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Dining Room Renovation – ORC Week 6 – The Reveal

I need to be honest. Writing this post on the day after the election is brutal. This whole election cycle has been a nightmare and mustering up the interest (I want to use a much stronger word here.) to write about home renovation and decorating is taking every ounce of my willpower. It is also taking coffee–very strong coffee. I know we all have our own ideas and feelings about how this all shook out. Perhaps this post will serve as a brief diversion while we gather ourselves up and figure out what happens now. If anyone needs a virtual hug, or a real one if you are local, I’m your gal. Now back to the ORC.

***

If you are anything like my mother, you will appreciate the following list of items crossed out due to their completion:

  • Repair the plaster walls
  • Paint the woodwork
  • Paint the walls
  • Reupholster the chairs
  • Add artwork
  • Hang the mirror over the fireplace
  • Spruce up the houseplant pots
  • Bring in seasonal decor

The dining room is done, my friends. It is done. In celebration, I do not intend to pick up a paintbrush for the rest of 2016. I am taking a leave of absence from painting.
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Before

Let’s review. This was the dining room just after we moved into BHH. This room has always had beautiful bones, but it was very dark due to the wallpaper and the sage green wainscoting.  In addition, green is not my favorite color outside of nature.
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After we removed the wallpaper and heavy wooden valances last winter, the dining room served as storage space and temporary kitchen during the complete kitchen remodel that lasted all summer.

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Now that I have refreshed your memory, I am so excited to share the changes we made.

The One Room Challenge™ Makeover

Hello, beautiful chandelier, bright paint, and nature-based decor.

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During the planning stage, we decided that we wanted to highlight the beautiful original chandelier. It truly is the jewel of this room. We are lucky that BHH is so full of character. Rather than having to add character and interest to each room, we are able to work with the beautiful details that have been here for over 100 years.

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Painting

Though we would prefer to have unpainted woodwork, we have come to the conclusion that stripping off the paint is not a project that we are willing to take on right now.

Instead, we chose to paint the raised-panel wainscoting and trim a soft white. The fresh paint brightened up the room immediately.  For the walls, we chose a pale neutral gray. The shade shifts between gray and soft beige depending on the time of day.

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On either side of the fireplace, I swapped out the Schefflera plants for our two outdoor ferns. They look better in the plant stands. It remains to be seen whether or not the ferns will winter over well indoors, but it is worth a shot.

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Another one of our favorite features in the dining room is the bump out with leaded glass windows.  Since our table is way too small to hold people and food, this area serves as the buffet when we entertain. We will be hosting guests on Thanksgiving so I opted to leave that space mostly empty. In the future, I would like to have a giant bowl or something similar to put on that ledge when we are not entertaining. For now, we can all just ooh and ahh over the windows.

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Speaking of windows, you may wonder why we did not choose any window treatments in this room. I am still thinking about it. Window treatments are not necessary for our privacy. In addition, the windows are so striking just as they are. I have no desire to cover their charm with a blind or curtain. That said, I will continue to research. If I find something that will highlight the windows vs. cover them up, I will consider making a change.

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The Flower Arrangements

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For the flower arrangements and centerpiece, I used plants from our property, a bit of grocery store greenery, and pumpkins. For fall and winter decor, I love using the greenery from the Rhododendron bush. As an evergreen, it adds a lot of texture and interest when flowers are not in season. It lasts for weeks as long as the stem is inserted into a container of water.

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I tucked a little stem of flowers into each napkin ring.

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The Shelves

With the exception of two small plants, we owned everything else on the shelves. No additional purchases were required.

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The little fern on the top shelf is the plant that I popped it into the pot that I spray painted last week.  The plant on the shelf below it is also new. It is some sort of mossy low-light plant.  I used a gold peanut butter lid as a saucer beneath it. While I wish I could put larger items on the shelves to beef up the decor, I am limited by the shelf depth (6″) and height (9″). The shelves used to be an open pass-through to the butler’s pantry on the opposite side. At some point, the doors were removed and the opening was converted to shelves.

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Note: That glorious unicorn was a Mother’s Day gift from my son when he was younger. He bought it at a yard sale. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Kitschy? Maybe. Fun? Definitely.

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Since the fireplace is such a focal point by itself, I chose to keep the mantel decor very simple. I would not object to a few additional small items, but less is more in my opinion.

