Since moving into our home 9 ½ years ago, our dining room has been a series of 4 different colors. First, there was the tragic yellow/80’s mirror combo the previous owners gifted us with. Then there was the awesome neutral, “Broadway Brown.” It looked great on the walls…but really clashed with our then Oak Cabinets. From there, we jumped on the Deep Cranberry bandwagon and decided our whole house should feel “Tuscan.”
And…that’s where are dining room stayed for a couple of years until one fateful day last Winter when we went on one of our Model Home dates. As you might remember from this post, we love Model Home dates. It’s fun dreaming together and getting inspiration for your “someday” home. However, Model Home dates can be dangerous. It was a Model Home date that led us to kick our entertainment center to the curb. (You can see more of that here, here & here.) AND…a model home date that gave us the confidence to redo our kitchen/dining room.
A couple of months back I hinted to the fact that we had redone our kitchen & dining room last year. It took 4 months, lots of friends, a willingness to become accustomed to sawdust, incredible ninja like skill to navigate around the oven that found its way into the Entry Way and patience like we had never known…BUT, when it was done…SO so worth it.
So today, my lovelies, I’m giving you a peak into how we fell in love with our dining room again, without breaking the bank.
As Rachael Ray says: “You don’t have to be rich to live a rich life.”
And at No Small Life…we are all over that. So, here we go!
Before: ( I apologize in advance for the horrible picture)
It was very lovely, much more than this picture lets on. BUT our tastes have changed over the years and we were ready for an update.
(PS…If anyone local is interested in purchasing the chandelier and/or curtains for a STEAL…lemme know 😉 )
Here we are Mid-Reno:
Flooring: KM Cape Doctor Maple 12mm from Lumber Liquidators (P.S. we’re so happy with this floor, we’re considering putting it throughout the house…eventually 🙂 )
Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Silver Fox
There’s an interesting story behind this wall color. True to Rea form, this is the 2nd color we tried. The first one, which we were “SO sold on”…ended up looking like avocado.
Bad. 70’s avocado. Seriously. Thankfully, with a little help, we found this color. Phew! Disaster Averted.
AND here…Just over a year later, I can finally show you the finished product!
Ta Dah:
The table was our first purchase. A West Elm Rectangle Table that I stalked on Craigslist until the price was just right. It just had a tiny scuff that I covered with this Target Table Runner and was 1/4 of the original price. #winning
A happy dance happened.
BUT, the lovely table did NOT come with chairs so…we used folding chairs until we saved up enough for these Pier One Parson’s chairs in teal. Sale, coupon, check!
Again, a happy dance ensued. While I’d still love to get these Pier One Cadence chairs for the ends, patience & contentment 😉 Virtues I’ve learned again and again while redoing this room.
To style the table along with the Target runner, I grabbed this IKEA bowl my sister got me and filled it with faux apples from Home Goods. In a previous life, this bowl was artwork in my office. PS. it also looks GREAT hung on a wall 😉
Candle sticks were gifted from my mom 🙂 Love me some hand-me-downs!
Next, lets just talk about this light fixture. I have an unhealthy crush on this linear chandelier. I searched and searched and searched some more for literally 6 months to find something we liked AND that worked within our budget.
We found it locally and got it 20% off. It was still slightly over budget, BUT seriously after 6 months, my hubby had pity on me. lol
These curtains are the 3rd ones to live on the the windows since the reno, but these bad boys are staying. And if you like them, they’re on clearance right now at JCPenney. Here’s the link.
They darken a room nicely AND serve to conceal the little basket where we keep a towel to grab muddy doggy paws before they traipse about the house. Rug is from Home Goods. Of course. 😉
This vase used to be a deep cranberry color and live in my living room. A quick coat of my favorite Spray Paint, a few decorative sticks from IKEA and a once sad little corner is filled.
And finally, the pièce de résistance (yep, totally googled that spelling) The long awaited Sun Burst Mirror.
If you follow me on social media, last week I teased you all with a pic of my then very dirty Sunburst Mirror. Here’s the story. My dining room wall has sat bare since re-doing the room last year. I really wanted a Sunburst Mirror, but couldn’t find the right one for the right price. Also, because when the Chandelier is turned on, it bounces shadows all over the walls, such a fun and unexpected bonus, I could live with bare walls a little longer than usual. But MEANWHILE back at the ranch, my mom spotted this little gem at a Consignment Shop for $40. $40 ya’ll! Four. Zero.
All it needed was a little love and elbow grease.
My lamp from this post is peaking at you.
Thanks for stopping by my Dining Room, hope it gave you the courage to tackle your own room revamp!
Wowzah!!! Very inspirational, Megan!
☺️thank you Therese!
