I’ve made a mountain out of a molehill. I’ve thought myself right into a nook (actually. Twice!). I HAVE GIVEN UP. (Effectively, nearly, no less than.) The perpetrator behind my impending demise and omnipresent stress headache? My condo’s 10′ vast, 15′ lengthy pass-through eating room. She’s lovely, she’s monumental, and y’all, she is FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH DOORS AND OPENINGS AND WINDOWS. Each time I’m like, “oh, possibly it is a good eating room format to attempt,” there’s an architectural function in the best way!!! (Such is life when you’ve gotten a pass-through house, I assume.) However right here’s the factor: even having a eating room in LA – a lot much less certainly one of this dimension! – is an unimaginable privilege, and I’M TOTALLY BLOWING IT. So at the moment, I’m throwing my arms within the air and humbly asking in your format suggestions. I’m breaking out some embarrassing, unstyled, unfinished pictures of a room whose aesthetic can at present greatest be described as “Toontown-meets-flea market…however, like, not in a cute manner” within the hopes that, nicely, possibly we are able to speak by way of my remaining three format choices collectively. THE INDECISION ENDS TODAY. Prepared?
Present Format
Some context: The eating room is the guts of my railroad-style condo. There’s a 6′ opening that connects it to the lounge; there’s a wall of home windows with a door to the balcony; there’s a swinging door that opens to the kitchen (normally closed); there’s a door to the hallway (ALWAYS open as a result of I’m STILL obsessive about ogling that paint shade). You able to see some precise progress pictures?
AHHH. Typically I hear politicians say issues like, “wow, I’m so humbled by (award/honor/one thing that might be an ego increase, if something)” and I feel ALL of these folks ought to must publish pictures of their in-progress homes for critique as a result of THIS IS ACTUALLY HUMBLING. I can get type of sensitive and embarrassed about sharing my house as it’s proper now (like, in particular person, too) as a result of I really feel insecure in regards to the discordance between my job and my precise life. It feels bizarre (and typically fraudulent, if I’m being tremendous sincere) to write down about design whereas sitting in the course of a room that doesn’t look cohesive or completed but, you recognize? BUT I DIGRESS. Gimme a second to tug my head out of my literal butt after which we are able to discuss what’s working and what’s not. Bought somewhat too earnest there for a second, huh???
My primary gripe – outdoors the haphazard assortment of much-loved classic chairs and case items which were relegated right here as placeholders – is that the furnishings format simply kinda sucks. And by “type of,” I imply that THIS LAYOUT BLOWS CHUNKS, guys. If there was a textbook about how not to rearrange furnishings in a pass-through eating room, my present eating room configuration could be a contender for the quilt shot. You understand what occurs as quickly as anybody sits down at ANY of the chairs? ADIOS, WALKWAY. Catch ya later, capability to open doorways. And since my credenza is so huge, my eating desk is sliiiightly off-center from the sunshine fixture above. There’s extra that drives me nuts, however it’s reductive. The TL;DR: It’s like demise by a thousand little design agony cuts in right here. BUT…
There have been good elements, too! I’ve been REALLY gradual in buying for this room, however I’ve additionally been far more intentional with what is available in right here. It’s not glamorous (she stated, gazing a sea of Eighties laminate – I had a protracted postmodern part, y’all) and amassing items for this lengthy is VERY anti-climatic – I want I could possibly be a One Room Problem kind! – however deep down, I do know it’s going to result in a end result that I’m a lot happier with in the long run.
Working example: I bought this lucite ribbon chandelier for a track on the Lengthy Seashore Flea in July of 2019 and from the second I noticed it, I knew it might dwell in my eating room someday. 3 years have handed, however I’m simply as enthusiastic about hanging it up at the moment as I used to be again in 2019. (“My affections and desires haven’t modified” – technically Mr. Darcy, but in addition my inner monologue after I take into consideration this gentle fixture getting put in.) I like how its tubular ribbons converse to the chimes of my doorbell and the way the brass echoes the gold within the wallpaper. If taking a very long time to design an area signifies that all of those components I like will get to shine collectively, nicely…I’m glad, I assume 🙂 To that finish, I’ve landed on 3 remaining format configurations and I’m able to get all of those execs and cons out of my head…READY?
Possibility 1: With A Twist
GROUNDBREAKING STUFF, I KNOW. On this format – the simplest swap of the three – I’d nix the bigger credenza, middle the eating desk and chairs in the course of the room, and I’d go for a smaller storage piece close to the window (ideally in all probability about 40″ vast and pretty slender, if I’m placing wishlist specifics out into the universe).
The Professionals: That is fairly straightforward! I’d in all probability hold an eye fixed out for the burl model of my present eating desk on Fb Market (the stark white is fairly jarring to me towards the wallpaper – does it stand out to you, too, or am I too in my head?). I’d reclaim my classic waterfall bench for seating – it’s at present within the nook subsequent to the window and it appears SO good with the curve of the desk base, guys!!! – and whereas I’d like to seek for 4 new chairs to tie all the things collectively, I thiiiink I’d simply reupholster the Nineteen Seventies Italian chairs from above in a punchy seat cloth (bought them for $1 every on Craigslist about 4 years in the past – nonetheless can’t beat that worth!!).
