Fall Dining Room (Update)

If you've been following along, you know that recently, we went on a huge rearranging spree at our house and switched the dining room and living room. We were hoping for a better use of space, and a better fit for our recently purchased furniture. I couldn't be happier with the progress so far. We do use both rooms more now, and it feels cozier and homier already. 

Here's a look back on the progression of this room.....

After painting over the peach walls, we still had to replace the worn carpet.  It made a huge difference once we did. 

This past Christmas, this is what the room looked like. After having been in our home for a year and a half, and making numerous updates, this room still felt cold.  Not quite right. I am so glad we decided to make this our dining room. 

Here is what this room looks like currently, albeit unfinished. It is such a better use of space for us. We have had friends and family over a couple of times since we made the swap, and I have loved having space for everyone to sit. And this being right off of the kitchen has made it more convenient. I took the navy curtains out and put the curtains that were in what is now the living room in here. 

I used a lot of natural hues in this year's fall decorating. And I had to include the hydrangeas that I dried a few weeks ago. This arrangement is contained in two wooden office trays. (Source list for all decor at bottom of post.)

I am really loving our light fixture! There was an off-centered ceiling fan there. We had to swag the light over for it to be centered above the table. 

For above the buffet, I made another hydrangea wreath like the one I did for the front door. This one is smaller, but it makes big impact in the room. 

Here, I used a white pumpkin as a plate pedestal just to give it a little fall interest and variation in height. 

We still have few things to do in this space to make it cohesive and finished out.  Here are my plans:

The current "sitting area."  This room is large enough for a full-fledged couch or loveseat. Eventually, we will fully furnish this room. But, I have to be patient. 

I really like my off-kilter plate wall above my little bar cart. I will have to re-do this as well, since I am taking the navy elements out of the room. I will have to figure out a way to do something cute and funky here without so many contrasting colors. 

Sources:
Table centerpiece: 
Wooden trays, thrift store
Grapevine spheres, (both natural and gold) Pier 1
Natural gourds and pumpkins, Hobby Lobby
White pumpkin picks, Hobby Lobby
Dried hydrangeas, ones I dried a few weeks ago
Wood bottom hurricanes, TJ Maxx
Dining table, made by my two of my best friend's dad
Black chairs, Target
White parsons chairs, Craigslist
Light fixture, Lowe's

Buffet:
Black Buffet, antique
White mirror, TJ Maxx
Mercury Glass Gourd Lamps, TJ Maxx
Three Tier Server, Willow House
Monogram white coffee cups, Anthropologie
White square plates, Pier 1
Napkins, Target

Linking up to:

Vintage Whimsy Dining Room Tree

Have you ever had an idea that you couldn't shake?  A concept that just wouldn't go away? A few months ago, I had a vision for my dining room Christmas tree that included silver platters, tea cups, and kitchen items nestled into the tree.  A nod to vintage with hint of modern. 

I started picking up items at yard sales and thrift stores when I found them, and by the time December rolled around, I had all the items I needed for the tree. 

I painted a couple of dollar store platters with homemade chalkboard paint and wrote messages on them.

The mini chalkboards I got at The Chapel Market remind us of yummy treats of the season. 

Throughout the tree, paired silverware adorn the branches......

......and so do metal cookie cutters

......and tea cups and homemade jar lid ornaments.

For the most part, I think it turned out just how I envisioned it.  I loved using everyday items to decorate the tree.  Have you ever used out of the ordinary items on your tree?  

*Be sure to like Cultivate Create on Facebook if you haven't already.  We are getting close to the 500 mark and I've decided to celebrate with a Favorite Things Holiday Giveaway.  As soon as we reach the 500 mark, a winner will be drawn from the followers of the page.  Like us and suggest to your friends!  More details soon!

Formal Dining and Office Before and Progress

As promised, I am sharing before and progress pictures of our formal dining room and office.  But first, let me explain a little about the layout.  

When the house was on the market, the house was set up with a formal living room with a small formal dining room off to the side.  We are not really formal living room/sitting type of people.  But I did want a larger space to entertain and have special dinners.  My dining table would barely fit in what was the formal dining room.  

After a suggestion from my friend, Stephanie, we decided that it would make more sense for us to convert what was the formal dining room into an office, and what was the formal living room into the formal dining room.  It is a much more functional layout for our lifestyle. 

Formal Dining

Before with the drapes left by the previous homeowner and yellow walls. 

I tested out a couple of greys before deciding on the one I love!  

Here it is with the draperies gone, the walls painted grey, but still had carpet. 

I took these pictures in December of 2012 right after we had the floors put in.  It was still a pretty bare space at this point, but looked a lot more updated and modern with the grey walls and dark floors. 

Here is another shot of the dining room.  I really love the windows that let in so much natural light. The dining room table was given to me by two of my dearest friends I call my sisters from another mister.  It was unfinished and I did a whitewash finish on it.  The antique piece in the corner there was given to us by J's dad.  It is a pie safe made from an old upright organ.  

Still to do:  
Have electrician install chandelier and recessed lighting.  (This room currently has no overhead light.  There is a switch that turns a couple of the electrical outlets on and off that was used with lamps.)
Purchase rug
Purchase dining room chairs
Art work and decor

(I am a little further along in this room than these pics show, but I will reveal the updates when I share my fall home tour.) 

Office:

What a mess!  We piled everything in this room when we were getting ready to do the floors.  This was the formal dining room, but we thought it was better suited to be an office. 

 At this point, floors have been done, walls painted grey, curtains hung, and temporary light fixture has been hung to replace the chandelier I took down out of here. I found the silver barn light at Lowe's marked down to $10.  While it is not the right light for the office, I hope to find another home for it later. Maybe in the mudroom.

 The temporary computer desk will be replaced with built-ins along that whole wall.  The cabinets we are using to do the built-in desk area are sitting in my garage on saw horses just waiting to be painted. Man, I need to get started on this project! The piano will be moved (and refinished).  


Still to do:
Paint cabinets taken out of kitchen and make built-ins along back wall of office. 
Add new light fixture and a couple of recessed lights or pendant lights above where desk area will be.
Add rug.
Add decor elements.

So, there you have it.  I really hope to get started on the office project soon.  It is beckoning me even now. I won't be able to put it off much longer.