I was inspired by a chipper yellow table runner and a fiery pendant light to make a warm-blooded dining room mood board just for fun. Whoop, here it is:
1. The wall color could be a soft olive-khaki tone, like the stripe in the background of the mood board (try Benjamin Moore’s Limestone 513) with browns, oranges, deeper olives, pops of yellow, and some crisp white in the furnishings/accessories. Maybe even a smidge of navy if you’re into that sort of thing. And now that I see that stripe of olive-khaki, big wide horizontal tone-on-tone stripes might be pretty fun for the walls if you’re feeling feisty (try Benjamin Moore’s Limestone 513 and Flowering Herbs 514).
2. These Target chairs are $70 a pop, and the Ikea table is under $300 (but you could always find something on craigslist and refinish it for even less if that’s your jam).
3. This Stacy Garcia pendant (along with the fun chevron runner) were the inspiration for this entire board. Isn’t the geometric kinda Moroccan-ish pattern fun? It’s down from $225 to $149 with free shipping for anyone interested. I wonder if you could search for a coupon code to take it down even further.
4. Yellow mug = happy life forever. At least that’s a theory I’m working on. Who can sip from this guy and not smile? He’s even called the beam mug.
5. Klimt has always been a favorite of mine. I have another theory that his painting called The Kiss is akin to the movie Titanic (it makes all the ladies swoon). And this lesser known garden print is painterly and soft – which makes it a nice counterpart to the graphic pops of pattern in the chevron runner and the geometric pendant. I also love that it has olive, orange, white, and even a dash of navy. Holla.
6. This giant braided jute rug from Overstock would bring in some natural texture to balance the graphic patterns and sleek dining table (it’s $230 for an 8 x 10 and has tons of 5 star ratings).
7. These bright little appetizer trays ($2.95 each) would be so charming mixed in with crisp white china, a few of those yellow mugs, and the sunny chevron runner.
8. Here’s that chevron runner (from etsy for $15) that started it all (well, I guess he’s in cahoots with the pendant, who also sparked this board). Cute, no?
Anyone out there doing some dining room makeover-ing? Or sipping from a happy yellow mug? Either way, it sounds like a good time.
Psst- See 150+ other mood boards (and sort them by room or color) here. Oh and we just heard the new 376 page (!) Ikea catalog is out here.
1) AH IKEA!!! I’m going to get right on that!
2) Love the mood board. I’m a big fan of bright colors lately. That painting is amazing.
yay, ikea catalogue! it’s the most wonderful time of the year!
That painting is so fabulous!!!!
The yellow mug is amazing. It’s the only thing I wanted for my birthday this year.haha. It definitively makes my mornings a little better! And it’s only $2.95!
Such a fun moodboard! And woohoo for the new Ikea catalog!
Loving the bright yellow mug. I’m a basic white ceramic and clear glass girl most of the time, but I bought an oversized, bright yellow mug last year at Crate and Barrel on a whim and it really does make me smile in the morning.
Ya
We have Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” in our bedroom. That explains why the first thing I thought when I opened this post is, “Ooo, I love the art.”
Also love pretty much the whole mood board! xo
I love your mood boards! I think it would be awesome if you guys did more of them.
I love it… and I’ve yet to complete our dining room. Maybe I’ll try it if I get brave enough!
Love that you’re doing mood boards again! My favorites are the runner and the garden print- both so cheerful.
Yay, Sherry ! I love the return of the mood board ! Thanks for the inspiration and the refreshing sunshine on this terribly hot day ! :)
I’m really warming up to orange. I bought a painting recently with a lot of orange tons. Excited to work them into my decor.
I am loving all things with chevron print lately! Have to check out the etsy store.
Re: IKEA
Well, there goes my work productivity level this morning! ;) ‘Cause I totally can’t wait until I get my copy in the mail.
The print is perfect. I am looking for something for my dining and this just might work. Ahh I am so excited thanks for sharing great ideas!
Count me in as a yellow, happy mug fan! I discovered a set of four Mikasa golden gems at Goodwill just recently for 50 cents a mug–very similar to the ones you have pictured A burst of sunshine streams out of my cupboard whenever I open the door. Love them!
ABSOLUTELY in LOVE with that painting! It so bright and colorful, yet modern. Totally perfect! That olive green color is very similar to my family room walls too (http://designbuildlove.co/?p=590)… I’ve been thinking of incorporating some of the orange accents from my living room into this room… hmm… you’ve really got me thinking now… uh oh! :)
LOVE the mood board guys!
aah that chevron runner is the same fabric I used to reupholster our dining room chairs! I have pics in my (tiny/ sad/neglected) blog!
