A Closer Look at the Dining Room

Hello Everyone!  

Hope your week is starting off well. 

 We had a busy weekend. 

 I felt like I was going full speed from Saturday morning until I fell into bed on Sunday night!  

The weather was PERFECT!  

I can't get enough of this kind of weather... 

And, in an attempt to get cozier during this cool Fall weather I've changed up my Dining Room again.  Last time you all saw it I was sporting a "Bridge into Fall" Look with Aqua, Creams and Browns.  It was actually the first time that I had EVER hung anything onto my dining room walls.  I guess I was afraid of messing up the Faux Finish!  

But once I took the plunge I started thinking of what I really wanted on the walls.  

I have been collecting Landscape painting for some time now.   Landscape paintings are my absolute favorite!  Whenever I go to a museum or an art display I am always drawn to the Landscape paintings.  So, I wanted to group some of them together in the dining room for more impact.  

I placed our 25th wedding souvenir painting from the Amalfi coast with a landscape painting that I purchased at an art gallery.  I bought this painting, actually a pair of paintings, while I was out searching for art for a client.  I had no intention of buying anything for myself when I walked in there.  I saw these two paintings and fell in love with them but I figured that they were too expensive.  I asked just out of curiosity what the price was.  I couldn't believe they were only $150 apiece.  They really are darling and when I brought them home and hung them up in the Living Room I told Mr. Beaux they were $1000.00 apiece.  He stared at me with a blank look on his face!  Then I told him the REAL price and relief washed over him.  See girls, THAT'S how it's done!  He was then thinking $300 was NOTHING!!!  *wink*

 On the other side of the mirror I grouped the other Art Gallery painting with my Estate Sale finds (much more affordable at about $5-$10 each) and a small painting from the Design Center.  My new Antlers went over the top on both sides.

Here's a full view of the Dining Room.  I know that you have seen this room a lot but I have never really given you the full tour.  When we designed the house I was living in California while Mr. Beaux was working here in Overland Park.  He had commuted for a year and it was time to move.  It's always hard to move but being together as a family is much more important!  It was exciting to build a new house this time instead of moving into someone elses wallpapered nightmare.  Do I sound like I've removed a bit of wallpaper in my day?  Anyway, we had a heck of a time with this Dining Room!

When it was all framed out our builder, Tom and I sat on the stairs and tried to figure out what we wanted to do.  Columns?   Two Columns? A Wall?  The problem that I was having with the design was that as you walk into the house you could see too much.  There was no element of surprise.  You know what I'm getting at?  I believe that homes should be designed so that when you walk in the entry you are intrigued and you want to see more!  Also, I didn't want anyone to see my dirty dishes when they walked in the front door!  So, after much sketching and talking and drawing on walls and putting 2X4's down on the ground we came up with these Curved Walls.  As you walk into the house the curved wall on the left keeps you from seeing all the way into the Kitchen.  

Here is a view from the Kitchen Hearth Room into the Dining Room.

 

We had it faux finished to resemble stone.  It was a very interesting process that they used.  They took drywall mud and coated the walls with a thick troweled coat.  Then they pressed crumbled up Styrofoam into the drywall mud.  They made the lines with string like you would use a chalkline.  When it was dry they poured acid over the wall to dissolve the Styrofoam.  Don't try this at home!  Then they painted the wall with paint and a mixture of the Ralph Lauren paint that has sand in it.  THEN, the glazed over that to get the antiqued finish!  

You can see on the top of the photo how they finished off the edge with a stone pediment.  Isn't that what you call it?  Help me out if I have that wrong.  Anyway, I was afraid that I might get tired of the look but I still love it and it really fits with the house.  It is really neutral and most of the time I don't really see it. 

The rug matches our stairway carpet.  I was looking for a 9X12 rug or larger for the space but they were so expensive.  It was much more cost effective to have the rug made and have the border put around it.  

 I ordered my curtains from the Smith Noble catalog.  They are Pinch Pleated Silk lined drapes in a pretty dark sagey olive color.  I wanted a lot of fullness so that they looked like a ballgown.  So, I ordered triple fullness instead of the normal double fullness for the width.  

I would love to have a new/old Chandy in here.  But the budget at the time only allowed for something less expensive.  We chose this fixture to coordinate with the Huge Chandelier that is in the Entryway.  The ceiling is painted Sherwin Williams Palladian Blue.  I love this color!  It is so soft and serene.  

The Dining Room table and chairs and Buffet are all from Bernhardt.  I liked the looks of this tall buffet with the pewter hardware.  The marble top makes it easy to place hot dishes on top.  Living in California I never had furniture that was this dark!  

Well, I hope you enjoyed my Dining Room Story!  

I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to visit my Blog and leave a comment.  

I love all of my Bloggy friends!

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

   I'm linking to
Susan at Between Naps on the Porchfor Metamorphosis Monday

  Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Kim at SavvySouthern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays 
 Judy at DIY by Design

 Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
 From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday 
Poutpourri Friday at 2805
 Cindy at My Romantic Homefor Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

 Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

Roeshel  at DIY Showoff
  Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia