After months of deliberating and a few Cast Your Vote posts I am finally ready to reveal my new dining room. But before I do that let’s look at some before photos and remind ourselves of what I was hoping to achieve. We’ll begin with the chairs. As I mentioned previously, for the past five years or so we have had knock-off white vinyl Thonet chairs around our table.
While they have been more than adequate I was really hoping this time around to spend a bit more money and purchase some vintage or licensed reproduction chairs. I think in the long run you get what you pay for.
The other update I wanted to make was to our light fixture. When we first moved into The Marion House we didn’t have the large black painting of Napoleon’s Hands on the wall. The large, cream drum pendant we had in place really obscured the view of this painting and took away from its presence. If you remember, I was hoping to find something that complimented the artwork and the black chandelier in our living room.
So without further adieu….here it is, my new dining room.
What do you think? As you can see, I went with the black Eames Molded Chair with dowel bases and the Moooi Non-Random Light.
I am super happy with the results. The addition of more black into the room really ties it all together and makes it quite dramatic. The chairs are classics and are actually very kid-friendly as they can be easily cleaned. The painting is clearly the focus of the room and is quite visible through the mesh pendant. I also like how this Moooi fixture references the shape and style of light you would find in Morocco which ties in with the kilim rug below the table. It is also absolutely stunning at night as it casts beautiful patterns around the room. Truth be told, if I had the money I would have bought a Serge Mouille fixture but every project has its budget! And in the end I think this combination works really well with all the elements in the room.
So, was it worth the wait? Is this what you were thinking of when you saw the boxes? I’d love to hear what you have to say!
45 Comments
As I just said on twitter, this light fixture is amazing! I love how there’s a lot black but the room still feels light & airy. Couldn’t help but fall in love with the rug, too.
Beautiful. I love it. The addition of the darker chairs/light fixture really changes the room and pulls it all together.
Absolutely stunning Emma. I love it.
LOVE LOVE IT! A bit moody! Perfect with the painting! and love the new chairs on each side of sideboard too!
Where is the painting from, if you’ve already shared, i missed it!
Hi Shannon – The painting is by Tony Scherman. It was something that was handed down to me from my parents.
http://www.tonyscherman.com/
Ooh I like it!! Works beautifully with that stunning painting!
Very nice
The chandelier is really interesting and unique. And the black chandelier and black chairs tie in perfectly with the painting — definitely dramatic!!
Enjoy your new dining room
Kelly
Outstanding! This is one of the best dining rooms I’ve seen in a very long time.
Now I have to go find that chandi!!
*bisous*
Dane
Emma, Emma, Emma it is utterly beautiful and that is saying a lot since it was quite lovely in its previous incarnation. I think the black chairs are killer and really make a fabulous statement. We have a set of vintage, orange eiffel-based Eames molded chairs, but I really like the wooden dowels. Now to the light, WOW, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this one. I love the giant Random lights from Moooi, but this one is new to me. It is the perfect fit. Love it all. You are incredibly talented, I hope you enjoy your new, old space.
I agree with nkp that it was lovely to begin with, but this is even better! The dowel bases are my favorites for Eames chairs, and I think that they seem lighter than the old chairs somehow– so the rug really pops a lot more now. The Moooi pendant is perfect too. I have to admit that I wasn’t it’s biggest fan when you posted all of your potential choices– the inspiration photo room is so cold by comparison to yours. You’ve totally won me over. It looks awesome!
Emma! It is absolutely gorgeous hun! You are so good & picked perfectly to emphasize that gorgeous painting and change up the room the way you wanted too. So good….I would love to have a meal or two ( or three or 4) in the warm and beautiful space. Congrats!
xo
Melis
I love the touch of black
I did have the same chairs and I just swapped them for the H-base ones
oh wow, supercool fantastic!! love this chairs, especially the wooden legs!! (btw… I bought one two….
)
the mood of the dark lamp is perfect! great job!!
