Monday, October 18, 2010

French Style Dining / Library


Hello everyone,

We are having a cool windy day today so instead of doing some garden cleanup I decided to make a few changes in our dining/library today.

I have been looking for a round wood table for awhile but haven't found what I am looking for yet so I decided to take an old white round table in from the barn(where we store way too much stuff) and cover it with an old sheet to see if my plan would even work in there. I have a habit of thinking rooms are bigger then they actually are! Anyway, I rolled up the carpet and set up the table and then moved our french styled chairs around it to see if I liked the look -so now that you are here you have a vote too!!!



This is what the room looked like last spring when we had the bookcases built in and the wall put in between the hall and this room- some of you may remember when I posted it before. This chair on the left was replaced shortly after with a new french chair.

This was what two of the chairs around the table looked like when I bought them at a second hand store-light green. I had them redone in a sand beige and I rubbed some ivory paint on the wooden parts.

This was the room last week when we had our visitors from Japan. The chairs were in the corners of the room and the center was bare.

Do you see that big old entertainment center in the corner-we bought it secondhand last year and I planned to paint and antique it and use it as a china cabinet with chicken wire on the doors but by the time we finished all our projects in the spring ,garden season arrived and we left it alone. Today,my husband and I carried it upstairs to a bedroom where I will paint it and use it up there. It seemed to big where we had it. Please don't say you liked it where it was because we are NOT hauling the heavy old thing back down-at least not this week!

This is how the room looks through the french doors from the kitchen.

And this is how it looks from the hallway.

I picked this bouquet from our garden this morning.

Here you can see we have moved a chair into the corner where the big cabinet was-but this is still a work in progress.

Okay, what do you think should I have done my gardening cleanup and left this room alone or can you picture cozy candlelight dinners around the wood fireplace on cold winter nights?

I am joining in with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch again for Metamorphosis Monday and Cielo at the House in the Roses for Show Off your Cottage Monday.

Thank you for visiting me,

Carolyn

47 comments:

Tammy said...

Love love LOVE the table there, and can most assuredly picture cozy nights in front of the fireplace!

It's gorgeous!

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

POSITIVELY YES!!! I LOVE tables and incorporate them in every nook and cranny I can, BUT this is a POSITIVELY YES spot!!! Oh and I LOVE those bookcases too!
Hugs to you, Donna

Beverly said...

Oh yes, I do like it there. And, I can imagine cozy dinners before the fire.

Madelief said...

Dear Carolyn,

I would not change a thing about it. It looks simply lovely!!!

Lieve groet, Madelief

La Table De Nana said...

I can picture cozy candlelit dinners..I love it~

Deanna said...

Lovely room you've created!!!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

A dinner in front of the fire sounds simply splendid to me! Great idea!

Blessings,
Sandi

Raffaella said...

Wow! You've created a really nice angle! Not to mention the flowers in the vase that you have collected in the garden! I wish I had a garden like yours ... It 's my dream ...
Raffaella / melogranoantico.blogspot.com

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

It looks beautiful in the photos...so comfortable and homey!!! The bookcases are very beautiful!!!

P. said...

Our dining room is also our library - but yours is so much more beautiful!
Alfazema

It's me said...

Hello Carolyn


Your home like a casttle.......hahahahah!! so beautiful...i like what i see...........have a lovely day................hugs from me Ria...

Sanna - My Blueberry House said...

Hi Carolyn,

Yes a round table do work! And for the lovely cabinet... sorry that you have to bring it downstairs again... ;) Haha!

Have a great week,
Sanna

Anonymous said...

Hi Carolyn! OH, yes! I love your round table right there and the chairs are so lovely around it! You have such beautiful style! Oh, anything you do looks marvelous!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Dianne said...

Bonjour Carolyn.
The round table is very elegant and especially with a full length table cloth~ I love it! It creates a warm and inviting space.
To the question should you keep it there ~ mais oui!
~Dianne~

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello sweet lady...

Ohhh...I love the round table and frenchy chairs in this room, Carolyn! Yes...I think you should do it! wink! Ohh, and by the way...I hated that entertainment armoire in that corner! wink! (Does that make you feel better, my friend?...hehe!) I really do like the look and feel of a table in this room...and thought of dining beside the fire is just...ahhh!!! I love this beautiful room!

Well my friend, I just visited your last post! I wanted to tell you how amazing your photos were! Those gorgeous flowers covered in frost really were beautiful! I know...I almost hate saying that. We know what the frost means. Nevertheless...it seemed magical! Thank you for sharing your fabulous photos and fabulous home with us, my friend! It's always such a treat!

Warmest autumn wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

Georgianna said...

I really do love this look, Carolyn. It makes the living room very cozy, as you say, and the lighting in your photographs is lovely, very classy. I tend to find reasons to put off autumn clean up in the garden, too but I really MUST do it this year properly as last year we were away in September and October and I don't feel I really got caught up all year. Have a wonderful week! – g

Lounging with a Latte said...

You are a lady with style! I love the round table there and can imagine some lovely tea cups and dainty plates with some sweet delights...maybe a high tea! Love the cosy fireside look as well.

Jill said...

Well I think your room looks very french and the round table certainly goes. Just come across your blog and will be back!
Jillx

One Shabby Old House said...

I can imagine all of the gorgeous flowers that will be adorning that table as well as the candlelit meals.
Love it.

Michaela said...

Wow this is stunning. The table is perfect!! I'd love a dinner by the fireplace (:

Pamela said...

