Inspiration Snapshot :: Rustic Eclectic Dining

This dining room is a wonderful mix of rustic meets modern meets industrial chic! The raw wood table is beautiful and the oversized upholstered hostess chairs, along with the crystal clear ghost chairs all seem to compliment each other perfectly. The industrial pendants add a nice touch and I love the white wood ceiling. What else are you noticing about this space?

Happy Friday to you all! Enjoy your weekend!

[IMAGE SOURCE]

Inspiration Snapshot :: Boho Chic Dining

How adorable and stylish is this dining room? I spotted it on Pinterest (where else?!) and it immediately looked Inspiration Snapshot worthy! I love the mix of chair styles, the upholstered host and hostess chairs (a favorite of mine in dining rooms), and the super cute chair seat fabric in all different colors and patterns. The rustic natural wood table is a fabulous piece that really anchors the room. And what about that cool chandelier?! It feels so fresh and cheerful here! What else are you noticing about this space?

[IMAGE SOURCE PINTEREST]

Inspiration Snapshot: Eclectic Chic Dining

Today is a great day! My husband was offered an incredible job after nearly two years of unemployment, and he happily accepted. God is so great and faithful to his promises - I feel truly blessed and can't wait to see what other incredible opportunities he has in store for us this year!

This fabulous little dining room caught my eye, particularity the striped chairs and awesome chandelier. I love the eclectic mix of pieces in this space - the zinc table top paired with a wood base, chairs upholstered in  fabulous black and white striped fabric and trimmed with nail heads, the vibrant turquoise ottoman for additional seating, and the fun piece of art. It's a great reminder that not everything always has to "match," especially in a dining room. Sometimes the more you mix it up, the better and more original the outcome! What do you like about this space?

[DESIGNED BY RACHEL REIDER INTERIORS]

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A Dreamy Dining Room

How amazing is this dining room?! This Long Island beach house, decorated by Manhattan designer Timothy Whealon, was featured in Veranda's May/June issue. Where do I begin with what I'm loving in this space? Let's see...the soft gray wall color and crisp white paneling create a cozy feeling and give the illusion of a high ceiling. The dark wood floor anchors the entire space and allows all of the white and linen accents to really pop. I adore the sleek white lacquered dining table paired with the traditional side chairs in a worn white finish. The over-sized upholstered host & hostess wing back chairs create a grand feeling - this is something I love doing in client's dining rooms. And that chandelier?! I think it's what "makes" this entire space! What else do you love about this dreamy dining room?

{IMAGE CREDITS COURTESY OF THE MCGRAW AGENCY / VERANDA MAGAZINE}

Inspiration Snapshot: Bright & Airy Dining

Isn't this beach cottage dining room sweet?! For starters, the soft gray walls make a nice backdrop for the furniture and accents, especially the pale pink loveseat. The ultra light bleached wood floor keeps the space feeling light and airy. And the wood dining table adds a rustic touch, which works really well with the rest of the modern accents and keeps the space from feeling too feminine. I love the chandelier and the white directors chairs too! What do you think about this space?

{IMAGE CREDIT: BHG.COM}

Inspiration Snapshot: Chic & Cheerful Kitchen Nook

Have you seen the latest issue of House Beautiful?! This gorgeous kitchen nook is on the cover and there are several reasons why I'm loving it: the yellow accent wall - normally I'd stay away from yellow paint but this color totally works with all of the neutral grays and whites; the fact that the designer used an actual sofa instead of a built-in bench seat (and the fabric is lovely!); the bright citron dining table; the cute wire stools, which are actually side tables - the designer just added a custom cushion to the top. And did you notice the floor? It used to be dark brown and was transformed with a painted pattern in gray and white. I'd love to start my day off in this cheerful space with a cup of coffee and my morning paper. How about you?!

