Kristan Cunningham » dining room – Trends and Design Ideas – Kristan Cunningham

On the Wire

Kristan — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:40:01 +0000

I love the look of wire baskets. A little bit country, little bit industrial, they work beautifully with so many styles. On tables filled with fruit, by the front door as a place to put mail, holding yarn or magazines… anything you please. You can find lots of new options at stores these days, but I like the patina and the price of vintage ones more. Just look at this sampling of totally affordable cuties from etsy!

Vintage Metal Wire Planter Stand for Flower Baskets from GlassnMore $18
Vintage Metal Chicken Wire Basket from GreySquirrelAntiques $25
Vintage Yellow Wire Egg Gathering Basket from HuntandFound $44
Vintage Farmhouse Wire Canning Jar Basket from JunkFromMyTrunk $12
Vintage White Wire Farmhouse Basket from Wavelee $17
Vintage Metal Dairy Crate from vintageseventyfive $32

Minimalist for Minimal Money

Kristan — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:32:40 +0000

When I was “leafing” through NYT’s Home & Garden section, as I’m want to do on a Thursday morning, I came across this article. Something occurred to me. The old saying “Less is More” can certainly be true. But why is it that when it comes to modern, minimalist pieces Less often costs More, too? Here are a few great finds that are reminiscent of those pricey sleek sweeties, but for a lot less moolah.

Bonnie Studio Sofa from bludot for $1399

Klubbo Coffee Table from IKEA, $49.99

Kiki Table from Chiasso, $48

Klimos Dining Chair from West Elm $99

Contact Stool from CB2, $129

Hancock Carbon Bookcase from CB2 $199

Metal Leg Dining Console from West Elm $399

Back in Batik!!

Kristan — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:01:57 +0000

The word “batik” used to conjure up all sorts of icky seventies sundresses and head scarves for me. Hippie-dippy, colorful craftiness (in the worst sense of the word.) But it occurred to me recently that with the resurgence of great ethnic textiles, I’ll bet someone is doing a modern version of batik and doing it well. I turned to Etsy to see if that was so and sure enough, look what I found! I may just be coming around…

Mini Tablecloth Tomato Soup Orange $35 from Margot Bianca

Zig & Zag – African Fabric Button Earrings $7 from Orese

Fishscale Hand Dyed Batik Fabric Yellow Red Half Yard $19 from Jackson Fabric Arts

Youth Electric Guitar Batik $24.50 from Jarusha

Red Batik Zipper Purse $14 from Urbanknit

Mottled Gray Mini Tablecloth $35 from Margot Bianca

Ovals Rectangular Pillow Cover in Aqua and Gray $45 from Stitchindye

Hack it Up… IKEA Hacker

Kristan — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:47:25 +0000

I was browsing one of my favorite blogs this morning, and it occurred to me that not everyone knows about it, but everyone should. It’s IKEA Hackers, an ingenious site all about projects that can be done with IKEA products as the raw materials. We all know by now that you can buy a dining table at IKEA for less than it costs to buy the wood to build it yourself. The only thing less expensive? The products and pieces of products you can find in the As-Is clearance area at your local IKEA. This blog gives how-to instructions on tons of projects using IKEA stuff, both by the writer of the blog and readers who send in ideas. Here are some of my favorite projects of late…

Lack bench/lounger
Materials: Lack coffee tables

How To: Make a Mod Chandelier (for under $10.00!)
Materials: HEMMA Cord Set, Wooden Dowels, Spray Paint

Let them eat cake!
Materials: Lampan Table Lamp, Tin Tray

Paper napkin and wooden beads
Materials: NYSNÖ paper napkin

Trofast Children’s Craft Table
Materials: TROFAST Frame, VIKA AMON table top (L: 40 1/8″), 2 GRUNDTAL rails, 2 MALA paper rolls

Malm bed with loads of underbed storage
Materials: Malm, Alsarp

Collapse. Fold. Flatten…Fantastic!!!

Kristan — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:29:14 +0000

Small space living fix #384: Collapse, fold, flatten, store. I love stuff that’s there when you need it, looks good doing its job, and takes up next to no room when you’re done with it.

For instance, this uber green basket from Vat19 is made from recycled chopsticks, fans out when you have some fresh fruit to display and folds flat for simple storage when you’re done eatin’ it up.

An extra side table or TV tray can come in handy in all sorts of situations: extra place for drinks during a party, movie night with the fam, temporary lap top work station to name a few. This cutie pie is from CB2 and hides away ever so neatly and discreetly.

There are a bunch of great collapsible colanders on the market, but none are as cute or fold as flat as this one from the Conran Shop.

Whether you have very tight outdoor space or you like to camp and tailgate, this adorable and sleek grill from HotSpot is a must buy.

OK, so sunglasses don’t really take up that much space, but how awesome are these classic RayBan Wayfarers! They fold up to nothing. Scott has ‘em, and loves ‘em!

If you’re a flea market junkie like me, this Mac Sports folding wagon is for you. Great looking, light weight, huge carrying capacity, easy maneuvering. The dogs like riding in it too ; )

This modern sleek table from IKEA folds partially away, so it’s not a true flat storer, but I love it as a permanent space solution for singles or couples in small flats. You still have a place for things to land, but only need to fold out when sitting down to eat.