The Cons: I hate this plan. I imply, it’s…advantageous? It opens up the house a bit, however it’s fairly uninspired. It additionally doesn’t resolve my present ache level of “OH MY GOD, why did I put a desk in the course of the room and now I’ve to hurry stroll and zig-zag round an impediment whereas making an attempt to not drop 30 bottles of Kombucha, oh no oh no oh no.” I actually, actually, actually needed to discover a method to join the lounge entrance with the corridor and kitchen doorways to make my schelpping (of meals, but in addition of suitcases and decor and furnishings and items of every kind) a bit simpler. That brings us to…
Possibility 2: The Banquette
NOW WE’RE TALKING. This one’s somewhat tougher to grok (seeing as you don’t additionally, you recognize, dwell in my condo with me whereas spending hours day-after-day enthusiastic about my eating room format), so let me present you what I’m dreaming of somewhat extra intently, yeah?
I’ve been obsessive about this banquette for a minute – it was truly the piece that spawned my dissertation on banquettes – and I’d like to see it proper beneath the doorbell. It feels enjoyable and somewhat extra intimate than the earlier format possibility – I like that the thought of the eating space being tucked away somewhat bit, as a substitute of simply floating out in the course of the room. (Why am I penning this like I dwell with a ton of individuals and wish privateness???) I lately ordered 10 cloth samples, however I’m most leaning in the direction of a pleasant lil’ pink shade – the lounge is gonna be pink, too 🙂
Right here, I’d like to see a tall dry bar with two visually light-weight stools…although actually something could be an enormous step up from this ill-sized bench, which was moved to this spot for a shoot and stays as a result of (a.) my cat loves napping right here and (b.) IT’S SO CUTE WHEN SHE’S NAPPING HERE. Anyway – I’m on the hunt for a dry bar like this one above particularly – I like the brass particulars, the combination of rattan and metal, and the sheer and delicate framing. I like that it’d be the first piece seen from the lounge – it feels inviting, prefer it’d draw of us into my condo – and I additionally love the way it speaks to the colour palette from the doorbell. The kicker? The delivery alone for this piece is $1,500 (she wrote, weeping) – if anybody spots an identical piece within the continental US…nicely, I’ll be right here, sitting and ready, with my uShip account on the prepared.
The Professionals: I’m going to repeat this verbatim from my very own private notes: “I prefer it. I like bars. I would like to have the ability to lay down whereas consuming.” SIMPLE. THOUGHTFUL. COMPELLING.
The Cons: I can’t discover a freakin’ desk, you guys. In a dream world, I’d discover a pedestal desk that’s round 40″ x 52″. In actuality, that doesn’t appear to exist (in my worth vary, no less than). I’ve thought of a number of different choices to make it work – getting a classic desk base and chopping my very own prime is the frontrunner proper now, however I’m additionally intrigued by the thought of two smaller spherical tables – however that’s truly not my solely concern: is there going to be a bizarre and/or off-putting quantity of house within the middle of the room now? I’ve to confess that I do type of like that from a purposeful perspective – I’ve a rower and my air conditioner is within the eating room, so it’d be nice to have an area large enough to work out in subsequent to the A/C – however I fear that friends will take a look at my rower-less house and be like “uh, hey, why is there a literal ballroom’s value of empty house between your furnishings, dummy???”
Possibility 3: The Different Banquette
Which brings us to the ultimate doable configuration – an ~8′ straight line banquette, paired with an ordinary ~6′ desk and two common eating chairs. I’m nonetheless not completely certain how I really feel about this – I’ve been enthusiastic about it for weeks and I nonetheless can’t work out if it’s my favourite possibility or if I completely hate it.
The Professionals: A full-sized desk may match and the entire setup may maintain WAY extra folks than the L-shaped banquette (like, twice as many, I feel). I feel this one could also be the most effective use of house (if my purpose is seating as many individuals as doable, which it appears to be). The trail to the kitchen and hallway is tremendous clear, too, which might make pushing furnishings across the condo SO a lot simpler.
The Cons: And once more – I’ll quote this straight from my private notes: “Nonetheless an excessive amount of bizarre house within the center? Will chair backs be near the door? I feel I’m spiraling.” (Fairly self-aware, no less than.) I’m nonetheless involved in regards to the gaps in the course of the room, however the common stream of those banquettes simply feels higher to me – what do you assume? I do know we’ve gone over quite a bit at the moment, so I need to depart you with a full overview of the place we’re and the place we’re going – ANY suggestions, ideas, concepts, options, questions, feedback, quips, well-wishes, and so on. will likely be VERY appreciated.
WHAT SAY YOU??? Please assist. What sort of format would you go for, if this was your own home? Any furnishings options? Am I overthinking? (Perhaps don’t reply that one. Everyone knows that I completely am!!!) Anybody else scuffling with an unassuming room that has slowly however absolutely morphed right into a design agony? Let’s all commiserate. I can’t wait to get outta my head and into the feedback – SEE YOU DOWN THERE 🙂 xx
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