[IMAGE COURTESY OF HOUSE BEAUTIFUL]

Dining in Style

Is it time to do a little re-styling in your dining room? If you're planning on having guests over during the holidays, maybe it's time to spruce up your dining room or kitchen nook! I'm hosting a Christmas dinner party next month and having guests over always makes me want to update the decor in my apartment. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint, new chandelier, or new dining chairs can be just enough to do the trick! I've rounded up several fabulous dining spaces for inspiration. Do you have any plans on updating your decor before the end of the year? If so, please do share! On that note, I'd like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on what's important in life and to acknowledge all of the blessings God has given me in my life. I have so many things to be thankful for this year. Cheers to a fantastic day filled with family, friends, happiness and LOTS of delicious food and drink :) xoxo - Julie

[IMAGE CREDITS VIA MY PINTEREST BOARD: DINING IN STYLE]

Inspiration Snapshot: Romantic Chic Dining

I'm loving this ethereal dining space! It's fresh, feminine and glamorous. The combination of pastel and bright shades of pink mixed with off-white is just lovely. The gold chandelier adds a touch of glamour and the mixture of different chair styles creates an eclectic look. I can envision myself hosting a tea party with girlfriends or sipping on champagne and strawberries! What do you think about this dining room? What style dining room would you love to have?

{IMAGE CREDIT: HOUSE & HOME; COLOR PALETTE CREATED BY JULIE THIGPEN}

Inspiration Snapshot: Cool, Classy and Beautiful

Have you seen this dining room by designed by Miles Redd?! It's part of an amazing home featured in House Beautiful's April issue. Where do I begin on describing  my love for this space?! For starters, how stunning is that wall display of celadon vases mounted on plaster brackets? The matching vase and wall color keep the  display from overwhelming the space and the white brackets provide just enough contrast. The monochromatic color palette is fresh and soothing - I could see myself spending hours in this room! And I love the  bleached midcentury dining chairs paired with the ivory dining table. What do you think about this space? Would you try a wall display as dramatic as this one?

IMAGE CREDIT: HOUSE BEAUTIFUL / JAMES MERRELL

Mix it up with Dining Room Seating

Gone are the days of "matchy-matchy" furniture groupings in any room... living rooms, bedrooms, etc. You definitely don't want the furniture in your space to look like it came straight off the showroom floor as a complete set. It's much more interesting when pieces are mixed together in different finishes and styles. However, when it comes to the dining room, I think most of us tend to go with what's "safe" and end up purchasing the complete dining set, which usually consists of a table with 6 - 8 matching chairs (and maybe a matching buffet). I've been noticing more and more the use of chunky upholstered chairs or settees mixed with lighter-scale side chairs, a trend I absolutely adore! It's inspired me to really think outside the box when designing for clients. I've gathered together some great examples on how playing with different chair styles can make all the difference in a dining room. How do you feel about incorporating larger upholstered pieces in the dining room? Do you like the look of mixing different sizes and/or styles together? Please share!

IMAGE CREDITS: DECOR PAD; JULIE THIGPEN/MODERN CHIC HOME; HOUSE TO HOME

Quote of the Week

"The daily ritual of meals - the shared preparation and the act of eating with others - can bring people together in more than one sense. It is a time when bonds are formed and sustained, when stronger, richer human connections are created, a time to listen to each other, inform each other, entertain each other, and enjoy each other without the pressure that "quality time" seems to impose."

- Ilse Crawford, Home is Where the Heart Is

IMAGE CREDITS: MARTHA STEWART, ELLE DECOR, ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST, ETC.

Eclectic Dining Spaces

Gone are the days of purchasing an entire set of matching furniture! Although there are exceptions where a matching set can look great...mixing different pieces together looks much more interesting. To achieve an eclectic dining space you can make each chair different, mix different wood finishes and/or upholstery, incorporate benches or stools with chairs, play with the scale / proportion of the table and seating...among many other creative ideas. However, there's a fine line between "eclectic" and "hodgepodge" so you want to choose your pieces wisely. I must admit, my dining table and chairs match but I'm constantly brainstorming ways I can change the look without spending much $$$ (thinking of painting the chairs, which would definitely help). What's your take on this style and design approach? What would you do to create an eclectic dining space of your own? 

IMAGE CREDITS: HOUSE TO HOME; LIVING ETC; HOUSE BEAUTIFUL; MARIE CLAIRE MAISON