Decorating with Collections: In the Dining Room (part 1)

Here in Scituate we’ve had a golden autumn filled with beautiful colors and sun drenched days. I forgot how much I love that golden light of September and October. Well, I’m finally ready to admit summer is gone… Here are some cozy ideas for fall and tips for decorating with collections.

Okay, put Joni Mitchell on and grab a cup of tea. I’m spilling EVERYTHING about the dining room, living room, and front hall for fall! Just don’t look too closely at some of the photos. You will see some boxes for shipping for our online shop in the playroom and packages ready to head out the door in the front hall. You will see Poppy resting under the chippy blue cabinet and Max’s baby on the rug by Poppy, but you know what – we live here – so that’s just how it is.

Originally, this post was going to be one long post but I’ve decided to create a little mini series on decorating with collections!

Styling with Vintage Books

I’m a HUGE fan of vintage books. Would you believe I found ALL the books featured in this post on the side of the road. I think it was about 8 years ago now and we were up on the North Shore in the town I grew up in, Andover, MA, and these wonderful books were on the side of the road. I pulled over and carefully put them in the trunk.

My mom was with me and she just laughed. I take after her, after all. Ha! Ha! But aren’t they wonderful? I love the gilded detail and that pretty red. I’m not sure if they’re worth anything but I think they’re just lovely.

I also used them for styling in this painted washstand post.

The collection of books is central to the theme in this room!

Why I love Using Vintage Books

• they add instant charm
• you can stack them or lean them to create focal points or raise other elements
• so much texture
• gilding makes rooms feel warm and inviting

Cozy Dining Room For Fall

I knew I wanted to use books on the Welsh Dresser so that’s where I started in this space. I shifted my cornishware around a bit to make room for the wonderful books. I was worried if I’d like a mix of red and the blue and white but I think it works. I first shared about Cornishware in this post.

Tipping the egg cups was an afterthought and I think it adds a sweet imperfect look to the shelf. The Cornishware is a mix of vintage pieces and new. We use the new pieces for coffee, tea, and dining. I plan on continue adding to this collection and eventually replacing all our crockery with Cornishware.

The little house was a gift from a reader in Canada. You can read more about it the sweet house here.

I added the dried florals to soften all the pottery and books. I already had the dried hydrangeas in the pitcher but I felt like I needed more height. You will see that I used a cake stand and then books to vary the height. Adding the red book under the white pitcher makes it a focal point.

The wonderful rattan yogurt pots are by Nancy of West End Weaver.

Then I had an a-ha moment! I went down to the basement and got pussy willows I hang onto and put them into this vessel. It isn’t old but it looks like it could be.

I left my shells out and just piled them around the pitcher in a giant ironstone platter.

The oil painting is by John Fragassi and we got it at Afterglow Gallery. The understated frame is by The Frame Center. We love this painting so much and it always feels like it glows.

Isn’t it gorgeous?

On the other side of the room is the chippy blue cabinet, painted in milk paint (it’s an older post). I originally got that piece for $20 at a yard sale.

Poppy has started laying under there and we think it’s because her hearing and vision is going. She’s 14 after all.

You will notice more red books over here and I love the pale blue milk paint with them. My pothos loves the sunlight in here.

The gold mirror used to hang in my parent’s restaurant – a colonial mansion. It means so much that I have this piece in our home. I use it to reflect light and make the space appear bigger.

You will notice I stepped the books to make the little pitcher a focal point. The brass candle stick was from a vintage sale. I can never resist them when I see them.

I love mixing in fresh greenery in plants. I find pothos, swiss cheese plants, and spider plants really easy to care for and they seem to like it in here.

The larger pot was from Winston Flowers and is a Raku pot. The smaller terracotta pot is by Bergs (from Italy) and I got it at Scout Vintage when we popped up there this summer.

Sources for Dining Room

• Wall Color – Mascarpone by Benjamin Moore. Read more about wall colors I enjoy to use with dark trim and my favorite white paints.
• Rug – Amazon
• Chairs – Ikea (they don’t make these any more, but linking to similar)
• Chandelier – Vintage
• Lights – Ikea (pretty good for energy efficient)
• Oil Painting – John Fragassi
• Table – Luke built, see post
• Vase – similar to the one I have
• Bergs Terracotta

A Little Video of These Spaces

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today. I shared a sneak peek of this post in this reel. Our rooms aren’t very big so sometimes I find it hard to fit everything into a photo. I can never really capture our beautiful columns.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about decorating with collections and it gave you ideas for your own homes. I hope you join me for part 2 where we’ll be in the front hall!

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