Dining Area Decisions (The Plan Is Becoming Clearer)

Also, I’ve purchased everything I need to make the light that will go above the table. As I shared last time, I saw this light and loved it. But there’s no way I’d pay $2820.00 for a light.

So I decided to make my own. Obviously, the leaves could be made out of air-dry clay. I already have experience with that since I made my closet chandelier out of air-dry clay.

But I needed a light to use as my base. On the closet chandelier, I started with a very simple light and then added all of the “stems” myself. But I really didn’t want to do that again with this light. I wanted to find a much simpler way to do this one. And as I studied that inspiration chandelier, the answer became obvious. What does that basic structure look like? It looks like a Sputnik light, like the one I have in the living room.

But instead of a semi-flush mount, I need one that hangs from a chain so that the height is adjustable. So I found this one on Amazon for $128.99 (affiliate link) that I can use as my starting point.

The problem with building or buying buffets to flank the door is that there would be way too many countertop-height areas — the kitchen countertops, these buffets, and the pantry countertop. I don’t like the lack of variation.

Then I considered building two tall cabinets like the one I built for our bathroom.

But also, it creates a similar problem that I would have with countertop-height buffets. I almost never close the door to my studio, and if I put two tall cabinets on these walls, that gives me three tall storage cabinets in a row with the paint swatch cabinet just inside the studio door.

So I’m scrapping all of those ideas, and I’m sticking with what I love. Ever since this room has been a breakfast room, I’ve had the pantry door flanked with two benches, colorful pillows, and wall art. I love this look because it’s colorful and pretty, but it’s not imposing. It keeps the room feeling open.

And then when I redid the room in brighter colors, I still kept this arrangement. And I still loved it.

So I’m going to stick with what I love. The funny thing is that I’ve already used one of those benches for the bedroom foyer.

So I’ll probably be building new benches with legs that I like much more than these. And I’ll obviously need to make or purchase new artwork. And I’ll probably get new lights as well. So while I won’t be going back to either of the previous looks or reusing any of the artwork that was there before, the overall arrangement will be the same.