Now that the One Room Challenge Spring edition has ended, I am already missing the rush and excitement…….and the FUN of putting together a whole room in 6 weeks and blogging about the process each week.
It was something that I had to look forward to, and since the big reveal last Thursday, may 8th I am finding that I am ready for another challenge
I think I am going for the Fall edition of the One Room Challenge coming up on October 2nd. I am leaning towards re-doing the old worn kitchen in my design studio. Pretty ambitious, but I think I can pull it off. I think I may have shared this kitchen with y’all in the past, but here it is again.
Yep, someone painted the cabinets red! Which is not a bad color for kitchen cabinetry, but the paint job is really bad! It needs a lot of help!
Because it is a rental property, I will have to get really creative with doing it on a really tight budget. I am planning to purchase the property soon, so everything has to be done with property value in mind. We will see. I will announce my decision in the coming months
Well, enough about my ambitious goal for the next One Room Challenge. Today’s post is all about sharing some of the sources and secrets of the dining room makeover. It is a really long one, so brace yourselves
As I mentioned, I am leasing this old Victorian cottage as my design studio, so any improvements to it has to make financial sense. Needless to say I had an impossible budget to work with.
I started with a lot of pieces that I already owned which was obviously great for my budget. A lot of the pieces are also from my “to-the-trade” vendors, which means that you need to purchase them through a designer or an architect.
Here’s the mood board I presented on week 2 showing the pieces planned for the room.
The Sources
A few of these sources are retailers where you can purchase these items yourself. Some of the sources are to-the-trade
The paint color is Benjamin Moore Silver Chain 1472.
Let’s start with the pieces I already owned:
- The adjustable height dining room table is from Stanley Furniture
- The drum table is from Stanley Furniture
- The Bench is from Wholesale Interiors
- The skirted chairs are from Restoration Hardware
- The French cane back chair is from Restoration Hardware
- The faux orchid arrangement is from NDI
- The place setting (Can’t quite remember, I’ve had them forever)
- The sunburst mirror and most of the plates on the wall (I’ve had these forever)
- The cow art is an original done by my daughter, Courtney and framed in an Ikea frame
- The abstract art and landscape art are from Paragon
- The twigs are from Melrose International
- The demijohn bottles are from Pier One. They are also available at World Market
The other pieces:
- The blue sideboard is from Joss and Main but it is a Safavieh piece that I paid less for
- The console behind the bench is a custom piece made from scrap wood by my carpenter and then I had a skirt made by my seamstress. The fabric of the skirt is from Kravet (Sorry, I don’t have a link but I think a similar version is available on Tonic Living)
- The drapery fabric is from FabricGuru and was custom made by my workroom
- The drapery hardware is from House Parts
- The area rug is from Surya
- The yellow pillows are custom made by my workroom; the fabric is left over from the table skirt fabric
- The pillows on the bench (3 of them) are from Ballard Designs
- The faux bois pillows in the chairs are custom made by my workroom; fabric is from Hobby Lobby
- The small striped pillows in the chairs are also custom made by my workroom; fabric is from placemats I picked up at HomeGoods
- The napkins are custom made by my workroom; fabric from Hobby Lobby
- the ornate frame with the wreath inside is from Hobby Lobby
- The small green plates on the wall are from Goodwill
- The lamp, pig, some plates on the wall, teapots, frame are from HomeGoods
- The preserved boxwood topiaries and wreaths are from Bella Marie
- The yellow ginger jars and the artichoke tealights are from Global Views
- the Chandelier is from Ikea
- The yellow throw is from HomeGoods
- The white ceramic garden stool is from Ross
- The carousel horse is from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child
I think that’s everything. Let me know if I missed anything.
The Secrets
It is crazy how much can go wrong with a looming deadline. When I am working with a client I am sure to factor in time for minor mishaps and changes, so this rarely happens with projects for my clients. But the ORC is 6 weeks and I knew that going in.
Here are a few blunders along the way
- While the paint was going on, it looked like Lilac and I honestly freaked out a little bit. But then I remember the advice I give my clients: trust me, and wait till it’s done to decide. Sure as ever, it turned out to be the color I picked. I think the original puke green paint may have affected the way the color went on.
- The ginger jars showed up and I freaked a bit because they were wider than I expected. I think in the rush of ordering it I only paid attention to the height which was perfect. There was no time to order something else, so I made it work, but I wish that they were just a tad smaller
- The topiaries were slightly shorter than I wanted, but I needed them a bit taller to hide the thermostat (yep, there is a thermostat behind one of the topiaries), I simply propped them up on a couple of decorative boxes I had laying around. Problem is the boxes were a coppery color – the solution – gluing grasscloth wallpaper samples around the visible edges.