I love the table in this room! Will be so nice on those snowy nights eating by the fire!!

Carol E. in AZ said...

You really have a knack for beautifully arranging your home! It's just breathless. Wow!

bj said...

Omygoodness...what an absolute BEAUTIFUL home you have. You are blessed, indeed.

I LOVE the round table there..just perfect.

Tina said...

Hello Carolyn!
Come see the day of tea on my blog ... their cups are there all right ... I promise to take care of them right?
kisses



Tina (Sonhar e Realizar)

Susan said...

Love it, Carolyn. Love it. Susan

Entertaining Women said...

I've been toying with my breakfast room set up, too. I'm thinking that I want a 42" round table with a leaf or two....I want to seat 4 and 6 if desired. I was thinking a french shaped love seat flanked by two chairs...could pull up an additional two chairs for the 6. Have you read Carolyne Roehm's A Passion for Flowers? There's a Paris dining room in the book that I think would really inspire you. Thank you for sharing your charming design project. Cherry Kay

lala said...

Absolutely beautiful - the round table looks so right in the room. Your Japanese visitors are so very lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy your wonderful home and hospitality.

Ticking and Toile said...

G O R G E O U S!!! Looks so cozy & inviting......:)

xo,
Shellagh

Lori said...

I think I'm in love! What a fabulous room, one I swear I had dreamt of recently, however it was in Ireland (long story!)! You simply mist keep it! Keep us posted! Lori

Suzann said...

And again, I'm in awe of the beauty of your home.
Somehow you manage to just make even the simplest of rooms, more beautiful and elegant than most would ever dream of.
Oh how I would love to just sit with a cup of tea and a wonderful book.

ღ M@ddy ღ said...

Ciao Carolyn,
a me piacerebbe così tanto, cenare a lume di candela vicino ad un camino acceso...
...purtroppo non ho il camino!

Un abbraccio

Maddy

Anonymous said...

Yes, Carolyn ! I love the spot.
And you made a gorgeous bouquet again. Very very inspiring indeed.
Au revoir chère Carolyn.

♥ Hélène Glehen - a French artist, fond of roses and romantic stuff ♥

Islandsparrow said...

I think it's gorgeous Carolyn!! And I can definitely picture lovely candle lit meals by the fireplace. Perfect!

Anonymous said...

I did like the entertainment center where it was, but I can see you have a lot more room to move around like it is now. I wouldn't worry about that. I'm sure it's much needed storage upstairs and it's so pretty it will be nice anywhere. Love the tone on tone color you have going on in your dining room.

Cindy said...

Dearest Carolyn,
I adore that table there in the middle of the room with the French chairs pulled up. I can imagine candles glowing and a fire in the fireplace, sitting at the table, slowly sipping your tea and finishing off a delectable dessert. There is snow piled up nearly to the windows and the wind can barely be heard above the crackle of the fire and the flute music wafting through the room.
Yes, that arrangement is most certainly a winner!
Hugs, Cindy

Anonymous said...

Hi Carolyn, I love the table there!I would love to be sitting in front of the fireplace having dinner.It's so cozy....Kathy

Olivia said...

Ohhhhh this looks simply delightful! I can imagine having a nice cup of tea in that very spot!
Hugs,
Olivia

Rozen van papier said...

You have a loveley house and wunderful flowers ont the table and I like the view from inside to outside!

Good night from France Janny.

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Oh, Carolyn...it's been SO long since I had some time to stop at my favorite blogs. I've missed you....your creativity and talents~ I can't imagine your decorating anything that didn't end up looking simply marvelous!! I love everything you do!!!!! xoxoxoxox

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Hi Carolyn
Romantic dinners by the fireplace have my vote - go for it!
Judith

very merry vintage style said...

Oh it looks just beautiful and so does your bouquet. What a lovely spot to relax!

June said...

Oh definitely you should have played the day away in this room, because I love what you have accomplished. It will be perfect for Winter evening dinners. The table is the perfect scale for the room too.
Carolyn everytime you take us into your home, I sigh at every picture. You have such a grace and style that I love.
I loved the frosty morning post and your sheer delight post. Full of gorgeous images in each one.
hugs

Alex aus dem Gwundergarten said...

Oh, yessssss! I can see the candle light dinners. It looks just grate and very cozy.
Have a nice day!
Alex

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi sweet lady...

Just wanted to come by to say thank you for stopping in and taking a peek at my autumn leaves vignette! I always enjoy your visits and sweet notes, Carolyn! Ohhh yes...I wished that I lived nearby as well...I would love to help you with your fabulous dining room! Of course, I would be all ears...and eyes...a student learning from the teacher!!! Have a fabulous week, my friend!

Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

Unknown said...

its a beautiful room, i really love the concept of dining table in the middle with book shelves and cabinets lining the corner walls, makes a very unique but a very appealing arrangement for book lovers
Best Cabinets

Kathy said...

Hello Carolyn,
This room is wonderful! Very inviting and intimate now with the table and chairs - I could imagine a lovely dinner and long conversation afterwards - The French chairs are marvelous! I won't say that I love the armoir there - but I did - I can understand making a decision about moving a piece of furniture - recently moved a dresser from my daughter's room to ours - there's a lot of furniture in that room!
Kathy

Amy Chalmers said...

I always like looking at your room rearranging...it reminds me of me! I love the chairs, so pretty! I hope you find the right wood table you are looking for, but the skirted one looks just fine too.