Posts from February 2024
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20
Bright Ideas: 5 Lighting Options To Glow Up Your Dining Room This Winter
Winter is full of pros (yay for snow and cozy afternoons) and cons (it gets dark so dang early, and the sun is often AWOL for weeks).
With the season still in full swing, it's no secret that an extra touch of illumination can make a world of difference during these dim months. So why not seize this opportunity to enhance your home lighting—particularly in your dining area, where you and loved ones might like to linger over a relaxing dinner?
Whether you have a casual dining room that sees lots of daily traffic—or a more formal one used primarily on weekends and special occasions—this list has something for everyone. Here are five creative lighting decor ideas from Instagram that will brighten up your dining room this season.
1. Bubble chandelier
When it comes to making a lasting impression in a modern dining room, we love this bubble chandelier from @julieneilldesigns.
"Bubble chandeliers are perfect in a contemporary home—pretty and effervescent, the bubbles instantly say fun," says designer Pamela Nast. "This bubble fixture is also less weighty than a solid chandelier, so that it can be dramatically bigger."
Another reason to pick this playful fixture? The soft, dreamy quality of the light it emits.
"The bubbles are illuminated when the embedded lights turn on, casting a nice diffused glow," adds Nast.
Get the look: Enjoy your dinner under a bubblicious glow with this Royal19 Chandelier.
2. Chain pendant
A chain pendant like this one from @little_edwardian_semi is one of the best choices for a casual dining room that gets lots of use. Here's why: Rather than being restricted by the location of the electric box, a chain pendant allows you to place the light wherever you need it.
"Chain pendant chandeliers are hands down the most flexible and forgiving overhead lighting out there," says Nast.
But that isn't the only reason these lights hold the title for the most user-friendly fixture.
"Chain pendants can be used in many decor styles and are available in multiple materials, from rattan to metals, cone shaped with gold linings, or simple glass in varying shapes," says Nast. "They work best in a kitchen dining area where the table is smaller, and a more elaborate fixture would overwhelm the space."
Get the look: Illuminate your everyday dining room table in style with this Eddy Pendant.
3. Lampshade chandelier
If your dining room is generally reserved for formal occasions rather than daily use, you might just consider a lampshade chandelier like this one from @houseof_york.
"Lampshade chandeliers are such a classic look to give a feeling of formal elegance to your space," says designer Amanda Foster. "They come in all different shapes, sizes, and fabrics but almost always provide a warm lighting that's very inviting."
Want to take your lampshade chandelier to the next level?
"Consider adding a ceiling medallion to make this a bold focal point in the room," Foster suggests.
Get the look: Create an inviting ambiance in your space with this Collins Chandelier.
4. Linear pendants
For larger dining rooms that lack a distinct wow factor, these linear glass pendants from @luxxumoderndesignliving might be just the fix.
"Modern linear glass chandeliers illuminate the entire table length and bathe the room in a beautiful glow where everything sparkles," says Nast. "Because they're more prominent in scale, they're usually placed slightly higher than the typical chandelier, casting the light further."
The best part about these kinds of lights? They work best alone, so you don't have to worry about adding complicated furniture.
"As the modern, linear chandelier commands attention, the other furnishings should be simple in shape and details, with just a tight color palette," explains Nast.
Get the look: Cast a wide glow around your dining room table with this Seven-Light Chandelier.
5. Candle sconces
If your dining room is in serious need of mood lighting, then you might just be tempted to add a few of these candle sconces from @akindofhome into your space. One word to the wise? Unless you prefer eating in the dark, you'll need an additional light source.
"They aren't meant to give off a lot of lighting but can finish off a space that needs wall appeal," says Foster. "They also have a rustic appeal, making your dining room feel welcoming and grounded."
Get the look: Create a welcoming, rustic look with these Candle Wall Sconces.
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/bright-ideas-5-lighting-ideas-to-glow-up-your-dining-room-this-winter/
19
What Is Kintsugi? The Japanese Art That Makes Broken Things More Beautiful
We all have that sinking feeling when we break something. Looking at the jagged pieces, we realize the once perfectly whole object is impossibly fragmented and should be chucked in the trash.
We're here to politely implore you, instead of tossing it, try kintsugi on it instead.
Indeed, this Japanese technique of repairing cracked pottery with gold flourishes, which highlights imperfections, is trending in a big way.
Yup, the idea that broken can be beautiful is at the heart of kintsugi. Learn more about it here—and maybe you'll rehab something this way for your home.
What is kintsugi?
(Getty Images)
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of transforming a broken piece of pottery or china by highlighting the lines where the pieces have separated, often with gold glue and a lacquer coating.
Kintsugi, which dates to the 15th century, comes from the Japanese words for golden (kin) and repair (tsugi).
But this Asian technique, an art form akin to mosaics and jewelry making, also has roots in two other beliefs from this part of the world, explains Pamela O'Brien, principal designer at Pamela Hope Designs.
"Kintsugi combines the feng shui concept that broken items need to be repaired and the wabi-sabi idea that imperfection is perfectly fine, with the result being an excellent and decorative solution," she says.
