Help! My apartment’s got a stupid hole in it. After the Domino Debacle, I’m still pretending our little dining table, Ikea Ingo, is an extra desk – tucked not so elegantly against the couch.
This leaves a huge wall and a huge void – some 15% of our total apartment is just… a weird L-shaped dance floor. We use it for an over-sized laundry drying factory, a dance floor and whirling dervish practice space.
Extra space isn’t a problem per se, but I think it looks a little funny – and we’re treading towards staging time. If Ingo actually fit adult humans around it, we’d put it back in the middle and sup from it. Instead, shivering on the balcony table almost makes a better dining experience. I’d rather spend nothing at all – but recognize this as a stubborn trend with predictable results. Do we need to simply suck it up and replace Ingo with a proper dining table and chairs? We liked this chunky chap – but think it clashes with our floor. (And, please, let’s put our days of painting Ikea behind us – first Ingo, then Bekvam, Groland, Expedit and Hemnes. Enough!)
The kitchen is huge & I think the living area around the couch is now nicely defined. Do we need some dining bling-bling? Do apartment-dwellers actually dine? They probably dance, right?
What’s needed on the nekked wall? Art? Mirrors? Shelves?
Increase the global karma supply – donate some genius ideas for this weird L-shaped void. Help!
Hey, you want a s'more? Some more of what?
If this is purely for staging purposes, put some sort of larger fake top on your already owned Ingo and
cover it with a tablecloth. I wouldn’t buy anything if you don’t know where you’ll eventually buy permanently; it may not fit. Don’t you have a stash of leftover wood somewhere in storage?
I agree with adding a larger top to your existing table. If you don’t care about damaging the small table you can just screw it right to the existing table top. As for the wall, a mirror doesn’t sound right to me–who wants to stare at themselves eating? Art and shelves sound good, maybe with some pretty dishes on them? Giant cutlery hung on the wall? I would suggest a china cabinet or console-type piece of furniture, but 8×10 isn’t really big enough to have that extra piece. Do you have an extra rug around that you could throw down to define the space as a dining room?
Another vote for adding a table topper, Lauren. Hollow core doors work great! But if you’re thinking about buying something, a round table with drop leaves would work nicely. Or you could stage with one of those bar height square pub tables — that way, the target-market bachelors would know they could see the super-sized TV over the couch.
Remember — you can always sell your staging furniture with the condo. What the hey — GIVE it away! It just might seal the deal with a first-time buyer!
On the other hand, if you’re staying for a while (and you win the lottery), this has your name on it!
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/trieste-wine-storage-dining-table/?pkey=cround-tables
Wowza, I don’t even like wine, but I love that industrial looking table! Lauren could store her bottles of potato vodka down there….
And perhaps a blackboard paint accent wall for “art”?
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/singular-modular-iron-wine-rack/
Instead of all great wines you’ve enjoyed, you could list your past/current/future home improvements.
Have you thought about going with a round table instead of a rectangular one? It will take up less took, but still give you the dining area you are looking for!
Uh, that should say “take up less room”. I should really avoid posting suggestions after my bedtime…
Plants. You could fill the space with plants that will bring in some oxygen and give you something good to look at.
Yes! Plants on the wall! http://www.woollypocket.com/living-wall-planters/wally-one
They wouldnt even have to live all that long.
And the pub table sounds fantastic! Fred Meyers(USA) has a fantasticly priced one(I own!) that is easy enough to cover/refinish/sell if you choose to change. It is 42X42x 40ish? Perfect height to stand or sit with elevated chairs!