dining room Archives - Emily A. Clark

Do You Still Use (or Have) a Home Office?

Feb192019

If you’re an avid House Hunters watcher, you know the three “musts” for any prospective homeowner (according to HGTV, at least) are granite countertops, a double vanity and a home office. If you think about it, we’ve essentially built an entire room in newer houses around a large piece of technology. Home offices started out with big desks to hold big computers and bigger monitors. But as technology has been streamlined, I wonder if the home office will be as well.

lighting // cowhide rug // jute rug // table // shades

vase (similar) // chairs & china cabinet (vintage)

In our last home, we converted the formal dining room into a home office devoted to my design business (that I ended soon after. . . ). In this house, we got rid of the dining room all together when we renovated the kitchen and gave up the formal living room for an office space. But it turns out, I rarely use this room to work. I end up taking my laptop and sitting in the kitchen or on the couch. Instead, this space has become overflow dining when we have guests, a homework and project room, a music room, a baby doll nursery, a hiding place. . . You name it. Pretty much anything besides an office for me.

So I wonder, do you think the home office is becoming extinct? If you work from home full-time, do you sit in a designated room all day? (I’m too antsy, and I like the TV on while I work. . . No wonder I can’t stay focused.)

My Red + Green Holiday Table with eBay

Nov262018

This post is sponsored by eBay.

We are officially calling “the office” the dining room again. It’s always a good overflow spot when we have friends over during the holidays, not to mention it’s the first room you see when you walk through the front door. I dressed it up for the holidays by setting a red and green table, inspired by some pieces I found on eBay.

I was doing a late night search when I came across these red and white scalloped plates. Everything else fell into place from there. I love a mix and match table, and eBay is perfect because you can find vintage, name brand, new, you name it. It’s also easier than ever to score what you want because over 80% of listings are available with a “buy it now” option.

The red and white runner is discontinued from Pottery Barn. (Another reason to love eBay! You never know when those impossible-to-find items will pop up.)

gold flatware, blue glassware, linen tablecloths, toile napkins, red and white table runner, blue and white plates, green and white plates, blue and white candle sticks, bamboo dining chairs, rattan serving tray, blue and white vase, blue and white temple jar

In the corner, I used the antique chest to set up a small drink station. I always think it’s fun to spread the cheer around the house instead of putting everything in the kitchen. (Those pretty red and white toile napkins were also a recent eBay find.)

A few more not-to-miss eBay listings for a festive holiday table:

Quick Change: Faux Bamboo Dining Chairs

Jul182018

Today, I’m sharing one of my best Facebook Marketplace finds to date and some very kid-friendly fabric you might be interested in checking out. I wasn’t even looking for dining chairs when I found this faux bamboo set listed for a steal. (And, six hours later, they were in my in my garage. . .)

See more of my entryway here.

The only kicker was that they didn’t come with cushions and definitely had to have them.

I wanted something with no maintenance so I started looking at vinyl. After ordering–and returning–an inexpensive embossed ostrich vinyl that looked way too shiny, I decided it was worth shopping around and paying a little more per yard. I ended up going with this light blue linen-lookalike:

For reference, I needed three yards for this project and my upholsterer charged me $60 per chair in labor.

By the way, I guess this room has given up the title of being called my office. I’m forever working in a comfortable chair or on the porch with my laptop so for now, we’re calling it the dining room again. . . .