As you may recall (because I freaked out about it a fair amount) I finally sold my father’s mobile home last January. Dale and I decided to take some of my rather small inheritance (most of it went to Hannah) and invest it into our home by redoing our dining room. At first we were just going to paint. Then we decided new furniture might be nice. By the time we finished the room was completely different. Here, let me show you.
This is the dining room when we started. My grandmother’s dining room set, busy wallpaper, ugly carpeting. Please note that it wasn’t usually messy – we have started work and that’s why there’s stuff all over the table.
It took two days to strip all that gawdawful wallpaper.
And then the carpenter came. He installed birch paneling on the walls and picture frame molding on top. He also put new molding over all the existing woodwork. It really dresses up the room and goes well with the age of our house.
We spent the weekend after the carpenter finished painting all the woodwork white. We painted the upper walls a beautiful sage green.
The following week the carpenter came back and installed vinyl plank flooring. We bought a patterned area rug and Dale installed a new light. Then we waited for the furniture to arrive to complete the room. I suppose you’d like to see that, too, right?
From the mudroom looking into the dining room. The Canadian Production Wheel is a nice touch in here, I think.
And from the living room looking into the dining room. My Wheaton College rocker looks really nice in here now.
I love this hutch so much! I’m not sure yet about the stuff in the cabinets but I’m thinking on it.
And, finally, you can see how nicely this room coordinates with the newly finished bathroom. You can also see more of the picture frame moldings in this photo.
The final verdict – we love it! This is our main entrance into our home and it’s really wonderful now. Now bring on the dinner parties!
Kathy Said,
WOW!!!! It looks amazing!
Carolyn Said,
Absolutely beautiful!!! I love the green. You can come decorate my house any time!!
Liz Said,
What a transformation! I LOVE it, Carole. You have such good taste! Enjoy your new room!
Nora Said,
It’s beautiful, Carole! Great job!
Julie Said,
Nice job, it looks fantastic! There’s nothing I like better than a fresh coat of paint.
LittleWit Said,
That looks wonderful! Want to come help us repaint our bathroom?
Emily Said,
The ceiling looks at least two feet higher and it has a such a colonial feel with all those clean lines! The (whatyoucallit?) wainscoting (the stuff under the chair rail) stands out beautifully. You’re right, the wheel is the perfect touch.
Karen Said,
Everything looks wonderful! You are going to love having that room to enjoy.
britt Said,
it is gorgeous!
Jamisyn Said,
Beautiful! I love that color and the paneling.
Kate Said,
The room looks bigger w/o the wall paper. The furniture looks very nice…. great job! So, what time’s dinner? lol
Anne Said,
Oh it is beautiful, Carole! It’s like having a whole new house!!
Vicki Said,
Wow, what a great job — such a change! It’s beautiful, Carole!!
Judy Said,
Wow! Carol, it is wonderful. Enjoy.
Lynne Said,
Wow! Beautiful! I love the dark furniture! It really stands out with your color choices!
Kim Said,
Carole it looks great!
Robby Said,
Really stunning! I think I might have needed sunglasses at breakfast for the wallpaper that is no more. But, sometimes we have to live in a space to learn what it can become. Wonderful job!
Donna Said,
wow – what a difference! You guys did a great job. I love the furniture. Did you buy it locally or order it online? It looks well constructed.
Let me know when dinner is – LOL!
Wool Winder Said,
I love the update! You must smile every time you walk by.
Beth Said,
Carole, it’s fabulous! You did a great job. I love the green, the paneling, the furniture – all of it!
JessaLu Said,
I saw it myself three days ago – it’s even nicer in person! ;o)
By the way, when are you going to put the pictures back up?
/runs
Jenny Bennett Said,
Beautiful!!! I bet you are soooo excited!!!
sarah b. Said,
Oh wow, that is awesome! I love that color!
deb Said,
Wow – what a transformation! It looks so “stately”! What time is the party and what can we bring?
MX Said,
Beautiful!
Ruth Said,
Oh, Carole, it’s GORGEOUS!! What a tremendous difference.
Kate Said,
BEAUTIFUL new dining room! You guys did a fantastic job pulling it all together
Doris Said,
It’s beautiful I love the furniture and the colors, and am a huge fan of using woodwork to dress up a room. You did a great job!
Julia Said,
Oh Carole, what an update! It’s so beautiful, and very classic, I think. Paneling like that is one of my fav things ever, and A++++ on the sage paint!!
Carrie Said,
So beautiful! Definitely a win.
Chrissie Said,
Love, love, love it! But I do miss the old dining room set. You know how much I always loved that one!
margene Said,
Your house is starting to look like a period piece, museum quality. It’s fabulous and looks so livable. Beautiful attention to detail!
Cheryl S. Said,
Fantastic! What a great job you did.
Renee Said,
How wonderful!!! The diningroom reno looks fabulous ~ well done. I especially like the colours and furniture, the new wood work really suits your house.
Bravo!
Carol Said,
It’s gorgeous! A great place to entertain and relax.
Laurie Said,
What an incredible transformation! Beautiful. I like the moldings a lot. The table is very elegant…where did you find it??
