Jeff and I got more of the family room wainscoting done last week and I got things cleaned up and “done” along that wall yesterday. Here’s how it’s looking…
This is where we were in December…one curtain panel (the other was on the way), the French daybed wasn’t upholstered, etc…
And here’s where we are today…
With the wainscoting done, I started to play around with wall art options in my head. Do I want to leave the walls blank? Hang something above? Below? I finally settled on a row of ironstone platters on each side of the window, above AND below the trim detail. About halfway through putting nails in the wall and stepping back, I wasn’t sure if I liked it.
Then I heard my dear friend Shaunna’s voice in my head. “I mean, spackle dries in three minutes, y’all.”
When she visited me a few weeks ago, we got into a conversation about people who agonize over where to hang a picture. Both of us, given that we’re basically twins, just hang something up and see how it looks. It means our walls look like swiss cheese and we used a lot of toothpaste to fill holes in our first apartments walls… It’s just not a big deal, though. It’s an area of decorating where you can experiment. Try it out. Change what you don’t like. Keep what you do. And use a lot of spackle along the way.
So, I plowed ahead with the idea…
I’m sooooo in love with the wainscoting. It is adding so much depth and detail to the room. It also seems to make the room cozier. Since it’s long, narrow and pretty large, that’s a big plus.
On one side of the French daybed, I have a step stool I found at a local antique mall. It’s the perfect size for the space and provides a spot to sit a drink.
I topped it off with an artificial plant I bought at Ikea and put in a stone pot from Hobby Lobby.
The other side has the nesting tables I got from Pottery Barn (for the design challenge I participated in) and a child’s chair. While I like the nesting tables, they are a bit modern for me, so I’m on the hunt for an antique to fit there.
I decided to replace the brown “bird” pillows with simple white linen ones. The blues in that fabric had a bit too much green in it and it wasn’t quite working for me. I think I’ve found another carmel colored toile that will work better for pillows to tie into the sofa.
We spend most of our time in the family room, so I’m really enjoying working on the space to make it more our style.
The wall with the TV is next…
99 Responses
Looks great. Where did you get your window treatments?
I’m going to share more about this soon, but they are Belgian linen and I got them from a new company called Barn & Willow.
Love it!! The wainscotting is amazing! I’m one of those people who agonize over hanging art and pictures, and I need to stop worrying and start being adventurous! A few years ago I was home with my 4-month old daughter and decided I would finally hang that family collage I had imagined for years. I buckled her in her little baby seat and got to hanging, and she just watched lol. When I was done it looked so good that my biggest and only regret was that I hadn’t done it sooner.
Absolutely breathtaking, as usual!!!!!
Ohhh, MMS… I am in so much need of some wainscoting…. Yours just looks perfect!
I hope this is constructive criticism: I like the wainscoting, but I think the platters hanging on it look odd, not unified. It detracts from the simple lines of the wainscoting. I’d hang any platters above the trim.
I agree that the plates are distracting.
I also agree with Charlotte and Kate. Love everything else though!
Yes, I agree. Distracting. Maybe time to break out the spackle that dries, like, in three minutes? 🙂
Ha, thanks, ladies! I haven’t made up my mind if I like it, but as I’ve tried different things, that’s what I keep coming back to. I think it’s hard for you to see how it works with the entire room, since you’re just seeing one side. The height of the plates works well with the hutch and cow painting & dresser flanking the window on the other side of the room. It seems to balance things out.
But, in the end, to each her own, right? 🙂
I agree–love the wainscoting, would move the platters. They’re distracting. However, I can see them in a row above the wainscoting–a single row, perhaps with two to the left of the window and one on the right, before the corner, and continuing round the corner with two more. Of course, I can’t see the room as a whole, so maybe that wouldn’t look right.
Also love the step stool. You find the cutest things.
If you’re looking to sell the brown bird pillows please let me know!
I really love the look. It’s so light and airy…and the blue! I love how the blue pops! Everything looks beautiful and has so much character.
leelee @ paperbagstyling.blogspot.com
Beautiful job on the wainscoting! It really is like jewelry for a room. Maybe its just me, but I think the wainscoting is so stunning on its own I am not sure if I would hang anything directly on it and cover its beauty.
