Regular readers will know that Dear Designer has been helping out a couple of friends with some decorating decisions.

First it was the bathroom here, and then the hall, stairs and landing here.

Mr and Mrs H are the best ever kind of ‘clients’.  Ever.  No prevarication, no last-minute changes of mind, no hesitation at all.  No sooner is it said, than it is done.  Knowing them so well helps of course, but I still want to say a huge thank you to them both for allowing DD to take a modest role in the transformation of their family home and then to broadcast it to the world via this blog. 

And for finally letting DD get her hands on the dining room at last…

and not before time…she won’t mind me saying that I’m sure…

Obviously, there is quite a lot to do but that doesn’t mean we are going to throw everything out and start again.  That’s not DD’s style and budget constraints usually lead to enhanced creativity anyway.

The colour scheme was decided first and as this room leads directly from the hall which is in shades of greyish blue and white, it was agreed that we would continue with greyish tones and white but a more silvery grey this time.  The room has quite a low ceiling and has a tendency to be quite dark, so a light colour scheme will help to brighten it. 

The old green carpet will be ripped out and the oak flooring from the hall will continue into the dining room. 

Mrs H wasn’t averse to using an all over wallpaper and a pretty grey damask from Laura Ashley was chosen.  The chimney breast which is painted brick at the moment will be plastered over and papered too.  The ceiling and the ceiling beams will be painted a bright white.

The bookcases either side of the chimney, the fire-surround, and the sideboard will be painted grey, the dining table and chairs will simply be re-polished.  The bookshelves will have some form of lighting incorporated.

Mrs H already has very attractive china and cutlery, both with accents of green, so we are going to run with green as an accent colour.  Maybe on the seat covers, the tiles on the fire surround (although, these are already green and could actually stay) and other small accessories.

The window treatment hasn’t been decided yet, but as it isn’t overlooked and privacy is not an issue, something light and lacy may be a possibility.

And finally we are going to bring in lots of sparkle with mirrors, crystal wall lights, candle holders, photo frames and new knobs for all of the cupboard doors.

 No doubt it will be finished by this time last week and they can hurry up and invite DD for dinner!

Sources: Wallpaper, Laura Ashley. Oak flooring, City Flooring. Grey paint colour – Illusion, Dulux. Green fabric – Claydon, Designers Guild. Champane bucket and fruit bowl, LSA International. Champagne flute, Dartington.  Normann grass vases, A White Room. Green tumbler, Furniture Barn. Circular mirror, and mirrored photograph frames,  Decorexi.  Wall light, John Lewis.  Crystal cupboard knobs, Graham and Green. Metal column candle/tealight holder, Artisanti.  Silver tealight holders, Nikki Jones.  Framed print, Laura Ashley.

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If you would like design advice from Dear Designer,

 email deardesigner@hotmail.co.uk sending photographs if possible, room dimensions and details of what you have, what you need to keep and what you desire.