Yes, that is a swimming pool in the dining room.
(The attorney in me is wondering about the home insurance premiums and the existence of a kid-proof fence!)
Although this set-up could provide for some very interesting dinner parties, it’s the playful light fixture arrangement and the modern vintage chairs that caught my eye. You could totally recreate this look on a budget using your traditional dining room table.
For lighting, purchase a few affordable Ikea ceiling fixtures and throw in a couple battery-operated pretty paper lanterns, all hung at varying heights over the dining room table.
May I suggest the Ikea Fillsta Pendant Lamp ($49.99):
And the Ikea Maskros Pendant Lamp ($89.99) (my almost-neighbors John and Sherry from Young House Love recently used this in their bedroom):
And the ubiquitous Ikea Knappa Pendant Lamp ($34.99):
And add a few of these which operate on batteries (so no electrician required):
And you are in business. The floating white lights would look amazing against a saturated wall color like a peacock blue or an emerald green.
As for the companion modern chairs, Target and West Elm are good inexpensive options. I love my Target chairs (found here online for $79.99 for 2, but are almost always cheaper in the store):
Or West Elm has these Scoop-Back Chairs for $158 for 2:
Add your traditional dining room table (which no one will even notice because of the cool lighting and unexpected chairs), and you got yourself a gorgeous dining room on the cheap! Oh, and throw in a pool too, if you are so inclined….
{First image from March issue of Veranda Magazine}
My first thought was about the pool in that first picture too. I’d be scared to be in a room like that, especially after a few drinks. Or maybe not even after a few drinks… one step in the wrong direction – oops!
That DR is wild – I could see my self waking up in the middle of night half asleep going to get a drink of water and making a wrong turn into the pool!! Unreal!