I think we all fell in love with the Something’s Gotta Give dining room, with the dark table, beautifully slipcovered chairs, and that wall of white china against the creamy beadboard. Swoonworthy, if anything could be described as that. Now, I wasn’t trying to copy this room completely, but I did have this in mind for the feel and look I wanted in my dining room if I was going to the trouble to repaint and add all that picture molding. And I’m happy to say, I got just the feel I wanted.
I’ll show you a couple of pics of the finished picture molding before I moved the furniture back in place so you can get an idea of the expanse of it and I’ll do another post later, showing the steps I took to do it. Right now I just want to show off the dining room!
Now, I’ll just tell you up front, that the job I did is absolutely NOT perfect by any means. If I showed you all the corners up close and the paint job details, I can guarantee it would not pass inspection by a master carpenter. But, for my needs and wants, it is just FINE. The hardest part is keeping them all the same size and if you put a tape measure to mine, you’d find many discrepancies. But, you know what…when the furniture is all moved back into place, that picture frame molding is merely a backdrop…..
To a lighter and airier paint color and feel in the dining room. I’m in love with it! I don’t think I’ll miss the red at all now. I took these pics at different times of the day and you’ll even see the table set in a couple of them. We had friends over for dinner on Friday night and got to actually enjoy the newly done space. The color looks lighter in many pics because of the sun coming in. It’s a neutral creamy vanilla color, with a hint of yellow/gold. If anyone really wants the paint color, since I used leftover paint from Grandma’s house & the color had been tweaked, I’ll tell you that it’s dead-on with Sherwin Williams Antique White, which is the lightest color on the strip I used in most of our house, the Whole Wheat color strip.
I really love how the mahogany furniture shows up so much better now.
Everything just pops out more.
Of course, the white dishes are more subdued against this color than they were against the red, but I really love the calm feeling they have now. I’m thinking about switching out the mirror for my large botanical print that is now in the living room. I’ll play around with that later.
The accessories are subject to changing and moving around.
And I’m trying out a botanical print up here on top of the china cabinet.
Love these plates that I’ve had for a few years now and they really show up well now on this lighter color.
The toile panels, made 8 years ago by my mom are still a favorite and I don’t plan to retire them anytime soon. It’s true that toile is really a classic. I really, really wanted to paint the ceiling a soft robin’s egg blue, but the man I live with nixed that idea, so I have to come up with another one. He detests light blue paint and since I got my way with the beachy guestroom and bath downstairs, that is going to have to do it for me with the lighter blues. I won’t tell you what he said about light blue paint, since it will offend someone, but just for the record, I’ll not be using light blue paint on the ceilings or anywhere else for that matter. He’s been great about letting me do what I want, so I can’t even argue that one. So, I’m thinking I’ll go with a darker shade of my golden colors, maybe Believeable Buff on the ceiling. What do you think about that??
Other side with the my white dish collection. I need to add a few to this side and I’ve got room for a few more on the wall.
So calming.
These thriftstore birds are a perfect mix with my white dishes.
Table set for company
Corner with an extra chair and my vintage columns. I’d love to find a large architectural fragment for the top of the columns.
This is an accurate shot of the color. You can see how it mixes with Whole Wheat in the adjoining living room and foyer.
See the botanical peeking through on the left there in the living room? That’s what I may put above the sideboard. What do you think about that? I could move the mirror to another spot. See how I turned the corner with the molding?! I was so proud of myself for that one. Like I said though, you can’t look too close. I’m SO glad I did the picture molding. It’s such a nice detail to this room now. Look out…I’ll be adding more of the stuff around here now.
Looking in from the living room.
And peeking across the foyer to the dining room. It’s really amazing how paint changes everything! If you’re contemplating making a paint change, just do it. That’s the easiest way to get an update and you’ll be glad you did. As much as I loved the red, I know I’m going to enjoy this one a lot longer.
As promised, I’ll do a detailed post about how I installed the picture molding. It really wasn’t hard, just a little tedious with the measuring and putting it into place. Totally worth it!
Related Links: Dining Room in Red and the Creamware Collection.
