Natalie wrote me asking for a little table and chairs enhancement. Obviously I am an overachiever (my mother just died laughing at that one!) so I had to show how to incorporate color and pattern to really set off a furniture redo. But first her short and sweet email:
“Hi Katie! I love your blog and your awesome home decor ideas–especially your DIY artwork! I recently bought a mismatched table and chairs on craigslist and am looking to give them a fresh coat of paint. My husband is uber-traditional; I’m a little more adventurous. I really like an espresso color, but he thinks it looks too much like black. If you can help us find a happy medium, that would be awesome!
Thanks! – Natalie”
It sounds to me like Natalie and the hubs are like BAZILLIONS of couples out there that have differing taste in furniture. Throw me and the boyfriend in that bucket too girl! So what is a pair to do when they obviously have different tastes? Photoshop of course 🙂 It is really helpful to see how the room would look once most of the elements are completed. But first – take a peek at their great Craigslist finds:
Option 1 is the coastal inspired option. It starts with a gray-blue backdrop on the walls with plain white cafe curtains. The striped rug is a great way to incorporate the seaside feel as well as give the space a little pattern. And the whitewashed finish to the chairs is a very coastal choice. The table is my favorite piece since it is two-toned. The finish could be white legs with a dark stained top or vice versa (like shown) for a more reflective surface.
Option 2 has a more warm, contemporary feel. The red patterns in the rug and the curtains bring some pow to the big picture. The white painted table is a great contrast to the dark stained chairs (which will require a little elbow grease to complete) and in the end will appear very rich. I especially like this option because it has a great neutral background which will act as a great transition color between rooms.
Option 3 is the funkiest of the options. The pale yellow walls will give the room a fresh feel and the white painted chairs really make it look so clean and crisp. The black painted (or espresso stained if Natalie & the hubs feel more comfy with that idea) will ground the room and make any white dinnerware look stunning! The green in the rug and curtains really complete the citrus inspired color palette while also introducing pattern and interest.
Oh – and for you people that like to know details – the rugs are all Dash & Albert designs and all the curtains are Ikea fabric or actual curtains.
So now that the alterations are completed, now I need your input – Which option would you choose? Anything you love?
And for those of you that are just dying to see something of your own fancified with photoshop and then hear some input from the hottest readers in the world – send me some of your hi-res photos to [email protected].