Article Line Long1
Design

Our Sunroom (Dining Room) Design Plan And What Table And Chairs We FINALLY Chose

There were only a few rooms where I knew that we would need to shop for – that our furniture just wouldn’t work. This room is one of them, and boy am I glad that I waited to pull any triggers on the furniture until the tile went down last week. This room is the new addition that is going to be this dreamy victorian indoor/outdoor vibe that is super special. It’s definitely a different style/feeling from the rest of the house but it works because it’s separate enough and looks/feels like a conservatory addition (think a sunroom attached to the back of a brick house in England). We clad it in brick instead of wood siding to keep it feeling separate (but will paint it white). It’s just awesome. Functionally I’ll use it to work/write, gather, entertain, etc. Aesthetically, it’s the eccentric English grandma side of me who can get inspired here, write fun blog posts, then retire to her calm house to eat soup.

On Building the Sunroom (Aka My Writing Studio)

I dreamed it up and ARCIFORM drew it up, handed it off to an engineer to get approved, etc. And then we dug out to pour the foundation and built it up like a legit room. It took months and months, multiple subs during a very high demand time. It’s hard to know how much it will cost in total but definitely over 100k. Luckily, since we “work from home” this will be my “writing studio” we can at least write off a bit through the company. It’s not free money, but it helps.

The Biggest Changes – After The Design “Indecision”

Originally, it was supposed to have windows or french doors on all three and half walls, with the east wall being french doors onto the front porch. But then I realized that we literally had no wall space, like in this whole house, which is fine in a lot of ways (we opted for windows instead which we are so happy with) but that also means no storage furniture to even hold paper or office supplies. Whoops. We also really didn’t NEED access to the front porch. The front door was right there and we aren’t lacking entertaining areas in this house. So we decided to close up this wall instead, brick the outside like the rest of the sunroom and make it big enough so that I could have a credenza or a hutch. This way we could also create a sitting area on the front porch (with a sofa since it’s covered) whereas the french doors limited that.

During this time, the back deck became a covered porch – to wrap it around (which we love) and give us some outdoor sitting areas during the rainier days. All fine and good, but it did limit the light coming into the french doors of the sunroom.

More Skylights. Always More Skylights.

Also during this time (months ago), we nixed the skylights in this room fearing that installing them on what was supposed to feel like an older conservatory might be weird, especially from the exterior. So after the custom diamond patterned windows were installed (which came in without a middle shadow bar and are being replaced as we speak thanks to Sierra Pacific‘s excellent customer service), we walked into the room and strangely it wasn’t as bright as we had hoped. To most people, it’s bright enough. But because it faces north to a line of tall trees and we had covered the porch as well as gotten rid of the east sliding door, we needed more light. So right before drywall, we made the call that made us both feel like crazy people – but yes, we decided to put the Velux Skylights back in and luckily for us the framing and the electrical made it easy. We also realized that driving up to the house you are so far down that you really can’t see the top of the sunroom roof – like a tiny bit but hardly! So right now the ceiling is ripped open waiting for the tile installers to be done so we can throw those suckers back up there. (We had them already ordered and I had planned on putting them in the future “workout barn”).

Oh My Gosh, The Tile Install!!

Ok so now we are down to tile install – and BOY OH BOY is it exciting. The tile from Pratt and Larsen is so high quality, the colors are PERFECT – bright, happy, energetic, and the install details are so thought through by the ARCIFORM team. It’s a custom color (much brighter in person) but if you want it just request it. The border ended up needing to be troubleshot to make sure that we were dividing the triangles in half equally (not an awkward cut). The border along a long straight run is easy to figure out (says me) but once you turn it you have to troubleshoot how that works and often the math doesn’t pan out. But the guys from Level Plane (Erik, Jeremy, Alex, Sergei) cared SO MUCH and we spent hours mocking it up before setting it permanently.

Furniture – The Dining Table

I have been pinning for this room for a year – fantasizing about quiet writing days and energetic dinner parties. I started looking for vintage as that is my general preference but after a year I’ve officially called it on finding the right vintage pieces and here is why:

  1. The scale of the table we need is hard to find – 11′ long by 40″ deep. Any deeper and it can look like a conference table (42″ could have been fine, but honestly with 8-10 chairs it’s a lot). There were so many “harvest” tables that were 30″ wide (very narrow) or had a deep apron that you can barely get your legs under and I love those. Unfortunately, they just aren’t practical for 8 people to chill around.
  2. The few tables that I did fine on 1stDibs were in Europe and over 10k. Even if I had that kind of money, it just felt unwise to buy it sight unseen and spend $2k having it shipped, etc. What if it’s wobbly and janky. Although like art, some of the ones I loved were by important makers and their work does appreciate but that’s assuming that we’ll take great care of them and well, that just felt unwise.
  3. We wanted light wood to warm up the tile (so not white, black, marble, etc). We wanted timeless and classic but not too shabby chic. We still wanted a bit refined but not pretentious.

