Dining Room Progress

My dining room area has been a work in progress since we moved in. Other than the great windows that let in beautiful afternoon sunshine and pleasant breezes, I'm not a big fan of this space. It's just too small to really accommodate a family of seven and my hutch. There is only one wall to put the hutch on, and it doesn't leave enough room to center the table under the light fixture, which is centered on the window. This annoys the heck out of me. My other complaint it that with the open floor plan, which I am not a big fan of either, by the way, the dining room didn't have anything to set it apart from the rest of the living area.

This is what the dining area looked like when we first moved in.


Lots of reds and yellows and greens. Dark, heavy curtains. Crackle finish hutch. Tan walls. Heavy, boxy table.

I started working on lightening the room. I hung some breezy curtains, filled my hutch with white dishes, installed a lighter feeling chandelier.


But I knew that I was just getting started. Here's where we're at today:



I have some finishing touches I'm working on, but I've been anxious to share the progress I've made so far.
I love that the new chair rail defines this space and sets it apart just a bit. The table was a Craig's List find a couple years ago. It opens up to comfortably seat 10. I just recently refinished the table top in a red mahogany. The covering on the table is a quilt top that I started making seven years ago when I was pregnant with my second to youngest. I pulled it out recently, determined to finally finish it. It is made from vintage fabrics that were once my mother's maternity tops. And for good measure, there are pieces from one of my father's shirts he wore back in his college days and on into my youth. It's the only quilt I've ever attempted and despite the fact that the baby I was making it for is almost 7 now, it will remain baby-sized. I put it on there to give you an idea of the feel I will be going for in this room. I am working on adding some vintage farmhouse touches and will be creating a piece out of more of the same fabric remnants.

On top of the hutch you can see my great grandmother's bread pail, my big enamel pitcher, and my vintage kitchen scale. That area needs to be reworked a bit, but it's a good start.



I am very happy with the feel of the room and the direction it is moving in. Doesn't it feel so much less oppressive? It's a much brighter and happier room. I can't wait to finish up some of the details and share a final reveal!
One last look:

Linking to the March Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick!