It’s hard to believe that 2011 is almost over! I still have lots of projects I’d like to get done before the end of the year, but in all honesty, I know that when turkey day is over I’ll be lucky to have time to sleep let alone squeeze out another diy project. I was looking around my home while vacuuming the other day; and maybe it’s the time of year but I’m feeling really grateful. I’m grateful that I started this blog last fall and that I started blogging regularly in January of this year. You all keep me inspired and make the process of making my house a home even more enjoyable. So, thank you for coming here to read my random thoughts! I’m truly grateful for the simple joys this blog has unexpectedly brought into my life and for the new friends I’ve made! Virtual hugs to all of you! Ok- enough mush.
My favorite project of the year is the stenciled wall in my dining room!
In fact, the House of Fifty feature is still the highlight of this little blog’s year too! I love that wall! I’m so glad I found that awesome stencil and that my original plan to use it on the ceiling didn’t work out. Big props for plan B!
I realized that many of you weren’t here when this little blog started so you have no idea just how far this dining room has come. It has definitely come a long way since the day we moved in over a year and half ago. I thought for all the newbies here you might enjoy a little trip down memory lane. It’s fun to see how a room evolves. Don’t you think? I don’t have a true before pic but you’ll get the idea.
I took down the wallpaper we inherited from the previous owners. It was not fun. That alone made a huge difference.
This old dining room set was a hand me down. It was never really our style. We craig’s listed the china cabinet and buffet.
The table and chairs were given a black and white makeover, and were then moved into our eat-in kitchen.
We pulled out the white wall to wall carpet.
Then we stained the sub floor.
In October of last year, this room looked like this after I painted the walls Waverly Cafe Cream and brought in our old kitchen table (World Market- years ago). Kristin even featured the original makeover of this room.
Then in January I switched out this rug for a natural fiber option and brought in an old dresser (that we already had) to use as a sideboard.
In February I stenciled the wall and painted the ceiling.
I also styled a new vignette with an easy diy chalkboard project.
With my trusty hot glue gun I added some trim to the curtain panels and rehung them using my pinch and clip method.
Then in June, I found a new dresser to use as a sideboard at a local consignment shop.
I also found some new lamps at Target.
You can also see from the above photo that we had black bamboo floors laid. These were done back in March of this year.
Cleaning out the garage this summer I found some bling and added it to the chandy.
Then early in October, I spent way too much time rearranging the gallery wall.
And now we’ve come full circle and you’ve seen how we went from this……
to this.
Some of you already know that I’ve recently made a minor tweak in here. I was craving some stripes in my life.
Oh, and I needed some leopard too!
I haven’t taken a new full room shot yet because of this situation.
Ummm……yeah that would be the stain left by a bottle of olive oil that my hub spilled on the rug. Ahhh, the life of a diy’er. After I stopped hyperventilating, I started doing a little of this.
Hopefully, I’ll have some good news for you soon! Like I always say, it’s a journey not a destination.
So there you go that’s the evolution of our dining room which is clearly not completely evolved yet.
I have to say a huge thank you once again to Janell and Lakeitha! Having my stenciled wall featured in the fall issue of House of Fifty was seriously one of the highlights of the year for me!
I’m linking up over at Rene’s Room by Room party! Everyone is invited so come on over to party! Has your dining room gone through an evolution? What was your favorite diy project of 2011?
Linking up here:
The room looks great! I'd love to know how the rug painting turns out. I have a similar rug in my dining room, with similar stains.