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Revitalized Open-Plan Living and Dining Space

Revamping Our Open Concept Living and Dining Room: A Design Transformation

Welcome to the reveal of our redesigned open concept living and dining room! After a year of living in our home, we felt it was time to revisit and revamp this central space. While we initially embraced a vibrant, mid-century modern aesthetic, we realized it wasn’t the most comfortable style for everyday living. This transformation reflects our evolving tastes and the need for a more functional and calming environment.

Redesigned open concept living and dining room featuring a neutral color palette and comfortable furniture.
Our newly designed open concept living and dining room, showcasing a blend of style and functionality.

The extended time spent at home recently prompted a deep consideration of our interior design choices. We craved a space that felt more relaxed and inviting. This redesign represents a significant shift, a complete 180 from our previous bold and colorful decor.

Open concept living room with a comfortable Timber sofa and woven Forma chairs.
The living room area, featuring comfortable and durable furniture selections.
Dining room area with a square dining table and mid-century modern chairs.
The dining room area, designed for both functionality and style.

From Vibrant to Versatile: Embracing a Neutral Color Scheme

Our initial living room design was characterized by bold colors and a mid-century modern flair. However, we’ve transitioned to a more muted color palette and a classic design aesthetic. This time around, our primary focus was on selecting furniture pieces that are durable, well-made, and timeless, ensuring they’ll remain stylish and functional for years to come.

The Timber sofa from Article was our top choice, and we couldn’t be happier with it. The color is exquisite, it’s incredibly comfortable, and it’s proven to be resilient with children in the house. Its durability and aesthetic appeal make it a perfect centerpiece for our living room.

The sofa pairs seamlessly with a set of Forma chairs, chosen for their neutral white tone and beautifully woven texture. The texture is not only visually appealing but also practical, helping to conceal any minor spots that may occur in a busy household.

Close-up of the Timber sofa from Article, showcasing its beautiful color and comfortable design.
A close-up view of the Timber sofa, highlighting its color and comfort.
Forma chairs in Milkyway Ivory, adding a touch of texture and neutral elegance to the living room.
The Forma chairs, providing a blend of elegance and practicality.

When placing our order from Article, taking advantage of their free shipping offer for orders over $999, we selected the Trosmo black side table. This choice was deliberate, intended to integrate matte black elements found in our other decor and to complement the rug’s color combination. The side table serves as a cohesive element, tying the room’s design together.

Article has since released a marble and gold version of the Trosmo side table, which we absolutely adore! It’s a stunning addition to any living space, and we highly recommend it to those looking for a touch of luxury. We might have missed out on it this time, but we’re definitely keeping it in mind for future updates.

Trosmo black side table from Article, complementing the matte black elements in the living room.
The Trosmo side table, adding a touch of sophistication to the living room.
Living room decor featuring textured pillows, plants, and the Trosmo side table.
Decor details that bring the living room together, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Dining Room Design: Functionality Meets Style

In the dining room, we decided to replace our previous dining table, which featured a glass top. While we loved its extendable design, the glass surface wasn’t practical for a household with young children. Safety and ease of maintenance were key considerations in this decision.

The new square dining table is not only more suitable for our family but also optimizes the space, allowing for more walking room around the Carmel sideboard from High Fashion Home. This improved layout enhances the flow and functionality of the dining area.

Dining room featuring a square dining table and Carmel sideboard from High Fashion Home.
The dining room setup, designed for family meals and gatherings.
Close-up of the Carmel sideboard from High Fashion Home, providing ample storage space.
A detailed look at the Carmel sideboard, showcasing its storage capabilities.

If you’ve been following us on Instagram, you’re likely aware of the extensive debate surrounding our dining chairs. Choosing the right chairs was a significant decision, impacting both the style and comfort of the dining room.

Ultimately, we selected mid-century, light oak chairs that complement the overall style of our home while remaining inviting and comfortable. These chairs strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality, ensuring a pleasant dining experience.

