Decorating question (for dining room)

[Lisa W]

My decorating question is:

Does all the furniture have to match? For example, we have an oak dining table and chairs, however, it may be difficult to find the coordinating buffet or hutch. Should I go with something as close as possible…. In an oak? Or go for something different……say, a dark stained, or black?

We have moved our dining room and have a much larger area now. I want to add a buffet and cabinet but it will be difficult to find the matching pieces for our table and chairs.

I look forward to hearing your suggestions. :)

[Robyncz]

I am not a designer or a decorator, and I have no particular talent in those areas, but I think that a room with different furniture pieces can look much more sophisticated than a room with a bunch of pieces from the same set. I think it's harder to do, though--to find pieces with the "right" proportions, styles, and colors. That's why my dining room is "matching" pieces. I don't trust myself to do it the other way.

Helpful, right?

[Lisa W]

Helpful, right?

:D

I know exactly what you mean though.

[Sarah]

My answer is no....

I'm currently storing a dining room set for a friend, though, so most of my pieces match. I have a buffet that I picked up at an auction that I love. When the current furniture in the dining room leaves (read: my friend decides not to go vagabonding every few months), I know that I want a slightly larger china cabinet, but the table and chairs should be about the same as what I have now.

I think I'd try and stick to the same colour family and buy pieces you love :)

[Robyn1007]

Actually, I like it when woods are starkly different rather than trying to be the same but not quite (as in all oak but maybe not matching). My aunt is really good at doing this and I love what she has. Let's see, they have dark mahogany AND extremely blond maple kitchen cabinets. Their dining room table is a warm honey color, their small occasional table in the front is a dark cherry and the wood floors are oak and they all seem to work so well. I tell her that when I buy a house I expect a decorating consultation from her. :p :D

[pointerhaven]

Some times pieces that are not the same, but are close in color and style make an even better setting. In my Great Room, I have a very Tuscan Style TV Stand for the Plasma that is dark wood with a lighter inlay in the doors, a dining room table and chairs that are black with rush seats and Cherry, maple cabinents with wrought iron pulls and black with bar stools with rush seats, Leather couch and chairs in two colors, a large leather ottoman to match the chairs and oriental rugs. I have wrought Iron curtain rods and wall decorations and candle sticks, and baskets everywhere. So I'm not a traditional decorator, my friend who is a Professional Interior Decorator, loves my house and says that mixing is hard, but that I have a flair and mix that works. So mix it up hon! It's fun to look for just the right touch...Good luck, Wanda

[Jazzmatazz49]

I prefer mixed. It looks more like you waited and chose items you truly love. I've been paying attention lately as I've visited homes of people I think have wonderful taste, and not a single one of them has matched sets of furniture. I have things from my grandmother, my husband's family, and things we have bought recently. Only a couple are valuable, but the effect is that of quality.

[aggie94]

We have a china cabinet from my parents that is pecan, which has been incredibly difficult to match over the years. It looks like this:

http://www.floors-galore.co.uk/images/pblm120f3_D.jpg

Since it has the dark flecks, we decided to go with black for our dining room table (aka pool table) and chairs. It's actually black on oak, though, and we chose a distressed finish, so that it actually pulls the black furniture together with the pecan cabinet and the floors (which are very similar to the pecan cabinet):

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid163/p12b18a22272e4776f24549a9af3258e3/f4a68fe9.jpg

So no, I don't think it has to match at all. :)

[Lisa W]

Well, I made a decision and I'm very happy with what we're getting.

These are the two pieces being added to our dining room. They're not traditional dining room pieces.......but it was one of those "THAT'S what I want!" moments. Know what I mean? :D

Both pieces are going to be with the "antique black finish"

The first is a Library (http://www.broyhillfurniture.com/furniture/Attic_Heirlooms/Living_Room/Tables/Library_Cabinet/339712/) which we are going to use as a cabinet for our dishes. (we also qualified for a promotion --- 38 piece set of stoneware dishes free! :D )

The second piece is a Sofa Table (http://www.broyhillfurniture.com/furniture/Attic_Heirlooms/Living_Room/Tables/Sofa_Table/339709/) which we will use as a server type piece.

Thanks everyone for your help!

[Robyncz]

Lisa,
Those are going to be cool. And I saw that stonewear in the Broyhill ad this weekend. I thought it was great looking!

Robyn