- I literally shot the room myself the night before the big reveal. I had arranged to have a professional photographer but at the last minute had to cancel because I was still waiting on some finishing touches
- My seamstress literally delivered the last few pillows right before I shot the room
- My camera was majorly acting up and my seamstress literally came to the rescue and helped me out with her camera. She even took a few shots for me while I tended to my son (see below)
- My son was accidentally locked out of the house, so I had to rush home to get him in the middle of styling the room. He was at the neighbors playing with their cat. By the time we got back to the studio he started experiencing some severe allergic reactions (face swelling, eyes watering, itching, tongue swelling), apparently to the cat. I had to rush to the pharmacy across the street to get Benadryl STAT! It seemed to help except now he was super drowsy. I had to cut the shoot short to take him home. My doTERRA oils helped to ensure a restful night and took away the symptoms. So yep, the big reveal almost didn’t happen.
The One Room Challenge was a lot of fun and Yes, I am ready for the next one!
Here are a few more photos for your viewing pleasure
Thanks for stopping by to check out the sources and secrets of this adventure called the One Room Challenge. Please let me know if I forgot to mention any of the items from the room.
If you need interior design help, I offer a Mail Order Decorator service anywhere in the United States, in addition to my local Interior Design service in the Houston area. Please use the contact form in my side bar, leave me a comment below or email me here if you have questions or need help.
Wishing you a marvelous Monday!
Be Inspired!
In spite of the fact you had a few bloopers along the way, everything turned out awesome and how cool that you were able to use a few of the things you already owned!
Thanks Robin! Those were indeed a few bloopers!
Cat allergies are no joke. If you don’t already have an epipen, you need to get one.
Scott is right. Having an epi-pen on hand with severe allergies can save your life.
That room is SO inviting!!! Love it!!!
Thank you Loretta! I should host an intimate dinner soon and really enjoy it
I love that every time I get a glimpse at this room through a different post- I find something new that I love! My newest “love it” piece is the candle holders!
That’s so sweet of you! I’m glad you are finding things to love. Thank you Carly
I am amazed at how designers can put all of these decorations and colors together and make the room WOW… I do not have this talent…
Thanks Aimee! I’m sure you’ve got talents that I absolutely don’t. That what makes each of us unique!
Seems like you had a happy end. I am glad for you
I love the images, great job.
Thank you Dov!
Despite those issues, you pulled off an amazing room. I know I said it before, but I really love those colors.
Thank so much Krystyn. It was a close call
I love reading your blog. Your designs are always inspiring me to updating the look of my home.
Thanks Maria. I am happy that you find inspiration here
Really happy with how the one room challenge went! The end result is breathtakingly amazing! I can understand how you must be craving for another challenge already lol The kitchen cabinet looks really good in the picture and I would not have known the paint job was bad if you hadn’t mentioned it! Will have to see what you do with that room! Excited!!!
Thanks Marielle! I don’t mind red, but too strong a look for what I’m going for. I’m totally going for the next one. Lol
I love the idea of having the cabinets painted red. I’ve been thinking about having a red kitchen for a long time.
I don’t mind red in general but too strong for the look I’m going for.
I do hope you choose to do the one room challenge for the kitchen. It’s so much fun following you each week to see what you have done!
I like your articles. They are full of information and we learn new things. I like how you arranged the room. It’s something that I will use myself around the house!
Love the info and ideas you share. Very nice. Gave me several ideas to use.
I always freak out about paint colors as they are going on the walls too. We have had a couple of colors that looked really bad when dry – especially a golden color for a bathroom that turned out bright orange!
Just looked at the reveal post. You did an amazing job on the dining room! I’m going to take a look at some of the sources you mention — maybe it will inspire me to redo a room in my own home. A couple could use it!
When I first saw the red cabinets I was thinking that I had to be clueless if a designer thought those looked top notch lol. I was thankful to read you felt the paint job was bad too.
You are so talented. Love your beautiful designs!!
The garden stool is my favorite and I want my pig to hang out with your pig.
Those were some crazy last minute goings-on there, but I’m so glad it worked out well. It’s really beautiful!
You are so creative! It looks so cozy!
That horse is a great statement piece. YOu did a great job at pulling all the colors and textures together.
It sounds like everything came together right at the last minute, just like it was supposed to do. And it’s just lovely!
I know I said this last week already but it is just so beautiful! I love the paint color and I’d love to try it out in a room in my house.
Absolutely beautiful! It’s crazy to hear about some of the mishaps you had along the way and little blunders here and there, but you did an amazing job! Everything has come together beautifully and you should be very proud! I hope you do the fall challenge because it’s been great tuning in every week to this one!
Each room turned out so beautiful! You’re so amazing! The color combination, décor, just everything looks wonderfully done!
I love the colors and the finished product! I also love how you wrote about the blunders…life just isn’t life without them! They always make for a great story!
