I love the suitcases! I change the stuff in my house all the time. My house is formal and tradtional as well. My tastes are always evolving and changing. I asked my husband once how he would feel if I sold everything and started over…he just laughed. So I guess that was a no? Anyway, we all have things that we can’t get rid of so we just need to make them work. Well done. Have a great week…see you Friday!
I love the suitcases under the table,they are perfect there! Love the plates too.
Fantastic, Vanessa! Your home is Beautiful and when you go with what YOU love, it can be nothing but blissfully perfect! Thank you for sharing (and inspiring) with us!
You’ve done a great job. I like some formal. It seems to bring some security to the world. I’ve found that I’m able to mix Shabby Chic,Cottage and Country French successfully with traditional but I can not make Tuscan work at all. It’s such a total departure and everything is so BROWN. I’ve been told that decorating trends tend to run about ten year cycles so it’s time for a new look any year now.
I think everything is perfect! Can I please have those suitcases!!??? My house is filled with such a mixture, I don’t really have a style …but I need some vintage suitcases! Thanks, Debbie
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I love the changes you made! I must admit that I am one of those that audibly gasped when I read about the vintage suitcases being stowed away for so long 🙂 They look fabulous below the table and I think you have done a great job.
love the new additions & transformations. I know exactly what you mean about sooo wanting to change up and add a little & take away, but then I’m attached to everything, because of our move 6 years ago. I made major decisions then, attached – not attached. So I “paired her down”! But, do love adding a litte of seasonal decor (like seashells). Hope you are having a great summer. I’ve been consumed with the activities of summer, I’ve missed my visits with you & blogging! Hoping to get back into the swing in about a month.
You did good! I love black paint!
Loved this post! I have more ‘classic’ than ‘shabby chic’ but I also love rustic touches and always ponder how to blend them together. Your touches were perfect. Love that tray!!
I absolutely loved how you mixed shabby with traditional decor. Adding those vintage suitcases and topping them with the greenery to hide those cords and at the same create such a beautiful vignette is so inspiring! Loved it! And the cupboard-door-turned-tray is sooo pretty… loved the finish on it and I adore the crystal collection on it… it enhances the entire vignette so beautifully. Thanks for sharing such an inspiring post! Hugs~Poppy
http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/
I love it Vanessa! Love all the touches you incorporated into your dining room! I love formal too. 🙂
Hello from your neighbor at Wow Us Wednesday. I just made the same changes in our dining room at our new digs. I wanted to make it less formal, and I brought out the vintage luggage for under the buffet, too. We have participated in some of your parties, and I live in Kentucky, too.
I adore the changes you made.
I live in the north east and your home is the style we have here. Traditional/formal design is one of my favorite looks but it’s fun to add some ‘nowadays casual’ to it.
Dee
Those suitcases look great there and totally hide the cords perfectly! Smart idea!
I love your new touches! That’s my trouble too….with all of the white, french, farmhouse, cottage, out there, which I love, how do you add the touches when you can’t exactly toss out everything you own and start over? But, I’ve enjoyed adding the things I love about those styles in my own home, and in my own way! 🙂
Everything looks great! I’m hosting a plate wall party, and I’d love it if you linked up this post!
http://andthentherewashome.blogspot.com/2011/07/plate-wall-link-up.html
Courtney 🙂
Vanessa, You’re certainly doing a great job of incorporating some different styles into your original look. I really like the addition of the tray and the suitcases to “shabby” up the vignette. I’m a fan of the look, but don’t much of it in my decor except for one bedroom. I like a lot of eclectic things so I have a mish mash of style that I call my own! Do you know what drew me to your blog way back when? It was the formality of your hallway and dining room! It was just so pretty. 🙂 Sue
Vanessa, you did a terrific job! I feel your pain and know exactly where you are coming from.
Oh Vanessa, I am so with you on this subject. Getting involved in blogland does start to make you question whether you are cool and stylish enough. I too love traditional style. Actually that’s not quite true, I tend to love most styles but I enjoy living in a more traditional style. Probably because we are far to messy and modern minimalist or smart living is way to organised for my lot.
I think your house is just gorgeous and the suit cases look amazing. You clever ol’ thing.
Jo
Hi Vanessa! Your dining room looks awesome. I love the eclectic yet formal feel to the room. Decorating should be everything and everything you like and makes you smile. Have a good day!~
Oh! Your home is just gorgeous. I love the entry. You make great choices in decorating.
I absolutely love what you did with this space. I really admire your desire to have a ‘formal’ aspect in your life. I love formal looks but I am always very nervous about attempting them in my home…I definitely swing more vintage but you just proved you can have both! You are an inspiration!!
You’ve added some great changes. My house is also more traditional and I’ve been slowly adding a few blog-inspired touches here and there. It’s always fun to play house!
Hi Vanessa,
You live in my house. Very traditional style so too much shabby and chic just won’t cut it! Trying to add a little update chicness to it without it looking silly. You are doing a great job with your dining. It’s a lovely eclectic formal which is a great mixture. I may just have to post my family room with the blue rug…and I’ll take my two vintage suitcases out of the closet in the guest room and actually use them.
Marianne 🙂
Hi Vanessa, I have always liked a mix of decorating styles and you have pulled it off beautifully! I believe everything done in just one style can get a little boring. Thanks for linking to my party this week.
xo,
Sherry
Hi Vanessa, I love your new summer look with the suitcases and basket with plants is a great way to hide the cords.The tray and planter with the little bird really add that fresh look. I have a traditional home, too, just not as formal,and I’m always looking for ways to lighten things up a bit. Love your ideas!
Babs
it is amazing how the architecture of our homes affects the design choices we make…but i do adore the small changes you’ve made here and can’t wait to see your new chandy…thanks for sharing at ff as always!
That is beautiful! You have a wonderful home. 🙂
Adin B
I love the suitcases and blue plates! Very nice.
You did an awesome job on that tray. it’s beautiful. And I love those vintage suitcases.
I love this post! So difficult when your house style doesn’t really suit what is currently trendy in blogland (or anywhere else!).
Off to read more of your blog! You’ve got a great writing style.
I love those suit cases. I always have my eye out for some, but hardly ever come across them. Love how you placed them under the table. Visiting from Ange’s today!
Have a good week
Hi Vanessa – I agree I like a little formality in my decor style, I am tryng to created shabby chic – meets – French Country. I am doing a shabby chic makeover on my master bedroom and am thinking about this bed set by Laura Ashley called Sophia – http://www.home-decorating-co.com/shabby-chic-bedding-simply.html – thoughts please.