I see its not just me from reading the other posts.
🙂 No, you’re in good company!
I totally agree with Kate above. The platters look very out of place there. They would look much better if you put them on top of the trim, like a plate rail look. Why cover up that beautiful woodwork? Of course it is up to you, but you seem hesitant, like your gut is telling you the same thing. 🙂
Blessings
Your beautiful blue and white, with the wainscoting and the darker wood tones…just so lovely! I think the platters would look wonderful ANY which way, but I tend to disagree with Kate (above) I feel like hanging them on the wall and the wainscoting actually does unify the two wall surfaces. It’s more interesting this way, and at least you tried something unique! It will still look great even if you move them around later : )
Jeanette
I agree with you Jeanette! Decorating to me is about trying things that are unconventional but at the same time, creating a balance in the entire room.
The wall treatment is awesome!
And I totally agree with the nail hole sentiment. Don’t get what all the fuss is about. Tiny holes in a wall do not qualify as a real problem. I’ve been nailing holes in walls with wild abandon since the 70’s, in my early decorating years as a teenager…..:)
Ha! Me too! When we had our dining room painted a few years ago, the painter complained that he had never seen so many nail holes! Get over it….I love changing things up , it makes me happy!
I, too, agree with Katie. The beauty and simplicity of the wainscotiig needs to stand alone. Hang the platters above. Less is more-give the eye a place to rest.
I love the wainscoting, it is just a beautiful detail, it is amazing to me what a huge difference it makes in the room. The really funny thing is, I never noticed the gorgeous wall color before, now it really pops! So now that I am in love with it , can you share the name, I would also love to know what the color is of the wainscoting? Thanks for sharing, though I am sure my husband is going to wish you hadn’t once I inform him how much I need wainscoting in our family room! Haha
How do you ever keep all that white White?
P.S. I VOTE FOR NOTHING ON THAT GORGEOUS WAINSCOT.
I love the uniqueness of the platters hanging on the wall and wainscoting. It draws me in and creates interest.
The wainscoting looks so pretty. Your husband did a great job. I am guessing that tutorials/guidance will be somewhere in the Mustard Seed Manly Pages….can’t remember the name. I just wish my husband, or myself for that matter could complete a project like this and have it look so nice.
I like to live with something for a bit and if it still does not sit well with me, well, then I change it around. Everything looks so nice and inviting! Love the photos with the sun shining in!
When i click on the blog page, the video starts automatically. It’s very irritating and distracts me from your page.
Wow!! It is beautiful!!!!!!
Hum…not loving the three platters…I think you are trying to create the same look you had pre-wainscoting but it has changed the “balance” of the room. Left of the window, I would suggest just one platter above the trim OR two platters above the wainscoting, and MAYBE a third above those two…then maybe a nice boxwood wreath or something VERY simple on the wainscoting, centered between the window and the door. On the right, one platter above the wainscoting and then maybe something tall leaning in the corner…old bamboo rods, fabric bolts…something tall and narrow. The platters are just to “much” for the corner.
Just a suggestion…otherwise, yes, I love the wainscoting!
I have to agree with the other ladies ~ When I seen the pictures my first thought was move the platters above the wainscoting, or remove them completely. Everything is beautiful, just needs some tweaking to get the natural beauty of each element to shine!
I would never have thought that your platters look out of place, if others hadn’t suggested it. I think it looks beautiful the way it is. If I did anything different, though, I don’t think I would put anything on or above the wainscoting. I think it provides enough detail to the room on its own. That being said, though, I do love the way it looks now. You did a fantastic job!!
I am one of those whose afraid to put a hole in a wall. One of the things I loved when we bought this house is how many pictures the previous owners had hanging, which gave me lots of already there holes to choose from. And then we repainted and I’m still fretting over where to hang things (and what to hang). I don’t know if it’s a commitment thing or a “follow the rules” thing, but I’m working on both. Love your family room, and that you hung platters on the wainscoting. I would have been afraid of the holes. 🙂
Beautiful! I am amazed at how much you have accomplished in the past few months! Ah, youth…
There are so many beautiful touches in your family room but the wainscoting is my favorite. I agree with the others though, as soon as I saw the platters I thought they looked very off there. But I love your idea that hey, try it and move it later if you don’t love something – so true!
