Dining Room {Then & Now}

Just the other day I was going through tons of photos from when Gracie was a baby and I almost cringed at what this house looked like seven years ago! When they say a space evolves with time that could not be more accurate with our home!! Seven years ago when we purchased this home we gutted it and started over with a blank slate.... Lord if only I had Pinterest back then and if only I actually knew what the heck I was doing!

Tomorrow I will start our little kitchen renovation. I say "little" because, for one, I am doing it myself and two, I'm doing it on a very tight budget which means not everything will get done in a week or two or even in two months...Ok, lets face it, it could very well take a year!!

 All I know is that I have a plan and I'm sticking to it!!

Today I thought I would give you a little idea of what our dining room & entry looked like just about three years ago. It's still a work in progress but for sure has evolved with time and Thank the Lord for that!!

I struggled with this wall for years. I thought about painting it with chalk paint, removing the pine boards, buying a large hutch to hide the wall... The list can go on and on. Then one day I decided to just brighten up the whole space. I started with the railings. I was so tired of all the dark stained wood that I just painted everything white. Best thing I ever did!! This room is so much more bright and airy, not stuffy and cold... I painted the pine wall a little over a year ago and I am never looking back!!

This room is still not complete. I am still deciding on what type of open shelving I want on the forever empty wall on the other side of this room. I need to switch out the dinning chairs... I love them, but I'm over them if you know what I mean!! And I've had a tiny issue picking out window treatments. I honestly don't like anything on the windows personally, but they do make a space look complete and gives it an over all cozy feeling.  Please don't judge the before photos, this was way before I had any clue what my style was.... This whole change took literally years of pulling out magazine clippings and thousands of pins later and it's still not 100% where I would love it to be, but I am pretty proud of how the room has evolved in the past two years.

 

BEFORE

BEFORE

BEFORE

PROGRESS

NOW

NOW

NOW

Everyone always asks me "How did you do it?" And all I can say is that I just find inspiration everywhere and document it. I can't tell you how many photos I have from magazines that I have torn out and keep posted in my office. Pinterest, HGTV and following numerous blogs is for sure how I found my style and what I love. I have also learned that it's ok to make up your own rules when decorating your space. When you use what you love it's just a matter of placing things where they look and function best.

Now it's off to Home Depot for paint... Those kitchen cabinets aren't going to paint themselves!!

Have an amazing weekend!!