A little behind on your laundry? Collapsible Hamper to the rescue!

You always need a step stool around, except when you don’t. Hide this one from the Container Store away until you need a step up.

Saving Sacred Shelf Space

Kristan — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:24:59 +0000

It’s lovely to have a well stocked bar…It feels grown up and we can host cocktail parties at the drop of a hat. But part of having a well stocked bar is having the proper glasses for different drinks. Tumblers, highballs, champagne flutes, martini glasses; this stuff adds up and not just for your wallet; for your cabinet space as well. That’s why I love these Eddy Stackable Wine Glasses from Crate & Barrel. Just $2.95 each and a ton of savings per square-inch as well!

Amber Affection

Kristan — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:26:16 +0000

I know when you think of amber glass, you picture that hideous ‘70’s style of yellow cut glass, kitchy and retro at best, murky and ugly at worst. You know the stuff of ornate vases and lanterns. Juice glasses and ashtrays… I mean it was everywhere. Well, I’ve recently decided, it’s not all bad. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want an amber punch bowl. But that gold/brown color can be beautiful. A touch of amber glass catching the sun is warm and tasteful, when done right.

From Top Left clockwise:
Amber Glass Pharmacy Bottles from Restoration Hardware, $14-48
Hoopla Table Lamp Amber from Crate and Barrel, $79.95
1960’s Retro Mod Swedish Cocktail Set from Retro Art Glass, $180
Amber 1/2 Gallon Glass Jug from Midwest Supplies, $3.75
Cambridge Glass Depression-Era Amber Ball Decanter from Fab Funky Finds on Etsy, $40
Amerock Traditional Classics Knob from Rockler Lumber, $4.78

Inspiration: Farmhouse Chic

Kristan — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:58:18 +0000

Every home could use a bit of patina. A soft, worn feeling around the edges mixed with beautiful modern conveniences. A few objects throughout the home that convey a feeling of warmth, simplicity, and a slow simple way of living. You don’t have to live on a farm to enjoy the age and beauty of old farm stuffs. God knows I’m not milking any cows, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have glass milk bottles. I’m not out picking apples, but an old orchard basket filled with my dog’s toys looks beautiful. Even a properly placed rusty old tool- strictly for decoration!-can be just the thing to get the feeling across. These can be actual used vintage items, like those below found on Etsy, or “vintage-style” new products from a place like Farmhouse Wares; I have a few of those shown here as well…

Orchard Baskets from Lisa’s Retro Style on Etsy

Lard Mixer, Egg Basket, Hay Hook and Cow Bell from Old Time Picker’s Shop on Etsy

Drying Rack, Willow Tray and Cloche, Enamel Bowl from Farmhouse Wares

Historic Wallpaper Made Modern

Kristan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:50:32 +0000

When remodeling an old house, I think it’s dangerous to get too caught up in making it a time piece, doing everything EXACTLY as it was done at the time the house was designed and built. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for historic restoration, but your home isn’t a museum and there must be a balance of modern conveniences while remaining true to the age and style of the house…as well as a nice healthy dose of your taste. That said, a really fun way to honor the period of your abode is with historically accurate wallpapers in new colorways, like those made by Adelphi Paper Hangings. The wallpaper is created in an unbelievably labor intensive manufacturing process: woodcuts, stencils, etc. But like those redoing an old home should be, they’re wise enough to take some of their processes into this millenium. For example, the woodblocks are laser-engraved with the designs before they are hand-finished.These artisanal block printed wall coverings are truly beautiful and can really make a powder room pop, a vestibule vivacious, or a dining room delicious.

Image courtesy of Printersting

L’Oiseau Moderne, French Circa 1925-1930

Everard Damask, English Circa 1760

Spiral Willow, French Circa 1920

Adena Pin Ring, French Circa 1799

Viennese Trees, Austrian/German Circa 1920

Persian Volute, American Circa 1845-1860

Get The Look… Megan Mullally’s House

Kristan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:58:43 +0000

Megan Mullally, the snarky Karen Walker from Will & Grace, and her hubby Nick Offerman, who plays moustached Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, shared their home in a recent issue of Elle Decor. Their sleek and bright style is based on a lot of black and white graphic pieces mixed with fun and funky hits of color. Small touches of ornate shapes against a minimal geometric backdrop makes for a clean livable home. Here’s how you can get the look for less!

Living Room:

West Elm’s Leather Slipper Chair $399

WalMart’s Contemporary Chaise in White, $399

rugsusa.com Black and White Chevron Rug, $85-319

Target’s Chinese Symbol Coffee Table $329.99

Z Gallerie’s Mariposa Table Lamp in Black, $139

Thomas Paul Chinioserie Pillow in Corn, $100

Jonathan Adler Small Kaleidoscope Pillow $68

Bellacor White Coral Sculpture $67

Dining Room:

Target’s 12” x 24” Suzani Panel, $89.99

Restoration Hardware’s Klismos Chair, $249

Bellacor’s Isabella Gilded Chandelier, $187.20

Pier 1’s Splayed Base Dining Table, $299.99

Crate and Barrel’s Stainless Party Bowl, $59.95