So to be expected the tables that I was most attracted to were custom made, in America, pricey, and frankly gorgeous.

1. Oval Penn Table | 2. Mt. Lebanon Shaker Work Table | 3. Penn Table

For those of you looking for more affordable versions that aren’t the length that we needed (proving to be the most difficult part) here are some others that I loved.

1. Hargrove Expandable Dining Table | 2. Provence Farm Table | 3. Shaker Dining Table

So here is the table we just ordered, after staring at it for almost a year:

Reclaimed Wood Oval Farm Table

And here’s why she is the winner: The design of it is perfect – classic and timeless, but casual. That turned leg is so pretty, with a scale that is delicate yet big enough and you know how I prefer an oval (especially against all those squares). We also love that it’s made out of reclaimed wood, in this beautiful waxed pine finish, made in California, and totally customizable by a woman-owned company. BOOM. We ordered it without the middle leg so we had flexibility with chairs, and changed the dimensions to 11′ long, 40″ deep, and 30″ tall. We had to pay a 20% upcharge for the customization, which seems totally fair and in total it cost us around $5k. This is a lot for a table, I realize, but after looking for the size for over a year I feel that it’s fair and we are getting exactly what we want in every single way. And no, this is not gifted or even discounted, but they are offering free shipping and have a ton of really beautiful pieces if you’d like to check it out. Just imagine it in here:

Now For 8 Vintage Dining Chairs?? Hard To Find

I shopped for the table and the chairs at the same time, waiting on the right one to pull the trigger that I knew would affect the other. But that wasn’t before I spent a year looking at dining chairs. Again, I’m so glad that I waited because once the tile was installed, we realized that we wanted fewer lines, and less finishes – the tile is the STAR, so the chairs need to be the supporting character. Also remember, I need 8-10…that’s a LOT of chairs so they need to be relatively affordable. But before then here is what I considered:

The Comfortable Upholstered Chair – As you know we believe in comfort so I tried pretty hard to get chairs that were going to be cushy for long dinners. Eight to ten of these are virtually impossible to find vintage (where I could afford or love enough). So here are a few that I debated on the market right now:

1. Vaquero Dining Chair | 2. Wolfgang | 3. The Allen Dining Chair

The Shaker Spindle Back Chair – Oh how I love these and will forever, and while the busyness of the lines with the tile could be totally fine, ultimately it’s just too much. But these were the ones I loved:

1. Bowback Chair | 2. Rian Dining Chair

Wicker, Rattan Bistro – We’ve seen these for years and years, but it’s because they are a great look, they are affordable, and have that casual indoor/outdoor vibe. So here are the ones I was considering:

1. Linton Scalloped Side Chair (Set of 2) | 2. Rustler Woven Dining Chair | 3. Sunwashed Riviera Dining Chair

Captain Chair | Side Chair | Pendant | Dining Table

I keep apologizing to people when I show them the chairs (that I still need to buy but feel pretty great about them) because they aren’t this crazy new design or anything. But as you can see in the mood board below they really do look awesome, pulled together, and let the tile shine. Plus they work with the rest of the vibe of the house (lots of wood tones, Scandi and casual). I might do a fun chair for me (peacock? upholstered wingback?).

So here is where we are at!!! The floor is the star. The chairs and table are so pretty and casual (but quiet), and the light fixtures are elegant which works so well with the floor. The custom windows from Sierra Pacific are incredible (the frames are lighter than what you see above) and that hutch is insane (although it might live near the kitchen instead to bring color in there). I’ll of course add some plants and style it all out.

Figuring out the border was hard to make sure that we cut the diamond perfectly in half and stretched the border so that the corners matched up perfectly without messing up the running pattern. Head to stories to see more on that (and huge thanks to ARCIFORM, Pratt and Larson, and Level Plane for doing an incredible job). I’m SO EXCITED about this room I can’t even tell you. I hope we all love it as much as I do in my head 🙂

0 0 votes
Article Rating

WANT MORE OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM?

