Small Dining Area Makeover + IKEA Bench Hack

[@karenschmoutz6785]

Simple and elegant solutions-that’s one reason I follow you for design/decor information. This was perfection!

[@lndanguyn]

Your decision to swap the paintings was great! It looks amazing

[@SamStudious]

This is exactly what I needed 😭😭😭 I have been trying to figure out how to add a banquet for my tiny “dining” room without customer furniture and was not having any luck. Thank you thank you thank you so so so much

[@ficstokiohotel9939]

It's seems so simple, but it looks beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I love the way your house is turning into a home. Greetings from Chile, South America.

[@MelMc188]

I have the same ikea pendant light in my dining area too ❤ it looks so good. Love your dining room redesign. It’s nice to see all your design tips in action and how much small changes can really impact a room. It’s also nice to see you reusing things you already had.

[@_silentrose]

Such a charming little dining area you've created!! I think you brilliantly utilized this space to it's fullest potential given the restraints and I love how you showed that everything is a process and came together slowly instead of all at once which is the way to go ❤

[@bemhretutassew4528]

we miss your make over videos thank you

[@lukec.9819]

Love your content! Great ideas!! ❤

[@FatimaAli-qu1tq]

I’m struggling to figure out how to fit a dining table in our very awkward living room, this solution kinda help. Thank you and I wish you the best luck with your remodel.

[@TGYtco]

I like it! I think the art looks amazing with the table and cushion. I wouldn't change it!

[@Gh-id1nl]

thanks for sharing your experiences. Indeed, it has a lot of inspiration and awareness in organization, and it is also economical because you reused some of the furniture in an excellent way.

[@milenageorgieva7210]

Question: how comfortable does the bench backrest feel being 90degrees to the seat? Usually for a backrest to be comfortable it has a slight incline, about 105degrees.

[@KG-rc3hu]

Very nice. What did the banquette height end up being? Are you satisfied with how confortable it is to sit on instead of dining chairs?

[@reynardlowell]

Yes definitely more comfortable for longer periods. Height end up around 500mm (not the best), ideally should be around 460mm (18"). Reason being I went overboard with the thickness of the cushion as I was expecting to be so so quality and sink down, turns out they're really nice and firm.

[@KG-rc3hu]

@@reynardlowell Thank you very much for responding. Your videos and design language are really inspiring, I hope to make my own diy bench in the following months!

[@JudodihardjoP]

Smashed it.

[@flowersafeheart]

Awesome bench idea!! Thank you.

[@Shinnosuki]

Reynard! I also have that Lily table it's so pretty, but really need a placemat for everything you set on it. I paired it with the green Nosh chairs from Article, those are very sturdy, the lower back panel gives it a modern look as well and with some gold pattern subtly lends itself back to the bronze.

[@ericachoudhury226]

Loved the dining chairs ❤

[@anamee7121]

Hi! It looks so very nice and relaxing, thanks for sharing. Did you you use anything to make sure the cushion on the wall (the one against people's backs) would stay in place? Rug gripper as well?

[@hellototheworld]

I love your home make overs thanks for sharing

[@Deb.-.]

Your videos never disappoint. I am also interested to learn what colour of wall paint you find most suitable for all rooms regardless of natural light in a room. 🙂

[@hassaluli]

Please tell me where you got the salt and pepper shakers from? They are gorgeous!

[@reynardlowell]

There you go www.houseoforange.com.au/products/70s-ceramics-pepper-salt-jar-stargaze or international hkliving.com/product/70s-ceramics-pepper-salt-jar-stargaze/

[@hassaluli]

@@reynardlowell Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@Azlan0405]

Great video again! Looks awesome! Can you share where you got your curtains again pls? I know it's from a previous video but I cannot find it... thabks so much!

[@krisnaive]

Beautiful and informative video! Please advise what cordless drill you are using, thanks

[@juliemarkham4332]

Great design!

[@Ngnow302]

I love this Thanks so much for the ideas ❤

[@VEE727]

DIY champ you are.

[@LeeSukin]

This is gold 😮

[@goal9447]

I have to know where the white vase on the table is from! I've been looking all over for one just like it and have had no luck 🙁

[@ClayBeans]

Are the paintings prints on canvas? Love the look of the frame/painting combo and wondering how I can find something similar.

[@reynardlowell]

Yes it’s on canvas. It’s called ‘Home Land’ by Dan Hobday

[@MeanOldLady]

We're in the curtain predicament right now too. We've got the sheers, but will wait towards winter to get the heavier panels that will keep the heat in. Heh. I also saw that generic "art" on the wall & immediately thought it could be improved by a real artist adding some extra touches to give it some life, because otherwise, the colors used in it are lovely.

