Recently, I received a note from a kind reader:
Dear Laurel,
Could you do a blog post on how to decorate a large blank wall in a dining room that coordinates with an open kitchen across from it?
Thanks!
Mel
Oh, this is a terrific topic. However, it’s not like we haven’t discussed a long drink of wall before.
We definitely have, a number of times. So, I asked Mel if she could send me some more information, including images, which she did. And then I asked permission.
Before we begin with the large dining room wall, let’s remember that Mel has kindly invited us into her home.
I learned that they built this home two years ago in the middle of the Canadian province– Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (say that 10 times fast) — population 300,000.
What? That’s triple the size of Albany, NY and Boca Raton, FL.
Triple.
But, Guys.
Brrrrrrrrr…..
Being the little geographical nerd that I am, I looked it up, and yes, the lowest temperature ever recorded was −50.0 °C (−58.0 °F) on February 1, 1893. But, just as shocking, the highest temp ever recorded was 106.7 on June 6, 1988!
Those, of course, are the two extremes. Still, the winters are long and very cold by anyone’s standards. It is not unheard of for the air temperature to dip down to -40, which is the same in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
MINUS 40 degrees air temperature. Not windchill, or “Real Feal™.”
I’ll let that sink in.
It’s a dry, cold, Laurel.
Okay, if you say so. Cold is cold!
So, Mel lives in this booming, either frozen or boiling, town with her husband and eight children.
Laurel, what on earth does the climate have to do with decorating a large dining room wall?
Nothing.
I’m just wasting your time.
Please forgive me. I’m a little giddy because the exterminator came and found the tiny little hole under the den baseboard heat where my “pet” mouse was getting in and scaring the crap outta me. So, he no longer has access, and I can sleep now.
No, really. The correct answer is Everything. Location is always an important factor, but for now, let’s just store that idea on a nearby shelf.
First, let’s look at the photos Mel sent me, and then we can discuss some possibilities.
Above is the dining area, which is open to the kitchen. Beyond is the 16-foot-long, empty wall.
Above is obviously the kitchen– with a butler’s pantry. This is a beautiful kitchen!
Super nice! I love both the range and sink walls. Really well done.
On the other side of the dining area is a beautiful living room featuring floor-to-ceiling transom windows!
There’s a wonderful fireplace mantel that suits the architecture very well.
That’s a wide opening, but I can see a day when they might need to expand their table (with card tables), and they can bring it out into the living room.
And one last image at the large entrance from the living room into the dining area.
Okay, let’s take a look at this floor plan.
The dining area is in the top right section.
Architecturally speaking, the bones are there. The only thing I might suggest would be to add a small crown moulding. There’s one over the sink area, and I’d love to see it run all the way around the dining area and living room. I think that’ll finish it off nicely.
What style is this home?
I would say it falls under the umbrella of updated traditional.
Now, I didn’t ask Mel if anything is possibly going on. I’m assuming none of the big pieces are going.
Now, let’s look at the fixed elements and “givens.” Givens are items we need to work with.
- White Traditional kitchen with quartz marble-look backsplash and counters.
- White walls,
- Light Oak floor.
- Two off-white modern sofas, with a pale lavender modern rug.
- The coffee table is an Americanized traditional in a darkish walnut.
- The dining table and chairs coordinate with it.
But Mel, darling, what on earth did you do with your eight children? I mean, WHERE are they? Did you chain them to their beds?
You know I’m teasing you, but it’s only because I’m incredibly impressed! There isn’t even a hint that there are young children. Of course, all of them might be in high school. I don’t know. Maybe you had two sets of quadruplets. It can happen.
This post is reminding me of the lovely woman who wanted help with her lamps, and I ended up redesigning her entire living room and did a facelift on the kitchen, too. It was in January 2023. There were three posts!
So, this post, too, will be at least two posts. It’s impossible to do it in one gulp.
For today, I only want to discuss furnishings– not colors, finishes, paint, or specifics of styling.
Please do not pick the place apart. It’s a lovely home. However, I can’t advise on what to put on that wall without addressing some other things first.