Question about spackle – although it does dry quickly, you need to paint over it, no? and unless you repaint the whole wall, the new dab of paint will stand out a bit, correct? at least this has been my experience, which makes me a bit hesitant to hang and rehang wall decor… may be there is a better way of doing this?
My guess is that you have semi-gloss paint on your walls –I only paint with flat paint because you can touch it up (and I like the look of no sheen).
Some people say they like semi-gloss because it cleans better but I haven’t ever had any problem wiping marks off my wall –but if you do you can touch it up.
The room is so fresh looking, I really like that you added wood. My first reaction was pretty platters, I use iron stone too hanging as art in several areas of my home. It’s so pretty! Personally I don’t care for the position of them entering into the wood. I think the wood is beautiful, it can stand alone.
I have two suggestions. #1 try just one platter on each side of the window. Maybe hang them with some old delicate chain or wire, cloth or ribbon. #2. Hang several above the wood going around the room. Try alternating horizontal-Vertical or using smaller platters or plates in between platters.
Just my thoughts. It’s fun to play…Let me know if you try these! I would love to see a picture of them!
Have fun,
xo
Gail
My girlfriend has the same wall treatment…she at one time had Blue Onion dishes appearing to sit on top of wainscoting rail…..interesting….then she changed it up and a 2 inch large satin ribbon appearing to actually hang plates from….It was all fog and mirrors but you get the idea…the satin ribbon was a punch of a different color, she always thinks outside the box..I used to visit an elderly gal who lived in a stately 1860’s home. In her dining room had same wall treatment..she displayed beautiful oriental plates mixed in with small antique painting..Her top rail was more of a plate rail,,,in both instances the actually treatment was left opened…not as busy…My humble opinion…the platters do nothing for the wall treatment. Almost takes away from the look …But your house, your rules go this your gut….MM
It’s looking great!
I’m getting two videos per post that play automatically and are hard to stop. Very loud and annoying! Thought you’d want to know.
Ew, sorry about that! Do you know which ad slots they were in? I can try to block them…
It was one at the top side and one at the bottom of the post, but you’ve fixed it. They’re gone! x
I agree that the platters look odd on the beautiful wainscoting! That is such a statement on its own – the platters just look like an afterthought, in my humble opinion. I am surprised because I usually love all your decorating decisions!
I love the platters hung where they are. Because the wainscoting is tall, if you place all the platters above it it would draw your eye up towards the ceiling and you wouldn’t notice all the beautiful furniture and decor in the room. You need to have things hanging at eye level to draw you into the room and not above it. Great job Marion!!! Beautiful as usual.
Ok, this just couldn’t possibly look any better than it does right now…. It’s perfect in every way. I love the trios of platters with it all, and may completely just die over the gingham slipcovers on that gorgeous daybed. and the wainscoting is just wonderful… WOW!
Cindy
Looks beautiful. Great job!!! I am with you- not at all afraid to put a nail in the wall. If it is wrong just wack another one in. It can always be fixed. I am always helping timid people hang things up. Most people hang their paintings way too high. Average eye level please.
Beautiful! I love your sofa, what is it called? What would I search for?
Love the wainscoting to shine alone!
Love this! Although I think contrasting color plates on the wainscoting may enhance its beauty! White on white doesn’t pop. I’m amazed at how fast you work!
I love the wainscotting. That’s what I tell everyone, you can just plug up the holes!!!!!!
I sit and stare…what is it about MMS home that makes it SO pretty and nice to look at? I think it is #1 everything blends so nicely together. Two major colors with accents of metal, wood, a little black and green. #2 everything is authentic and rich. Your home gets more and more beautiful. Love your style.
I second the request for info on your window treatments: white curtains. I remember seeing a diy on making curtains with pleats here, but can’t find it anywhere. Could it be gone?
Thanks if you have the time to comment!
Love the wainscoting. I have a condo I’m going to put on the market and I am doing a wall of wainscoting in the living room to differentiate it from the several other condos for sale. Something easy to do but with a huge impact. Your room looks lovely.
