Dining Room Refresh: The Inspiration
The tones, textures and direction behind the dining room refresh.
If you caught the teaser on Instagram a few weeks ago — it's happening! The dining room refresh is officially underway.
A few years ago I tackled the kitchen, taking it from builder basic to something that actually feels like me. Since then I've been slowly making updates throughout the rest of the main floor (lots of thrifting, lots of paint, endless styling), and honestly, that's exactly the way I like to do it. The slow hunt for the right pieces, the constant evolution — it's my favourite part. But the dining area has been nagging at me. It shares the same open floor plan as the kitchen, and now that the kitchen feels so warm and collected, the dining side just… doesn't match.
So it's time to finish the other side.
The bones are good — the table stays, the light is beautiful in the late afternoon and into the evening. But the wall the shelving lives on? That's the anchor of the whole room, and it hasn’t been pulling its weight. The white floating shelves that have been there since I moved in feel disconnected from the warmer wood tones we brought into the kitchen, and because open shelving plays such a big role in both spaces (it's where I get to style and display and tell a story), it was the obvious place to start. That's where Kitch comes in — but more on the specifics in the design plan post, up next.
For now, here's what I've been collecting for inspiration and the overall direction I'm leaning in.
Natural Shapes and Textures Add Softness
Worn-in wood, natural stone, organic shapes — the kind of softness that makes a space feel lived in rather than styled.
Mix of Neutrals and Textures
Rich, soft textures against sleek finishes — the neutral palette keeps things quiet while the contrast does the talking.
Dark Wood for Depth and Warmth
Dark walnut floating shelves anchor the wall and bring warmth to an otherwise neutral space — a grounding element that makes everything around it feel more intentional.
Playing with the Contrast of Dark and Light
Dark and light in conversation — the contrast creates depth, and varying the scale and finish of each piece keeps the eye moving.
Collected Treasures, Displayed
A mix of shapes, sizes and finishes — curated but not overthought. The kind of display that looks like it came together over time.
Intentional Vignettes with Classic Silhouettes
Little moments that feel considered without being fussy — sleek silhouettes paired with natural textures like stone, vintage books and tassels.
Interesting Details and Finishes for Personality
Unexpected materials and finishes — like brushed silver against darker tones — keep things from feeling too predictable. It's the details that give a space personality.
Eclectic Layering in a Tonal Palette
When the palette stays tonal, you can mix styles freely — the colour continuity holds it all together while the layered pieces keep it interesting.
The thread through all of this? Balance. Warm and cool. Dark and light. Structured and organic. I want a space that feels grounded but still has personality — where the shelving does the heavy lifting as the focal point and everything around it supports rather than competes.
I already have the design plan coming together (honestly it might be my favourite part), so next up I'll be sharing all the specifics — the selections, the colours, the direction for every element. Stay tuned!