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For added texture, I wrapped two of the vases with corrugated paper. Fun fact: That was actually packaging from the tablecloth. I often keep ribbon and interesting packaging materials that can be used at a later time.

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Final Cost

This was definitely a bare bones budget project. We did not start with a set budget amount which may have been shortsighted. My goal was to question whether or not an expenditure was really necessary. Andy was on board with that. While I was mostly frugal, I did make two frivolous purchases–the tablecloth and the wooden bowl. Both came from T.J. Maxx.

Here is the breakdown:

  1. Paint – Agreeable Gray (Sherwin-Williams color matched in Valspar paint) $45
  2. Dresser-turned-sideboard – $10
  3. Thrift store plaid shirts  – $15
  4. Thrift store frames – $12
  5. Plants and greenery – $11
  6. Tablecloth – $15
  7. Wooden Bowl (center of the table) – $20
  8. Plant Stands – $20
  9. Miscellaneous supplies (paint brushes, knobs, etc…) $17

Total: $165

The items in boldface are our out-of-pocket costs ($127). I had Lowe’s gift cards to cover the rest of the expenses. I accrue points through my bank account that I exchange for gift cards.

It is worth noting the rest of the supplies that we used but did not have to purchase. (All costs are approximate.)

  1. Dark Walnut stain – $6
  2. Citilite (white paint) – Sherwin-Williams color matched in Valspar paint – $45
  3. Paint rollers & foam brushes – $20
  4. Decorating items not listed in the expenses above  – undetermined price
  5. Spray paint – oil-rubbed bronze and gold – $12
  6. Oil-based primer – $25
  7. Plaster repair supplies and tools – $40

(Savings excluding the items for decorating that we already own – $148)

Eventually, we will get a new rug and perhaps fill out the wall above the dresser with some more artwork. For now, we are very pleased with the room as it is.

That’s a wrap, folks. We are calling this Fall One Room Challenge™ budget re-do a complete success. I will leave you with a few more pictures. As always, we welcome your comments and questions.

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You will find the rest of our project posts from the Fall One Room Challenge™ here:
Week 1 :: Week 2 :: Week 3 :: Week 4 :: Week 5

Yesterday the featured designers shared their completed rooms. Today is reveal day for the other guest participants too. Please make sure to head on over to Calling it Home to see their projects. Special thanks to Linda, for creating this challenge and hosting it twice per year. She is the best cheerleader and behind-the-scenes wizard that we bloggers and designers could ask for. The Spring ’17 challenge date is already marked on our calendar.

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41 Comments

  • Chad
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 7:48 am

    Since I broke my blog-silence about politics 3 weeks ago (and the comments section made my heart full) I’ll do it again. Visiting my grandmother finally helped me at the end of the day. The dementia has made her choice of words stranger, but it was the same hate that I’ve always taken comfort in.

    First she told me she couldn’t eat anything the whole day – except 2 desserts at dinner. Then when hearing about today’s visit to the White House she clenched her fists and said, “He’s not fit to lick the shoes Obama walks on.”

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 10, 2016 at 8:23 am

      Oh Chad, I would like to sit with your Grandma and hold her hand for awhile. We are going to my Grandma’s 100th birthday party this weekend. (100!) I will be interested in hearing what she has to say. I am a bit of a lone wolf in my family, but this election cycle everyone has surprised me.

      • Chad
        Posted November 10, 2016 at 11:25 am

        Well usually I toot my own horn for being a good tour guide in Philly, but if you ever come I can take you to visit my Nana. (Not Grandma – she wouldn’t have a name that made her sound old)

        • Post Author
          Stacy
          Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:26 am

          I would like this very much. Philly is definitely within the realm of possibility.

      • Delia Gibbs
        Posted November 17, 2016 at 9:04 am

        Oh, Happy birthday to your dear grandma! We had a 100th birthday celebration for mine a few years ago as well.

        • Post Author
          Stacy
          Posted November 17, 2016 at 10:10 am

          Thank you, Delia! I love that your Grandma celebrated 100 years as well. It is a very small club. 🙂

  • Robin @ Redo It Yourself Inspirations
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 7:51 am

    Absolutely refreshing! I admired the room to begin with, but you have brightened it up without losing any of the original charm. The windows are amazing and now they really stand out. The chandelier is just priceless. To top it off, it’s done with limited purchasing and that is most impressive! Great job, Stacy, it’s a beautiful room.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 10, 2016 at 8:20 am

      Thank you so much, Robin. You are the queen of creativity, and I really appreciate your comments. 🙂

  • Hayley
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 8:44 am

    I am sorry about the election.

