Monday, March 23, 2009

Mini Dining Room Makeover

Here's another project that I've been wanting to show you!
Remember when my dining room looked like this in the fall??



Well, in preparation for putting our house on the market, we did a simple mini-makeover a' la Designed To Sell!
First things first, since our home has a very open floor plan with mainly the same color used throughout, we decided to "upgrade" the formal dining room and give it some deliniation and extra zing with a new paint color!
We used SWLatte, and do we ever love it a "latte"! :)
I'd definitely use this paint color again!!
It blends well with our wood floor tones, and is a great, rich neutral color that anyone would enjoy!
Here's my Hubby doin' some painting!!

We just did above the chair rail and the strip inside the tray ceiling.
We left below the chair rail the main paint color, Duron's Bone White (the most lovely creamy color). Had we been staying here, I would have added molding.

Nest, oops, I mean NEXT! We added back in the furniture and accessories we wanted to keep in there.
The main furniture stayed,
but the free rug from my sister and several accessories didn't make the cut!
We opted for no rug because:
it wasn't the best colors,
and
having a rug hiding the beautiful wood floors isn't what you always want when trying to show off those pretty floors to prospective buyers!
If you're re-doing a room, try to "shop" your own house first!!
FREE is always a good thing!
I removed the cluttered antiquey look from the room, and
kept the look fresh and neutral.
Traditional but updated is what I was going for, and
is what buyers in this market look for!
I hung a tray with a black background above the china cabinet.
That tray used to be on my ottoman in the family room!
I also kept everything in the china cabinet creamy white.

A few more accessories were added back in too!
But they were carefully edited and kept simple.



Doesn't this antique oil lamp holder look great with a creamy white candle against the new paint?


I also re-covered my Hubby's great-grandparents dining room chair seats.
Don't they look so creamy-white perfect with this new room?
Wanna know what I used?
Napkins.
Yup, you heard me!
4 for $9.99 at Target
So easy!!

My vintage dresser "buffet" kept it's pretty lamps for some sparkly light,
and also the black urn.
But I kept the "arrangement" simple with some faux ivy in a pot that I already had. Tuck in some moss around the top, and it looks simple and elegant!

The dining table was dressed with a creamy white table runner I got at HomeGoods, and also some pretty but fake hydrangeas and greenery I placed in a real crystal bowl and flanked with crystal candlesticks.
Already had those things, and it gives a traditional look that buyers here look for.
(I usually don't use much in the way of "fakes", but it's balanced out by the other real plants and flowers in the surrounding rooms. So this works!)
I hope that you enjoyed seeing my "new" dining room!!
I also hope it inspires you in that it doesn't take much $$ to get a whole new look! :)
Have a blessed day!!!










26 comments:

Betsy said...

Look so fresh and inviting.

Shanda said...

Wonderful job! It always makes me sad that we finally get our house just how we like it and then we move...ever feel that way?

Stacey said...

Looks great. Love the latte'.

Lesley said...

how wonderfully fresh it looks....amazing job....

Jen said...

I really like the pared-down look. So clean!

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

WOW! Not that it didn't look great before, but paint sure does change things, huh? I have that "latte" color in much of my downstairs, and I love it b/c it's neutral so I can change stuff out. :) The new shades work really well in that room. Two thumbs up! :)

Tina said...

Styled like a magazine spread! Awesome
Blessings
T

Unknown said...

I have missed you! The dining room looks great and fresh - perfect for selling a home! I grew up in Chicagoland too! Naperville actually. For us, it has been great to be back in the midwest (although Minnesota not my fav Chicago). You are close enough to drive to Junk Market!

Good luck on the sale of your home, I will send prayers your way. Remember, despite ALOT of homes on the market right now - the well decorated/cared for ones stand out among the masses!

duchess said...

Looks great - I love the paint color & the way it accents the ceiling.

Unknown said...

The re-do is gorgeous...love the new color. And you are right....SHOW off those BEAUTIFUL Hardwood floors. They are a BIG selling point!

Heather said...

Love the new paint color. It really freshened things up!

Jenny said...

I don't want you to move!!! hehehe!! Any idea of when you will be heading back up there? As soon as the house sells? Hope to see you before you go!!

Kasey said...

Very pretty! I love the paint color. I have almost the same exact antique dresser. It belonged to my grandparents.

Unknown said...

What a pretty re-do. Love the Latte.... I have been thinking of using that in my kitchen.

Thanks for sharing,
Cynthia

{darlene} said...

yes! fresh. breezy. crisp. and looks wonderful.

very impressed with the napkin trick, girlfriend!!!!!!

Gina said...

Beautiful! I love the latte-who doesn' like a good latte? Isn't it cool how such a big change doesn't have to break the bank?

Christine said...

Looks so pretty! You did good.

Wendy said...

Love the walls!

Shell in your Pocket said...

It looks wonderful and "fresh"!
sandy toe

Margo said...

looks very nice and tidy. Perfect for selling. Love the color of the walls. That color is very popular on the decorating forums.
Margo

Shannon said...

It looks so great! I love that latte color! I imagine you are going to sell your house in record time!

Jessica said...

I LOVE the new color!

beckylbranch said...

That looks so great...I love love love those lamps and the paint color!

Melissa Lester said...

Bless your heart! Now I understand why you haven't been typing much lately. I hope you are feeling better now. It is tough to have an injury anytime when you are a mom, but especially when you have so many projects on your to-do list. I enjoyed seeing the updates in the BR and DR. Can't wait to see more!

Jules from "The Roost" said...

Looks so pretty and clean. Love it!

Sydney jobs said...

You really are a good designer. Anyway, I am looking forward to see more of your house make over. I am loving it ^_^