I'm so excited I can FINALLY share my dining room with you all! It's been a long time coming and I couldn't be happier with the results! Since I know some of you have been asking about the details, let me jump right into them:
THE BEFORE
Things were a little ugly for a while around here...I wish I had a good before photo of the seats in those chairs (you can see them a little in the first photo above). The whole set was a Craigslist find from a few years ago that was in excellent shape for it's age, but unfortunately also very yellow. Y'all know I love a pop of yellow in my home decor but this was on another level and looked more like the yellowing 40 years of cigarette smoke leaves behind. I fell in love with the design on the base, the original caning, and the beautiful solid wood tabletop, not to mention the fact that with both leaves attached, this table is over 8 feet long! The ability to host large get-togethers is so important to me!
This set has a pretty heavy base with an intricate design, so sanding was pretty rough (no pun intended). Our best friend during this whole ordeal was without a doubt
this paint sprayer! We got it on sale around Black Friday when we remodeled our kitchen cabinets (more on that later!) but as much as we've used it and as handy as it has become, I would completely pay full price for it. You have no idea how handy the sprayer was when it came to that caning!! If you're looking into painting your cabinets or doing a larger paint project, I highly recommend investing in a paint sprayer. You will never look at a furniture remodel the same way again!
We used a random white paint we had lying around in the basement, but we did use a good bonding primer to help the paint adhere since we knew there was no way we'd be able to sand every nook and cranny perfectly. I think it really helped and on my next project I wont worry about the sanding quite as much as I used to!
Are you ready for the big reveal??
THE AFTER
So. Much. Better. I like to think of my decor style as a cross between farmhouse, french cottage, and traditional. I knew the white paint would really brighten up the whole room and breath new life into this beautiful dining set. I chose not to make any changes to the table top since it's in wonderful shape and has such a stunning wood grain design.
As you can see, we also reupholstered the seat cushions. The original foam pad was completely disintegrated inside the old, crusty golden velour that once adorned them, so it was obviously time to go. I had an idea of what I wanted on these seats, but when I walked through the upholstery aisles of Hobby Lobby, this simple taupe microsuede material really caught my eye. I loved how soft and supple it felt and how it added some dimension to the white chairs while still keeping with my neutral theme. Keeping the table and seats neutral means I can change the rest of my decor at will which is important to this holiday-obsessed gal.
Now let's get on to the rest of the decor in here.
THE DETAILS
Two of my favorite elements in my dining room are the giant round tobacco basket and the rustic metal barn lights! Both were FREE to me which shows just how much thrifting and junking can turn into treasure hunting. My father-in-law is a contractor, so he will often come home with random pieces "gifted" to him by grateful clients. This tobacco basket was one of those items and I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with it when I saw it in his basement, but I just knew I had to have it. Thanks, David! The light fixture was a find from my grandma's church yard sale a few years ago. It hadn't sold and was on the curb for donation when I spotted it. My grandma snagged it for me and Preston and I hauled it home, having no idea if it would fit our space or even work! Sometimes you just have to take the risk and TRY something to really see how it will turn out.
Once I had those two "anchor" pieces, the rest of the decor was simple. These are just
cheap Walmart frames (eventually I'll upgrade to something a little more sturdy) but I like how they seem to finalize the sort of gallery wall I've made here and add a little symmetry. As for the tabletop, it's always changing! I swap out the
table runner on wash days and sometimes don't use it at all (life with kids). The centerpiece is ever-changing, too, to fit holiday themes and depending on my mood! I love having fresh flowers in the house, but find faux ones much more cost-effective. Hobby Lobby has lots of realistic stems and bushes to choose from, like the magnolias and billy balls in my current set up. You can see more about the wooden trivet in
this post.
I think the most important thing I learned throughout this remodel--and all the home improvements over the past year--is to stay flexible! Sometimes you have a picture of how something is going to look in your head but then find a great sale or another fabulous find and your original plans may have to change. Don't feel like you have to change everything all at once, either, or you could end up stuck with something you settled for when you were desperate to call the remodel done.
As you can see from the lack of trim, our house is far from finished and that's okay! I've enjoyed cultivating a space that encompasses my unique design style and grows along with us! Enjoy the journey, y'all!
SHOP THE POST
Dining Table Set // Vintage
Paint + Primer // Lowe's
Seat Fabric // Hobby Lobby
Flowers // Hobby Lobby
Curtains // TJ Maxx
Tobacco Basket // Vintage
Light Fixture // Thrifted
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