We’ve lived in our house for just over four years now, but it’s still far from finished – not least because rather than move onto areas that we haven’t yet touched, I’ve spent the last few months redoing rooms that we’d already decorated! First up was the living room, and now I’m excited to be able to share the results of the next makeover on the list: the dining room.
This room is one of the most frequently used spaces in the house (we don’t have an open-plan kitchen so this is where we eat and where we gather with family and friends) but, as with the living room, I’d never been 100% happy with the way I’d decorated it first time round. You can get a glimpse of what it used to look like and read about my plans in this post, but essentially my aim was to replace the previous bluish-grey scheme with something a little warmer, while keeping the minimalist feel. A lot of the furniture was also beginning to look very scruffy thanks to cat claws and my own clumsiness, and I’d never been keen on the chunky dark-wood table that we bought in hurry when we first moved into the house. So, here’s what I did…
The colour scheme
As strange as it sounds, the monochrome colour palette was inspired by a cream and charcoal rug from Swedish company Nordic Knots, which now forms the basis of the entire room. The walls were already painted in a soft white, but the cool undertones of the previous scheme didn’t do it justice. It’s now paired with black and natural oak, which bring out its warmth and create a look that’s smart yet inviting. I’ve also incorporated a few grey and chrome accents to give a bit of continuity with the living room next door, and I’ve softened the room’s many angles with billowing semi-sheer curtains that pool on the floor.
The furniture
Like most rooms in our house, the furniture and accessories used here are a mix of investment pieces that we saved up for and cheaper items from the likes of IKEA. The biggest spend was the solid-oak table from Rose & Grey, but it was well worth the money. I’d had my eye on it for ages, so despite the cost it was the quickest decision of the whole project! I love the tapered legs and the way the wood is laid in a chevron pattern on top, adding a bit of detail to an otherwise minimalist piece.
Finding the right chairs was much trickier. I’ve owned the vintage Bertoia side chairs for years and wanted them to act as statement pieces at either end of the table, so the hunt was on for a complementary design that wouldn’t fight them for attention. After a lot of indecision and several inconclusive Instagram polls, I finally settled on black ‘J77’ chairs from HAY – an understated, timeless and very practical design first created back in the 1960s.
The lighting
Another key element of the room is the lighting – essential for setting a relaxed, cosy atmosphere for informal meals. A pendant lamp suspended low over the table was a must, as it creates an important focal point in the centre of the room. I opted for the ‘Fluid’ light from Muuto as it’s simple but striking; it also emits a soft, diffused glow and can be dimmed to alter the mood.
I’d also like to add a floor lamp in the corner of the room to give another source of ambient light, but that isn’t essential and will have to wait until budget allows.
The shelves
The built-in dresser was here when we bought the house and provides a wonderful place to display treasured objects. It had started to look a little cluttered, though, so I spent an afternoon faffing around with it and pared things right back. The result is a curated selection of a few favourite pieces, including ceramics that I’ve collected over the years, a ‘Kubus’ candleholder (the first piece of classic Scandinavian design that I ever treated myself to!) and a trailing string-of-hearts plant. As I’m partial to a G&T, I decided to incorporate a handy bar corner with glasses and measures, too.
The artwork
The art was also carefully chosen, and I love the fact that all of it was made by talented friends. The bespoke ceramic artwork above the fireplace was a kind gift from potter Tracy Dixon, whose journey I’ve been following for a while. As well as minimalist vases and tableware, she crafts stunning made-to-order wall hangings formed from organic stoneware shapes attached to wooden boards, and no two are the same. I asked her to paint this one the same shade as the wall, but she can use whatever colour you want. The clematis print in the far corner of the room was purchased from fellow blogger and photographer Emma Lavelle, whose work has a wonderfully ethereal, dream-like quality.
So, there you have it: my minimalist yet warm dining-room makeover! I’m so pleased to have it ready in time for Christmas feasts, and I’m looking forward to styling the table for the festive season – inspiration for that to follow next week…
Here’s a full list of everything I used in this room (items marked * were kindly gifted by the brands concerned):
‘Bergen’ solid-oak dining table, £795, Rose & Grey
HAY ‘J77’ chairs, £139 each, Utility Design
Vintage Bertoia side chairs, already owned
Large ‘Fluid’ pendant lamp, Muuto*
Cream and charcoal ‘Solid’ flat-weave rug, £359, Nordic Knots*
White fruit bowl, Hübsch
Bespoke ceramic artwork, price on application, Tracy Dixon*
‘HK’ pitcher, £195, Georg Jensen*
Chrome ‘Balance’ candleholder, €35, Ferm Living*
Grey ‘Stammen’ speaker, £219.99, Urbanears*
Black ‘Kubus 4’ candleholder, €138, By Lassen
Large white ‘Kubus’ bowl, €245, By Lassen*
Grey ‘Circle’ tray, 525 SEK (around £46), Cooee Design*
‘Ultima Thule’ glasses, £82 for a set of four, Iittala*
Dark grey ‘Sculpt’ vase, €55, Ferm Living
Other ceramics, collected from markets over the years
‘Clematis 2’ print, £25, Emma Lavelle
Grey ‘HILJA’ curtains, £12, IKEA
Smoked-glass ‘Burr’ bud vase, £12 for a set of three, MADE.com*
‘Theo’ coffee brewer, £59.95, Stelton
Madam Stoltz black stoneware cups, £10 each, Stil Homeware
Grey waffle cloth / tea towel, £8.50, White Black Grey
‘Soft’ wooden board, 445 DKK (about £53), Skagerak*
Nordic Knots, Tracy Dixon and Muuto kindly gifted products for the makeover, but as always all words and opinions are my own. Several other items featured were also originally gifted by the brands concerned, as noted above.
All photography by Abi Dare
Oh my gosh I LOVE it! And those shelves are a thing of beauty! Good work! ????
Thanks so much Hayley! That’s so kind of you. We were very lucky to inherit the shelves from the previous owners
It’s beautiful Abi, I love the chairs in black, they’ve got such a lovely, simple shape. x
Thanks so much Cate! It took me ages to decide on chairs but I think I got the right ones in the end, and it’s so nice to have it all ready for Christmas! x
Oh my goodness it’s absolutely beautiful! You must be so pleased with it! Well done you.
Thanks so much Sam! I’m over the moon with it – so much nicer than it was before x
What a beautiful elegant, dining room Abi. I love the accessories – would love that pitcher and the Balance candle holder.
Thanks so much for the kind words Lin! It’s so nice to have another room done (well for now anyway – I’m always changing things around!) x
What a great space! We LOVE monochrome design. I particularly like what you have done with your shelves which look fantastic.
Thanks so much! We were lucky as the shelves were here when we bought the house, and I love using them to show off a few key pieces. I’m so pleased to have the room ready for Christmas, too.
I think this makeover is on point! I am a huge fan of a contemporary / minimalist style but ultimately, if you don’t know how to add warmth and exude personality, it can appear to be very cold! I think you’ve done quite the opposite and curated a very inviting space! I’m sure it looks gorgeous this time of year with Christmas around the corner!
Thanks so much for the kind words Catherine! I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out and I’m so happy to have it ready for Christmas!
The overall look and feel of this room is so perfect! A real curated look. I love monochrome spaces and beautiful items. The shelves are so simple but beautiful too
Thank you! I love monochrome too and wanted to prove that it needn’t be cold or uninviting. I’m so pleased with how it’s come together x
The dining room is absolutely beautiful! Your string of heart plant is just amaaaaazing!! Mine isn’t growing as well.. it must like it’s new spot!! Love the beautiful accent and the artwork above the fireplace is simply stunning!!
Thanks so much for the kind words – I’m really glad you like it! This plant is a bit of a monster – it just keeps growing and growing! I’m not very good with plants, so I think it must just love the light in this spot!
absolutely stunning Abi! I love everything about it, the colour palette above all. Bravo for this achievement ♡
Thanks so much Ilaria! It’s so good to have it finished. Really glad you like it x
Such a beautiful curated space Abi. I absolutely adore everything about it…. it’s stunning!
Wow, thanks so much for the kind words Maria!
Warm minimalism – I can get on board with that! As a lover of colour I can really appreciate how you’ve carefully married textures and subtle uses of certain shades to make this scheme really work. So inviting! Your items are styled so nicely too x
Thanks so much Donna! I love minimalism but I really want my home to be warm and inviting too, so I’m so happy you think the balance is about right xx
Looks absolutely amazing Abi. Love the wall colour and it definitely adds warmth and cosiness to the room. The table and chairs combo is just perfect.
Thanks so much Stacey! The chairs were such a tricky decision but I got there in the end! I’m really pleased with how it’s all come together x
An absolutely beautiful calm space Abi. I love the choice of paint and paired with the wood and monochrome elements its serenity personified. I’m particularly smitten with your artwork by Tracy Dixon. Gorgeous, Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
Thanks so much Mary – so glad you like it! The artwork is so special. I can’t stop gazing it at when I’m in that room! x
Hi Abi,
Your house is so beautiful – it gives me inspiration for days! We also live in an Edwardian house in Bristol and the layout is very similar (the lounge is virtually identical so seeing the makeover got me a little bit excited!).
I was going to ask about the built in shelves – these are exactly what we want for our own dining room (again it’s exactly the same layout) and you being in Bristol i thought you might have had experience / recommendationd of a local company, but then i read you were lucky enough to have them when you moved in! (Jealous :P)
Anyway, regular reader, first time poster, so thought I’d say hi and keep up the great work!
Thanks so much for the kind words Rebecca – it really means a lot to know people like my posts and find them inspiring!
Yes the dresser in this room was here when we bought the house, but we had similar designed and fitted in our living room by Bristol-based Durkan Design & Build (https://durkan.design) and I’d highly recommend them!
Abi xx
Ah that’s fantastic – thank you for the recommendation.
Looking forward to more beautiful content in 2019.
Merry Christmas x
A pleasure – glad you help! And Merry Christmas to you too xx
Hi Abi,
Just an update – we’re on the waiting list for custom shelving with Durkan Design – all because of your recommendation! My partner is so excited – he keeps telling everyone and although he doesn’t really understand the concept of a blog (bless him) he keeps telling people that “Rebecca’s fellow Bristol internet friend” recommended them!
Anyway, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a March 2020 install, so thank you so much once again 🙂
That’s so great to hear – thanks for the update! Matt does such a good job so I’m sure you’ll love the results. He’s now done kitchen shelves for us too, and we couldn’t be happier with them x
Only you can rock monochrome in such a stylish way. The black accents are gorgeous, but the Bertoias are my favourite!
Wow, thanks Juan! I have to admit the Bertoias are my favourites too. In fact the whole room was pretty much planned around them 😉