Love the painting too! Nice mood board!
I love it! I was looking for ideas for my dining room, and this is perfect.
Sherry- the target chair link doesn’t work? it redirects me to the Ikea website.
Darn- off to fix that!
xo,
s
Oh man, I’m lovin that lamp shade! We tend to go for more cool colors, but that’s all so fun. The jute rug would be great in our dining room right now, aka the place where random decor ends up. Two months into living in this house and I’m still not sure what to do with it. Sigh.
oh my, if the colors in the wood were lighter, I’d think you made this just for me LOL! I have woven seat chairs just like that, and have been toying with adding orange or yellow to our kitchen/eat in for pops of color! I love it!
Question: I have beige in our living (right next to and open to our eat-in) but think I could easily tie the yellow and then maybe a burgandy or deep olive into that room. Then the odd room is our former office/now playroom. It’s aqua – but I do love aqua with both yellow and orange. Do you think it could work in there right next to much more traditional rooms that are more muted in color if I add pops of the colors in similar tones (the oranges and yellows, I mean)?
Oh yes, I think all those colors can work together if you visually link the adjoined spaces with a dash of the other room’s color. You know, like a cheerful aqua vase on the dining room table if you see the office/playroom in the background? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I just went looking at all your inspiration rooms/mood boards for any that have our cab color. I’m noticing most of yours feature white, choc brown or painted (colors) furniture. I keep feeling like so many colors will clash with the warm, yellow-orange of the cabs. So confused (but only because you have so much good stuff to go through!).
I would look for boards and rooms with yellow and orange tones (like the one today) because I bet your yellow-orange cabs would look pretty with an orange pendant or a yellow runner and even with cooler khaki green walls to temper things! Maybe even a pop of navy. Just squint at rooms and boards to look for similar tones (even if they’re fabric and not wood, etc). Good luck!
xo,
s
Okay, so I found you on a slow week at work. I have despaired that I was stuck with a little crap house in a bad market. You have totally inspired me to do something about it. AND you live in VA. I CAN do it! Thanks.
Aw that made my day. So glad! You CAN do it!
xo,
s
Really love this mood board, Sherry. We have that IKEA dining room table and love it, although it is prone to dents (adds character, right?) and cat footprints (sigh).
I feel like Zoolander for saying this, but that chevron is so hot right now.
Love it!! Pops of color make me happy. I had a Orange colored mood board on my blog today!
That is our dining room table!! But we got it in the as is section (LOVE te as is section!!) with no visible (well we know where the “damage is” but no one else can see it!) markings for only $150!! Yeah, it was one of the happiest days of our lives!
I just love your mood boards. They are so inspiring. The only problem is that they make me totally rethink my color choices. drats.
This looks almost exactly like our living room and dining room color-it’s called olive grey. We have the same ikea dining table, but it was in their as is section (small barely noticeable dent in 1 corner -$199!!)) and is in the birch finish. I love the colors in this mood board, and I always had the intention of making the table dark when we bought it. Any idea if we can stain it? And how would we do that?
Thanks!
Kim
If the table is veneer or hardwood you should be able to sand and restain it. Here’s a tutorial for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/03/nursery-progress-refinishing-a-veneer-dresser/
If it’s laminate, you might have a hard time (since it’s not easily refinished with any reliable durability) but maybe you could prime and paint the legs chocolate brown and recover the top with chocolate brown oilcloth? Might looks sort of cool and leather-ish (and be very durable and wipe-able).
xo,
s
I have a piece of furniture from IKEA in the birch (it’s a tv stand)…..I sanded it down (even though it was kinda like particle board underneath) and stained it…..it didn’t come out perfect, but it has a very cool finish to it now. Sort of rustic and imperfect. I love it! Just try not to sand too much because there is only a very thin piece of wood veneer on the IKEA furniture…..good luck!
That’s so cool! Never heard of anyone doing that!
xo,
s
Why cant I see you guys pictures anymore? This is the only website I cant see the images on!?!?!
Oh no! We have no idea what’s going on, but we didn’t change anything on our end. Maybe it’s your browser that’s being temporarily glitchy with our site for some reason? For example, maybe try viewing us in Firefox if Explorer is having issues?
xo,
s
I’m not able to see any pictures any more! In any posts on your site, it’s all text. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy texts but I do like the pictures going with them.
Any suggestions? :o(
Oh no! We have no idea what’s going on, but we didn’t change anything on our end. Maybe it’s your browser that’s being glitchy? For example, maybe try viewing us in Firefox if Explorer is having issues?
xo,
s
Grrrr, gotta love computers/phones/you name it that don’t do what they’re supposed to.
Off to fetch the hubby and get on his nerves until he fixes it ASAP! Although he might take his time so he gets away from my daily “Look what they did at YHL! Can’t we do this?” ;o)
It might also be something regional (ex: the site that hosts our photos is momentarily down in California for example) so it might not be anything on your end either! Hope it resolves itself soon! Feel free to let us know when they come back (or if they don’t) just since we can see them so we can’t check! Thanks so much!
xo,
s
Hm, I can now see the pictures on my computer at home but couldn’t fix the problem at work. No clue what the problem was.
And why the heck do you guys already have the new Ikea catalogue?! I live in Germany which is a whole lot closer to Sweden than you are! I’m jealous!!!!!!
I don’t have that baby in the flesh yet. Not sure when it’ll come (I always seem to get mine waaay late) but it’s fun to flip through the online version for sure!
xo,
s
I am now spending way too much time looking at the new IKEA catalog. Love the mood board!
Love the warm colors of the mood board. Reminds me that as hot as it is, fall will be coming! By the way, I just checked the mail and found the West Elm fall catalog inside! New West Elm + new IKEA catalog = (what I consider to be) a fun night!
Oh yeah that WE catalog was awesome! Lots of new stuff!
xo,
s
I am absolutley drooling over the new fall West Elm collection. I got a new Home Decorators catalog in the mail this week and they have really stepped up their game too. Can’t wait for IKEA!!
Love the shade and the garden print! May have to knock off that print sometime soon for our casa.
The ikea table is indeed veneer. I remember the dresser post and it turned out great. Guess I have a project now!! Thanks!
Do you guys have a quick link that explains how to refurnish old furniture (anything from sanding basics to staining or painting)? I am new to your site and could spend hours or days going through your posts…but I don’t know who would watch my 2 toddlers today :)
Thanks!! You are so inspiring…and expressive writers!
Oh yes- check out our Projects page (see that tab under our header) for links to painting almost any piece of furniture and staining a wood dresser. Those should help!
xo,
s
Guys, this blog was a favorite because I want to see real work you are doing to your own house! Aside from a few laundry room posts (which I’ve loved) it’s been very light on the home improvement! My loyalties are being pulled elsewhere!
When we’re not blogging about things we’re doing to our house we’re actually doing them! We wish fairies would come over and do projects while we sleep, but so far no dice! Of course we’re still working away on the laundry room among other things. Details to come when we actually get a moment to photograph them and write them up! You know, after I sit around eating bon bons for a few more hours :)
xo,
s
We recently moved in to our first house (oh my, if you counted up how many times I say that in comments, you’re going to kill me) and our sqaure dining table really didn’t work in the eat in kitchen area (no formal dining room) because it somewhat blocked the doorwall out to the deck. I found a FANTASTIC dining room table for $75 on Craigslist (black and study and lovely with an extra leaf and with only very minimal wear) and bought some cheapo windsor style chairs to go with it (I didn’t want to wait it out Craigslisting). Now we just need some sort of china catbinet/hutch/sideboard to store our nice dishes/dining table stuff in! Not sure if we want to try to Craiglist something and rehab it or if I want to try and build something (ala Ana White).
It’s easy to tell when you guys are distracted with other projects or on vacation. Your posts get really lame. I will check back sometime next week for something more interesting.
Tell me how you really feel. Haha. So you don’t like mood boards, huh? Seems like some other folks do (they’re actually back by popular demand). And we like ’em too, so they stay.
xo,
s
Methinks Sara needs a bright yellow mug!
haha! perhaps the disgruntled readers can suggest some realistic post topics/projects that a young couple can accomplish in an afternoon – all done on a budget, while raising a baby…or, better yet, go renovate their own homes everyday and share all the details with us opinionated readers!
s&j&c&b…y’all are doing a great job! you should be proud of yourselves for the hard work you do on your home, taking care of your family, taking care of this blog, and entertaining the masses!
isn’t there a policy about nixing snarky comments ;) sherry, awesome job at all you’re doing. keep up the good work. me, i’m wondering if i will even manage to do the laundry tonight–that’s project enough with all the other daily demands. don’t know how you get as much done in a week as you do.
This is hilarious because it has always seemed like mood boards are your most requested feature!! Totally not lame at all :)
Oh!! I just figured out what I’m going to make with my LAST piece of yellow chevron! Table runner, here I come!!
Love the orange and yellow together!
Already obsessed with the IKEA 2012 catalogue. Now only if a store was a little closer. I am thinking a road trip is in the future. Thanks for sharing.
?????? I went to the etsy site… do you think I could cut the runners or even the squares to fit frames?!? Thanks!
I would seek out that fabric (maybe try a few local stores or a site like fabric.com) and order a yard or two and frame it! Such a fun way to add color and texture on the cheap!
xo,
s
http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=baf5d167-e883-4a09-a4e7-4cbadfa0f295
Here is the link to almost the exact same fabric on fabrics.com You might even be able to get by with just ordering a swatch or two to frame, I ordered this swatch in blue and was surprised that the sent such a big square o’ fabric! Good luck!
Thanks so much for sharing that Stephanie!
xo,
s
You know there are times when a post doesn’t grab me in the way other ones do-and today, though I like the mood boards, I might have skimmed over it. But since it happened to be our paint color, and I happened to have the exact table but need to stain it, it became completely relevant to me. Sometimes a simple light fixture switch might be old hat to one person, but to someone else they may have never done it before and it’s just what they need. I think that what makes your blog so good-there is something for everyone! The topics can’t possibly appeal to every reader every time, and that’s fine.
i love this. I think that you just designed my dining room. I’m closing on my first house in 3 weeks and the dining room had me stumped. But this is perfect and relates to the rest of my imaginary decor very well. If Emily Henderson had to name my style it would be something like “morroccan beach house” and this fits right in!
I’m a huge dork with a slight “secrets from a stylist” obsession.
Wahoo! Send us photos! We always love to see how mood boards work out in the real world!
xo,
s
OMG!I love this pendant! I have already been planning on painting our dinning room chocolate brown but yesterday started dreaming of orange as an accent color and this would be perfect!
Send pics Lisa! Or better yet we’ll come over and check it out.
xo,
s
We are slow with projects-ha! I’ve had the paint color picked out for months but sill have to remove the wallpaper and the “unique” antique chandelier! But yes, I’ll let you know when we start so you can come check it out. Rob is also planning on building wainscoting shadowboxes under the chair rail.
and PS- I have the yellow chevron fabric (from fabric.com) for our kitchen curtains! So I am ALL over this mood board :)
That’s too funny! I can’t wait to see how things turn out! Clara sends Sophie her love!
xo,
s
So sad to see the negative comments today. I love your blog and I LOVE moodboards!
I was just thinking to myself, hmmm, I wonder what the Youngsters are up to because your last few posts have clearly been fillers. Now, after reading the comments, I’m rather appalled by some of your readers! Good lord, people, have some patience!
I agree about the patience part.. and I have no doubt that that setting up that gallery John posted about yesterday took a *ton* of work!
I am currently drinking my coffee out of a bright yellow mug. Yes, I agree it equals happiness! Especially since I bought it on super sale. It is a cheap thrill, and the best little clearance mug.
How I wish we had a dining room :( We have a little “nook” in our 1950 ranch that literally is 8′ x about 5′ from where the chair that goes into our open floorplan living room is. Not to mention it’s got a built-in on the left “wall” and a door on the right one. I’d kill to be able to actually decorate it…but it’s such a mishmash of ….I don’t even know what to call it!!
The moodboard looks great!
I loved the runner so much I bought it! Glad you had it on your site today :) I have a thing for chevron, and even though I could make it myself I thought it was worth the 15 bones.
Wahoo! Send pics!
xo,
s
I got it! It’s at home on my dining room table, photos on my blog:
agirlandfourguys.wordpress.com
Thanks again for the mood board!!
So cute!
xo,
s
That exact Klimt print hung in my parent’s breakfast room while I was growing up. You’ve pretty much captured my childhood in your mood board (with a much needed contemporary twist)!
The 70’s colors are alive and well and living on that mood board. I am sooooooooooooooooo glad that wall to shag carpeting hasn’t come back into style though. It is so funny that the mood board came back today. Just yesterday I was talking to my friend about how I missed them! Good job guys. susan