formal with french inspired influences

Jun 3, 2026

I live in a barndo that looks like a garage. The floors downstairs are acid stained concrete. It is what it is… and I love it here. While I’m 110% sure this place will never make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens, I’m also 110% a-ok with that.

That doesn’t mean I don’t think about ways I can improve the way it looks, or make it more comfortable. We all do that, right?

So let’s talk about the dining room…

barndo dining room

First, let me say that I’m not a fan of dining rooms to begin with. It’s a seldom used room when there’s not a growing family living in the home. Having said that, it’s not like I need 2 living/family rooms either… so there’s that.

Curious insofar as what I might do to change the look a bit, I turned to Grok — my AI pal — for some inspiration.

Grok suggested I go with a design popular in upscale suburban homes.

Grok: “The dining chairs feature tufted blue velvet upholstery, gilded gold trim, cabriole-style legs, and carved details — very characteristic of Louis XV / French Provincial or Chippendale-inspired pieces. The large crystal chandelier and opulent accessories provide a sense of elegance and formality.”

What the actual Hell?

Again, I live in a pole barn that looks like a garage. 🙄

To be honest, I’d be thrilled if whomever installed the mini-splits would’ve recognized the CENTER of the wall.

YOU TRY IT… upload a photo of one of your rooms and let Grok redesign it for you.

Here’s hoping you have better results. For me? I’m done.


Now you know: Famous boxing promoter, Don King, killed two people. The first was ruled to be a justifiable homicide after he had robbed King, and he served no prison time. 12 years later in 1966, King stomped his employee death for owing him $600. He served less than 4 years for the murder.