Ok. I understand your crush on the chandelier. I’m feeling it too! I want you to come for coffee and get creative in my living room. I’m in need of fresh eyes. Thanks for saying you painted the dining room twice. I thought I was the only one. One time I painted my bedroom. It was country bumpkin yellow. Sent my family up north missed my first day of vacation to repaint. I could not leave it that way, ran to Van JaarsVeld. They told me try “chi” my new favorite, it riches up everything. Was that a reply or did I reblog? Love this Meg! Shari
Thank you Shari!! Oh my goodness, so SO good to know I’m not the only one with the whole “2-paint-color” thing 🙂 “Chi”? is it a color or something you add to the paint? It sounds wonderful 🙂 And anytime you want, I’d love to come over for coffee and play 🙂
Chi is a color. It looks like chi tea. I will show you when you come over.
Gorgeous! That chandelier is sooooo pretty! #wantitall
Thanks Michelle!! 🙂 I couldn’t find a link for the exact chandelier, BUT you can find very similar ones on Amazon & Overstock. 🙂
Love all your makeovers ! We are currently in the process of re-doing a few things in our home . The dinning room and kitchen ( almost done ) . I had just painted the dinning room before Christmas and told my husband ” don’t worry the color goes with a color on our living room rug ! He did not agree and said the color ” was not a good look ” . So I painted ( mustard yellow ) … Here we are 6 -7 months later , the color is changed to a neutral beige lol . I love the farmhouse / shabby chic look ! That’s kinda the direction our house is heading . 🙂 I’m glad I. am not the only one who stalks Craigslist for things !! Ps what a great idea to go Into model homes to get “ideas” . How do you find homes to do that ?!
Thanks so much Renee! Oh man, so good to hear I’m not alone in the whole “2 color debacle.” lol How hard is it to pick a color from a tiny swatch right? 😉 I bet you’re home is coming together great! To find model homes, You can google ones in your area. Currently, I know that there are 3 in the Sub behind Partridge Creek, but my favorite is ideashowhouse.com. There are 2 open right now in Rochester. It’s a builders spec home, but they’ve brought in the top designers and vendors to really show what you can do. 🙂
What a gorgeous transformation. Wanted to let you know I’m featuring when my link party opens up tonight!
Wow, thank you so much Carol! I’m very honored. I’m a big fan of your blog and just added your button to my home page 🙂 Thanks again! 🙂
I love this! The chandelier is gorgeous. Thanks for linking up with Hump Day Happenings this week!
Thank you Jenna! My pleasure, thank you so much for hosting! Looking forward to future link ups and posts from you 🙂
Stopping by from Hump Day Happenings…WOW! You did a fantastic job! I LOVE the chandelier!
B
http://www.naughteebits.com
Glad you stopped by, thank you so much! 🙂
🙂
Beautiful!! 🙂 I love love love that chandelier. Great job
Thanks so much Tiffany & Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Wow Beautiful !!! 🙂 Love that light fixture. Great choice 🙂
Roopini,
Let’s Make It Lovely
Thank you so much!! 🙂 so glad you stopped by 🙂
Beautiful! Love the light fixture! Thanks for sharing with us at Your Designs This Time!
Emily & Erin
Thank you so much! And thanks for hosting such a great link up!
So pretty! That mirror totally completes the room
I love the chandelier so pretty it just makes the room thanks for sharing
Thank you so much Lorraine! 🙂
You did an awesome job and that light fixture is to die for! Found you on Huckleberry Love’s link up =) Kyla @ http://houseofhipsters.com/
Thanks so much Kyla! So glad you stopped by 🙂
I love this makeover!!! I especially love the wall colors and the flooring. I definitely think that you should put that flooring throughout your house- its beautiful!
-Lara
Thank you so much Lara! ?so glad you stopped by!
I am green with envy. It’s lovely. I have a sunburst clock, but it was my great-grandma’s and needs a LOT of TLC before I can hang it again. I really hope to make it a focal point again someday.
What a treasure! Love those “diamonds in the rough” ?i bet it will be beautiful!
So chic!
Thank you Kate! 🙂
Beautiful! Pinned. Lou Lou Girls
Thanks so much!
So modern, I love it! I really like that rug 🙂
Thanks Angela! ☺️gotta love Home Goods! So glad yous stopped by
So beautiful! What a transformation 🙂 I’m loving that flooring, too!
Thank you so much Erica! 🙂
I am in LOVE with that light fixture! It’s so pretty and makes such a statement! Thanks for sharing your dining room makeover at Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop!
Thanks so much Carrie! ☺️thanks for hosting!!
What a huge change! But, definitely a good one! I am definitely in love with the flooring you picked out. I would do the rest of my house in it if I were you 😉
Super cute!!Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope you come back tomorrow and share some more stuff!! Pinned!!
http://www.cookinandcraftin.com/my-2-favorite-things-on-thursday-link-party8/
Thank you so much Elaine!
How cool! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
It turned out so fantastic! Our tastes are similar. Love the chandelier most, it would not fit in our home, but it is stunning. I have the same twigs in a silver vase! LOL! Love the teal chairs…we use a cobalt blue in our decor, but similar! You have great taste and you did a great job. It is gorgeous!
Thank you so much Nikki! Do you really have the same twigs in a silver vase?! haha, well, great minds think alike right? 😉 so glad you stopped by and to have find your blog as well! 🙂