Never miss a single post and get a little something extra on Saturdays.

90 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Julia Sugarbaker
2 years ago

Love it! I thought you’d go for the scalloped edge chair, maybe to offset the hint of masculine/nautical vibe I’m getting? I can see lacy delicate textiles and green things doing that too, like that lace shirt under structured denim you paired recently. It’s a vibe 🙂

S
2 years ago

I love that chair tho it’s actually much more expensive than listed in this blog post

2 years ago

Great Post! I Am Actually Getting Ready To Across This Information, Is Very Helpful My Friend. Also Great Blog Here With All Of The Valuable Information You Have. Keep Up The Good Work You Are Doing Here

Tarynkay
2 years ago

I’m glad that you added the skylights back in. You’re not going for a Victorian reproduction, after all. It’s like Victorian, but better- no corsets and universal suffrage.

The cost of the table sounds more than reasonable. We are building a dining room table bc we want it to seat 12 without it looking like a fresco of the Last Supper. I think I would charge someone else at least $10k to build one for all of the work that it is. We’re considering doing a short bench on each side to break up the endless chairs and so we can squeeze in more kid guests. But I would ideally make these backless for easy in and out, and then that’s not so comfortable?

Susan
2 years ago

I wonder how an 11 foot table will work without center support? Usually the center posts aren’t just cosmetic but will keep the middle from sagging. Obviously the table makers know better than I do, but just wondering if it came up in discussion?

🥰 Rusty
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

I thought the same – wondered about a single middle leg, like many beds these days have (because people are bigger than we used to be as a species).

Deborah
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

I wondered too at first, then I realized that the makers will probably add a long reinforcing board down the center, underneath the table surface, which won’t be seen or affect anyone’s legs. There could also be 5th leg attached to that board in the center (kind of like a pedestal) that supports both length and width without interfering with guests’ legs. I think the additional support is needed because people often like to hop onto a table to sit! 🙂 Emily, your design and vision for this room is wonderful!! 🙂 The table and chairs are gorgeous, and the room with the windows and floor are spectacular!! Just LOVE it!! I can’t wait to see it finished and furnished!! I have wanted for years to add a conservatory/green house room off the back of my home (but on a smaller scale) and Emily’s design really hits the mark (those windows!!) of what I would love – though I want terra cotta hex tiles, I love their warmth! I even thought to have a drop leaf round table to use for dining, though I mostly would like to have a couple of comfy chairs for lounging (computer work too!) and… Read more »

Ane
2 years ago

I think my favorite part of the sun room is the hutch it’s so unique and pretty. I love the bowback and rian chairs better but they probably wouldn’t make sense in a sunroom.
I hope there are more posts about using vintage second hand furniture in the farmhouse

Shannon
2 years ago

Love love love!!! This room will be beyond gorgeous, the rendering actually took my breath away! Perfection.

Shannon
2 years ago
Reply to  Shannon

Almost forgot, please leave the hutch in here!!!

Rebecca N
2 years ago

PLEASE! Stop with the phrase “pull the trigger.” We don’t need to be reminded of gun violence in a design post.

Jen
2 years ago
Reply to  Rebecca N

What should we say instead of “triggered”?

Kira
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

How about, “Just go for it”? “Take the plunge”? “Do the thing”, “get in there”, “go for broke”, “take the bull by the horns”, “get cracking”, “dive in”?

JJ
2 years ago
Reply to  Kira

“pull the lever” but not “the whole shooting match”

Suzanne
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

How about “commit” as in “ I shopped for the table and the chairs at the same time, waiting on the right one to fully commit that I knew would affect the other.” Or, take the plunge? Easy.

Colleen S
2 years ago
Reply to  Jen

Instead of triggered you can say “cued”, like cueing an actor who forgets her line.

Andrea
2 years ago
Reply to  Rebecca N

Never would Emily be intentionally unkind; there are ways to express your statement in the discussion without bold letters and the command “stop.” Consider Kira’s comment suggestions.

2 years ago
Reply to  Andrea

Thank you for that , Andrea, yes, Emily would never be unkind, and just wrote that gut-wrenching response to the recent shootings –

Zack
2 years ago
Reply to  Rebecca N

Shall we also do away with shoot, aim, fired, action, barrel, rifled, etc.? We should all be thoughtful and kind, but some strength and resilience are also in order.

