If you were here last week you know I am testing my sanity and participating in the 2017 Spring One Room Challenge just weeks after closing on a new house.
For those of you who are new to this the One Room Challenge is a twice yearly event hosted by Linda of Calling It Home. During this event twenty design bloggers take on the challenge to transform one space in just six weeks. Every Wednesday, the designers document their progress while sharing their sources and professional advice. In addition to following along, everyone with a blog, (that’s me!) is welcome to join the fun as a guest participant by linking their own room transformations to Calling It Home.
So Week One I was working on my dining room but since then there has been a bit of a change, actually a really big change. I may be shooting my self in the foot as far as the timeline goes but I’m changing the room all together. Not the design but the room itself. This is what I get for planning my room before even moving furniture into the house….When I finally got all the furniture moved in last weekend I ran into a problem that was two fold. While the table and chairs fit into the dining room fairly well it didn’t leave much room for anything else, not terrible but where I really ran into problems was trying to lay out the furniture in the room that was intended to be the living room. As much as I moved the furniture around I just couldn’t make it work, so my solution was to try switching my dining room into the living room and vice versa, I have to say, I’m kind of loving the results.
Here is the furniture laid out in the dining room. Kind of cramped!
But here in the new room, plenty of room left for 6 additional chairs
and my big mid-century credenza which I’m planning to use as a buffet.
I’m really excited about is the fact that this also means the new dining has a large fireplace
and built-ins that I hoping will double as a bar area.
Now for the detail…
The design goals have not changed but I have expanded them this week. I admit I still need to make some decisions on the wall and trim colors but at east I have direction. A dark aqua/navy or a charcoal black are my top options for the trim I just need to commit and go for it!
Since the new walls don’t have wallpaper that also means I can save some money by using a stencil instead of having to go over the old wallpaper. I’m kind of loving the look of this Secret Garden Toile Stencil… but what colors?
and since the room is a little bigger I’m going to switch the chandelier to this vintage beauty that was in my kitchen at the old house. It will be fabulous in here!
Hopefully this week I’ll be getting some painting done…Once I commit!
Now don’t forget to stop by and see what all the other linking participants are up to this week.
I flipped mine for the same reasons a couple of years ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. We now have a spacious dining room where the table can be expanded to seat 12, if necessary, with plenty of room for two serving pieces. It never feels crowded any more and even works when we just have 6 to eat. Before, no one would use our living room because it was a huge bowling alley and even separate seating areas didn’t entice anyone into the room. Now, in the old dining room, the area is used every single day and we have never missed having it larger.
Same here, I think we are already finding both spaces more usable already. When they are complete I can only image how much nicer they will be.
what an incredible space it will be with those built ins! and i am DROOLING over your mcm piece!
Cassie, that piece is one of my Best thrift finds EVER I got it in Germany for just 50€ my mouth about dropped when they gave me the price. It had a sister piece with glass doors on it instead of wood which I kick myself for not buying but I could barely fit this one in my car as it was.
Goodness, this is going to be one fantastic makeover! I’m excited to see it all come together!
Thanks Iris, feeling a little nervous about the timeline right about now…
I’m loving the new arrangement! It’s going to be so nice to eat by the fire! I vote magenta for the stencil. And fantastic chandelier, btw!
I love a dining room fireplace! Your light fixture is gorgeous!
Guests will want to linger after a dinner party because of that fireplace! Love the built-ins too. The switch in room utilization seems meant to be. Great design plan!
Maggie, that room is amazing, as are your plans. That sideboard and chandelier are to die for! I actually thought about using that stencil but opted for some chinoiserie panels instead since we have some funky spots around the trim in our space and we’re renters.
Looking forward to your next update!
This looks so good! I think we have some of the same ideas. I am excited to see your WHOLE house come together. You always do good work!
Neat chandelier. Looking forward to seeing the room revamped.
It looks like it was meant to be.