Hillary Said,
That’s a fabulous transformation. I love the colors and the details and it all goes together so well. Great job!
Leslie Said,
That is truly gorgeous! Removing wallpaper is such a hard job, but worth it. I love the new paint color and the furniture goes perfectly. I bet you feel like you have an entirely new home!
Joy Said,
Really gorgeous, and worth all the work! I love the paneling and molding, and the new furniture. Enjoy!
Carolyn Said,
Just beautiful! It looks so put together! Thanks for the inspiration!
Amy Said,
That’s so beautiful!
Teyani Said,
stunning – gorgeous – Wow..
What a great job you and Dale did!
I love the sage green walls over the white…. oh and that dining room set is glorious too……..
I know that I would want to sit in that rocker and knit all day – so beautiful
gale (she shoots sheep shots) Said,
Nice job! You must just want to sit there and admire it all the time. it looks like you live in an inn now. Where’s the maid?
shizzknits Said,
It turned out so lovely! The paneling/chair rail is perfect, and the spinning wheel is definitely the finishing touch!
Stephanie Said,
I love it! What a great transformation and the colors you chose work so well together and give the room such an updated, yet traditional feel.
cecily Said,
The new look is awesome! I’m about to move to a new place…well…at the end of May, but still…and I am so excited to play around with new space.
Dave Daniels Said,
Wow, Carole, that’s a BIG and wonderful change! The carpentry and new furniture make that room. I’m sure you must be really comfortable in there now. Well done!
michelle Said,
Wow! What a difference! You two do amazing work
I’m really loving that wall color you chose…eying my own dinning room now and getting all twitchy.
Cookie Said,
What a change! It looks wonderful, Carole! You all did a great job on that room.
Barbara-Kay Said,
Your dining room could live in colonial homes I’ve toured, or on This Old House. Well done!
Sylvia Said,
Elegant *and* comfortable. Excellent! A very nice ending to a difficult time. Do promise me, though, to move your wheel before you turn on the heat, okay?
elizabeth Said,
Why thank you Carole, I’d love to come to dinner! And all you have to serve is pie!
)
elisa Said,
Oh my goodness – it looks AMAZING, Carole. I love the shade of green you picked for the walls, and the molding is really lovely.
And you are totally right – it does coordinate nicely with your bathroom.
What a striking difference!
Danielle Said,
Its looks great! (And I’d be happy to break it in at a dinner party, if’n you need any help.)
Norma Said,
Just gorgeous! I’m waiting for a big project to be done here, too. Not sure when it will actually come to fruition, though.
kmkat Said,
Great job, guys! It looks very New England to this Midwesterner (that’s a good thing, btw). I am particularly fond of your shower curtain — it makes me think of mitered squares
Ina Said,
What a fabulous and harmonious re-do!
Mary K. in Rockport Said,
BEAUTIFUL changeover. New hutch too? Details on the furniture, please?
jillian Said,
It’s gorgeous! Modernized but still period-compatible. What a difference some relatively simple changes can make!
Catie Said,
Simply lovely!
Kellee Said,
Oh wow! It’s lovely, and what’s more, it looks like you…if that makes any sense at all. Huzzah!
Karen Said,
It looks wonderful! I love the furniture you chose and I love painted wainscoting. Good job!
Beverly Said,
Love it!
stephanie Said,
Wow – impressive change! I bet it feels really good to go into that room now.
Sara Said,
Oh, Carol, it is beautiful! I love the hutch and the new rug… The paint seems to make the room so soothing…Very pretty…I hope you enjoy it for a long long time to come.
Helen Said,
Carole that is a magnificent piece of work. I know there’s a LOT more that excites you… but WHERE did you find that cool shower curtain?
Dawn Said,
How beautiful Carole! I love it!!! The new furniture really ties it all in.
Teresa C Said,
Oooh, I’ll bet you want to sit in there all of the time! Lovely.
Manise Said,
Excellent job! Definite seal of approval.
trek Said,
Can I come live in your dining room?
leslie Said,
very nice. Leslie
Katy Said,
It looks fabulous! And I totally envy your hutch. We are saving our pennies for a dining room upgrade, which also involves scraping wallpaper and getting some new furniture. Someday!
jill Said,
So lovely. What a vision you had. Brava!
Sarah Said,
Wow! That is amazing. Enjoy, Carole!
HB Said,
I love it – it looks so peaceful and welcoming. And it fits the personality I imagine you have since I only know you through your blog. A lot of hard work but so worth it!
Marcia Said,
That dining room is SPEC-TAC-ULAR, Carole! Great job! (And my cousin is a Wheaton grad!)
Sarah Said,
WHAT a transformation! It’s gorgeous!
Heather Said,
WOW!!! It looks like a picture from a home magazine! Love it!
Wanda Said,
I love the new furniture. Your dining room underwent quite the transformation! I’m impressed at the change. It really looks wonderful. So, what time is dinner? lol
maryse Said,
wow, what a beautiful room. so nice!
Debi Said,
80 comments already! Better late than never….it’s gorgeous Carole! Enjoy it in good health and happiness for many years to come!