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Dining Room Updates: Midcentury Chandelier & Zinc Walls

February 11, 2014 by Brynne 35 Comments

Well, as we discussed in this post here, I ended up painting all the walls in the dining room dark gray (Martha Stewart’s “Zinc”). I’m definitely loving the much moodier vibe it has now. The dining room is so small, the dark walls almost recede and make it feel a little more spacious in person. Plus, they look A-MAZING with the new/old mid century chandelier ($35 Craigslist score!) that I recently installed myself…

Dining Room Mid Century Chandelier12

Dining-Room-Mid-Century-Chandelier15

It’s also so very difficult to take a good picture of the space since it is so tiny, and I only have two viable angles – shooting through the small doorway from the kitchen, or from the large doorway in the living room straight into the window.

You might also notice a dining room table swap…

Dining Room Mid Century Chandelier5

I brought in my burl patchwork dining table and disassembled the faux bamboo table to sell on Craigslist. Still firmly divided between painting the chairs white or painting them black… Keep in mind, the china cabinet is moving, as it cramps the teeny tiny room, so that source of brightness will be gone. I don’t want the room to be too dark, but I’m just picturing a silky matte black and loving the mental image!

Dining Room Mid Century Chandelier13

I’ve never understood “smoked glass” before, but it is so perfect and slightly pearlescent on these shades! The faceted bulbs in the chandelier (all working, all included in the $35 purchase price – score!) cast a very pretty pattern on the ceiling at night, too!

Dining Room Mid Century Chandelier9

All, in all, I’m very happy with how the dining room is coming along! It’s not done by any means – the china cabinet is moving, I’m going to make/buy curtains, the chairs will be reupholstered and painted, I would love to put down a rug to anchor the dining table – but one step at a time. This is what it looked like with the half-white, half-gray walls and the original ceiling fan (blades were removed when I was working on the ceilings in here):

Dining-Room-2

And now for comparison:

Dining-Room-Mid-Century-Chandelier10

What do you think of the new paint color and the new chandelier? Did I hang it too high? (I have more chain links I can add if so. It doesn’t feel too high in person, but it looks short in these photos…) Any guesses where this bitty dining room will go next?

 

Brynne
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Filed Under: Craigslist, Decorating, Found Tagged With: vintage

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Comments

  1. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    February 11, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    LOVE it! looks amazing! i love me a good charcoal dining room! zinc is the color we had on our fireplace before i went black- it's fabulous gray!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      Thanks Cassie! I love this gray so much – it's definitely the "perfect" gray in my book!

      Reply
  2. Lets just build a house! says

    February 11, 2014 at 4:19 pm

    i LOVE the smoked glass and just figured you had switched out old ones for those and wondered where you got them! I cant believe you got it all for 35 bucks. its perfect. perfect! However, I would lower it just a TAD, especially since it's not a room where it would get in the way if it were a little lower.
    beautiful room even if you are moving that china cabinet out!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 4:55 pm

      Aw, thank you! 🙂 And thank you for weighing in on the height – that's exactly what I need to hear!

      Reply
  3. Run To Radiance says

    February 11, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    So pretty!!! As you know, I am a fan of dark gray dining rooms myself 😛
    Where is the china cabinet moving to? Can it be to my house!?!?!?!? 🙂 🙂

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 7:22 pm

      Yes! Dark gray dining rooms club! (or DGDC as I envision us calling ourselves at local chapter meetings) The china cabinet is likely moving to our guest room to be a little library/display cabinet, but I haven't made up my mind 100%… I don't know if I could ever part with it, since it was actually my very first DIY!

      Reply
  4. designloveletters.com says

    February 11, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    I love the warmth of the wood table with the gray walls and how the light fixture has transformed your dining room. It's coming together beautifully! Way to put the light up yourself!

    Reply
  5. brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

    February 12, 2014 at 4:57 am

    Thank you! I didn't mention this in the post, but I was a total chicken about wiring the chandelier myself… It took me 5 or 6 minutes to work up the courage to touch the naked wires, even though I had double & triple checked that the breaker was off and used a voltage tester to be sure 😛

    Reply
  6. Alexis Middleton says

    February 12, 2014 at 5:50 am

    Ohhhh… I am so jealous of the chandelier. It is amazing! Love the dark walls, and the shape of those bamboo chairs. If you really want the black chairs, maybe some art on the wall can bring in the lightness you will lose when you take out the china cabinet?

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 12, 2014 at 5:55 am

      Great idea Alexis! "Completed" rooms are slow business around here due to funds, but I'm excited to keep working in here!

      Reply
  7. Amy @ Homey Oh My! says

    February 12, 2014 at 8:16 am

    Amazing how a few small changes can re-create a room. How on earth was that chandelier practically being given away??? I'm scarred from previous CL experiences… maybe I'll ease back into it with the hopes of scoring anything remotely as amazing as your chandelier.
    I LOVE how you went with going all black with the walls. I hope to incorporate something like that into my future home 🙂

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 12, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      Oh no Amy! Thankfully I have had only good experiences with Craigslist – I hope you'll give it a second chance! (I actually have an entire series on finding "the good stuff" on Craigslist – Secrets of a Craigslist Addict)
      I'm so glad you like the dark walls 🙂

      Reply
  8. Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says

    February 12, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    I love the changes you made! The darker wall color is gorgeous and that table! Oh, that table! It's so gorgeous! I really like your idea of matte black dining chairs. You can always bring in more "light" with some white or bright artwork in place of the china cabinet. Ooooo or a mirror!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 12, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      The matte black is really calling my name, it's true… I LOVE the idea of adding a mirror…omg, I have a DIY in mind that would be perfect! Thanks times a million for sparking that idea!

      Reply
  9. Miss Charming says

    February 12, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    Great new lighting fixture! It looks perfect in the dining room

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 13, 2014 at 5:33 pm

      Thank you Miss Charming!

      Reply
  10. GnomeLover says

    February 12, 2014 at 11:20 pm

    Wow! That change is amazing! $35! You are the deal queen! I love the smoked glass of the bulbs. And the paint color is perfect. I would never have the guts to go that dark, but it looks so incredible in your home. I love it!

    Jenni

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 13, 2014 at 5:51 pm

      Thanks Jenni! If anyone asked me to recommend THE PERFECT paint color, this is the one I would choose – it just looks good with everything! 🙂 Lol, you might not go this dark, but you totally have the guts to use an AWESOME OTOMI STENCIL in your bathroom – you go girl!

      Reply
  11. WoodsofBellTrees says

    February 13, 2014 at 10:00 am

    This looks awesome! I love the chandelier, I am shopping for a new one and this one is awesome!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 13, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      Thank you! I wish you luck on your chandelier shopping adventures! You can find the coolest things & the craziest deals on Craigslist – just sayin' 😉

      Reply
  12. Eve Butler-Melton says

    February 14, 2014 at 7:08 am

    I'm loving the updates….such a stylish & soficticated room there, love the colour.

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 14, 2014 at 3:23 pm

      Thank you Eve! It's so good to hear from you! 🙂

      Reply
    • Eve Butler-Melton says

      February 15, 2014 at 7:30 am

      I was hibernating over winter! Was in a bit of a funk!

      Reply
  13. Gretchen says

    February 15, 2014 at 1:54 am

    I'm loving charcoal dining rooms these days! And that light–what an amazing find! It's looking great in here 🙂

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 16, 2014 at 5:09 am

      Thank you Gretchen! 😀

      Reply
  14. Kathy Baugher says

    February 15, 2014 at 3:21 pm

    I love your eclectic taste!! I'm pinning and sharing on Weekend Reflections today!!

    Reply
  15. brittany renee says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    That chandelier is SO pretty. It works perfectly in that room. And the paint color is great!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 22, 2014 at 12:22 am

      Thank you so much Brittany 🙂

      Reply
  16. Wendy Nolan says

    February 21, 2014 at 5:14 am

    Visiting from MMS link up. I love dark colors in dining rooms…it creates great drama! Good job! The smoked glass is perfect with your wall color.

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 22, 2014 at 12:24 am

      Thank you Wendy! Me too – I can't wait to try black walls in a room one day! I'm so glad you stopped by 🙂

      Reply
  17. marthaleone says

    February 21, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Very nice and bold color!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 22, 2014 at 12:24 am

      Thank you Martha 🙂

      Reply
  18. Beth@Makemeprettyagain says

    February 21, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    Gorgeous color!! Love everything about it! And I read somewhere that lights should be about 36" above the surface. I think the mirror suggestion is great! And love those chairs! I could see them spray lacquered in white (or a brave pop of color) and a colorful print on the cushion. That room would be smokin'!!!

    Reply
    • brynne@thegatheredhome.com says

      February 22, 2014 at 12:27 am

      You know, I think it'st just about 36" above the table – I'll have to get out my measuring tape and check! The ceilings are quite low in this room, which might be why the chandelier is looking high to me in the photos… Somehow.

      I am SO TORN between black and white for the chairs – both would be lovely and I CAN'T DECIDE! I may need to just put it to a vote here on the blog 😉

      Reply
  19. For My Love Of says

    April 1, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    I would love to see the chairs painted white, but it's got to look great to YOU. The room is stunning as is and is only going to be amplified with every change you make. You're the bomb diggity girl, keep on!

    Reply

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I believe the best kind of home is a gathered one, full of treasures with a story to tell. Join me in celebrating a lifestyle of finding and making beautiful things, right where you are. Read more...

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