The room looks fabulous, I love the symmetry and the buffalo check you chose for your sofa in the end looks wonderful.
Lee
It looks fantastic, it’s amazing what wainscoting adds to a room. I can’t wait to see the carmel toile pillows!
Is that white slipcovered wingback chair something you bought or an old chair you had slipcovered? I really like it and it looks really comfortable! Would love to know…
Love what you’ve done with YOUR place! No need to change a thing, The platters look fantastic!
I love it all. I think it looks great took a second look at your platters hanging looks good to me. Have you ever tried the command strips? My friend says they work great. That’s how she hangs her pictures I plan on giving it a try.
AHHHH!!! I’m in looooove! So true-the depth it adds. Totally beautiful. I like the plates hung right on the wainscoting. I’m all for that look. And I like how you flanked the daybed on the other side as well. Ahhh, I sooo want this look (we are renters of our house-argh). Wonderful job. Oh and I totally turn my walls into Swiss cheese where ever I live.
Love the room, but would keep platters above the wainscoting.
I love that you are sharing your tweaking with us as I do this all the time too. Your home always seems put together well though. Thanks!
The platters do not look good on the wainscoating.
What is the wall color/brand, above the wainscoting? It is lovely.
Love your wainscoting. I have been collecting pictures over the last year because I want the perfect wainscoting in my family room- and yours is it! Would love your husbands notes on what he used!! 🙂
Hi, Im not liking the plates either. Sorry. Now if you want to talk about holes in the walls that’s something I’ve done. I had a 9×12 entrance hall and I had so many old family pictures (1910 to 1950’s) They were very small to very large. I hung over 80 pictures on the wall. it was great! When we moved we just filled the holes. No big deal. It was worth it!! (Don’t ask how much the frames cost! That’s another story)
I love how the wainscoting turned out! It does add character to the room.
Waiting with baited breath to see what you do with the “TV wall”…
Love the family room. Not crazy about how the plates look. Can you tell me what the name of the blue color is on the walls? Thanks
Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore. This is my favorite wall color in the whole house.
I LOVE it all. The wainscoting is stunning!
You are definitely one talented lady. Thanks for reminding us about how easy it is to repair those tiny little holes from pictures. It just makes sense and I feel much more comfortable to go ahead with my projects. I love how your room pulls together so beautifully and I love following you through your projects!
Dear Miss Mustard Seed, I don’t care which way you hang the platters (although your post helps me envision how I might hang mine in a similar situation). What I really love is the way you allow this conversation to evolve without defensiveness. Discourse that is polite is invigorating, refreshing, and illuminating! Although the style of our house is a little different than yours, I love your blog because your voice is so open and authentic. I get new ideas all the time and I respect your presentation (word and photo) all the more. Thank you for your many talents, not the least of which is accepting differing opinions with grace.
Thanks, PAT! I’ve learned to not take whether people like my decorating or not personally. I’m not 100% sure that I like the plates like that either, but that was the point of the post. It’s just a little nail hole, so I can live with it for a while and change things when I make up my mind on the matter. 🙂
L O V E, L O V E it!!! I’m so jealous! I think I can do this, just deciding where to start would be the issue. Looking forward to some “instructions” from your hubby… what size wood to use, etc.
Yes, Jeff is going to do a video and a tutorial on it!
P.A.T., I could not agree more. Thank you for so eloquently putting words to the reactions I’ve had following Marion’s journey . Marion, it’s been a true joy and education! Thank You for sharing !
LOVE the Wainscoating… Question is… What height is it placed? Also noticing that the upper horizontal is wider than the lower horizontal. What 2 widths did you use and at what heights were they both placed? It turned out so natural and comfortable feeling. I‘m assuming the height of the ceiling is 8 foot. VERY curious of those other details… It’s All the Difference!
Ellen, we’re going to do a post all about this. Basically, though, we took inspiration from the inn we stayed at in Charlottesville, VA and then designed something that would work for our room’s ceiling height, which is 8′ at the lowest point. We also knew we wanted to top panel to be a perfect square, so we played with those dimensions and the board thicknesses until it looked just right. We’ll share all of the details soon!