Another significant consideration for the dining room was the artwork. We wanted pieces that would enhance the space without overwhelming it.

Dining room chairs in light oak, complementing the mid-century modern style of the home.
The light oak dining chairs, adding a touch of warmth and style to the room.
Dining room artwork and decor, creating a cohesive and stylish space.
Artwork and decor elements that complete the dining room’s design.

Personal Touches: Custom Artwork

Given the exceptionally tall ceilings in our entrance area, we needed artwork that felt proportionate to the scale of the space. To achieve this, we purchased four canvases on sale at Michaels and added wood trim to the sides. Then, we created abstract art pieces ourselves, ensuring they perfectly matched our desired aesthetic.

While the process required a significant time investment, we’re thrilled with the large statement and subtle color scheme of the finished pieces. The artwork adds a unique and personal touch to our home. Some of these pieces are now available for purchase at The Southern Kindness Gallery.

In addition to the large canvases, we also created a pastel circle art piece and paired it with a photograph from our first trip to New Orleans. This combination adds a personal and sentimental touch to our decor.

Custom abstract artwork created for the entrance area, adding a personal touch.
The custom abstract artwork, perfectly scaled for the tall ceilings.
Pastel circle art paired with a photograph from New Orleans, adding a sentimental touch.
The pastel circle art and New Orleans photograph, adding a personal and sentimental touch.

To complete the transformation, we combined textures from pillows, plants, and other decorative items from around the house. These small details help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making our house feel like a true home.

Living room decor featuring textured pillows and plants, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Textured pillows and plants add warmth to the living room.
Dining room decor with a round gold mirror and rattan bench, enhancing the space's aesthetic appeal.
A round gold mirror and rattan bench enhance the dining room’s appeal.
A large faux fiddle fig tree adds a touch of greenery to the living room.
A faux fiddle fig tree brings a touch of nature indoors.

If you’re interested in seeing more of our home renovations, check out these related posts:

  • Our DIY modern wet bar makeover
  • The kids playroom with easy faux built-in storage
  • Lakeside modern living room
  • Master bedroom design
  • Little girl room ideas from Gwens toddler girls bedroom makeover
  • DIY Ikea tv stand hack from our master bedroom
Overall view of the revamped open concept living and dining room.
A comprehensive view of the updated living and dining space.
Another angle of the living room, showcasing the comfortable and stylish furniture.
Another view of the comfortable living room.
Dining room area with the square dining table and light oak chairs.
A view showcasing the dining area.

Room Sources: Create Your Own Lakeside-Inspired Living Space

We’re incredibly pleased with the transformation of our open concept living and dining room. It’s a significant improvement from our previous design and better suits our lifestyle. To help you recreate a similar look in your own home, we’ve compiled a list of all the room sources below.

  • Timber Charme Tan Sofa from Article
  • Forma Chair in Milkyway Ivory from Article
  • Tromso Side Table in Black and Gold from Article
  • Carrington Mid Century Dining Chairs
  • White square Jake Dining Table from All Modern
  • Similar round marble coffee table (Ours is old from West Elm)
  • Shaped Concrete Lamps from At Home
  • Abstract 1, 2, 3 & 4 by Ashley Rose (Hand painted and framed)
  • Pinky Swear Finger Artwork from Etsy (Edited colors before printing)
  • 9″x12″ Jocelyn Rug in Rose by Loloi
  • Grey Erin Lamp by Mitzi
  • Mango Wood Side Table from At Home
  • Carmel sideboard from High Fashion Home
  • Large round gold mirror West Elm (above bench)
  • Rattan bench from World Market
  • Hinsdale Gold Chandelier by Hudson Valley Lighting
  • Round Oversized Ceramic Vase in White from West Elm
  • Large faux fiddle fig tree
  • Stuga Studio Oak Alpine flooring in Elderflower
  • HGTV Sherwin Williams High Reflective White wall paint
  • Construction – Genesis CP