apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

How about putting photos or artwork on the wall. That may create an interesting grouping effect by the step on the wall.

I'm envisioning a super-sized vintage-style travel poster!

Paint the window wall, built out wall on right and what I assume is the wall on the left (to the doorway) a deeper shade or accent to the paint you already have. This would create an alcove affect.
Hang smaller grouped artwork or pictures on the 2 accents walls opposite each other.

i'd put three photo ledges on the inset wall, since those are shallow enough that it looks like they'd "fill out" that space to be level with the other wall.

put varying sized frames (but large, like 8x10 and 16x20) on the ledges, and then on the lefthand wall, hang a large poster-sized frame.

those ledges will give the illusion that there is no inset wall, especially if you get long ones, and stack them about three high with some room between them. really fill out that wall.

I think some shelves that run across the whole wall, but are slightly deeper where the wall is indented. They would not be really deep, so they don't take up a lot of room, and I would paint them the trim color.

I really like the above idea of picture ledges -- similar to shelves, but actually quite shallow, so delineating the actual space appropriately.

I don't see that there's a problem - Just get some artwork on the walls. I think the reason that your hutch seemed cramped is simply because this is a small room - you should always allow for 30-36" space around all sides of a table for circulation.

I certainly wouldn't paint one section of the wall a different color - that would appear contrived.

Artwork or objets in shadow boxes to take advantage of the depth.

It seems to me that if you lost any width from the room, it would start to feel cramped. I'd recommend artwork for visual interest, but not furniture. If you absolutely do need some storage/display space, how about a high, narrow shelf that runs the entire length of the room? It wouldn't cut into your table/chair/movement space. If you built it yourself, it could zig-zag just like the wall, which would look pretty cool.

Dress the wall up with rectangular "boxes" of picture moulding and a chair rail. Could even do a wainscot/beadboard. Architectural details would work wonders in that space; keep the eye moving horizontally around the room.

Picture ledge, or a LARGE framed mirror.

Or build out the opposite wall in the same way, and use it as the framework for a banquette/window seat.

Don't paint the wall a different color. This will only emphasize the irregularity. The shelf ideas are fine, but might be costly and aren't really necessary. Just hang art on it like you would any wall.

I agree with the idea that you need two-three narrow bookshelves in white and picture frames of different sizes. I wouldn't paint any of the walls because of the size of the room. Instead I would add color with some nice curtains in rich color, maybe green (but most colors will work with your wall paint). Hutch is not a good idea, I would even get rid of the window-side chairs or keep just one. If you get rid of the chairs, lefthand-side corner might be a nice place for a corner (triangle) shelving unit where you display stuff. Beside that I really like the table and chairs, but not the fabric on the chairs.

I would start with a round table. It is way too angular in there. Then some art on the walls (and a nice mirror would work to elongate the space). Add curtains in a nice light linen colored fabric and it becomes much softer.

how about photo ledges and leaning big and small frames on them.

I agree that just hanging artwork or a mirror or something would be fine.

I LOVE your table and chairs, and the fabric on the chairs! Gorgeous!

I actually like the table and chairs. I would add matalic printed wall paper to give the walls depth and interest. Maybe a green with silver. Re-do the chair cushions to make the green in the wall paper. Do the borders in a grey solid matalic. Add pendant lights, maybe cluster in the middle of table. Keep the wood table brown, but darken it up with some shine. I noticed a baby chair. If you add colorful moroccon pendants hanging from the ceiling in clusters, that would be a fun spot for baby and adults to gather. The walls could be left without art because of the interest in the wall paper. Add an area rug that works with the lights.

A floor to ceiling light sculpture a la Dan Flavin. DRAMA

how about a hanging quilt or some type of fabric art?

How about build out the wall so it is even? Certainly a much bigger change that other suggestions but if the space bothers you that much, that would fix it.

i think the table needs to be turned the other way. i would keep it pulled away from the window like you have it now, try to find another place for the chairs, and get a low cabinet, bookshelf or window seat (white) to put under the window. maybe put a tall plant to the left of the window. the space feels a bit narrow, so emphasizing the horizontal should open it up a bit. i would not put anything in the bump-out except framed art. anything bulkier would close the room back up.

I'd put shallow shelves on the right hand side of the wall filled with small vases and art work.

And on the left hand side of the wall, I'd put a large art work to balance it out.

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I meant to say "try to find another place to put the extra chairs"

Hi!

How about some shelves? Or a picture rail (my sister has some in her dining room with some family photos on them and it looks very nice)...

Our dining room is very similar to yours...we originally had a hutch but then sold it because it made things too cramped.... we put in some floating shelves instead....take a look..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30336139@N05/3257064756/

We have very similar chairs...we just bought our chairs (craigslist)...we plan to recover them and likely get a vintage teak table...(currently we have them at a homemade harvest table that suited our old style but we are slowly moving to a more mid century style)....

paint it a different shade of the same color (but maybe not with this pinky-beige), then hang a large piece of art. I love little architectural quirks like this. don't try to hide or ignore it!

Hi, I realized that I had not made my photo album public (post above with link to our similar dining room)... You can take a look now if you are interested...

I agree with the posts above about just using the space to hang some artwork. I have a very similar uneven wall in my living room. I rent, so I couldn't paint it or install built-in shelves, but I bought some very shallow bookcases that nearly fit the space (they're slightly deeper than the nook, so they stick out about a centimetre further than the nook itself...ah, renting!). It looks OK, and I appreciate the extra shelving, but with hindsight I'm sure it would look better if I'd just embraced the uneven wall and hung a painting/poster/whatever that I really loved there. Putting furniture there doesn't hide the uneven wall -- people will still notice it -- and if anything, I think it might make your room seem more interesting. Don't worry too much about it -- just embrace it as a great space in which to showcase something you really love.

Obviously some artwork would help. However, I think what the real issue is, is the "oneness" or sameness of color. You are lacking depth. Personally, I like roller shades, bamboo is nice, but to give the room a little height, you could put in some curtains that are ceiling to floor to give a bit more drama. Choose a color like the bright blue dish on your table? or the Orange in the seats? Something to make it pop a bit more. I see you have a light missing from the ceiling as well..find a nice light, maybe something paper? to go with the asian print on the chairs? You just need to cozy this up some. I think just those three things alone will make you view the room differently.

picture ledge