Kimberly
2 years ago
Reply to  Rebecca N

I asked Emily to stop doing this on a post a few months ago —very painful for me since I lost my sister to a gun death in December—but she continually uses it even though she could say “take the plunge” or something less ugly instead. When I saw last time that multiple commenters asked her to stop saying “pull the trigger” and she just kept using it I stopped reading daily (been a daily reader since 2014) and now I just check in a couple times a month. It is so very insensitive and hurtful.

Kate
2 years ago

I LOVE the table in this room! And the cupboard is beautiful. The chairs lend a nice conservatory feeling… but the pendants are throwing it off for me. They seem sort of Art Deco, like a gorgeous boutique hotel lobby. If you love them, don’t listen to me, but if you’re not sure, I’d find something more simple.

i love the choices here. this already looks amazing! i loved the scallop bottomed chair idea!

Jan
2 years ago

That’s a dreamy room. I enjoy living vicariously through this process and just wanted to say the humility and understanding of privilege to do so that comes off your approach to sharing! Also that learning/mistakes and new ideas happen when you let them!

So now I share my no designer impression-the scalloped chairs are so fun for that vibe and the matching sirena Lilly chairs run more plantationy look to me. I wonder what some mixed up would look like- or mixing in a funky upholstery piece for more loungey to get that collected overtime vibe plus butt comfort :). Now a days the dual purpose dining office is supper needed, can’t wait to see it!

Erin
2 years ago
Reply to  Jan

Tea will actually taste better in this room 😉 I agree with all you said Jan! Mix up those chairs, they would be so fun to thrift over time. You could have your Round Top chair and your Rose Bowl chair and your Salem antique shop chair…

Hana
2 years ago

Do I see a fireplace bump out in the tile!!!??? I love everything about this space except the pendants but maybe in the real life version they will work.

Dena
2 years ago

I love this so much! I picture a Venetia stadium pendant in here for some reason but I know you are going for a simple look since the tile is the star. Does a small corner of upholstered chairs and a side table fit? I feel like that might add a nice reading or conversation spot. I know it’s not styled yet so I know whatever you do will be stunning!

Dena
2 years ago
Reply to  Dena

Studium not stadium!

Kate
2 years ago

“ Luckily, since we “work from home” this will be my “writing studio” we can at least write off a bit through the company. It’s not free money, but it helps.”

This is not correct. One of the many criteria for a home office tax write off is that the space has to be exclusively for your office. Any use of your space for non-work activities disqualifies it from the home office tax deduction. So a family dining room that is also used as a work-from-home space definitely can’t be written off.

Sara
2 years ago
Reply to  Kate

Kate is correct here, and it’s really important.

Kate
2 years ago
Reply to  Kate

Yep, that immediately jumped out to me as well; this space is clearly is not a home office deduction.

Lane
2 years ago
Reply to  Kate

Okay, so the entire home will be cluttered a lot of the times and used for shoots, storing samples, materials, and equipment. Furniture will be moved for hours at the time. Employees will be occupying some of the space then working in the sunroom, keeping their things there. She’ll work in there full time if not more, and the entire family won’t be able to access certain spaces during work hours. How can anyone say it wouldn’t be appropriate to deduct any usage costs for one room if actually multiple spaces are used for work, and workers will be in the space regularly?

Sara
2 years ago
Reply to  Lane

That’s not how the IRS sees things. Example: my husband and I are both self-employed and work from home. His work space can be a write-off because a) it has a door so it’s a defined space from the rest of the house, and b) it’s used exclusively for work. Mine can’t, because it’s a desk set up in the living room, which obviously gets used for living room stuff as well. It doesn’t matter that I also work on my computer in the bedroom sometimes, or take work calls from the kitchen — the rules are pretty strict and you don’t want to mess around with them.

Attorney
2 years ago
Reply to  Lane

Yeah this sounds logical but it’s not right. I’ve actually been wondering when a tax attorney would chime in. You can’t deduct anything that’s not used exclusively for work. It’s quite strict. Same with furniture purchases, which I think Emily has said she’d plan to deduct in the past – if she is filing anything besides her payroll documents in them or storing anything for household use, really not deductible. And should be in a separate room only used as an office. She should consult an attorney or accountant here.

