My beautiful dining room *wink*

Howdy Y'all!  I have decided to bare my soul today in a effort to humiliate motivate myself on my dining room makeover.  A few months ago this room was nearly complete.  I had brown bagged the walls and painted ceiling/trim, etc.  There was a beautiful dining room set and lighted china cabinet....all very formal. All very earth tone and what I thought was what I really liked.  Then I took a furniture painting class (http://www.altard.com/) and I stepped into the world of shabby chic and all things lovely and comfortable and WHITE....and I fell in L.O.V.E.....  Thus began the demolition redecorating of my entire home.  My dining room stumped me but slowly my plan came together......and now I just have to DO it!

So, take a look at this "mess"....but don't be a hater....this is a room in transition and one day you will be amazed at what that "crazy girl" did with all of that junk....or at the very least I hope that I am!

Disturbing Content Below: It may cause some to cry and others to laugh but if anyone feels the need to jump on a plane to help me please GO WITH IT!  We can talk details later.....

There she is.  Nearly everything in this room is "new"....to me.  Mostly Craigslist finds and a few antique/junk shop treasures.  Of course, several decor items are from Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Morning and Michael's....just to name a few.

My growing collection of white pitchers and such....

My "new" buffet that I lovingly call "LadyBird" after the neat lady that I bought her from.  "She" (the buffet, not the lady) will have a coat of Old White Chalk Paint soon to complete her new look.

Remind me to tell you the story about this transaction.....I actually traded cheesecakes for this buffet!

http://www.thedivacheesecakeco.com/  (My other, other life....LOL)



The new beadboard wallpaper which must be applied over the brown bagging....ugh.  This really has been the hang up in this room because I was trying to just paint over the brown bagging and move on but it did not look like "the picture in my head" and so wallpaper is inevitable.  One of my least favorite things to do!  Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray will be the color for the beadboard wallpaper and all of the trim and lower walls will be Extra White.  Ahhhhh, fresh, crisp and clean.....

Speaking of paint.....  Have I told you that I love paintbrushes?  Strange, I know.....

.....and the amazing Chalk Paint.....(no explanation needed)

This will be the "new" chandelier.  Still needs cleaning but the crystals are fantastic and I cannot wait to see it hanging over my "new" table!

"New" table.  Actually, this table is a fun story.  I found it on CL but did not like the legs that were on it although the top is lovely.  (Yes, I know you cannot really see it.  Sorry)  Initially I thought I could just replace the legs and when I started to look at prices I decided against that.  So, I found another table on CL that I loved the legs on and decided to take a chance to see if they would fit.

Sidenote: that is how I met Meme, my new friend.....she too blogs and you can find her here http://thescreamingmeme.blogspot.com/.  Very neat lady....talented AND fun!  *Bonus*

Anyway, I bought her table and figured out how to retrofit the legs and now I LOVE my table too.  The benches were made by a local carpenter.....aren't they fab?  Now I have to decide on paint colors and get going!  Any suggestions?

(yes, the chairs are hideous but let's not focus on that now....I have something else in mind....just gotta find them!  Come on Craigslist!)  But don't you love my new rug....Tuesday Morning, Baby!

Another CL find.  I will not even tell you what I paid for this amazi55ng mirror!  The picture does not do it justice so I promise I will cover it again later.  It is an antique and the frame is completely carved wood. Stunning.....I am thinking maybe an aged whitewash finish.....(Don't mind the lady in the mirror....hehe)

One more "lovely" before I wrap this tour up.  This chunky frame is spectacular!  You know the drill....found it on CL....25 bucks, girls!  She may be getting a makeover soon but will be the showcase for some of my vintage white plates. 

Check out http://www.allplatehangers.com/  if you are creating a plate gallery.  The only way to hang plates, I tell ya!

So, there you have it.  This room spells POTENTIAL in my heart......but, unfortunately right now it screams WORK in my head!

I'll keep you posted.......stand by for the unveiling!

Blessings Abundant!