Three Bench Options For My Dining Room (Plus, Do My Chandelier Flowers Need Color?)
As you know, I’ve decided to build new benches for the dining room. I’ve had this bench and artwork arrangement on the walls flanking the pantry doorway (which no longer has French doors on it) ever since the first iteration of this room. And then when I did the colorful makeover of the room and turned it into a temporary sitting room, I kept this arrangement.
If you’ve been following along, you know that I’ve gone through so many other options and ideas for these walls — full floor-to-ceiling cabinets, matching buffets, etc. But I’ve come back to the bench and artwork idea because it’s what I like. I like that it gives me options to add fabric and texture on the benches and pillows, and I really love the bigger area for artwork that I would lose if I put taller buffets there.
Anyway, I’ve already shared all of that, so I won’t rehash it here. All of that to say that I’m keeping with the benches + artwork + sconces arrangement. And I need new benches because I’ve already repurposed one of those original benches for our bedroom foyer.
That’s a done deal. I don’t want to have to redo that bench again. And I’m pretty excited about the idea of building new benches anyway. I had those two benches in the breakfast room for almost nine years. The decorator in me is ready for a change, and the builder in me is ready to build something new.
And that brings me to the three benches I’ve narrowed it down to. I posted these options on my A2D Facebook page a few days ago, but here’s the thing about Facebook. Those posts are shared not only with people who follow me, but they’re also shared with people who don’t know me from Eve. They know nothing about me or my house or my decorating taste or style. And I don’t know about you, but if I’m wanting input on something, I like to get that input from people who actually “know” me. I’d never walk up to some random person on the street and ask for their input on a decision I’m trying to make, and sometimes that’s exactly what Facebook feels like to me.
So I thought I’d share the three options with those of you who have actually “know” me, have been with me through full room renovations, and know my decorating style and taste. Getting input from those of you who regularly visit me here on my blog feels a bit more like asking friends for input rather than asking random people on the street for input.
With that said, let me show you the three options I’ve settled on. All three of them are from One Kings Lane. And I should mention that I’m about 95% sure at this point that regardless of the one I choose, I’ll be keeping the benches a natural wood color rather than painting them.
The first one is this scalloped wood bench with the turned legs and upholstered cushion seat. Y’all know how much I love turned wood legs, and that scallop detail is so pretty. The legs on this one would be a little tricky to replicate, but I already have an idea for how I would do that. I’m pretty confident I could pull it off.
The second one is this pretty bench, and while it’s all wood with no upholstered top, I could upholster the top or add an upholstered cushion to the top.
The legs on that one kind of remind me of the console table that I made way back in 2014 for our entryway. The shape is very different, but the concept is the same.
The third option is this rope bench with the upholstered cushion. If I go with this one, I won’t be wrapping mine in rope. I would simply use the shape and design as a template for building my benches. I’m afraid that with two cats in our home, any rope-wrapped benches would become instant scratching posts, so there’s no way I’d spend all that time wrapping mine with rope for my cats to destroy. But I was drawn to the shape and simplicity of the style of this bench. I would probably add a little flourish to those corner brackets, though.
Those are the three I’ve narrowed my decision down to. I think the first one might be my favorite, but it’s only by a very slim margin. I really like all three of them, and I wish I had a place in our house for all three. I imagine building all three, and I think all three would be fun building projects.
Now on to the chandelier. I was hoping that I could get it finished yesterday, but I didn’t quite get all of the flowers sanded and painted. Hopefully I can get that finished up today. I’m so excited about how it’s turning out, and I can’t wait to show you the finished product. But as I was painting those little flowers yesterday, I kept wondering if they needed a little color added to them. I used my pastels and a little paint brush to add some color to one of them. I took this picture of the plain white clay flower on the left, the flower left white with only the iridescent finish in the middle, and the flower with the iridescent finish and just a touch of color on the right. I’m not sure why I included the plain white clay flower because that’s not an option at this point. I’ll either use all plain white iridescent flowers, or I’ll add color to the iridescent finish. Those are the only two options I’m weighing right now.
I do like it, but I’m trying to envision a light with 135 of those flowers with a touch of color on them, and I’m having a hard time imagining what they would look like. Maybe it’s too much and I should just leave them all white iridescent. And I guess I could always go back and add color later if I decide it needs some color once the room is closer to being finished. Anyway, you can let me know your thoughts on that. In the meantime, I’ll be in my studio sitting at my worktable for the rest of the day sanding and painting the rest of these flowers! 😀
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
![Breakfast Room & Pantry Progress [Video]](https://www.addicted2decorating.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/breakfast-room-progress-August-2016.png)
I vote for bench number 1, love the scallops.
I think you should add color to the flowers, incorporate all the pastel colors that make sense in the room with flowers of different colors. But I think all iridescent would be pretty too, but a rainbow of flowers seems more like you.
Yep. Me too, although with longer legs. In order of preference – 1,2, then 3, all with a cushion.
I like the touch of colour on the flowers, maybe a mixture of the iridescent and coloured ones?
I love the top bench with the scalloped edge. As for the flowers my choice would be just the iridescent. I think you already have enough pink.
Same votes
Agreed
Agree 100%
I agree.
I think you already have a lot going on in this room with fabric and multi colored chair, etc. I would head a bit towards simple with these two decisions. The third bench and no color on the chandelier would be my vote. That said, I always am so in awe of the final outcome of your projects!
My vote:
Bench no. 2
White iridescent flowers
Love all of the benches, but I am still a fan of some sort of storage. As you entertain, you will find the need for things that make entertaining easy such as platters and what have you. So, storage can become critical. Perhaps the benches can be storage also. I have that with my breakfast nook with the built-in banquette. Love the flowers, and yes to color and perhaps a little touch of gold and kitty fur, everything is always better with kitty fur. You are on the right track it looks amazing.