[@barbarar5869]

I got a double curtain rod. I have sheer white curtains that I bascially keep closed all the time. They let the light in but you can't see anything from the outside. I then have a heavier set on the second rod that I close in the evenings

[@suzieferguson1065]

Love this!

[@i.t.t.]

May I ask about the tools you are using? 1. Are you still using and are happy with the Hoto drill? I saw you using the Ozito one a few times and wondered why? 2. Is the Bosch Hole Saw compatible with both of your drills? 3. Is the electric Hoto screwdriver still your favourite? Was an upgrade from the Xiaomi one or you use both? 4. Did you switch your Hoto laser measuring tool to a Bosch one and why? Your Amazon list has a replacement suggestion (Charcity), which has me even more lost. All this is quite an investment for me, I hope to get an answer from you, thanks in advance.

[@hokusai41]

As always, great ideas and content. My ADHD and OCD tendencies though would have made me put the white besta frame in the middle so the outsides matched. 🙃

[@reynardlowell]

I thought of that too but the right side is visible from the kitchen, and it's going to look a bit odd the white door with oak sides, so decided to do it this way instead😅

[@EminaeBlog]

Any issues with the weight and using it as a bench? The Besta weight capacity on the website didn’t seem strong enough to hold people.

[@reynardlowell]

We’re both on the lighter side of weight so no issues here (though the bench have sat 3 people at a time for a few weeks before and no issues), but I also reinforced it with solid timber panel to distribute the weight on top of the cushions. Also the 2by4s as base rather than legs.

[@kalliemj]

Love this but I’m surprised you didn’t get a matching besta unit or paint the existing ones white so they all matched. That would really bother me overtime if I was using the drawers regularly. But otherwise I think this was a great project. I need to build a bench in my entry so this is very helpful information!

[@grayfan90]

what's the name of the swivel armchair!

[@dealman3312]

Funny how millennials are all about wicker chairs. My grandmothers since the 70s had wicker chairs. When they would break, a blind man would repair them. I did a built in bench on our last house and it’s just too difficult to make a bench comfortable. I wouldn’t do a bench again. REALLY love the artwork. Where did you get your black and white marble tray in your other video?

[@Clauds71]

Wow 🤍

[@BlackAera]

I would love to use something like your shopping list but sadly there is no support for the EU region, correct?

[@reynardlowell]

Not much shops around EU yet unfortunately. I've been getting a few interest from people around EU so I'll see what I can do to find reliable information there as I wanted to make sure all the shops featured on the list are good sources. I'll update in newsletter and the sales page if/when we added enough for EU region.

[@ryansoo4000]

So how much input does your partner have in designing the house?

[@birdseye_2020]

I wish you had opted to have the curtains higher

[@ObsidianHailStorm]

Overall great concept. Only one thing bugs me: Why did you block the view of the artwork above bench with this pendant light? I think one of them has to be replaced with a better option, because it otherwise crashes the overall cohesive look. But I honestly also don’t have a perfect solution from the top of my head. Hanging the pendant higher isn’t an option, because that would destroy the cozy atmosphere. Maybe “splitted” vertical artwork left and the right giving the pendant visual space, or something like an arc “wrapping” around the pendant. In my opinion the pendant and the artwork shouldn’t overlap if you look onto the dining area from your office. Or maybe they can visually overlap, but with some artwork with a metallic but softly reflecting surface above the bench would do the trick, e.g. like a painting with some matte copper textured areas.🤔 That would soften the covering effect of the pendant.

[@sara_387]

Partially 'blocking' art with a lamp/pendant is fine in my book. You're often not viewing the artwork from the same place, so it's technically not blocking it and it can give an interesting layered look IMO. I've done this with lamps around our living room and it throws a beautiful light on our artwork, giving a great ambience at night.

[@yohanprayitno]

Hi, do you still doing the make over? Tried to email you, but no response. Cheers

[@CharityAutumnNg]

🎉🎉🎉

[@saissevictor]

😍😍😍

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

Ahh the old side by side photo thumbnail which has the old compared to the new with the old in grey gloomy lighting and the new looking sunny and warm…

[@reynardlowell]

Haha the before is actually sunny day too (you can look out the window). It's just there's no light installed yet at all so there's a lot of shadows inside. But of course, after photos is edited as well :)

[@mshmslv]

I used to enjoy watching this channel, but recently the tone has changed. This is a HUGE house for two people, but a lot of the narrative of the recent content is focusing on "not enough space". I find it quite appalling that no amount of space/resources/etc. will ever be enough for some individuals. In many countries around the world lining spaces are smaller, the kitchen + dining space combined would be less than your dining space alone, yet people don't view the space as "too small".

[@SamStudious]

This is exactly what I needed 😭😭😭 I have been trying to figure out how to add a banquet for my tiny “dining” room without customer furniture and was not having any luck. Thank you thank you thank you so so so much