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Decor / Erika's Home / How To's

DINING ROOM Easy Update

Practicing what I preach…

I have a lot of “grand” ideas, most of which I don’t follow up on, either because I’m over it or I end up not having the confidence it will work. But sometimes I really do follow up on an idea that I’ve shared with you in past posts, and I’m happy to report that this is one of them!

OK, well kinda — I should probably mention that the original post on my dining room was meant to get suggestions on wall sconces to flank the mirror. I gave up on that idea after not having much luck, and decided to create my own budget-friendly solution: framing black & white 1970s celebrity photographs, per my post here. I chose the candid, easy-going snapshots of Farrah Fawcett and Mick & Bianca Jagger, framing them in ready-made (and 40% off!) frames/mattes from Aaron Brothers.

Dining Room Update: Farrah Fawcett

She looks so happy, and I would totally do
the same spontaneous little dance too if the mood struck!

Dining Room Update: Mick & Bianca Jagger

I like this one because it looks like they’re having a good time at this YSL party,
and it’s actually really sweet how adoringly he’s looking at her.

Dining Room Update

Still in need of a little extra illumination, I went ahead and added a vintage brass lamp on the buffet. (Its twin is in my office; one day they will be reunited again.) I also moved these two David Hicks La Fiorentina pillows from the living room to add some pattern/interest to the space. I had worked with Melanie from Plum Cushion on them and boy did we wait for that in-demand fabric to be in stock again! But she does excellent work, it was definitely worth the wait.

Dining Room Update: print

One item I didn’t share in my initial post: my very first piece of “original art” purchased from a CalArts photography student many years ago (another great way to save $$!) that I had mounted on aluminum, per her suggestion. I wish I could have gotten the detail in the photograph — her technique is so cool! As you stare at it, slowly your eyes adjust and you can make out palm trees, and wait, are those waves glistening in the moonlight??

home desk

Lastly, thought I’d take a pic of my “home desk” just around the corner. I usually pull one of the black Ballard Design Macau chairs from the dining room over to the desk, but for the sake of the photograph, I pulled this IKEA lucite and chrome chair from my office and topped it with a J.A. pillow. The black faux bamboo desk from Indonesia was a find from a cute little shop on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA, that we’ve used as a bar, console and vanity as well.

You’ll also notice I did in fact end up purchasing and framing the Frank Stella print that I blogged about a while back too. But what you can’t see (and most likely won’t, ever!) is my daughter’s play area to the left. She’s got a white fur rug topped with an orange chair/table set all to her little self. You know, kids’ play areas are just not pretty, no matter how contained they are!

So there you have it, an easy update to a room that felt incomplete. And now you can come over!

***Update, updated: so turns out the husband is not as much of a fan of the Frank Stella as I thought, and liked the way we had it before, with this vintage NYC subway sign I bought from Subway Signs (for $75, can’t beat it!). So I restyled the desk last night with a few accessories from our entry hallway, and swapped the pillow for this Missoni pillow. What do you think? Which do you like better? (And I apologize for the photo, it’s really dark here today, I had a hard time getting a shot.)

home desk, v2

...xoxo

Erika Brechtel

Erika's passion for guiding women to "Style Your Biz, Your Home, Your Self, Your Life" led her create 'The E List' (formerly the Small Shop blog) in 2010. Since, she's expanded globally into speaking, mentoring, course offerings, angel investing, and social entrepreneurship through the Élanoura Collective for women founders.

Reader Interactions

The Comments

  1. Christina says

    April 18, 2011 at 6:19 am

    The DR looks great Erika! I am happy you included that amazing photograph in your pics this time. And that is my favorite lamp, I want one for my office so badly!
    I love the home desk shot too, my sister is a hige Frank Stella fan. But I really want to see Leighton’s space too!

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 9:12 am

      I usually have a vintage NY subway sign there for the E train/8th Ave. that I used to take all the time when we lived there. It’s in the bathroom now until we paint it black. It will come back out!

  2. Desiré says

    April 18, 2011 at 7:35 am

    Yay. Looks great! I’m so focused on my shop that my place is looking a bit shameful. Time to practice what I preach!

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 9:10 am

      My living room is still a disaster! So I’m not really being that proactive.

      Do you have pics up of your shop? I don’t think I’ve seen any!

  3. Kaibin says

    April 18, 2011 at 8:16 am

    hi! i LOVE the shade of gray in the room! do you mind telling me the name/brand of the paint color? thank you! (kaibin@gmail.com)

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 9:09 am

      Hi Kaibin, it’s Ralph Lauren Mombasa Mist.

  4. Christina says

    April 18, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Looks so GREAT Erika. So many different elements to love.

    What I am curious about is more details on mounting an art piece on aluminum. Did you do it yourself? Did you have it done? How thick was the aluminum? What did you use to adhere it to the aluminum..etc…?

    Thanks for the inspiration!!

    xx – CB

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 10:28 am

      Hi Christina, love your blog! I actually took it a professional. They built in wood framing on the back with braces to mount it on the wall. Way too complicated for me! But it’s held up really well through the years.

  5. emma says

    April 18, 2011 at 10:59 am

    everything looks great!!! love love love your home desk!

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 1:39 pm

      Already changed the desk area! I’ll post a new pic.

  6. tobe | because it's awesome says

    April 18, 2011 at 11:16 am

    LOVE these spaces! the lighting, the pillows, the moody wall color, the art, that lucite chair…….all of it!

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you! It’s coming together finally. That lucite chair is such a steal! Got the sheepskin at IKEA too.

