Our house has come a long way. When I look at our mile long DIY wish list it’s easy for me to forget how much we’ve accomplished.
This is what our dining room looked like when we first moved in. The paint on the walls was dingy, the wood floors were covered with nasty carpet, the pine trim made the rooms feel dark and the 1980’s ceiling fan was definitely not orginal to the house or well suited for a dining room.
…and this is what it looks like today.
So, first I’ll tell you what we did and then I’ll give you “the plan.” It goes without saying that we ripped up the carpet. My husband actually did that right after closing as I went to the airport to pick up my mom. She flew up to help us move in, since I was six months pregnant at the time.
We lived with the unfinished wood floors for a couple of years before I refinished them (when I was five months pregnant with our second boy…painting by candlelight may not have been the craziest thing I’ve done.) The chandelier was a $4.00 yard sale find. I know, ridiculous. It had all of the crystals and everything. It was dismantled in a box and I was the lucky girl who finally looked inside. My father-in-law rewired it and it’s perfect for this room.
Of course, I painted everything…the ceiling, trim and walls. The rug was given to me by my grandfather, the buffet is an antique that my parents bought years ago and the French Provincial table and chairs were a Craig’s List purchase for a total of $300. I bought the table first (in Carlisle, PA) and found the matching chairs a couple months later (in Richmond, VA.) I painted the base of the table and refinished the top.
Now, the to-do list. I am going to paint the chairs a distressed white to match the base of the table and slipcover the seats. I’d also like to make some new curtains, but I need to find the right fabric first. My aunt is bringing me some antique corner cabinets, so hopefully they’ll fit on either side of the window and the buffet will move to my family room. I’m also going to paint the walls in the same Aria Ivory as the living room, but leave the window wall blue. Gotta have my blue.
Just a reminder – I will be out of town this weekend, so no Furniture Feature Friday. Just save your projects for next week. I have some posts prepared, so you’ll still be hearing from me.
48 Responses
This is very inspiring. LOVE the yard sale find…lucky girl!
I think this room is a woooow-sssa room already before the extras!!!
STUNNNNNING!!!
Ta'
Beq
http://beqdesign.blogspot.com/
it looks amazing! what a transformation! and that chandelier….$4.00??? good shopping girl 🙂
I love the space. The accent color on the wall is so pretty!
Wow!
Gross carpet and dingy walls make me shudder but my eyes light up and my mind goes a zillion miles an hour thinking about how to transform it.
Your after is just beautiful! And I love how yuor pieces were collected and gathered and made just perfect for the space.
$4 ! That's amazing! I think the room is cute now, can't wait to see all the things you will do to it!
Absolutely beautiful room! You did a fantastic job!
Nancy
Looks like a picture you would see in a magazine!!
Beautiful! I love the blue wall color. Great job!
Absolutely stunning transformation!
It always amazes me when people keep a yucky carpet on top of such beautiful wood floors! Its almost like its being smothered. The floor looks amazing now!
Adorable. Love the white painted trim!
I guess if I had to pick a favorite though, it would be the chandelier! The room just wouldn't have the same charm with out it!
Have a great day!
WOW what a difference!
Beautiful room.
Gorgeous!
Wow what a beautiful room…Kathy
What an amazing transformation…this room is unbelievable lovely!!!
Your dining room is beautiful! $4.00 for that gorgeous chandelier has got to be the find of the century!!!
Love the painted trim. I am hoping (SOON) to do the same thing in my dining room. Good job! NG
Wow, what a transformation. You've done such a great job and although I know it was a lot of work for you, I appreciate it all the more knowing that you did it yourself!
You did a fantastic job! When I look back at every single diy project we've done in our home & add up the hours…it is crazy! I guess that's why it still isn't done in 5 years! 🙂 It truly takes so long when you are doing the work yourself….but it makes it so much more special…doesn't it? Now when I look around I think I could never leave after doing all this work!!! 🙂
Everything you do looks amazing…really!
xo,
Shellagh
I love the transformation. And I'm jealous of your $4 chandelier. Gorgeous!
What a splendid transformation! love the look…smiles.
(Left you something at my place.)
I am such a fan of old chandliers. What a lucky find with all the crystals. Your wood floors turned out so warm and beautiful. What a wonderful transformation.
That dining room is awesome! It is so crisp and clean looking…LOVEEEEEEEEE that chandlier…how lucky are you? Robyn from http://www.foresthillsroad.blogspot.com
What a transformation Marian. I love the color blue and the dishes on the walls are a great touch. We are gonna miss you tomorrow 🙁 Of course we will have to schedule another get together maybe in a few months. Have a great trip.
xoxo,
Kim
It's beautiful!
Gorgeous! Love the chandelier! It is beautiful!
Hugs
SueAnn
All it takes is time and some creative imagination, right? This room beautiful. It seems that for people like us we are never satisfied and a room is never 'done'. It's a process. lol! And who says they don't believe in evolution?
Have a wonderful weekend.
OH SO PRETTY! Two thumbs up from me!
~Bridgette
WOW gorgeous! I love the plates!!
~Morgan
Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!
Meet Virginia!
Looks gorgeous!
What a transformation. Everything is so beautiful and so much attention to detail.
Lovely.
hugs
Sissie
VERY. VERY nice!
Everything looks beautiful ,and a chandelier for $4.00 what a find!
Joy
What a beautiful room! You are such a telented girl;)!
Enjoy!
Cathy
Beautiful redo. I can't wait to see the corner cabinets, I love those.
Love that dining room. I have been dying to get ours done.
It's come a looong way!! Great job.
Check out my giveaway!
Hi Miss M! I love that room and I think the corner pieces will be a wonderful and perfect addition. I really love the dishes…the two bottom ones are amongst my favorite patterns. I also like the way you did the walls…So clever…with that talented, balances eye!
Many smiles to you! Karen
Have a good time on your trip! We will be here when you get back. Love & blessings from NC!
Although I'm not a blue person as a general rule, that blue wall of yours has me rethinking that! It's gorgeous! I agree, don't let go of all your colour. That feature wall really makes your warm woods pop!
Donna
Beautiful transformation!! I Seriously love it!
Lou Cinda 🙂
Gorgeous!!!! I just love a good re-do!!! You have done a great job!!!
Nicely done. That chandelier is gorgeous. I love the shape of it.
Thanks for sharing.
Pamela
Wonderful transformation. It is amazing what dedication, vision, hard work and some paint can do to a room.
Have fun on your trip!
Great determination and lots of work but the results are so amazingly beautiful! http://lafeshiddentreasures.blogspot.com/
I loved looking through your before & afters. As a fellow remodeler, I like seeing what other people do with the un-lovely's they have to deal with. Hubby & I have worked through so many scenarios, that we can now basically read each others' minds when it comes to home improvement. Here's a link, if you are interested in some of our 'Past, Present, & Blown-Up' projects:
http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/A/Home_Life_Pre-Page.html
Hope you enjoy!
OOOHHHH! It's so pretty. I love before and afters and this is a dramatic after!