I *love* getting comments and emails from readers and I do my very best to always respond {apologies if you sent one that I missed!}. Your comments and questions give me a chance to get to know you better and the connecting with others over a common interest is why I started this blog in the first place!
I know not everyone feels comfortable sending in comments or questions, so today I’m sharing with you some of those that I’ve received in case the answers help you, too!
1. “We have just purchased our first home and our new fireplace arrived today, this mirror is perfect! Can I ask where it’s from or if you know anywhere that makes similar? Thank you!” – Ayisha
I get this question A LOT and I wish I had a better answer for you! I purchased the mirror from HomeGoods years ago but there aren’t any identifying marks on it that give an indication as to the brand or the manufacturer. The closest one that I’ve come across if from Restoration Hardware, although it is considerably more expensive.
2. “Your round back chairs are from restoration hardware, correct? Could you please share the finish of the wood on them to ease my mind before I order today.” – Free
Yes, my dining chairs are from Restoration Hardware and they are the Burnt Oak finish, but I added the numbers to the backs myself, tutorial {HERE}.
3. “How far back should to the front part of the back of the chair be from the apron of the table?” – Amy
In my opinion, the distance between your table apron and chair back depends on 1) your space 2) how often the chairs get used and 3) your decorating style, in that order. If the space around your table is restricted, you’ll want to ensure that your chairs push in as much as possible so that you don’t restrict the flow of traffic. If space isn’t any issue, then how far out the chairs sit from the table is a matter of personal preference. If they are pushed in tightly, they have a more formal feel – pulled back a bit they have a more relaxed look. In my own home, I have a more casual look so my dining chairs tend to be pulled away from the table anywhere from 4″ – 10″. (4″ in the dining room, 10″ in the kitchen.) The key, though, is to not have the chairs sit so far away from the table that they look pulled out. In general, I determine this by seeing whether someone could sit down without moving the chair. If you can, the chair is pulled out too far.
4. “I really love your dining room chandelier and was wondering if you could tell me where you purchased it from. ” – Mary Ellen
I purchased my chandelier from Lamps Plus a number of years ago and it’s been a great addition to the dining room. It’s the Rodeo Collection Round Twelve Light Chandelier. Here’s a link: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/rodeo-collection-round-twelve-light-chandelier__40722.html
Not too long ago, I decided to give it a bit more femininity with the addition of some crystals that I added myself. In case you’re interested, you can find a tutorial {HERE}.
5. “I always wonder how long the curtains should be and what the rules are here. Any thoughts?” – Jessica
I feel that curtains should be hung as close to the ceiling or crown moulding as possible in order to help elongate the look of a room. If you don’t have crown, consider 1″-2″ below the ceiling. If you have crown, try mounting the rod directly underneath it. Then measure that distance from the rod to the floor to get your total length (be sure to account for the type of header you are using, as this will affect the location from where your drape actually starts in relation to the rod). If you want a puddled look, add anywhere from 2″-8″ to the total length depending on your preference.
6. “You mentioned how deep a bench in front of a bed should be, but how wide should it be? 48″ for a Queen? 60+ for a King? I’ve also heard 2/3s of the width of the bed. Any thoughts?” – Joe
My personal preference is about 12″ less than the width of the bed, but depending on the shape of the bed frame and of the bench, sometimes they look good even when they are both the same width! At a minimum, though, I think it should be at least 2/3s {anything less and the scale starts to look disproportionate}. So a 60″ queen-sized bed would have a bench that is no less than 40″, but closer to 48″ +/-.
I do love hearing from you so please feel free to comment on posts or send me an email!
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Wanted to look at the drop leaf sofa table, but can’t find it on your website??
Hi Sherry – I’m not quite sure what sofa table you’re referring to….I did do a post about drop leaf tables that you can find here: https://www.tidbitsandtwine.com/drop-leaf-table-love/
I hope that answers your question!
Hi, I really like your dining room table. Can you tell me where you purchased it from?
Thank you.
Hi Chris – Thank you! The table is actually and antique that I bought at a consignment shop about 15 years ago but I’ve seen similar trestle tables at Cost Plus World Market and Restoration Hardware.