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The formal dining room in this St. Paul house had hardwood floors, a beautiful view of the back yard and lots of natural light, but it had unattractive trim, an inappropriate light fixture and too many furnishings and accessories, making it feel overcrowded and uninviting.
"The room, to me, seemed a little harsh," said Lori Matzke of Centerstagehome.com. "We needed to give the space a much more subtle, softer appeal to play up the positives."
To soften the windows, Matzke replaced the vinyl roller shades with lightly patterned sheers that she bought for $10. Those sheers match the ones in the adjoining living room. The light that streams through gives the room a sense of energy, but they also create the illusion of taller ceilings.
A large silk orchid on a plant stand in the corner adds soft color, while a live green ivy in a wicker basket on the table adds texture.
The pale yellow walls were painted in a soft taupe with a grayish undertone to downplay the strong contrast between the ashen wood trim and the golden oak floors.
A dome light above the dining table was replaced with a brushed nickel chandelier that's more appropriate for the room.
Matzke replaced the flat artwork on the wall with an embroidered piece framed in an acrylic case that reflects more light and adds contrast and dimension to the space.
Toys were boxed up and excess accessories in the glass cupboard were packed up and put into storage.
The area rug was rolled up and put in storage to show off the hardwood floors.
A buffet was moved to the living ro! om, and two dining chairs were removed to make the dining area feel more spacious.
The remaining dining chairs were positioned 6 inches from the edge of the table to give the space added dimension.
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