{before and after: my diy panelled walls}

If you guessed from my post yesterday that my little project had something to do with our living and dining room walls you were right on! This was one of our summer projects that we took on this year and I am loving the difference it has made to the space. I am a big fan of architectural details and in a 1986 little suburban rancher, those kinda details are usually nowhere to be found! So we took a couple of plain and boring adjacent walls:

And turned them into this!

Much more interesting to look at don't you think? Here's how we did it:

We started by literally drawing the lines onto the walls with a pencil. This way we could measure not once, not twice, but 3 times to be sure, plus we could get a sense of the scale to see if we liked it! This can be done with a large scale level but we were lucky enough to be able to use this nifty laser level {thanks to my cousin Ryan for his laser and perfect measuring skills! I'm sure something like this laser can be rented as well}:

We used inexpensive strips of MDF and began to cut the pieces to create the grid pattern, with the longest stripes running vertically. Here you can see the two adjacent walls in the living and dining room that got this treatment; a nice way to tie the two rooms together!

Phew! The laser double checks our measurements were correct!

Then it was time to thoroughly sand every nail hole and joint between the MDF strips.

Which created a bit of a snow storm in the house, what a mess!!

After sanding we filled the nail holes and joints with filler and sanded a second time {painful}. We also caulked around the spaces between the MDF boards and the wall so NO cracks would be visible! Let's just say patience is a virtue.

We created a little ledge with extra molding in this cut-out portion of the wall {we cut this part of the wall to open up the space between the kitchen and living room: aka so we could see the TV while eating dinner!}.

And finally it was time to slather on the paint! We used Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace, a nice warm white. So again, the place went from this:

To bright and visually interesting!

Oh, and did I forget to mention 2 years later I FINALLY got dining room chairs?? Those of you who have been following know that it's been quite a struggle for me, I scored these for $200 a pop at HomeSense.

A small recap on how this room looked before we moved in:

And after:

All in all, I'm really happy with how the project turned out, and panelling like this does not have to be pricey! For the cost of the MDF, a can of paint, a heavy dose of perseverance, and rental of a saw, laser level, and nail gun {unless you already have these tools!} it's possible to add classic and eye-catching architectural details to any space.

Have you got any home DIY projects on the go? I'd love to hear!

{my dining table}

I am so exciting about a recent addition to my dining room décor! Almost 3 years after moving in, I finally have a dining room table and I love it! I was on the hunt for a small sized round table (as my dining room is not that large), in a dark wood, and with a nice meaty base, here’s an example of a table I had been eyeing from Liberty:

This table was a bit out of my price range so I had to be patient! A couple of years later, this amazing table with similar styling popped up for literally less than 1/3 the price of the one that I had been coveting! Such a great deal…so I say it pays to be patient!! This table is from Sears, and it comes with a leaf to make it a larger oval shape when needed (bonus!):

And just look at the pretty base!

There in the background is our DIY aquarium that I posted about here, and just for fun, (and because everyone loves a good before and after!) here are a couple of before photos of the dining room before we purchased our home:

And now, aaahhh....much better:

We changed the flooring, painted, changed up the light fixtures, added baseboards and of course got rid of those crazy window treatments!

Here’s my little fur baby trying to get in on the picture taking action:

You can see we still have tons to do in here. I have so many plans in my head, but one slow step at a time. I can’t wait to reveal a fully finished dining room to you! Now I need dining chairs, and again I am on the hunt for a specific style, and trying really hard to be patient. Here are some dining rooms with the shape I am lovin’ right now:

via theLennoxx

via Candice Olson Divine Design

The chair I am coveting most:

So yummy right?? The exact chair pictured above is the one I am lusting over, and it is not quite in my budget ($800 and up each, Liberty). There are several comparables, but I am waiting for a better deal to pop up! Here’s what I have found so far:

Restoration Hardware's Martine Chair ($349 and up)

Even Costco is carrying a chair in this lovely shape (and at a very reasonable price, $379 for 2) but if only there were fabric options!!!! Darn! I am dreaming of a velvety charcoal grey.

Has any one come across any similar chairs out there?? Well, for now, I am one step closer to a completed dining room with my yummy new table! Thanks for taking a peek! I'll be linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday's over at Between Naps on the Porch, be sure to head over there for some amazing before and afters!