Do you ever think about what you’d do differently to a room in your spare time? Silly question, I’m sure. Because I do it a lot.
Our dining room is done and I won’t change it because there’s no need to. I love the big white trim, the artwork, the color of the walls. (Sharkey Gray by Martha Stewart, The PERFECT grey-beige) But what if? What would I change to make this the perfect space?
-Find a good, solid, long table base second hand. Rip off the top and add boards to make it a distressed farm table. Or maybe have Doug build a table similar to our breakfast bar built of old floorboards.
-Move the table so it is long ways along the window. Make it bigger to add in more chairs.
-Add in a smaller light fixture. Maybe just a drum or a barn light (like this beaut from IKEA).
-Swag it so it is closer to the window.
-Sell the corner cabinet and hutch.
-Add in tall, narrow, white built-in bookshelves on either side of the window. (bonus points if they have some doors)
-Move my big canisters and glasses and board games and extra stuff into those bookshelves.
-Get baskets for those bookshelves for potatoes and onions. (Cause I never have a good spot for the potatoes and onions.)
-Make a built-in window seat or get a bench to go under the window.
-While we’re at it, maybe get some chairs. All of those tiny chair spindles are a pain to clean.
-Remove the door that leads to the hallway, bedrooms, and bathroom. It’s nice, but not necessary.
Oh wait.
-Sweep the floor.
I think that’s it.
And then when it was all done and perfect and beautiful and I spent $2,000 dollars on the new stuff, I’d probably want to do something new again. 🙂
Do you do this for your home? What would YOU do differently to my space?
Karina says
I love this! Is your living room a sea green? I have been trying to decide what color to paint our similarly sized dining room. My living room is a really soft seafoam/minty green and I think I’ve finally caved and decided to “go grey”.
Your photo here is my inspiration!
Did you paint the archway white? (Another problem I am having, is that I hate the overlap of color in the dining room and it doesn’t help when you have textured walls that make it look messy!)
Ann Marie Heasley says
Thank you, Karina! Yes! I think it’s more blue than green, but definitely minty.
I can’t remember now about the archway (we’ve since moved) but either painted it white or the mint. Now I can’t remember, haha, so maybe it will look nice either way. ? Textured walls are sooo hard to work with! The walls in these two rooms are plaster/textured. I think you should go for it! Let me know how it goes.
samantha says
Just found your blog! Loving everything you have done! Your dining room is my new inspiration for our basement remodel – love the paint color with the white trim and warm wood accents! I did have a question – do you remember where your curtains are from? I’ve been trying to find gray curtains forever!
Thanks!!
[email protected] says
The time, the gadgets house. That is, otherwise it is loads of other things, it tends
to be brought along so that they are the screen where you can do the dirty
work.
CMB says
I think this space looks great!! Adding an area rug could really warm it up though and would change the look without changing anything really!
Eva says
Do I every daydream-renovate rooms in my house? Only ALL THE TIME! Seriously, it’s a wonder I get anything else done.
But your dining room is gorgeous! BTW I love love love corner hutches, but I can see why you would want to trade it out for bookshelves.
Kari says
I think its perfect. Just as it is. 🙂
Erin says
Whenever I start dreaming, I start making lists and then our house gets torn apart and my dear husband wonders what in the world has happened while he was at work etc. I am seeing improvements in our home, since we moved in 15th months ago, which is reassuring. I just wish that it would get done faster! The two rooms in our house that are the closest to being done is our living room (We just need organization and our coffee table) and the nursery (we just need our rocker, the dresser and changing pad, and a little bit of organization). I love decorating, but I am at the point that I have to stop looking for more ideas and just focus on what we have going for us.
Amanda M. says
Oh but that wooden door adds such warmth!!! It pulls me in.
Ann Marie Heasley says
you know, now that I look at it, you’re right! I think I would miss the door. Okay, add it back to the imaginary room 😉
Bonnie K (BornInaZoo) says
I’ve lived in my 1907-built house since 2001 & bought it in 2006. It is in a constant state of remodel. It is only 864sf and I made the two-bedroom into a one-bedroom (since it is only me & my three dogs that live here). I did that to make a 18×22 kitchen/dining room since my family gathers here a lot. I live 6 blocks from the lake & city park. My kitchen has gone through 3 renovations since purchase… always thought that was just the way I’d like it. *hahaha* Two weeks ago, trashed *ahem* rebuilt a 12″ deep x 6′ wide buffet cabinet to make it 18″ deep. It just fits the space better. Especially with all of those potluck foods they bring for our gatherings.
Laurie Thelen says
Oh yes, I dream about converting our back hallway into a pantry, removing the extra back door. Finding a new place for my desk so I can have more space in my living room. Bookshelves and a window seat in the kids bedrooms. Making a movable counter for the center of my galley kitchen…so many ideas 😉 such fun to dream. My husband doesn’t worry until the drafting paper comes out and the tools start appearing in my garage.
Marilou (your moma) says
I do this too! I dream of two ideas: closing off the area above our desk, and having a loft ish area, going full head on with loft thought, taking Joseph’s closet since its double (full wall) taking half for Maria’s room, and making walk in closet-secret room all a big area for reading, bookcases on one wall with two chase lounges to get comfy…so at the end of the hall you would see a another room.
making the stairs go to the attic, and having that a big kid room, nothing but bean bag, and video/tv room mini frig, and bathroom of course.
or when you go up our stairs go straight into another room, (the attic to the garage is there, and it would make another bedroom/ kid bonus area….