What to have on your formal Dining Room Table? (window, curtains, color)

[pianogal]

I have very traditional, mahogany, hand carved dining room furniture. The table has pedestal legs, is 7 feet long without a leaf and has 8 chairs. I'm using burgundy, olive green, and gold colors. Right now, the table has a burgundy tablecloth with placemats in the above mentioned color scheme. In the center I have a 2 arm crystal candlestick with crystal spears hanging from bobeches - that is flanked by a smaller matching single candlestick with matching crystal prism bobeches. Over the table is a crystal chandelier.

I've used this set up for years and vary it by adding seasonal flowers in the form of candle rings sitting on the bobeches. I'm getting a little bored with it and really want a new look, but can't go contemporary due to the very traditional look of my furniture, which I love.

Any suggestions or ideas? What do you use on your formal dining room table?

[Granny Sue]

Mine is more on the simple side, a table runner (design determined by season) an etched bowl with a candle stick on each side.

[the painter]

My visual maybe totally wrong, okay. But it sounds like you may just need to tone it down. Cloth & placemats? Crystal overhead and crystal candlesticks with dangles and bobs??? The dining room set sounds wonderful, take advantage of that and maybe use a runner with a low & long floral center piece and swap out the candlesticks for silver ones. The silver would reflect with the crystal. Hard to say with out a photo....

[pianogal]

Originally Posted by the painter

My visual maybe totally wrong, okay. But it sounds like you may just need to tone it down. Cloth & placemats? Crystal overhead and crystal candlesticks with dangles and bobs??? The dining room set sounds wonderful, take advantage of that and maybe use a runner with a low & long floral center piece and swap out the candlesticks for silver ones. The silver would reflect with the crystal. Hard to say with out a photo....

Thanks....I've got to get more savvy to learn how to put a photo online...LOL.
Yeah!! I think you're on to something. I recently changed my chandelier - switched the ones in the foyer with the one in the dining room. I think now I have crystal overdrive...it just looks blah. I thought perhaps I was bored with the look and needed a change. It certainly helps to have your fresh perspective.

[Ohiogirl81]

I change the setting on my dining room table almost monthly. Sometimes it's set, sometimes not, and I'll switch up with tablecloths, placemats, runners, etc. It's a fun way to display the oodles of pottery, glassware etc. that I have, and it keeps me from using the table as a catchall.

[twinmma]

I change my runner with the seasons. I also have a large hurricane in the middle of the table that I change the color of the candles with each season. Then I have two medium size candle sticks beside the hurricane. And then beside them I have two small pots of faux grass. Looks very fresh. In the fall I put a fall wreath around the hurricane, in the winter a pine cone wreath and then spring and summer it goes without the wreath.
All of this was at Pottery Barn. Also in the fall I remove the grass and replace with candles cut to look like pumpkins or turkeys and then for Christmas I replace those with pine cone candles.
The key is to buy really nice pcs that you can alter over the year. Pottery Barn people are usually very good about helping you scheme something out like this.
Good luck!

[pianogal]

OK....how does this sound?

Mahogany table with burgundy tablecloth topped with a small ecru cloth laid cornered across the burgundy. That tablecloth is a family heirloom - a handmade crocheted piece in fine ecru thread - DH's grandmother made it for us as a wedding present over 30 years ago. I need it because the curtains in the room are also burgundy - with a window on two sides of the table....the burgundy tablecloth alone just blends into the drapes. On that is an antique mirrored runner.

The table is 7 feet long - the runner is 4 feet. On the mirrored runner I put my 5 arm 2 tiered silver candelabra with burgundy tapers and a small low flower arrangement at the base for color. The proportion was still a little off (arrangment not big enough for large table) so I added a silver candlestick on each side also with a matching burgundy taper. Over all is a 6 light crystal chandelier - I could use a bigger one, but it would cost me a fortune to buy one of this quality these days so I'm keeping it.

It looks SOOO much better. The painter was right....I had too much crystal in the room. Now it looks elegant and refined but not over the top. Wish I could post a before and after picture. You guys are wonderful.

[Keeem]

Normally, sadly, laundry that's being sorted/folded. Otherwise just a runner with candles or nothing.

[the painter]

Pianogal, Sometimes you just need to switch textures or add/delete items to find the right mix. A good rule on display is the old 3-5-7, odd numbers, keeps things more pleasing to the eye. When to many things are added to the mix in a room your eyes have no where to settle, so simple, especially in a formal room, is better. Have fun....

[motormaker]

Ping pong paddles, net and ball.
Just kidding, right now just a runner with a couple of figurens and a decorative bowl.