Chris and Gigi Revere of Mount Vernon have been struggling with how to decorate their 11-by-17-foot dining room. They recently bought the rug and buffet, but everything else can be replaced.
Designer Kate Liverman pulls colors from the rug to establish a color scheme and adds texture and lighting to create a more modern and sophisticated space.
Liverman of Simply Sage Interiors (703-309-9549, www.simplysageinteriors.com) is based in Purcellville.
Paint the walls off-white for a soothing backdrop to the colors in the room. Ancient Oak by Benjamin Moore.
Family photos bring personality to a room. Enlarge and frame photos to create a gallery wall. Add sconces to give art more dimension.
Pull a color from the area rug and re-cover chairs in a complementary fabric.
Invest in a larger, more dramatic chandelier. Install all light fixtures on dimmers for better control of the light.
Replace the table with one that is transitional in style and has a lighter finish, which will add contrast to the dark chairs.
A pair of upholstered dining chairs will offer extra seating as well as softness and color to an otherwise cold wall.
Hang silk curtain panels along the wall of windows. The long lines will balance out the room’s length and add warmth.
Furniture: Catherine’s chair ($560, www.calicocorners.com).
Lighting: Stacked-crystals table lamp ($235, www.horcow.com); Cornwall light sconce ($387, www.amazon.com).
Accessories: Bone sunburst mirror ($270, www.ballarddesigns.com); photo wrapped in floating frame, 20 by 30 inches ($224, www.canvasondemand.com); dupioni silk
tie-top drape in wheat (from $109 per panel) and PB standard drape rod in antique bronze (from $79) from www.potterybarn.com.
Hickory White oval dining table in driftwood finish ($3,528, www.theguestroom
furniture.com).
Crystal lights chandelier ($1,490, www.lightingdirect.
com).
Parsons bamboo-top dining table ($1,300, www.crateandbarrel.
com).
Three-light square pendant chandelier ($500, www.lampsplus.com).
Tell us about your design challenge.
Send photos, room dimensions and contact information to makeover@washpost.com.