Designers Turn a Narrow Dining Room into a Cozy Blue Lounge
Designers Sandy Baisley and Natasia Smith of Re-Find transformed a narrow dining room for a client named Julie, who wanted a fresh start in a home with historic details. The room had felt cold and sterile, and its previous dining set was too large for the space. By color-drenching the walls and doors in deep blue, they created a moody, vintage-inspired lounge that flows between the home's public and private areas.
Sandy Baisley and Natasia Smith, principals of Re-Find, worked with Julie after she moved into a house with historic architectural character. The dining room felt uninviting and clinical, and its former table was oversized for the narrow footprint. The designers used Benjamin Moore’s Van Courtland Blue across walls and doors, creating a moody transition between public and private zones.
Most furnishings were vintage or secondhand, including a tole fruit chandelier, a drop-leaf table, matching chairs, a bar cabinet, and decor. Roughly 75–80% of the room was reused. New additions included floral light-filtering curtains, a green ceramic leaf lamp, and a custom square rug. Artwork installation was complicated by textured plaster walls.
This transformation could resonate with homeowners facing narrow or awkward rooms, showing how color and flexible furniture may make compact dining areas feel intentional. It may also encourage secondhand sourcing, potentially benefiting vintage vendors and reducing demand for new furnishings. Designers and clients might see moody palettes as a way to connect public and private spaces. Because the project was professionally executed, its influence may remain aspirational, shaping inspiration and shopping choices more than offering a directly replicable budget solution.