Delicious! Very sophisticated.
Looks great Emma! The Mooi fixture is terrific. I love so many of their pieces. Especially the fantastic drool worthy smoke chair!
i completely love it. amazing what a transformation new chairs and a new light can make. it’s really stunning.
and you’ve officially made me want to ditch my drum shade
It’s fantastic Emma! Love love love the black- really is great!!
(We have the same chairs in clear – they are soooo good for kids!!)
Oh I just love the light fixture with the painting. Excellent choice, and combined with the chairs your room really pops, and makes the art the focal point. Beautiful work.
Absolutely spot-on choices. This looks so great. I think I prefer the Moooi fixture to Serge Mouille nearly (if only because it’s not half as ubiquitous!) This is such a beautifully balanced room now, with just the right amount of light and dark!
Wow, how beautiful. I love that the changes you made were small, yet very dramatic. That light is gorgeous and creates such a mood.
Black rocks….it looks stunning!
oh my goodness, this is GORGEOUS. That light fixture is incredible and the combined with the chairs the room has so much more depth now. Looking at the before, I would not have thought it really needed changing, but WOW, it is such a transformation. Fantastic!
It’s lovely. So very, very lovely! Good choice! Works well with the painting and chairs! xo
I love those chairs and your light! I have been thinking of buying these chairs and I would like to know though if your chairs are the plastic reissued Herman Miller ones or the fibreglass ones from Modernica? Have you seen/felt both?
Looks great Emma.
Mayne
Super nice, great change! I love the big painting, it’s so cool
They are the Herman Miller ones. We have a set of vintage fiberglass Eames chairs as well that are beautiful – there is nothing like the real thing. I have felt both the Modernica and the HM and I think they are both great. Really a matter of preference. I know there is a lot of debate over this topic!
Love the changes! Those Eames chairs are my dream!
Emma, I am speechless! What a room! You have such an eye for design. HGTV will be calling soon!
Love the Eames chairs (would like some in white for my own kitchen) and I think the lamp fits like a glove.
Would sure like to know more about the artwork! (Will go to your archieves and see what I find).
I really enjoy visiting your blog. Need to come more often. You are very inspirational.
ox, Mon
P.S Added you to my blog roll.
Wow! You took a beautifully styled room and made it even better. The mesh fixture is brilliant and really blends into the painting, yet adds so much more texture to the room. So many beautiful visual elements that I am sure adds to the overall dining experience.
Oh wow! This room transformation is gorgeous! I am so glad I popped over to check out your blog today, it’s so beautiful.
Emma, I was really looking forward to seeing what your final choices would be for this space. You did not disappoint! I love that Moooi light fixture and how it references the rug, but in a very modern way. Love the chairs too! I’m very partial to black so the overall scheme is dramatic yet inviting. Perfect for a dining room!
your style is so freakin’ flawless. love it all!
Am kicking myself for missing this since i was dying to know what you chose. Oh so amazing Emma, bold, classy and perfect choices. You are officially my decor idol
Love a million times over. Modern+ timeless. Gorgeous!
Absolutely gorgeous… love every single update and am green eyed with envy.
Holy crap. I think just fell in love. Those chairs are exquisite.
love love love. not too much not too little. restrained in the best way. love the woods and the contrast of the black in the painting and the chairs and the chandelier. excellent.
It looks amazing! I still have the hugest crush on your home.
So beautiful. I can’t wait to delve into your archives. You have a very beautiful sense of style and a very well designed blog.
I used the image of the dining room in a recent blog post without even realizing it was originally yours! (I’ve updated the credits since, of course). It’s so so beautiful Emma. Has your home ever been published? It really should be
I love your whole concept, but I am dying to know where you found your rug!
@Danielle – The rug is a vintage kilim I picked up at a flea market.
It looks fantastic…….. I’m looking for a rug just like this – can I ask where it’s from? X
@Laura – I bought it at a vintage store in Toronto.
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