Do you guys sometimes wonder if I’m missing some pretty standard rooms in my home? Where does this girl sleep? I’ve never seen even a peek of her bedroom. And where does her family eat? There’s no kitchen table in sight. Do they have a family room to hang out and watch tv in or do they just sit in the living room at night and stare at each other?
I figured I’d share one of those not-yet-done, rarely-seen-on-the-blog spaces today since it’s moved its way up near the top of my to-do list: our kitchen eat-in area. I’d love to be able to tell you it looks like this (Kristin has amazing style!):
But it’s a much more unfinished (ok, let’s be honest…boring) space:
So here’s what I’m thinking to whip this space into shape:
#1 – Strip and refinish our kitchen table back to it’s original state. I bought it already painted and it does have an attractive distressed finish:
but in a room with white walls, the color just dies (and I love my white walls – I have no plans to change that!). My friend Jennifer has an identical table and look how beautiful it looks unpainted:
Plan #2 – Build a corner banquette. I miss the banquette we had in our old house and love to relax and curl up while eating rather than sitting upright in a chair. I have something like this with cushions and pillows in mind:
except that we have baseboard heating so the bottom of the banquette would have to be entirely open. It’s going to be a a little tricky to design.
#3 – Once I know where our kitchen table’s final resting spot will be, I’d like to install a chandelier rather than just relying on can lights for lighting. I haven’t done a lot of looking for light fixtures yet, but something unique and with great texture like this beaded chandelier is totally up my alley:
#4 – Add art to the big blank wall above the future banquette:
I’ll most likely add a gallery wall of oil paintings because I’ve picked up a ton of them at flea markets and thrift shops since moving to CT. Everything is more expensive in CT except oil paintings – I didn’t pay more than $20 for any of these:
So that’s the plan – what do you guys think? By the way, you were all were so helpful with suggestions for our kitchen seating area – I haven’t made any definite decisions on chairs yet but I’m getting closer thanks to all of your input – you’re the best!
So exciting Kris! It’s a beautiful blank slate (the best kind) and I can’t wait to see what you do! We just finished building our banquette and it completely changes the space!
Ohhh – I can’t wait to see it!! I’m sure it will be amazing inspiration for my own space!
Kris, I love your ideas. Jennifer’s table is gorgeous and yours will be, too.
Thanks Kim – wish you were closer and I could bribe you to come on over and help me out – your refinishing and painting projects always turn out so beautifully!
Oh, I would if I could.
i LOVE the paintings! love your table, too, and i would DREAD stripping it- it’s a lot of detail work. what about painting it black instead? or i wonder if you could use java gel over it? love the paintings, too!!! i am a huge fan of vintage art.
Sometimes I think I’m pretty much just nuts – I mean, I still haven’t finished stripping my bench with a zillion spindles and I’m going to take this on two? But dang, I love how Jennifer’s table looks – gotta decide if the pain involved is worth it!
Kris! You always blow me away with your taste! I Love the space just as it is right now… imagine when it’s done. Swoon!
I just refinished a hand-me-down farmhouse table. Funny, I painted it with white chalk paint and stained the top in dark walnut. We are waiting for our landlord’s approval to restore the eat-in kitchen area where we had some water damage. It should be done anytime before the summer…. I will make sure to come back here for inspiration.
Have a great week! 🙂
That sounds absolutely gorgeous! I never though about refinishing the top and painting the bottom – I’ll have to think about that for my own table. Good luck finishing off your project!
Oh I think stripping the table will be fabulous. I love Jennifer’s. The banquette sound perfect. Can’t wait to see it all come together.
Thanks Marty – Jennifer’s table is gorgeous isn’t it?! I still don’t think I would have ever noticed it was the same as mine unless Jennifer had pointed it out a while back – the paint completely changes the look of it!
Love your plan, it’s going to look great!
I hope so Stacey – thanks!
I am loving the white tulip table with the banquette room, perfect! I would love to paint my kitchen/dining room white too. What color and brand of paint did you use?
I used BM White Dove for the walls (Matte finish) and the same color in semi-gloss for the trim. It’s my go-to white – not a stark white but not too yellow either. It works in almost any space!
I love your table and it will be even more beautiful once stripped.
xx,
Sherry
Thanks Sherry – glad you think so – now just gotta get up the mojo to get going on it!
LOVE your idea for a cozy banquette, and we know you have killer gallery wall skills!! This is going to be good!! 🙂
Thanks Pam – I hope it ends up well! The rest of the family isn’t so sure about the banquette but I’m guessing that everyone will be jostling over the bench seating once we have it!
Thanks for the shout out, Kris! I love your plans, everything will looks so good! I’ve actually stripped that table (have a tutorial waiting to be written) and it wasn’t that bad. A plastic putty knife and stiff nylon utility brush (for the apron and detailed parts) will be your best friends. I’m dying over those fabulous oils, no good ones to be found, here!
I was actually going to send you a snarky email this morning asking if you were going to sue me for unauthorized use of your photo in light of our recent discussion – lol. I had no idea you stripped that table – I thought you found it that way. Get going on that tutorial girl! I need it – yours turned out fabulous!!
It sounds fabulous Kris, especially about the banquet! Good luck!
Thanks so much Vel!
Agree with Cassie – paint the table black!!!
Definitely something I’m going to think about!!!
It may be a lot of work but then it will look as fantastic as Jennifer’s table. I love the idea of a banquette – extra seating and oh so comfy. It’s going to be a wonderful space once it’s completed. Looking forward to the reveal.
Can you ask Jennifer if her cowhide gets damaged from chairs moving? I’ve been wanting to buy one but am afraid the short hairs will get rubbed off.
Hi Joanne,
I have a cowhide in our home office and we move our office chair back and forth over it daily. We’ve had no problems with the cowhide getting damaged and have had it for about 9 months now. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some hair loss over time but I think it would hold up well for at least a few years.
Wow. So bright and cheerful on a winter Monday. Some wonderful ideas here. Your art collection is GREAT! Love the prices too.
Thanks Cheryl – I’ve lucked out at our local thrift shop on those oils. It’s crazy how you can find them for less than the price of a framed poster!
Kris, your plans look great! I can’t wait to see it all come together!
Thanks Denise!
Can’t wait to see what you do. All three options would be pretty, but I do like the stripping option the best. Nice that you can find such great oil paintings. You folks in the NE seem to find the best deals on antiques and art.
We’re lucky to have loads of beautiful antiques and art to choose from – somehow I’ve never been able to find great prices on antiques though even though I’ve seen others who do. I just heard of a cool spot to try last week and am crossing my fingers for some more reasonably priced finds than what I’ve come across so far!
I’m enjoying the direction!!!
Thanks Mary Ann!
You are too funny – yes I actually often say to myself – where DO they sleep? Your kitchen area is so pretty with all that natural light, your rattan and slipcovered chairs, and that gorgeous table – painted or unpainted it is so pretty. I can’t believe it’s Jennifer’s table twin!! Your gallery wall is going to be fantastic – I think you should hang it before you go to all the trouble of stripping the table – it’s soooooooooooo tedious (as you know from your bench project) and maybe the gallery wall and future banquet with pillows, along with THAT wood beaded chandelier (please please please get that one!) would bring in enough color & warmth for you!
Isn’t it funny that we’re table twins. I really had no clue – Jennifer is the one that noticed. Mine is like the ugly stepchild table of hers 🙂 That’s pretty darn good advice about waiting to strip the table – you’re right – I should do the rest of it first and see how the space looks. The banquette has officially moved to the top of the to-do list!
I love the look of corner banquettes! That would be my vote! Then you wouldn’t have to have an open bottom, you could always use a cool radiator mesh to close the front as an option. I too keep wanting to strip half of the furniture that I have painted! I think I went through a craze where I just painted everything. Since I can’t strip my kitchen table now because it’s too cold to be outside, I faux finished it to look like wood. It’s not ideal, but it will work until I can strip it in a couple of months. No matter what you do, it will look great! I cant wait to see it!
Robin @ http://www.designbyrobinsnest.blogspot.com
So funny Robin – I’m on a refinishing whirlwind myself and can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can finish up some of these jobs I started before the winter! So intrigued by your wood faux finish – what a smart idea!
I am sure that the final decor will be as beautiful as the rest of your home. A gallery wall sounds perfect. Looking forward to the reveal.
You’re so sweet – thank you!
I think you need an indoor outdoor rug from Off The Cape to tie it all together:) I enjoy seeing how you piece together all of the inspirational photos and end up with a finished product all your own.
Ha! I wish! My table is an odd size and I’d have to go with something custom to have a rug there (hence the bare floor….). I’m really looking forward to getting this space done!
This sounds like a great plan! I know you will do it beautifully, Kris! Love a banquette; can’t wait to see how you design yours. 🙂
Thanks so much Carrie!
Hi Kris! I think your updates will enhance the space even more but your current photo is really nice in itself too. Is it bad to say I was expecting it to be worse? You don’t even want to see our current situation, or maybe you do….new post idea! 😉 Love those oil paintings!
You’re funny Holly – honestly I think it’s one of those spaces that looks better in photos than in real life. It’s pretty boring and bare bones!
Okay, serious painting envy over here!! And, you got them at a steal. Love the idea of a stained table. I love how Jennifer’s turned out and I have no doubt yours will be gorgeous as well. I wish we had the space for a banquette/
Paintings are about the only thing I’m able to get for a steal in CT so I figure I need to take advantage of that!
Of course you have fabulous style…do you honestly need our advice…NOOOO! I didn’t realize you have my floors…poor dear…
Do you feel my pain with those floors??!! They are a cleaning nightmare! Some day I would love to be able to design my own kitchen from top to bottom.
Sounds like a great plan…cant wait to see it come together…
Thanks so much Taylor!
Love the plan and agree with Lisa you can do it all even before tackling the table … Can you tell I like doing the easy stuff first??!! It is a beautifully space and I love all the light!!
Thanks Kim! You and Lisa are smart cookies so it’s definitely advice I’ll listen to 🙂