I plan to also do some posts about buying furniture and building the bones of your home, so be on the lookout for future discussions. My motto is to buy the best you can afford when it comes to casegood pieces (wood), whether it be antique or new. Of course, if you’ve been reading my blog very long, you know how I feel about older wood pieces. You can find so many great deals out there on vintage pieces of furniture. So, let’s discuss some of that and I’ll give you some tips on how I shopped for my furniture that I’ve accumulated over the last 20 years. I think I’ve learned a few things I can pass on!
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve got a special guest who will be guest posting for me on Tuesday, so you will not want to miss that either.
Wow…what a difference some paint and molding can make! I am so glad to see this because I am planning to have my DR painted a lighter color as well.
I actually like yours better, Rhoda…it looks real, not artificial…I could go in and sit down and be comfortable. Yes, yours is much the best. It’s the imperfections that make it perfect.
Sandi
WONDEFUL Rhoda…I love the look. I am more of a pastel, neutral type gal so this really appeals to me….
You did a great job, imagine if you do find a saw at one of your yardsales…the sky’s the limit…
Great job, did Peter help much ??
All the best,
Kathy 🙂
Wow….outstanding job, Rhoda!You definately have a talent! I am of the opinion that most of us don’t care whether your carpentry is precise or not….it looks darn good!! I LOVE the calming color and that white on white is amazing! Yet you also have the contrast of the darker furniture….brilliant!
Very soft and elegant Rhoda!
I have to tell you, we tried doing molding at our last house and it wasn’t easy! Don’t be too modest about that. 🙂
Oh, I forgot to say that I think you should at least try the botanical in there. Something tells me it would be beautiful.
It looks beautiful, Rhoda! I especially love that wall with the shelving and white plates. So fresh!
Great job with the moulding work, too!
It looks fabulous Rhoda! That Sherwin Williams Antique White is the color we used all through my old house & kitchen, EXCEPT I had it remixed to Benjamin Moore. I'll be posting the formula soon because it wasn't exactly Sherwin Williams. Love the new look! You are making me antsy to get going on my house (that is, as soon as all my furniture arrives from my old house so I know what I have to work with!)
Lovely!
Melissa
Wonderful job . . . I am so impressed! You are an inspiration on so many levels. I am curious about the monogrammed lamp shades on your buffet lamps: did you make those? If so, please do tell how!
gosh, this is simply gorgeous. I loe all the white, all the stuff, and the dark mirror frame…perfect. thanks for sharing so many beautiful photos.
Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star’s Fault
What a great example of how a paint color can change the whole mood of a room!
The red room was nice and had a warm earthy feeling, while the vanilla color gives the room a calm classy look.
I love the new room is my favorite!
I do think the botanical picture would look great in the dining room. I can see some dark wood framed mirrors above your couch.
~elaine~
What a beautiful job! And don’t change out the mirror….it really should stay. It’s gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. I wish we had white woodwork…it makes any paint look better!
Love it
Gorgeous!
Susan
Your dining room came out gorgeous. Love all of the white. Amazing job. You have me inspired!
Thank you ALL for coming by to see the newly painted DR! So glad you love it too, I can't stop staring at it.
Anon, you were asking about the monogrammed shades & yes, I did those with burlap (my friend did the monogram with her machine). Here's the post about those, as well as a tutorial on how I cover my own shades.
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/2008/07/monograms-and-lampshades.html
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/2008/01/modernizing-vintage-lamp.html
Rhoda, Is your dining room on the 2nd floor of your home? It appears that way in some of the pics. Anyway, love the picture molding that you did and the neutral color scheme. I am just loving all the room I see lately with neutral colors. It makes it so much easier to decorate. You can change your accent color at any time by changing your drapes, accessories, flowers. If I could redo my home I would do it in all neutrals and just pop it with color in the accessories. That’s how I plan to do my bedroom…whenever we finish the kitchen!
Your dining room is absolutely beautiful. I love the wall color with the white dishes, and then the dark furniture. Great job!
Great job, Rhoda! I know you’re going to enjoy it.
XO,
Sheila 🙂
SO gorgeous! You did such an amazing job, I love the calming colors and your dark furniture looks amazing against the light colored walls. The entire room is magazine worthy. Beautiful job!
Can you show us a picture side by side of the mirror and the print? I can’t tell which one I would like better. The mirror looks great but the art would be a nice touch with all the white dishware.
~Michelle
You have completed an amazing piece of art here – love it all. I have been inspired by you to quit relying on my husband to do all of the wood-related projects. I can do this!