Marian: I love the idea of the ironstone platters at the sides of the windows…but, may I say this…would they work if you centered the two lower ones on each side so they are framed by the crosspieces and verticals? Surely I am not being critical but why don’t you give it a try.
Let me know if it works…I just am not crazy about the horizontal boards being partially covered. Love ya, you know that..
.{{HUGS}}
Joy
I’d like to know more about that beautiful pillow with the gingham trim! Great room!
I made it out of fabric remnants!
I knew you would say that! The pillow is darling! Is the large blue gingham also a remnant?
I am agreeing with the others and you in that I’m not sure the platters work. Too little color maybe? Do you have any transferware? That might be just enough of a pop of color to make it work. Just an idea….. I’m sure you will come up with the perfect solution. You always do! <3
Love the color flow. The placement of the platters in a vertical way is a little off. Did you try horizontally above the wainscoting like the very first top plate all the way around the room? Personally I LOVE decorating with plates creating borders with them. Just to give you an idea in my kitchen and dinning rm. I’ve used plates with rooster & chicken prints, In my bed rm. vintage plates with floral and chintz prints in pastels colors. My guest BR blue and white plates. And I’ve started collecting white platters to do a border in my living rm. My house is a vintage craftsman bungalow built in 1925 that I LUV LUV LUV.
Looks great.Love the Ironstone platters on the wall…just make sure they’re nailed in well. With the front door opening and closing (my little boys like to slam doors) you don’t want to have them rattle lose. Thank you for all your sharing of your talents! Sue in Mesa, AZ.
The wainscoting came out so beautifully!! Adds such great character! 🙂
I’d been wondering where those PB nesting tables went! I wish I could take them off your hands when you replace them. I’ve been checking Craigslist for ages to find a pair in my area! 🙂
Love it all!! Plates, paneling!!! And colors!
Yep, I concur with the ladies who said that somehow the platters don’t quite do it. But isn’t it fun giving these items a special spot, and when you do find the exact place for them, there isn’t any question, it’s a Eureka moment!
just had a thought – what about limiting the platter arrangement to ABove the wainscoting? and go around the rest of the room like that? jus’ sayin’!
Your walls are such a lovely shade of blue. What brand/color is that?
It’s Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore
I love you and your plates and it is irrevocably true that spackle does, in fact, dry in 3 minutes. May the plate hanging experiment continue. Amen.
I love this room! How adorable is the covering you used for your daybed, and your wall color, love it!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful ideas!
The room looks great!….if you didn’t hang the plates you would have never known how they looked…mind you this is comming from someone with many holes in their wall..some covered…who really looks that close!
I usually don’t like tons of plates on the wall at all but I happen to like how it looks for you! Go figure, since so many people don’t seem to! I think it adds an extra layer of texture without taking over since they are white or creme in color!! Love what you are doing here!! Thinking I might do maybe half of what you did on that wall and do a sort of chair rail midway then painting it white along with the wall below it, with a different color on top!! Your blue is definitely nice!! You are my favorite decorative blog – soooo inspirational on so many levels!!
I suspected that a tutorial/post will be forthcoming on the wainscoting(-why do I feel like there should be 2 t’s in that word?) ! Yay! I will be waiting for that.
I love taking the risks and letting the changes sit a while…not knowing if I like it or not…time will tell. Yes it stays or no, it goes. And finding a new replacement for the items is fun fun fun! thanks for all of the wonderful ideas Marian…you are surely the Queen!
Haha, I can hear Shaunna…really Ya’ll…3 minutes!
I love all you do, but I really don’t like the plates on the wainscoting because it is beautiful as is and this takes away from it…what if you hang the platters above the wainscoting in a row?
Hugs, and keep up the great work. ~Di
The plates? Different and groovy!
Hi. I love your ideas! I’m in the process of redoing my kitchen like yours. I love the glass slipper color, but I’m having a hard time swallowing the 62 dollar a gallon B.M. Aura price. Do you think the Sherwin Williams Duration brand would work just as well, or is the Aura paint that amazing? Thanks!
wow!!!! beautiful pillow with the gingham trim! Great room!. nice work