Making these repairs into "something attractive and noticeable embraces the kintsugi concept that broken things are not necessarily worthless and deserve our time and effort," O'Brien continues.
Kintsugi in pop culture
(Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Why is kintsugi in the zeitgeist now? Pop culture references to kintsugi abound.
Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) of "Star Wars" is apparently on board. The dark warrior's broken mask was fixed with vividly red glue running along the fresh seams.
In an episode of "Ted Lasso," club owner Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) is introduced to the concept that a broken vessel (a metaphor for life in general) can be made stronger and better with kintsugi.
In the series finale, Nate (Nick Mohammed), who left the Lasso fold but returns in the end, is shown rehanging the "Believe" sign he once ripped up in a fit of anger. The new sign—carefully repaired with the kintsugi technique—symbolizes new beginnings.
How is kintsugi used?
Beverly Solomon of the eponymous design firm knows kintsugi intimately.
She and her husband, Pablo Solomon, have had a long upcycling career from their early days in the field, outfitting cafes with furniture. The two once took 10 broken antique oak chairs and turned them into a usable set of eight.
These fresh iterations became popular furnishings for their business "because they radiated creativity and character, which is the very essence of wabi-sabi," she says.
Kintsugi can also be approximated, as seen in the photos here. Bright white veins might snake along a stone sink in a bathroom, and purposeful lines can decorate wallpaper, appearing to mimic broken (then fixed) china pieces.
Why is kintsugi appealing?
The benefits of kintsugi—or any upcycling approach you want to try—are multifold, say the experts.
"A good repair job is gratifying to your soul and your bank account," says O'Brien. And you're adding interest to a piece and a newfound style, making the broken item even better.
"You also achieve humble satisfaction—you're not trying to impress with kintsugi—it's more about being at peace with yourself," adds Solomon.
Kintsugi also serves as a way to "respect an object as a representation or memory of loved ones, experiences, and feelings," she continues, as you're re-creating a family legacy with things to cherish for generations.
This broken-as-better method can affect you mentally, too.
"Just like with wabi-sabi, allowing your mind to embrace the imperfect is freeing and boils down to having the confidence to love these old things that are special to you," notes Solomon.
How to use kintsugi as home decor
If you're going to tackle a repair job, give it your all or find a pro who can.
"For this technique to work, you have to fix things skillfully," points out Solomon. Without a solid approach, your work might come off as sloppy, which is disrespectful to the object you're working on.
Any ceramic item is up for grabs when it comes to kintsugi, and these pieces "make great decorations for outdoor furniture and as tabletops for plant stands," says Solomon.
But when it comes to everyday dishes or even a special piece of porcelain, it's best to display your work rather than eat off of it. Glues and lacquer applications aren't always safe for food consumption, and "even repaired dishes can harbor germs," she cautions.
Pieces that have been through a kintsugi transformation are prime candidates for hanging on a wall, lining up on a mantel over a fireplace, or arranging in a curio cabinet or bookshelf bays.
Where to buy kintsugi
(Amazon)
Not that crafty? You can find a wide range of kintsugi products on the market at all price ranges. The matcha bowl shown here (Amazon, $165) is made in Japan from an area that specializes in red clay.
For a little less, here's a decorative cobalt blue bowl (Etsy, $43).
And if you're feeling flush, go big and nab this stunner from the fancy French ceramics company Bernardaud. The salad bowl is hand-crafted with gold designs and a lacquer finish ($775, Bergdorf Goodman).
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/what-is-kintsugi-the-japanese-art-that-makes-broken-things-more-beautiful/
18
Don't Let the Latest Home Price Headlines Confuse You
Based on what you're hearing in the news about home prices, you may be worried they're falling. But here's the thing. The headlines aren't giving you the full picture.
16
Blast From the Past: Retro Diners in Chicagoland
Retro diners have a unique atmosphere that makes a great place to charge up with a nourishing meal before work, enjoy a meal with the family or cap off a night on the town. In Chicagoland, you get an excellent mix of newer diners built in a retro style and storied establishments that have been around so long that their retro décor is as authentic as it gets. In the mood for a bit of a blast from the past? Try a trip to one of these 5 retro diners around Chicagoland neighborhoods.
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Pick Me Up Cafe – 4882 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640
A Chicagoland favorite for more than 25 years, Pick Me Up Cafe has earned a reputation for having a diverse menu that caters to a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences. They...
14
6 Reasons Why It Makes Sense To Sell a Home Right Now—Before the Spring Rush
Thinking about selling your house in 2024? While many home sellers wait until spring to put their property on the market, there are some distinct advantages to getting ahead of the curve this year and listing sooner rather than later.
Generally, the cold weather season causes home sales to be sluggish, but this winter is a bit different. High interest rates kept much of America's real estate market in a deep freeze for most of 2023. But now that rates have subsided a bit in the new year, there is a whole lot of pent-up demand (and supply) that could burst onto the market at any moment. Some of it is out t...
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