    I am happy about your beautiful dining room!

    Regarding window treatments, I know they are not necessary for privacy, but with it being an older house do you not find them necessary for warmth? In our old and drafty house we could not be without them, but it sounds like you have a more comprehensive heating system!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 10, 2016 at 8:55 am

      Thank you, Hayley! We have a forced air heat system with keeps us pretty cozy. Upstairs is draftier than downstairs. We have been working on all of the windows and doors to reduce drafts. We would like to add some insulation too. It is not 100% great, but the heat does seem more functional and efficient than radiators and other systems that are so prevalent in old homes.

  • Ame Jo
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 9:41 am

    I, too, am sorry about the election, but I’m also sort of glad – all of this fear and hatred that’s been simmering below the surface has been exposed. Now it can bubble up, be released, and healing can begin. That’s a simple summing up of what is likely to be a very painful process, but I have to believe we will come out stronger (and hopefully more open-minded and accepting of differences amongst ourselves) because of it.

    Your dining room is stunning. Just stunning. Your desire to not touch another paintbrush this year is understandable. I wonder if you’ll hold to that? (I made a similar proclamation after finishing the kitchen walls and my bedroom in July – so far so good!) Regardless, it is so bright and open now, what an improvement. And, that gorgeous foyer wallpaper really pops now through the doorway, rather than getting lost in all the green.

    I can’t say enough good things about what you’ve done there. It’s just so lovely.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:31 am

      Thanks, Ame. <3 I see all the things that need painting and I'm not sure I can hold to it. ? Today, I feel pretty confident. Thanks for being a great friend and supporter.

  • Sarah
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 11:51 am

    First – oh my gosh. This is a home run. It looks incredible. Well done, and how lucky are you to have those windows. Plus the unicorn is my favorite part.

    Second – sending love to you guys. The last 24 hours has been the most painful in my recent memory, and that includes giving birth. I don’t have much to say except we better all get busy.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:33 am

      Thank you, Sarah! I think the unicorn is one of my favorite things also. ? Love to your family. Thanks for the support and friendship.

  • Christine
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    Your finished room looks fantastic! I can totally understand taking a break from painting. Some of the ORC posts on other blogs I’ve been following have had a lot of sponsored material, so it’s nice to see a real budget renovation. Most of what we have done so far in our house has been incremental and whatever we can spare out of that month’s budget. Patience has never really been my strong point, but we can never really shell out what we would want to do lots of big projects at once. Change in our home is kind of at a glacial pace.

    Also, I feel you on the last couple of days. It’s been painful to read the news and talk about it with our son. This is the first election cycle he’s really paid attention to, and the outcome was really a shock to him. We’ve been talking a lot about positive steps forward and what we can put our energy into to channel all of the things we are feeling.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:38 am

      Thank you, Christine. I am glad that we found common ground through this budget renovation. I hear you about patience. I could an extra dose of that myself. A million dollars would help too. ? is it too self-serving to ask for that? Ha! Give your son an extra hug from me. When he asks who it’s from, tell him it is from a blogger who cares. I’m sure he won’t think that’s weird.

      • Christine
        Posted November 15, 2016 at 9:26 am

        Thank you, Stacy 🙂 If nothing else, everyone’s been a lot more gentle to each other lately.

  • Breanna
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    It’s so pretty! I love your table setting and the styling in the built ins is fantastic!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:39 am

      Thank you, Breanna! ❤️

  • Cassie Bustamante
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    WOW! i love this room so much- the moldings are amazing and love that they really stand out now!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:41 am

      Thank you, Cassie!

  • Kari @prairiegirlhome
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    You knocked it out of the park! That chandelier is so stunning and was totally hidden before in the heaviness of the room. Now it shines! I love the white trim and soft walls. Also, hurray for decorating on a budget!!!! Funny, our out of pocket totals are only $8 apart! Zero sponsors, just good old fashioned creative, thrifty decorating! I love the corrugated cardboard vases, so creative!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:42 am

      Thank you, Kari! I love that our totals were $8 apart. We should team up as bloggers over the winter. Let’s talk!

