Creating a Kid- Friendly Dining room

Hello friends! After a self-imposed maternity leave, it feels so good to be back. While I have been busy balancing life with a two year old plus a two month old, working out in the gym like a mad-women  and  getting back to my “day job” of digital marketing, I have been inspired to design again. You see, I have been on a recent mission to make my home more kid-friendly.

As far as my dining room is concerned,  that meant scaling back on upholstered items and replacing them with more durable and stain-resistant material. Just because I have a house full of kids and animals does not mean I am going to throw in the towel as it pertains to the style and aesthetic of my home (nor am I going to give up faith in losing that damn “mommy pooch” protruding from my midsection). That would just be too depressing. So, I started to consider the best options for dining room seating….the main contenders were lucite (ghost chairs), plastic molded modern chairs with wooden legs or rattan/bamboo.

Somehwhat partial to Hollywood Regency decor, I had been on the lookout for bamboo chippendale chairs for almost a year. Having no luck finding something financially feasible,  I gave up my search when I laid my eyes on these beauties which I found on Craigslist. They were simply too great of a deal to pass up. And while I was able to phase out four of the upholstered chairs, it was an aesthetic preference of mine to keep the upholstered “captain’s” chairs….the kids will simply be banned from sitting at the head of the table.

Just because you are a mother, or parent, doesn’t mean you have to shrivel up and die…..don’t give up on your home and sure as hell do not give up on yourself.

Not a fan of rattan? There are plenty of other durable and kid-friendly seating choices. Canvas slip covers, vintage metal chairs (which I formerly had ), ghost chairs/ lucite,  the more modern look of molded plastic chairs or mid-century “wishbone” chairs. All of these selections are stain resistant and provide a fresh, updated feel.

Hope I gave some of you fellow moms something to work with. Wishing all of you a happy Fourth of July weekend. I will be spending time with family, drinking margaritas by the pool and bitching about my post-partum pooch.

Now get out there and design some good vibes!

Welcome!

My journey in interior design and home improvement began with transforming my first fixer-upper home, all while managing a budget and raising two young boys. My work, a reflection of my passion for creating beautiful, uplifting spaces, has been recognized by top publications like Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, HGTV, and more. I invite you to explore my site and witness the transformation of my home and the vibes we've designed.Read more...