It’s absolutely beautiful!!! I LOVE the idea of couches/benches for dining!
Even though you had a few bloopers along the way, I still think it turned out awesome!
I love your mood board! The teals and yellows together!
I love it! The colors are just perfect and inviting, and I love the comfy chairs around the table. They make me want to sit there with a drink and just chat away the hours.
I really love all those rooms, they look like the perfect places to relax in! I really admire you taking on all of these room chalanges.
I have loved reading the posts about this project. This one is great too – getting the inside scoop makes me feel like i could do this at my house too.
I adore what you have done with that room! I want to enjoy a glass of Moscato at that table with my girlfriend. So cozy and stylish!
I actually love those red kitchen cabinets. Wish I could be so brave to do that in my home, LOL. I love your room. Those candles really caught my eye and I would love some of them.
When’s the dinner party? Looks like a great room for family and friends.
Looks like a great room for entertaining and color scheme is great.
I just love your taste and thank you for sharing where you got your items.
It looks so calm and cozy. I love the colors you chose!
You are so very talented! I just love all your choices from colors to fabrics and more!
That’s so cool that you used a sample board to put all this together from what you had to what you purchased.
Well it would seem in spite of the fact you had a few bloopers along the way, everything turned out amazing and how cool that you were able to use a few of the things you already owned! Job well done.
I love everything you did. I’d really like to see the Fall edition of the One Room Challenge.
Despite the blunders, you managed to do an incredible job. The room is beautiful. I love the color choices.
Everytime I see your work I just wish I had your talent you make things look wonderful x
I’ll have to remember your tip about paint colors. I’ve freaked out a few times myself! You did such a fabulous job!
That dining room is absolutely gorgeous! It is something I would love to have once my kids grow up. I can see them smearing food all over those gorgeous cushions as they are now. But wow it is gorgeous! Amber E.
I really loved the finished dining room! Great to see the changes slowly revealed!
That rocking horse is pretty cool; it’s an insanely beautiful room.
I am shocked that I actually like the red cabinets, I know it is a bad paint job but from the photo you can not see that. Make sure since it is a rental you want to buy, you do not improve so much you push the price up a lot. I had a friend that was allowed to remodel a rental home and when she finally got financing together, her landlord raised the price of the house based on her remodel job – it was a legal nightmare in the end.
Thanks for raising such a great point Jennifer because I honestly never thought of that. Your friend’s landlord could use a lesson in integrity.
As a designer it is instinctive to want to make things look pretty. I will need to talk this over with my landlord and get something legal in place to cover myself. Thanks again!
Everything looks great!! Even with a few bumps in the road you made it – and with such grace! Great job!
I’m not usually a big fan of yellow but you really made the color work!
It looks terrific! The color combinations are bright and inviting.
I am loving the color palette for your mood board! I have been into that mustardy color lately too!
I actually love the red cabinets and the horse of course:)
I love the color theme and prints. The drapery definitely has my heart!
Nicely done! I like the colors you used throughout the room, very well balanced
I really love it! Love the colors, the mood of the room, the horse. Love it all.
The wooden horse adds a splash of character to the room.
After all is done you’ve managed to give everything a nice clean comfortable look Veronica, nice job
It came out so great–I wish someone would take a look at my home. We’ve done a lot but I need a push to make it over-the-top.
Thank you all for your great comments!
I love all the pillows and the curtains. You have some interesting chairs in a dining room too. Love the way it all comes together.
I love how that room turned out. As an interior design student, I am soaking in all your teachings!
That is such a gorgeous room! I really love the pillows, they’re spring-like without being too pastel.
Well, as usual, it looks stunning! Can’t believe you all those last minute freak out moments – I’d be out of energy and need a long rest after all of that.
I like the behind the scenes look. It gives me the sense of the pressure to perform. Nice job as always.
I really enjoyed following your challenge. You are an amazing and talented interior designer. Can’t wait to discover your next project. Good luck with your purchase decision!
I like the way you were able to overcome the various setbacks you encountered.
I like all the collections you put together in the mood board. I wouldn’t mind getting the white couch.
LOL! It seems like there were a lot of hiccups along the way, but the room came out beautiful! I’m glad you had your essential oils handy- I LOVE Doterra oils!
That drape fabric is so to-the-minute. I love it! The whole project is just awesome, as usual
I love love love the color scheme you used. That blue is beautiful!
I’ve never heard of an adjustable height dining room table, what a cool idea!
I love that you’re choosing unique pieces and adding a masterpiece from your daughter. Definitely adds a special touch to the whole look!
I LOVE your decorating style, but my kids would have a field day with ruining these looks!! sighhhhh
I love the chairs you have sitting at the table. Seriously love them. You always amaze me with the choices you throw together! Well done here!
It is amazing what you have done with the room! It looks geourgeous!