Before & After: My Dining Room Makeover

Frank bought our abode because it has proficient bones. You know, it's structurally sound, made of brick, that form of stuff. Which means, inward truthful bachelor fashion, blueprint didn't genuinely component into his decision.

Let's kickoff alongside the dining area: It featured worn-out carpet, an etched drinking glass as well as brass chandelier circa 1980, as well as a fake rock wall. Leroy, the erstwhile owner, had painted around one of his China cabinets, leaving a faint mint greenish rectangle on i wall. The bleak province of affairs was non improved past times Frank's high-top table, which was a unlike forest than the other article of furniture (left past times Leroy) as well as was the incorrect cast for the space. An intervention was inward order.

Step one: We ripped upward the carpeting to expose the forest floors (those proficient bones!) as well as ripped downward the fake rock drywall. Then I replaced the chandelier alongside a brushed nickel fixture alongside a white drum shade (Lowes, $169), as well as installed GE Reveal bulbs, which mimic natural light. I replaced the high-top tabular array alongside a farm tabular array bought on CraigsList for $45 (what a steal!).

When nosotros removed the drywall, nosotros discovered ii junction boxes. Perfect for sconces! I chose nickel sconces alongside white drinking glass shades (Lowe's, $30 each). The novel wall color is Rainwater past times Martha Stewart (sold at Home Depot), which gives the infinite a calming, close ethereal feel.

I establish the chairs inward the basement, as well as I liked their cast as well as the cane headrests. But the complete was simply ugly, equally was the carmine damask fabric. So I painted them white, as well as reupholstered the cushions alongside a low-cal teal as well as beige burlap. I likewise stained the tabular array to darken it as well as choose out the scuffs (so it looks similar a truthful farm table). 

Then came the big project: refinishing the China cabinet. I removed the metallic lattice on the glass, painted the whole matter white, as well as thus painted the backboard Magnolia Yellow past times Martha Stewart. (The yellowish pops beautifully against the surrounding pale teal walls.) I replaced the erstwhile hardware alongside cutting drinking glass knobs, as well as painted the hinges alongside brushed nickel spray paint. 

My end buy was ii tufted benches alongside silvery legs from Pier 1. They're genuinely vanity benches, but I wanted something to a greater extent than elegant than wooden farm benches.