Amy Boulle
2 years ago
Reply to  Attorney

May I ask a clarifying question on this? I live in an area where home office additions/conversions are common, and we’ve debated converting the garage to an office. We’d still have to store non-office things tho (primarily my husband’s 2 bikes). Would that “non office” storage negate a write off, if the space itself was only a work space? Sorry to ask for free advice, feel free to decline any further comments, but I read your post and suddenly got curious 😂

East coaster
2 years ago
Reply to  Kate

I was hoping someone would point this out. We all love Emily and don’t want her in any trouble with the IRS! I’m sure many of us have looked into this because of the increased ability to work from home. We researched it when my husband started his own company. He can’t deduct his office space in our home because it is not exclusively used for his business. It’s a bummer, but it’s the law!
“…A taxpayer who uses an extra room to run their business can take a home office deduction only for that extra room so long as it is used both regularly and exclusively in the business.”

🥰 Rusty
2 years ago

Gosh! I’m starting to get the vibe now (though agree with the comment about it possibly being a but “plantationy” with those chairs?).

Those tiles must’ve been a math nightmare to work out! Kudos to the tiler!
I still feel a heaviness from the tiles, but by the time the room is dressed, it’ll tone down, I’m sure.😊

Love the backstory of the table-maker!💗 To have a one-off table made from recycled wood for $5k….seems reasonable to me.
I’m gettin’ sweaty palms about the reveals!! And I love that you’re showing us one room at a time. Sooo much better!!

Do ypu have an editor now?? The posts are reading so much better! 🤗

Sue Sue
2 years ago

So beautiful! I’m speechless!

Lisa H
2 years ago

When our family is here for dinners, there are 10 of us. 4 little ones, 6 adults. We’d love a space like this! I would, however have picked the Crate and Barrel woven chair. It looks sturdier than the others. I have loved ones who are larger people, and having chairs that are comfortable for all is important to me! We also strap on boosters for the littlest ones.
We have several skylights. Here in sunny Colorado, they are perfectly situated in my home. They provide morning, and early afternoon sun. It surprises me, when clouds cover the sun, that all of a sudden I’ll need to switch on the lights!

kiki
2 years ago

when you originally shared the tile plan for this room, i was nervous about it. But OMG did it pay off. it looks incredible. It’s like you know what you’re doing or something. hahaha 😉

Lisa
2 years ago
Reply to  kiki

saaaaaame!! I was a doubter but MAAAAN does it look good now – I stand corrected!!! So excited to see how it turns out in the end but it is already absolutely gorgeous!!!

Roberta Davis
2 years ago

It’s going to be such a nice space to sit in and look at all the green outside- especially in the winter! At least the grass will be green, and probably still a lot of green trees, too.

Tara Lynch
2 years ago

LOVE the floor, the windows, and table/chairs.

JenMS
2 years ago

Hey, I’m sorry for a negative comment here, but is there any way you could use a different phrase than “pull triggers” when you mean “make design decisions”? I’m feeling pretty raw about Uvalde 🙁

🥰 Rusty
2 years ago
Reply to  JenMS

I don’t read your (or the other commenter who said the same) comment as “negative.”
You’re being vulnerable and respectfully asking for something that’s triggering you.
I hear you. xx

Kari
2 years ago

So beautiful! I wasn’t convinced because I thought the tile would be too busy, but the border grounds it and I love the tables/chairs/pendant and tree! also good job thinking through storage – I could see that being totally forgotten. You’ll love it!

sarah
2 years ago

I was headed immediately to purchase those Amanda Lindroth scalloped beauties for $299/2! Omg. But they’re actually $799 for 2. 🙃 Gorgeous room plans! I love it all.

Shannon
2 years ago
Reply to  sarah

That did seem like an amazing price! Bummer

monica
2 years ago

Wow, will look lovely. Love the floor! Will be such a great place to work from. I have to say that I might have considered at least a window on that front porch wall, becauseit would be nice to be able to see who might be at the door or in front of the house (mailman, fed-ex or other delivery, etc) , while working from this room.

Shannon
2 years ago
Reply to  monica

Yes I thought the same thing but it seems like it’s too late to change. For some reason that wall really irks me. Anyway, with that many windows why couldn’t you put the hutch in front of a couple of them?

🥰 Rusty
2 years ago
Reply to  Shannon

I think that would look weird, both from inside and outside.🤔

Tarynkay
2 years ago
Reply to  monica

I imagine she has a doorbell camera for this though.

Meredith
2 years ago
Reply to  monica

They must have a gate with cameras and communication, as Emily is a public figure. So no one would come to the front door unannounced. But I do agree about having a window to the porch.

