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Roundup: Mix and Match Dining Rooms From Dominos Past

111708dining13.jpgMost rooms are not purchased as a package; they evolve from hand-me-downs, trades, great sales or antique finds, and with endless sources for adding the final touches and colors. Case in point: My dining room includes a Room & Board rug from Craigslist, a wood table with woven chairs on indefinite loan from a friend who moved to LA with no space for the set, a buffet from an Evanston garage sale, vintage curtains from a demolition sale, a large mirror that's been in the family for decades, and our favorite artwork by friends. Nothing was meant to go together, but everything does. Even from these rooms featured in past Domino issues, we think ideas should be mixed and matched, not taken as a whole:
111708diningthumbs.jpg

 
 

111708dining1.jpg#1: A bench instead of chairs on one side of a dining table feels inviting and saves space.
Photo by Angela Moore / April 2006

111708dining2.jpg#2: For a room that spills into a yard, rugged floors and fixtures offer a seamless transition to the outdoors.
Photo by Paul Costello / November 2006

111708dining3.jpg#3: Curvy chairs work with a harder-edged table when they have clean lines in common, just as prints with a common palette intermingle harmoniously.
Photo by Michel Arnaud / April 2006

111708dining4.jpg#4: Walls, windows and ceiling get a stroke of elegance. A high-functioning casual setup lives below.
Photo by Melanie Acevedo / October 2006

111708dining5.jpg#5: Here's an easy formula for mixing chairs: just make sure materials match. Add energy to a simple setup with a bright runner.
Photo by Paul Costello / October 2006

111708dining6.jpg#6: Mounting a mirror along the wall that's parallel to your table makes the room feel bigger and creates a lively, restaurant-y ambiance.
Photo by Matt Albini / December 2006

111708dining7.jpg#7: Unusual wall surfaces can completely change the mood of a dining room. Soft, warm cork creates a cozy vibe.
Photo by Michel Arnaud / November 2006

111708dining8.jpg#8: An understated approach—including clear accessories and a simple centerpiece—maximizes a pretty view.
Photo by Erik Otssea / April 2006

111708dining9.jpg#9: An oversized floor lamp is an offbeat alternative to a pendant over the table. Double the glow with a mirror.
Photo by Don Freeman / September 2005


111708dining10.jpg#10: To pull off stylish chaos, stick to a simple palette (black, white, wood) and an even simpler dining table.
Photo by Simon Upton / June 2006

111708dining11.jpg#11: Shake up a traditional dining set with a fringe-y, elaborately patterned focal point.
Photo by Justin Bernhaut / September 2006

111708dining12.jpg#12: A sculptural table can elevate casual dining.
Photo by Jason Penny / October 2005

111708dining13.jpg#13: There's subtlety to this unexpected pairing (city-sleek chairs and rough-hewn table) because the shapes fit comfortably together.
Photo by Paul Costello / November 2005

View them all here.

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Comments (11)

Those are lovely dining rooms. I like nearly all of them.

posted by Daniel Poitiers on November 17th 2008 at 4:17pm
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I'm in love with that Faux-Bamboo/Rattan tray-table/bar setup...

posted by bepsf on November 17th 2008 at 4:53pm
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Hmm... I wonder if I added some chairs to the dining set, would it look less out-of-the-box (while still keeping the four matching chairs)? (scheming)

posted by whytephoenix on November 17th 2008 at 5:07pm
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Can someone tell me where i can get the striped table runner on pic 3 from or something similar. Puh-lease?

posted by cscamp20 on November 17th 2008 at 5:26pm
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"Can someone tell me where i can get the striped table runner on pic 3 from or something similar. Puh-lease?"

Get some striped fabric and make your own?

Or you could get a variety of solid fabrics, cut them to various widths and sew them together to make your own striped runner.

posted by bepsf on November 17th 2008 at 5:33pm
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Sorry but i can't sew!

posted by cscamp20 on November 17th 2008 at 6:31pm
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Use iron-on adhesive! Works like a charm.

posted by Lilli K. on November 17th 2008 at 8:38pm
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(and can pretty much hold on in the washing machine, too, although a few stitches (by hand) help )

posted by Lilli K. on November 17th 2008 at 8:39pm
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i love mixing chairs and tables. i wanted the ikea bjursta table, but i wanted white bentwood chairs. i found someone selling the large bjursta (oak veneer) and 4 henriksdal (parsons chairs) with beige covers for ridiculously cheap, so i couldnt pass them up.

anyone have suggestions for making this look less boring?
we want to either add 2 more chairs or a bench, anyone have suggestions for that?

posted by eribear12 on November 17th 2008 at 10:40pm
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It's so funny how I already had most of them in my inspiration file!!!

posted by funkylola on November 18th 2008 at 12:06am
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The Bitter Foodie is LOVING this style!

www.thebitterfoodie.blogspot.com

posted by thebitterfoodie on November 18th 2008 at 12:50pm
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