Dining Room Reveal

I can’t stop walking in here and just staring. I have so much to say about it, so bare with me. If you just scroll through the pix, I don’t blame you. But if you care to hear stories or info behind certain things in the room, read on! To see my initial plans for this room, click HERE. To hear the woes of choosing paint color for it, click HERE. To read about my decision-making process for keeping original hardware to the thrifted buffet, click HERE. And to get a DIY tutorial for painting it, click HERE. Ok, now that you’re caught up, here’s a reminder of what the room looked like BEFORE… I call this the “Nice, But Not Me” dining room:

 

And here it is now! I call this, “Regal Funk.” Lol!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, so how do I explain my thought process behind this room? Let me start by saying, I have an art degree. Art History was always one of my favorite courses, and walking through a museum is my happy place. So much so that I was married in this room at The Toledo Museum of Art…

 

 

Perhaps my love for the arts goes back to watching Bob Ross with my dad as a kid. Who knows? But it’s a part of me. The gallery wall in my new dining room is a mix of old Rennaisance prints I found on www.art.com and fun thrift and antique finds. Except for the Michigan map on canvas- can you believe I found that at Home Goods? Got a big thumbs up for that from my hubbie. Go Blue! Stay tuned for a blog post on any stories I have about my finds, the costs, and how I threw it all together. I’ve had people say to me, “I don’t know how to go about choosing art.” One example that someone gave me is that they may see a painting of a horse that they love, but then they don’t want to buy it because they have no connection to horses. It cracks me up. Buy what puts a smile on your face when you look at it! You don’t have to have ever ridden a horse in order to have a painting of a horse in your house. That is the most random example, but I’m just trying to drive home the point that art is subjective, and when it comes down to it, something that should make you happy. 

 

 

 

The walls are Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I had gone from wanting the walls light grey to wanting the walls black. This warm dark charcoal was the perfect shade in between. Dark was definitely the way to go for the look I was going for, but I felt like black was a bit too stark. Eventually I may do a ceiling treatment, or maybe paint the medallion. 

 

Let’s talk about the infamous Anthropologie wallpaper. I think you either love it or you hate it. I’ve been drawn to regal interiors that have a museum feel, but I also like an element of fun and “unstuffiness,” if you will. I have four kids- nothing is stuffy about my home. If it seems stuffy- come on over. You’ll get a closer look at crayon marks on walls, finger prints on windows, juice box spills on the carpet, and race car scratches on tables. This wallpaper screams “fun” to me, and I like that it balances out the formality that’s going on over on the gallery wall. So does the silliness of stacking books under those lamps. I had a moment of “Is this innovative or stupid?” and decided to just roll with it. I love the lamps but they needed more height; so there you have it. The books were 25 cents each at a thrift shop, except for the one under the bust- that one was an antique for $10 . (It dates back to 1891 and it’s extra beautiful:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The styling on the buffet is a mix of entertaining servingware. The antique espresso cups I stole from my parents’ house:) Thanks, Mom! She’s used to me coming over and saying, “Is there something in your attic you think I might like?” I think they look beautiful on this green buffet. I can’t believe we never had a buffet in here. So many possibilities for the holidays! I can’t wait! 

 

I struggled with what to do for a centerpiece on the table. I think centerpieces can be inimidating! Mainly because there are a million directions to go in. In the end, I thought a simple collection of candlesticks did the trick. The two on the ends were 50 cents each at a thrift store. (You can tell- they’re a dirty hot mess, but I love them anyway) The two next to those were $10 each at a thrift store. That tacky little swan guy was $3 at a thrift store. And the newer ones in the middle are from At Home. I think it’s always good to balance out a collection with old and new. And I came to the conclusion that instead of putting larger candles on the center ones, that these decorative balls would add a little more interest and color. I’m invisioning mini pumpkins on them in the fall, and perhaps ornaments on them in the winter. That’s the great thing about this- it’s diverse and easy to change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can we talk about the mirror? I’m not 100% sure I’m keeping it. Yikes! Insert that emoji face with the awkward stretched out smile. I had it in my original plans. I initially found it on Joss & Main, but after it sold out, I actually found it on Bed Bath & Beyond. Now that it’s hung, I’m wondering if a) the gold is a bit too orange-y compared to the rest of the gold in the room, b) if its ornate style is just too much with everything else that’s going on, and c) should I have gone with something vertical instead of horizontal?  I may switch it out for something simpler. We shall see. I didn’t want to keep searching and hold off this reveal, so for now, it stays.

 

 

The pillows are from Hollie over at Stuck On Hue on Etsy and I LOVE them! Animal print is actually working as a neutral in this room, in my opinion. And the chandelier! Holy heart eyes! You should see it at night! What else? The rug! I loved the bold blue but also loved the traditional style of it. This is one room I did not want to see any geometric patterns in. The wallpaper and buffet are a little loud, so I wanted that wall to kind of stand out on its own. Which is why I also went for a solid drape. That was hard! I was originally drawn to these, but in the end decided a simple black velvet was the way to go. I didn’t want something I’d get too tired of later. I question them a little bit, because they do get a little lost in the dark walls at night, but I figured if I change my mind, I can use them in my bedroom! I found these vintage tie backs from an antique shop for $9.

 

 

 

Some extra pix…

 

 

 

 

I loved this antique needlepoint I found! And the mat is red velvet! So perfect!

 

 

Of course I didn’t notice the beads needed tweaking before I was photographing. Oy.

 

 

 

 

Detail on velvet dining chairs…

 

 

Speaking of dining chairs, I know my original plan included this settee, but in the end I decided it was just too tall and it was going to cover too much of the buffet area/wallpaper. Also, its nailheads were silver, and although there’s nothing wrong with mixing metals, I just wasn’t feeling it.

 

What’s your favorite part? Is it what you expected? Tell me your thoughts! I love your comments! I know this may not be for everybody, but it makes me so happy. And my husband likes it! Hooray! I love when he thinks I’m crazy and then gives me major kudos when I’m done with a project. #itoldyouso #happywifehappylife #trusttheartist

 

PRODUCT SOURCES:

Wallpaper: Anthropologie

Black velvet chairs: World Market

Tufted chairs: Home Goods

Buffet: $50 from a thrift shop, DIY 

Rug: Joss & Main (sold out, but you can also find it here on Wayfair)

Table: Art Van Furniture (no longer available- this is the only thing in the room that stayed! Bought it years ago)

Chandelier: Shades of Light

Drapes: Overstock

Mirror: Bed Bath & Beyond

Lamps: Home Goods

Candlesticks: some thrifted, some from At Home

Pillows: Stuck On Hue

Michigan on canvas: Home Goods

Frames for prints: Hobby Lobby

Tray on buffet: Hobby Lobby

Green glassware: Home Goods

Bust: At Home

Blue bowls: Anthropologie

Owl: Anthropologie

Decorative balls on candlesticks: Home Goods 

 

 

Man, was that long-winded! If you took the time to read all of that, THANK YOU!! 🙂 Here’s to the next project…

 

Cheers,

Haneen