Misty
2 years ago

I am obsessed with these velux skylights! Every room in this farmhouse seems to be getting them and they are fantastic. Can someone please tell me if skylights on the front of a house is a no no? I have a north facing front living room with a covered porch to add even more challenge to the darkness. Afraid it will look weird or be too distracting on our house because it has a long low roofline.

Susan
2 years ago
Reply to  Misty

If you want them, have them. I don’t believe in “no nos”. It’s your house and should suit YOU rather than some rando who might be a nay-sayer. If done right it can look intentional

Tessa
2 years ago

Well done! I love everything about the space. The thought that went into perfecting the tilework from your end as well as the contractor is magic!

Sarah
2 years ago

HAHHAHA “and then go into the calm house and have soup” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 your love of soup is cracking me up. We all have a “soup” I think.

Kara
2 years ago

This is a beautiful design and it will be stunning when it’s finished. However, have you checked the weight rating on those chairs? A lot of bentwood style chairs are not made to support more than 250 pounds. Unless you have alternate seats, your fat friends are not going to be able to use this space. I know you care about equity and inclusivity, which is why I bring this up.

Susan
2 years ago
Reply to  Kara

I have a brother who would destroy those chairs…

Steph P
2 years ago

So pretty! You are going to enjoy working and entertaining in this space! I own those Serena and Lily chairs, but I am not sure I would buy them again. They are really small and get “lost” in my space. They barely peek out around my normal-height RH round table.

Grace
2 years ago
Reply to  Steph P

I also have Serena and Lily chairs and they are weirdly small and rickety. We have the Riviera model before this one and the wrapping has come off and they feel really lightweight. My 6’3″ husband doesn’t feel comfortable sitting in them. This is the second time we’ve bought chairs from S&L and had them feel cheaper than they should. I’d encourage Emily to look for an alternative.

Lisa Carnochan
2 years ago
Reply to  Grace

Concur. Also, the tile and windows feel so original, so spectacular, butI feel like the chairs, while really nice in other spaces, don’t quite live up to the room.

Sarah
2 years ago

The leg details on the chair and table together are so beautiful! Aahhgshshhdh And the wicker chairs make it feel like an outdoor garden. Love that you can have that while inside!

some velvet dusty pink cushions would look sooooooo freaking good and gardeny with the that tile. I can see why you veer to that color pallete. 100/10

Paula
2 years ago

I love the color of the tile, and I will always love a diagonally laid checkerboard floor. Not crazy about painting the brick white. I just have a negative thing about white painted brick. I hate it on exteriors, and I hate it on fireplaces. Just me, I guess.

🥰 Rusty
2 years ago
Reply to  Paula

Not just you.

Jess
2 years ago

Are the windows being removed from the mistake?

Susanne
2 years ago

Love everything about it!. Looks so pretty! However, I do have one concern: the acoustics! The space has only hard surfaces, no rug etc. Are you worried that it will be loud once people are in it talking, clinging plates and glasses etc.?

2 years ago

Such a dreamy space! Though I agree with a couple of other commenters re: the Art Deco-ish lights. They’re beautiful but feel more formal/hotelish than farmhouse/eclectic. I know you don’t want this to scream farmhouse necessarily but it seems like something more casual would fit the vibe better– let the tile do the formal heavy lifting.
Though I LOVE the woven chairs with the table, having the matching armchairs feels like a lot of the same. And with 10 chairs it will be a lot of a lot, lol.
Since you mentioned maybe doing something different for your chair, why not do a pair to replace the matching armchairs? Something upholstered would be nice and add some more softness and casualness.

🥰 Rusty
2 years ago
Reply to  Lesley

I’d personally go for mis-matched vintage chairs!!! (Like Sara’s wedding)

Tarynkay
2 years ago
Reply to  🥰 Rusty

Me too, with the mismatched vintage chair thought. That way you could have some sturdier chairs mixed in as well.

Lisa Carnochan
2 years ago
Reply to  🥰 Rusty

Agree

Suzanne
2 years ago

Beautiful! I love the floors! Everything looks wonderful together. I don’t think you need to apologize for the chairs. They look perfect in there. And I love Elsie Green’s reclaimed wood furniture. One of these days I’m going to go to her store in person. I can’t wait to see it all come together!

Patricia
2 years ago

I love the floor and windows. I think you picked the perfect table and chairs. Please keep the blue hutch in there for interest. Also like the potted plant.

