{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!

{before & after: my kitchen reno}

Finally! I've got pictures of my kitchen renovation {that was officially completed this summer} to share with you. We've lived in our home for 4 years now, and it took a while to get this reno complete. Our goal was to freshen up the space on a budget: we want to sell this home in the next couple of years so only a 'mini-reno' was required. We painted our old oak cupboards right before we moved in, but we put up with the disintegrating laminate counters & floral backsplash tiles for far too long!

Before I show you the space all new and improved, I have to show you the befores {it wouldn't be any fun without them, would it?}. Please keep in mind, the photos were taken when the former owner of the home was living here! {We snapped pics on our home-inspection rounds}. Cue the dramatic music ... duh duh duh DUH!

What did I tell you? So, before moving in, we at least changed the floors and painted all cupboards. We got rid of the box lighting above as well.

So we were in a limbo phase for quite some time:

But I still saw this in my face every day:

Not pretty. We knew we had to be patient and save up for new granite counter tops {our only real splurge} so we didn't want to put up a new backsplash until then. We took Tommy Smythe's advice {ate noodles for dinner for a month} and were able to get those shiny new counters :) We did the tiling ourselves after installation and chose an inexpensive subway tile:

My first time tiling and it was a blast!! I love those little spacers :) So, again the BEFORE:

And AFTER:

The eating area:

And now:

I love my new goose neck faucet and soap pump! It's the little things :)

In order to stay on a tight budget, it really had to be a labour of love, but I think it was worth it! We did all the cabinet painting ourselves, laid the backsplash tiles, and kept all the appliances that came with the home. The hardware was all from Lee Valley Tools, the faucet and chandelier from Home Depot, and the only 'big ticket items' were the pot lights and stone counters {though opting for granite was substantially lower than marble}. The artwork is my own painting - my twist on an old vintage poster. And all in all I think we got the best bang for our buck!

{a sneak peek at my kitchen reno}

I am so excited this morning that I just had to share a tiny peek with you! I am finally getting new kitchen counter tops TODAY! We have been wanting new counters ever since we moved in this home over 3 years ago, and they'll be installed this morning :) We {aka hubby} had already painted the oak cabinets white before we moved in, and now along with our counters we will be putting up a new backsplash! So I have been 'counter-less', and even more devastatingly 'sink-less' for a week now... needless to say the Christmas baking has been brought to a screeching hault!

Here's a tiny view of what the former 1986 beige formica counter and backsplash looked like, I'll have a FULL before & after post coming up when everything is done, so stay tuned! Let's just say this kitchen has come a far way from the mid-80's! {Seriously, can you imagine that some one, at one time, picked out this flower backsplash for their kitchen? Wow.}

Can't wait to share my choices and the final results with you. Hope your week has treated you well, it's almost Friday!!

{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!