Below are some possible options for the large dining room wall.
The most obvious and definitely the most expensive option would be to do a built-in. However, I feel in this case, it might begin to feel like that is a continuation of the kitchen, not a separate space.
Therefore, it could be a built-in cabinet.
Another option would be a large breakfront, even larger than the one above; however, I think that will feel a bit heavy and again, too much like the kitchen. I would not do another dark-stained piece.
There are also some ideas in this post about cheap living room furniture.
And also cheap bedroom furniture.
So then, I love the idea of a long, eight-foot minimum buffet or sideboard.
We could do an expansive art wall and flank the buffet with chairs. I love plants, but these feel a bit ad-hoc. It’s a lot like when you get picture frames as a wedding present, and they’re all different styles and don’t look good together.
One option would be to do a big mirror and sconces over the sideboard, and then two pieces of large art flanking the sideboard.
Another idea I love is to do some kind of wallpaper or mural on the entire big blank wall, and then there can still be a mirror and maybe some art.
I found this cool image on Pottery Barn today.
This is masterful decorating at its finest. Bravo PB!!! Alas, that shell mirror was discontinued.
One last conceptual idea, and that would be a faux or gas fireplace. There’s already a gas fireplace in the living room, so it would need to match. There’s certainly plenty of room. Then, I would put two smaller buffets or chests flanking the fireplace, with art and mirrors.
I have so many ideas!
However, this is where I will end for today.
Except for this.
I am thinking of one of two color palettes.
Mostly neutral, like the one above, maybe with a little blue and green.
Or another tone-on-tone neutral like the Serena & Lily Searose rug in Sepia
Or, much more colorful, maybe with a Persian rug with rusty reds, blue, gold, etc. Something like the one below.
Or, something else?
I’ll look forward to reading your comments.
xo,
***Please check out the big sale going on of my rockin’ interior design PDF guides. They are all 20% off (bundles are even more!) The sale is ending December 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Prices increase on January 1st. If one of these guides has been on your wish list, now is a good time to order. They make great gifts, too!
Below are the guides with a short blurb and links to more info, which will also take you to the order page.
Clicking on the links in gray will send you to the pages to learn more about each guide.
Just released, the fully updated 10th anniversary (volume 12) edition! A unique shopping guide that shares hundreds of my favorite sources and especially for decorators and designers, tells you the best sources that sell directly to the design trade. Updated annually — all purchasers receive lifetime updates. If you’re not happy with your purchase for any reason, I’m happy to refund you.
The Essential Paint Color and Palette Collection (two volumes)
This is a bundle of two guides, created over a span of 18 months. 144 fabulous paint colors + 40 wonderful palettes and much more!
As of October 2025, there is a newly released 2nd edition with 12 new no-fail paint colors you’ll want to know about. All owners receive lifetime updates.
Money-back guarantee. This is a must-have guide for anyone struggling with paint colors. If you don’t believe me, there are dozens of testimonials from readers who purchased these guides and loved them.
This should be required reading for everyone who has a website and wishes to get the most out of it for their business. You do not need to be a heavy-duty blogger. But, once or twice a month consistently will do wonders for your business. However, there are some things you’ll need to learn that I did not know in the beginning. Believe me, when I say, in the early years, I made every mistake and then some.
333 Decorating Rules & Tips You Need to Know
There is so much information, and much I’ve never seen anywhere else. The window treatment glossary alone is several pages. There’s space planning for every space, art placement, window treatments, lighting info, proportions for mantels and much more. The price for this guide will go way up in January. This will be your last chance to get it at this price forever.
The Annual Etsy guide just came out on November 30, 2025. It’s over 200 seriously cool vendors.
If you missed the shortened blog version, please read it here to get a sampling of what’s inside.
Etsy is known for exceedingly helpful, personable vendors and great pricing.
All of my design guides are on sale through December 28th. Prices increase on January 1st.
PS: Please also check out the newly updated HOT SALES and HOLIDAY SHOP
Thank you so much for your wonderful support this year — I appreciate every one of you.
xo,