Cheers to you, Matt, and the Fur Helpers!
#2 on the benches!! I think the style looks great for a dining room and suits you nicely. #1 looks like a child’s bed to me and #3 looks like a hospital bed. I’d stick with the iridescent finish on the flowers. Add your color in other areas. If you decide to change up finishings down the road, you won’t be limited by the color on your flowers. Have fun!
Have you thought about placing the 2 extra chairs from the dining room in those spaces? If you are going to usually have the table set for 4, you are going to need someplace to put the extra chairs.
The first bench say “Kristi!” to me! As for the flowers I like the iridescent look. With the lights it is going to be beautiful and will be like a jewelry peice to the room. The curtains and the upholstery will shine by themselves.
SheilaF.
#1 and no color on flowers
My vote would be for bench option #2 with your added upholstered top and going with iridescent flowers gives you the option to add Color later if you choose to do so.
I personally love the first bench with the turned legs. As for the flowers, I think that painting them all the iridescent white and maybe adding color later would be the way to go.
Bench number 1 is to die for! As for the flowers I love the iridescent white. It’s gorgeous!
Another vote for bench 1. Picturing each of the benches with the green table, the scallops and turned legs will look great – and it looks the most like Kristi. For the chandelier, I think keep the flowers white. You posted recently about how you need white to make the other colors work. This may be the same situation.
Bench no.2 would be my choice! It “reads” dining room in the most perfect way in my humble opinion. The first bench seems a better fit for a bedroom.
As for the chandelier? I think the entire process of you creating it and taking us along for the ride is all that matters to me 🙂
Bench 1, no color.
All 3 of the benches are beautiful so I see why it’s a hard choice. My vote is #1–the scallops and turned legs are perfect. Second choice is #3. For the flowers I vote starting with iridescent, no color. The flowers should naturally pick up some of the colors already in the room. And like you said you can always go back and add color later if you change your mind. This dining room will be stunning! ☺️ Blessings to you, Matt, Cooper and the kitties from NC! 🙏🏻
I hate it when a cushion slides all over, and both bench 1 and 3 have “rails” that hold the cushion in place if someone sits on it. Either option would be great.
If your ceilings will be white then I vote for color on the light fixture. It looks like the color you’re thinking about is subtle. Either that, or maybe hit them with some gold highlights. Yes, you can always add color later if you do the iridescent and don’t like it, but the reverse is also true – if you don’t like them with color then you can always re-paint them white! On the benches, I love the scalloped detail. It reminds me of the picture frame for your chapel picture in your bedroom foyer. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe just a thin edge of the same gold as the chandelier hardware on the edge of the flower petals
The first bench looks like something more suited to a child’s room. It is on the short side at 16.5″ tall according to the website although you could make it taller. I prefer the second or third bench options. Have you done some kind of mock up to see how those benches would look in the space with your Louis XV buffet, Louis XVI table and the chairs you bought that have a French feel to them? I am not saying the benches have to be French, just coordinate with the furniture you have. I would go with the iridescent white paint on the flowers. Iridescent finishes often reflect some color. Does this paint do that?
The first bench would be my choice and I would not add color to the flowers at this time. Seems it would be prudent to see it finished AND lit up to determine whether or not color was needed.
P.s. I’ve been following consistently since the apartment/condo 🙂
Bench one, maybe explore using it for storage some with a lift off upholstered lid no fancy hinges. Only if you got the scrap/materials to do it. Maybe later upgrade with hardware if it’s useful.
Leave the flowers iridescent, less is more, less to coordinate, visually balance and all.
I have a question regarding the benches. I know you have mentioned before about a Bible study at your home. Would someone be using these benches to sit on for that study? If so, I would think you would want a back for them, not just the wall to prop against. If they are mainly for eye candy and not function, then whatever you choose will be fine.
I am more of a “have a function” with furniture, so this is where I am coming from.
And girl, that iridescent on the flowers is so pretty! I think it will make the light brighter!
Could you do just a handful of the flowers with a blush of color? I think that could look really nice. Put the light together with the no color flower then see how you feel about it. If it feels blah in the finished room, add the color then.
I love bench #1. You can purchase wooden balls in varying sizes on Amazon. I actually used them to repair an old dresser drawer that had a set of 3 wooden balls as the handles of the drawer—one ball was missing!! I carved a “crack” in the ball and make 3 divots on each side of the crack and then stained to match!! The flowers… I’m leaning towards leaving them white and see what you think after the room is complete. UNLESS it’s to hard to go back and paint once it’s hung. Or…see what AI can do with the three light choices! 😃
From a friend who has followed you since the condo days-
I really like bench number one!
And I like the flowers with just the iridescent paint. I think once you get it hung in the dining room with all the other color and the mass of “blossoms” that will be plenty. Like you said, you could always add a touch of color later.
It’s all coming together so well!
What if you did the legs from bench #1 and the sides from bench #2? I’m not a fan of bench #3 without the wrapping. As for the flowers, I really love the touch of color, but someone else suggested doing the flowers in different colors and I really like that idea. But maybe start out iridescent and then add color only if you feel it still needs something.
I’d paint the flowers with the white iridescent. The one you show leans to blue , do you have one that reads more coral/pink?
Of all the bench options I’d go for #1 also
I like the first one for the curves it adds to your room.
There is no question, the first one is you.
I think all white would be fine. BUT, what if you put a touch of color on just some of them? It would be an option.