Interiors

Updating your dining room, Scandinavian-style

Luigi Bormioli wine glasses from Wayfair

Luigi Bormioli wine glasses from Wayfair

Our kitchen/dining area has come a long way since we bought this house six years ago.

The kitchen and dining room were separate, and both were very dated with 70s style patterned carpets, anagylpta on the walls and one beautiful – but rotten – wooden window frame.

We knocked the wall down between the two rooms to make one big dining area, which has become the heart of our home. I remember reading once that Richard Branson is a big believer in great ideas being born in the kitchen, so it pays to make it a space you want to spend time in!

Our kitchen/diner is a fair sized space flooded with natural light. We have three windows on the garden-facing wall, one of them a bay which we’ve never got round to dressing with curtains or blinds. I think really because we’ve always liked the light coming through and we’re not overlooked, but it is a project I’d like to see through this year.

This room hasn’t really changed much since we moved in, so I thought it’d be a good time for a few changes. There’s nothing like a little homes project to keep your mind off things is there?

Kitchen Scandinavian style

I was recently asked to write an inspiration post for Wayfair, so I decided to base it on a few things for this room to update it a little, keeping it light, fresh and modern and in the Scandinavian style that I love. Wayfair has so much choice it took me ages to decide what to pick but I am so happy with the end result.

The first thing to tackle was the lighting. Although great in the daytime, after dark the strip spotlights we had above the table just didn’t give off enough light. I chose these pendant Blyton lights from Dar Lighting.

The metal shades really stand out and are functional too, as the light they give off is perfect for over a dining space. The extra light took a while to get used to but I love it now, and it really brings the whole look of the room together.

I’ve always wanted a white vase for displaying flowers, and this ceramic one from Fairmont and Main does the job perfectly. It would look just as good on the windowsill as it would as a centrepiece on the dinner table.

Scandinavian kitchen look

The state of my wine glasses left a lot to be desired so I thought it was time to invest in a decent set, at least so when I have friends round I can offer them glasses that match rather than a mixture of my value ones and single glasses which have survived breakages over the years.

These from Luigi Bormioli are eye catching (and generously sized). These may be an Italian brand so not technically a perfect fit for the Scandinavian theme, but I love how the strong shape and faceted design fits in with the style of this refresh.

I don’t think you can have enough serving plates – especially when you tale photos of your food quite often like I do! This blue flower enamel one is from Finnish brand Muurla Design. You could use it as a side dish as seen here, or invest in a set to serve your meals on.

Using a tablecloth or table runner on your wooden dining table is a good way to get pops of colour into your look without too much commitment. You can pick up a few different sets of cotton napkins too as a way of changing the look of your table easily and relatively cheaply. Using accessories like this bamboo tray is also a nice way of adding style to your space.

I hope you like my choices – it goes without saying though that my kitchen table is more often than not covered in play doh and colouring books, but it was fun to de-clutter and style up my space for a while. Do you have any favourite pieces for your kitchen/diner?

x Julia

Luigi Bormioli wine glasses from Wayfair

Muurla design enamel plate

Lights by Dar Lighting

Lights from Wayfair

Roses in white jug

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6 Comments

  • Reply
    Hayley (@hayleyfromhome)
    November 6, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    The lights are just amazing…I really do love them and they suit to room. I like what you’ve said about Richard Branson saying all good ideas come from the kitchen, when we were growing up our home had a bit open plan kitchen dining room and I remember always being in there chatting while people were cooking…that would be in my dream home. Such lovely picks Julia, and the wine glasses…just perfect! xx
    Hayley (@hayleyfromhome) recently posted…Autumn DaysMy Profile

  • Reply
    Not A Frumpy Mum
    November 7, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    I love the lights, they are gorgeous. We’re exactly the same with glasses, we have a complete mish-mash of different styles of the odd ones that are the lone survivors of a set that didn’t quite make it. I love the ones you have chosen (I have a bit of a thing for glasses!) xx
    Not A Frumpy Mum recently posted…A Lazy Morning In BrugesMy Profile

  • Reply
    sarah christie
    November 7, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    Julia I just love those lights they are so super stylish, I would love these in my kitchen but all the lights are spotlights. I also love your other choices, especially the gorgeous flower Jug I want one just like it to go on my desk I love it x
    sarah christie recently posted…My Weekly Round Up, And Travel, Travel, TravelMy Profile

  • Reply
    Heledd - Running in Lavender
    November 8, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    Oh Julia you have such gorgeous taste!! I love your style and those lights are perfect. We did a similar thing in our house and knocked down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, making a bigger living space and which I love!
    Heledd – Running in Lavender recently posted…Things I’m Loving Lately {October}My Profile

  • Reply
    Mini Travellers
    November 13, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Love those lights and the generously sized wine glasses! We still have the lights in the lounge and dining room that were supposed to be temporary and really need to update them!
    Mini Travellers recently posted…Geronimo Festival is Back for 2016 – Tatton Park and Harewood HouseMy Profile

  • Reply
    Lisa@intotheglade
    November 18, 2015 at 12:28 am

    I was away recently and when I got home, it seems that my recipe was featured on the Wayfair website next to yours, it did make me laugh. I love the changes, especially your lights – super stylish X X X
    Lisa@intotheglade recently posted…My Monday Quote!My Profile

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