Before & After: Dining/Living!
To kick off this fabulous Friday (oh how I love Fridays!!) I thought I’d share the latest happenings at Walnut & Ivory homestead!
This is the living area before, with the previous owner’s furniture…
And this is after a few ‘afters’ since I moved in, as I’ve now moved my dining table here as well! The walls are ‘Limed White’ Dulux and the back of my bookcases I painted ‘Pebbledash’ Nippon for extra depth and focus! I’ve also joined up to the leaning mirrors bandwagon which in my opinion works better when you have such heavy mirrors!
I decided that I should be arranging my house as to what works best for us, not how it ’should’ be. So I have used this large area as a living and dining as we simply don’t need so much space!
Please note the gorgeous round pedestal table and adorable chairs! These were my latest find from the thrift shop as I had been on the hunt for a round table for a while! In the spirit of a true DIYer, I was far too excited to remember to take a before picture so I had to hunt one down on the net. This is the closest I could find, the whole set was in the baltic pine colour of the top of the table..
I busted out my trusty spraypaint and only required a primer and top coat and they were ready to go! I also picked up some cute ‘ducks egg’ cushions to make them a little more comfortable… Here is the after!
I’m so pleased with the cosy ‘country farmhouse’ feel it has. I still do intend to sand down the top and stain it more a walnut tone, because MY NEW HARDWOOD FLOORS ARE COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. Sorry, a little excited there.
More pictures? Sure!
The blanket box found it’s way out of our bedroom, it’s just too nice to keep hidden away! A little seating area for reading…
My very first ‘tablescape’. I went for a simple country theme to match the dining setting.
My own DIY cloche I made from upturning a cheap vase and a little wooden cheeseboard!
Beautiful wine glasses were an engagement present from my parents…
I love the detail of these little lanterns, they were on special at Spotlight a while ago, I wish I had have bought more! Love lanterns!!
I’m really pleased with how the dining set turned out. Just how I had imagined, which is always a good thing!
I’m lovin that tulips are in season, found these pretty pink ones at the supermarket!
This is another before from a different angle… It’s amazing how dark the space felt looking back now!
And after!
Please excuse the hulking air-con, I’m afraid it’s a necessity in Australia!
So that’s the new arrangement, I think it works better for us and I have always felt that a dining room should have lots of natural light, whereas the corner it was tucked into before just wasn’t providing it. As much as I would love a huge window in my office, I don’t particularly need one as I have lots of pretty things to look at on my computer (such as all your lovely inspiring blogs!!) 
Thank you to those who have joined up to follow my process, it means a lot and inspires me to keep making the most of my home! Much love!!
Linked to SomewhatSimple! and A Soft Place!
Posted in Before & After, Dining Room, Living Room, Lounge Room
April 30th, 2010 at 11:12 am
It’s gorgeous!! I love the airy and sophisticated feel of this room! I think that vase turned cloche is a great idea…so pretty! Thanks for sharing all your hard work and creativity with us all.
Hugs,
Victoria
April 30th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Looks BRILLIANT. I love your blog, its so inspirational!!
Can’t wait to see the floors.
Rachael
April 30th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Awesome transformation! I’m about to post pics of my living room (hopefully tonight sometime) and would love your thoughts. I really like the flow your home has, everyhting works so well together.
Kristine
xx
May 1st, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Absolutely gorgeous! I seriously had to go back and make sure I was looking at the same room as the ‘before’! I just want to sit right down and enjoy that great space.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving me your nice comment.
May 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
I just love how light it feels. You did a great job!
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Dear Samantha, thank you so much for your sweet comment!!! I’m in love with your living room!!! You did a fantastic job, it’s so cosy!!!
I’m a new follower!!! and now I’m off to read all your others amazing “before and afters!!!”
Have a nice week!
Hugs!
Mara
May 5th, 2010 at 2:24 am
This is totally beautiful, thanks for linking to my party. FYI I am planning on featuring this tomorrow.
I am so impressed with what you did!
p.s. If you would like to have any other projects featured email me the links to your posts, and I will try to show them off.
May 5th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Thanks for dropping in and for the feature, very much appreciated!!
xx
May 6th, 2010 at 1:15 am
Heavenly! I love it!
May 6th, 2010 at 1:45 am
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m in awe!
May 6th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Hi Samantha…saw this over at Remodelaholic and loved to find another Australian! You’ve done such a great job..well done you!
May 6th, 2010 at 10:03 am
That is stunning! Such a huge, beautiful transformation. Great job.
May 6th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Just found you through Remodelaholic, I’m in Australia too, I’ve just moved home from 10yrs in London, and have been struggling with making my newish house a home. It’s great to see what you’ve been able to achieve. I look forward to seeing more.
PS: Don’t we love Spotlight?
May 6th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
It was too beautiful not to share so I posted about it this morning. Hope you don’t mind. I have linked back to you. I still can’t stop looking at it. There are so many beautiful things.
May 7th, 2010 at 4:49 am
Wow this is amazing and very awe inspiring. I just rearranged my shared bedroom (shared with my 3 month old) I cannot wait until we have a bigger place so he can have his own room. I am going to do my bedroom in a similar country style and you gave me lots of ideas!
May 7th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Thank you Fawn for featuring me, of course I don’t mind!! Glad you liked it
May 7th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Spotlight is the bom diggity!! Thanks for visiting
May 7th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Wht can’t I have this kind of talent! Oh my gosh! This is incredible! I just love it!
May 10th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Wow, this is a beautiful transformation!
May 12th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Your table turned out GREAT! Your home is AMAZING! It’s so light and airy! You have done a wonderful job! Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us! Such an inspiration!
June 29th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Hi Sam
I have recently bought a similar round pine dining table and am about to take the plunge and paint it white, do you have any suggestions on how I can ensure it turns out a success?
I absolutely love your house, it’s so beautiful. You are very talented and as an inspiring interior decorator and am very inspired by your transformations.
Sarah