Shannon L
2 years ago

Beautiful!! Did I read it right that this sunroom alone is going to cost $100k? That seems like a lot, but I guess I don’t know what the itemization is?

Bethany
2 years ago

Sorry, if it’s been noted somewhere, but would you mind sharing the dimensions of the sunroom? We are planning to add something similar off the back of our kitchen that will essentially function as our dining room. Any tips to determine the ideal size to plan for to comfortably fit table/chairs for 8, plus buffet/hutch?

sg5785
2 years ago

The tile looks phenomenal and sets the tone for the room, and the farmhouse table looks absolutely perfect. I’m less excited about these chairs, they don’t seem like something I would enjoy sitting on for dinner, as wicker is kind of hard on the bum and not too cozy. This room is full of hard surfaces, and I can’t imagine you’ll use a rug to cover the gorgeous tile or curtains to hide the window detail. May be some upholstered chairs would offer the opportunity for softer texture? A modern curvy option perhaps? Or is this suggestion taking the room to a completely different direction than you hoped for?

Susan from FOAS
2 years ago

What happened to the Cherner chairs? I think they could look fab in this room.

Mindy Bizzell
2 years ago

The tile is gorgeous and the windows are amazing! The table is a big yes, but those chairs are capital B boring. I considered them for my scandi/ shaker kitchen and ultimately said no because they are so ubiquitous and boring. I encourage you to go with something more shaker, and maybe in black. Every room needs a splash of black!

Zoe P
2 years ago
Reply to  Mindy Bizzell

I second that suggestion for black! Emily prob already looked at everything everywhere but I feel like these chairs from PB would look so GOOD in there in charcoal! https://www.potterybarn.com/products/cline-dining-chair/

Suze
2 years ago

Looking good! I had picked out similar chairs for our dining table when my design genius daughter pointed out how busy they looked under the seat. We ended up with Thonet style chairs that are very comfortable but so quiet under the seat. With that bold floor tile, I would take the same approach.

Teri
2 years ago

So many “triggers pulled”.

L
2 years ago

I’m always a bit surprised at how muddled the topic of budget is on these posts. I remember you saying you hadn’t set one at the initial start of this project, and the fact that you aren’t sure how much this one room is going to cost in its entirety reflects that. I understand that you rely heavily on gifted/sponsored elements (as well as tax deductions) to offset some of the expense but budgets keep a lot more than money in check, they also keep the design in check…the impulse to say “More skylights!” or “Let’s add a mudroom on the back of the house!” is obviously much easier to give into when you don’t have a set limit. But it also deviates far from the proposed design plan, adding more cost & more time/labor, while getting further away from the Shaker farmhouse you were set on. I’m curious about how that process works and how you weigh the elements(or design moments) that you are set on featuring against the overall cohesiveness of the home? It seems that functionality and layout/flow have taken a backseat in a few specific (yet beautiful) areas and I can’t help but wonder if the… Read more »

Kelly
2 years ago

What a dreamy space!! Love it! Also wanted to chime in that ‘pulling the trigger’ is probably a phrase that we all need to collectively examine in American culture.

Erin
2 years ago

I love the dining table! I think the wicker rattan chairs plus the diamond checked floor very much give off a French bistro vibe vs a farmhouse one. I also think the upholstered ones lean more mid century. I think the spindle ones are the most spot on with the table, and I’d love to see you put your vintage shopping skills to work to find an eclectic mix. I’m sure you have chairs that can fill in in the meantime until you collect something really special.

Amanda
2 years ago

The chairs (for me) don’t add enough contrast – they just blend in with the table

Heidi
2 years ago

I think it’ll be beautiful. I will say that, as a person with a wide bottom, those chairs can be painful! Same with Windsor chairs. I really want to write a post one day called, “Chairs That Hate Me.”

Sarah L
2 years ago

I may be in the minority but I LOVE the lights! I think they tie the geometry of the floor and windows together and frame the softer lines of the table and chairs. Like a smart hat to go with a suit with a fluttery blouse under it.

Patti
2 years ago

Oh it’s going to be fab! But I have one nagging concern; those pendant lights! I agree with Kate who said they look deco and hotel-like. I’m envisioning long dinner parties by candlelight and those cold pendants overhead aren’t doing it for me. But you’re the Design Star and it’s your baby! It will be stunning nonetheless!

Caroline
2 years ago

Sorry, the art deco pendants don’t fit here.