Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

I had planned a lot of recipes for this week as I have several in the “bank” to share, but after reading all of your comments, I have decided to make it more of a progress report style week. I hope that sharing the rooms as they progress will remind you that transformations don’t usually happen overnight. It’s a process. I don’t want to look back & say that I missed out on some really great moments, but gosh our house was beautiful! Instead, we’re updating our home little by little, as time allows. Today I’m excited about our dining room!

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

Our dining room completely transformed with the addition of my mom’s dining room furniture. It was originally my grandmother’s. Moving it into our home immediately gave the room meaning by adding a layer of history. I paired the dining room table with our Belgian linen slipcovered chairs to provide both balance & comfort.

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

I drew from things we already had to decorate the dining room – grandma’s china displayed in the cabinet, a couple vases from my time as an event planner, plants, flowers & fruit. I also added a painting I found at an estate sale last weekend for a little color.

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

The most powerful change in the room was unbelievably easy – we added a recessed curtain rod to of the dated 70’s window to minimize it & soften the hard lines. I reused our linen drapes from our old home & will have eventually them tailored.

A view of a dining room

I eventually intend to replace the chandelier, but think it blends beautifully for now.

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

 

Here’s the before {from MLS taken with a wide angle lens} for reference:

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

Our dining room in progress - balancing dark wood furniture & minimizing dated features

It’s been fun spending the last month finding ways to love our home rather than resent it. What do you love about your home?

Julie

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12 Comments

    1. It’s in the breakfast nook as our everyday dining table. The table we initially had in our dining room has been moved outdoors into our screened in porch.

  1. Pretty! I actually love the sparkle the chandelier adds to the space! I’m sure you have plans for something more your taste, but it looks lovely for now!

  2. I love progress posts!! Thank you!! Will you be painting your baseboards in this room as well??? If so, can you post about YOUR process? We are just about to move into a house with ALL oak trim & oak 6 panel doors & oak windows. It’s all in great condition and looks very nice on our wooded lot, but I’m a lover of white trim and am trying to decide if I want to paint it or not. Would love to hear YOUR process & approach on the subject for your home!! Blessings to you Julie!

    1. Thanks Jenny! We’re replacing them with 6″ trim, but we did upstairs. Use a deglosser, wipe clean, caulk, prime & paint. It’s a process, but you’ll be happy!

  3. Lovely Julie. The room looks so light and airy and dreamy. Love the contrast of the pale, soft linens and the dark rich wood. Looks great. Don’t rush it. Find what you love – it’s already lovely. What is the wall colour?!!

  4. I love furniture with a history. What a gorgeous way to show off your grandmother’s beautiful pieces!