  7. Lonely Wife Project says

    April 18, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Sophisticated chic! So many things to love. My favs are your dishwear, the lamp and that Frank Stella print. Bravo on getting stuff done!

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 1:38 pm

      Wouldn’t you know it, the husband is not a fan of the Frank Stella! I’ve moved things around a bit, I’ll have to post a new pic of the desk and get your opinion!

  8. Tamara, Bella Boho says

    April 18, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Erika, I love it! So uber chic! There’s that chair ;)

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 3:33 pm

      Yes, such a steal, right??

      • Tamara, Bella Boho says

        April 19, 2011 at 9:49 am

        I can’t wait for IKEA to open here!

  9. elizabeth says

    April 18, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Well, you can tell from how many comments there are already that everyone loves it, and I do, too – the pics turned out great! But I am DYING over the brass mushroom lamp and the Lincoln Center print. I have to have them!!
    -e (modern24seven.blogspot.com)

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 3:35 pm

      I love that print too! I know, the lamp is so great, I love the one in my office.

      p.s. working on that gallery wall, it’s coming together!!

  10. Lily says

    April 18, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    Thanks for stopping by my blog !! Love your blog. Your dining room is amazing. I am in love with the white and gold dishes, especially the gold ikat bowl. Is it from Anthropologie?

    xxLily
    goldandgray.com

    • that girl says

      April 18, 2011 at 7:49 pm

      Hi Lily! It’s actually Nate Berkus for HSN! Funny tho, I thought it was going to be the same size as the Anthro. bowls. Ha!
      http://home-decor.hsn.com/nate-berkus-porcelain-ikat-bowl_p-5954319_xp.aspx?web_id=5954319&ocm=sekw

  11. Miss Walker says

    April 19, 2011 at 2:06 am

    You have amazing style! The b&w framed photos are great and so is your desk! Miss Walker xoxo

    • that girl says

      April 19, 2011 at 8:21 am

      Thank you! LOVE your blog.

  12. maria says

    April 19, 2011 at 11:11 am

    wow wow wow, LOVE your dining room especially the palette you choose and those pillows, wonderful job; such eye candy!

    • that girl says

      April 19, 2011 at 4:38 pm

      You can’t go wrong with gray, white, gold and mirror/chrome, right??

  13. Chantal says

    April 20, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    Loved the updates, can´t get enought of looking to your dining area and the last update of your desk DIVINE, good changes it is even more chic now, lovely touch of a missoni pillow there
    kisses Chantal

    • that girl says

      April 21, 2011 at 9:43 am

      Thanks!!! I’m happy I get to use that pillow!

  14. bentley says

    April 25, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    LOVE your dining room. Everything about it is fab, especially the photograph. Well done.

    • that girl says

      April 26, 2011 at 9:26 am

      Thanks Bentley!

  15. sherry hart says

    May 8, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    Shut the front door………Love the DR and I am in love with that vintage brass lamp. I think I am leaning towards the fist picture of the desk :) Just for fun…..

  16. RockMom says

    July 15, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    I love your dining room, We have a similar style going on , I recently ordered the Triad Large sideboard from Crate and Barrel, your Buffet looks a lot like it, I Love the old Hollywood Vintage feel of the Dining Room, great Job, Your making me want to Haute Hunt again… I figured the bowl to be from Anthropologie as well, Nate Burkus, I love it

  17. Lauren says

    September 25, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    Would you mind telling me where the gold picture frames in the dining room are from, the name of them? I love!

  18. Melanie says

    November 2, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Hi – I’ve been thinking about getting those Macau chairs from Ballard Designs for a while now but I’ve seen some comments that the cushions aren’t comfortable. Did you keep the original ones or did you change them out? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

  19. Vanessa Stern says

    November 22, 2011 at 6:33 am

    Ericka, our style is so similar and I couldn’t help but laugh when I took a closer look of the framed pic of Mick and Bianca!!! I have one almost identical, but in color framed on my dining room wall too! I’ve had it for years and love it!

    xo,
    Vanessa

  20. Kristina Gulino says

    January 13, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    Stunning! Your home is truly a work of art. Keep it up!!

    Kristina
    Something 2 Write About

  21. Denise Briant says

    January 18, 2012 at 5:47 am

    Yes, I love the update look better. You have done a great job, the color really adds so much! I thought I would lean towards the original look but I have found as I am getting more “mature” color is drawing me in!

  22. Joanna says

    April 2, 2012 at 4:34 am

    Your dining room looks gorgeous! I also love the faux fur throw & pillow on the chair – very pretty!
    So glad I just stumbled across your blog!
    xx
    Joanna

  23. polo ralph lauren outlet says

    May 10, 2013 at 4:18 am

    Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against
    hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on.
    Any suggestions?

  24. ursila says

    September 19, 2013 at 10:06 am

    Love the look and wondering where you got that wonderful mirror in the dining room.

    Ursila

  25. Kaley says

    October 16, 2013 at 7:46 pm

    I LOVE your dining room! I’m using it as inspiration for mine. Do you have a rug in there? I’m stumped on what kind of rug I want. Thanks! :)

  26. Rebecca says

    February 13, 2016 at 9:18 am

    Hi. I absolutely love your dining room! It’s gorgeous. Do you mind sharing where you found those white chairs. I’ve been looking for something similar. Thanks.

    • Erika Brechtel says

      February 22, 2016 at 10:34 pm

      Hi Rebecca! I got the chairs from Room & Board years ago but I do not think they still carry them. Check out their site for other great options though: http://www.roomandboard.com/

      Thanks for reading!

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