Last week it was the entry, and from the entry we flow into the dining room! The dining room is probably the place where we made the most dramatic changes.
BEFORE
We knocked down a portion of the wall, turned the former hallway closet into a wine area, and added beautiful custom stone on the wine area wall and pillars. We also painted the walls and cabinets (both Benjamin Moore White Dove), and ripped out the old granite countertop and replaced it with a butcher block counter top.
Since we now have a new wine bar area in the former closet space, we do plan to remove the wine bottle racks in the former wine bar area, so that space can serve as a buffet area when we entertain or host dinners. I haven’t decided if I want to add a third cabinet there or install a vintage grate. The grate would be less functional, but it would add so much character. The hardwood floors also had a huge impact!
While these big changes made for a dramatic impact, I think the small ones were just as important. They give the space a unique, bespoke feel (and were generally budget-friendly)! We swapped out the hardware on the cabinets (with these beautiful flower knobs from Anthropologie), replaced the chandelier (and actually made a little money on the old one through a local consignment shop), and added a beautiful light medallion to contrast with the dark slate-colored ceiling. As you can see from the “before” picture, we actually left the ceiling paint color alone. We felt the contrast with the new White Dove walls would be striking and keep the room fresh and interesting. We also snapped up a vintage shop counter from a local antique store to serve as the wine bar table.
You’ll also see as I reveal more rooms in the house, I have a love of landscape art and vintage prints. They remind me of an English countryside home, which I love. And I couldn’t resist this beautiful spring lavender print for the wine bar. The flowers are actually a soft white rather than lavender color, but it’s beautiful nonetheless. The wine bar pendant light provides a gorgeous warm glow and is elegant yet understated.
The decor ties it all together! I love wreaths — you’ll see I also have them on the back of our kitchen counter stools. I added some striped ribbons to the mix here, which give the room a playful formality. And these “mossy” terra cotta pots may be one of my favorite finds this spring. The scalloped edging is so pretty and the pots themselves are earthy and a bit rustic.
I added some sophisticated botanical prints above the sideboard and my favorite mirror to the buffet area. It was such a touch decision to put the mirror here — if you’ve been following me for a while you know I cherish this mirror! I purchased it several years ago, when Jacob and I were still not quite established financially. I saved for months and months, and waited patiently until it went on sale. I remember when I first put it up in our previous home, I knew it would be an heirloom piece that I one day pass on to my children.
In terms of the palette, you’ll see I lean towards neutrals with splashes of natural green and soft blues. The chairs are a mix of French country and natural beach-inspired rattan. The neutrals and natural decor make decorating from season to season seamless. Below I included a few table settings from different times of year. No elaborate changes, just simple changes to place settings and flower choices.
Blue appetizer plates // Blue Stripe Cafe Dinner Plates
As always, I linked to (almost) everything you see here. Obviously, vintage or antique items are one-of-a-kind, so I can’t include them. But if there’s one piece of advice I can give to help you make your house feel like your home, it’s to find interesting, unique pieces you love. Be patient. Frequent local consignment shops and antique stores. Don’t cave and buy some cookie-cutter piece from Target. Don’t get me wrong, with three small children, I rely on Target! I do sometimes purchase decor there myself, but I’ve never found anything there that I love as much as a one-of-a-kind find at an antique shop!
Wishing you all a great week, and I’ll have a new Essential 25 Style post for you on Friday!
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