  • SH
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 4:05 pm

    I’ve been waiting for your reveal day for six weeks too, and it does not disappoint! Gorgeous paint colors, beautiful windows, and warm touches from wood furniture and bits of nature make it so inviting. And you kept all the original elements intact–a refreshed charm. And love that pop of green from the pantry. I agree with the unadorned windows, but with black hole effect at night, perhaps some uplighting outside might be a future project. My favorite ORC this season.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:47 am

      Oh my goodness, what a wonderful compliment! I’m really happy that you like it. I also love your idea about outdoor lighting. We do have a motion sensing light outside of one of the windows, but it is more like interrogation lighting on a random schedule. ? Next year, we have landscaping plans. I’ll start thinking about lighting. Thank you!

  • Sally
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    This room is stately! I ve been watching the work going on and to me, it’s important how you improved on an all ready beautiful room without being over the top and spending a bunch of money or using a bunch of sponsored products. Your room is just gorgeous and in light of the turmoil with the election, take comfort in this lovely room. Maybe you could just hang out in there for the next few weeks? ( just kidding).

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:51 am

      Thank you so much, Sally. I appreciate your supportive comments. I really might just sit in this room and chill out. ? I like the way you think.

  • Julia at Home on 129 Acres
    Posted November 10, 2016 at 7:08 pm

    Beautiful! The white paint really highlights the wood work, in my opinion. You have a gift for styling. The mantel, shelves and table setting are beautiful. Your very frugal approach and beautiful results show that you don’t need a huge budget to create a great home.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:54 am

      Thank you so much, Julia. Your compliments really make me feel good. Looking forward to reading about next project.

  • Kristen
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 3:42 pm

    You did a wonderful job with this makeover! I love that you made the room more current but kept the original charm. The windows are stunning!!

    P.S. Do you always keep the table set?

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:41 pm

      Thank you, Kristen!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:59 pm

      I missed your P.S. question. I don’t always keep the table set. I’m guilty of setting the table like this just for the photo shoot. I’ll set it this way for Thanksgiving. ? This is our only eating area at this time. We may work on a less formal area next summer.

  • Jen @ Noting Grace
    Posted November 13, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    Stacy!! This is just gorgeous! I can’t get over how much bigger this room looks with all that green and wallpaper gone! I am seriously swooning over this incredible transformation! Excellent job, my friend! Brava!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 14, 2016 at 10:51 am

      Thank you so much, Jen! I agree about it looking much larger. That’s a blessing and a curse. It feels light and airy, but our table looks even smaller. Ha! Thank you so much for your kind and enthusiastic comments. It means a lot. ❤️

  • Devyn
    Posted November 14, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    The dining room turned out beautifully! I think that foregoing window coverings is a smart way to handle it when privacy isn’t an issue.

    I admire you for speaking up and acknowledging how you felt on the day after. I have just avoided the topic entirely on my blog, I just figure that as a man married to another man and living in New York City, my readers can pretty easily discern where I stand. That said, the outcome of this past week is definitely generating a lot of emotion and discussion for some major changes in our future.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 17, 2016 at 8:22 am

      Thanks, Devyn. BHH is a house of friendship and love. We will not waver from that.

  • Delia Gibbs
    Posted November 17, 2016 at 9:06 am

    Hi Stacy,
    This dining room is just plain gorgeous! I love that you went with light colors. It lends a certain elegance to the room. That chandelier had me; it is gorgeous! Please wish ‘grandma a happy birthday for me”- from one of your readers :).

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 17, 2016 at 10:11 am

      Thank you so much, Delia. As much as I appreciate dark colors in the homes of others, I have learned that light colors work the best for us. It is a long dark winter in the northeast. 🙂 My Grandma’s official birthday is today. I’ll pass along your good wishes.

  • Lucille
    Posted November 28, 2016 at 10:36 pm

    The ferns look really nice under the windows. The mirror above the mantel is a great idea because that gorgeous chandelier will be reflected there! I really like the idea of a neutral dining room. Just think of all the different dishes and tablecloths you can use! Your new dining room looks so much brighter. I feel inspired to rip off some more wallpaper! I’m working on that in the kitchen.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted November 29, 2016 at 8:09 am

      Thank you, Lucille. I feel pretty great that I’ve inspired you to rip off wallpaper. That is a horrible job. 😀 We have two more large rooms that need wallpaper removal. My motivation for that is definitely in the dumper right now. 🙂

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