We’ve lived in our house for (almost) four years now, and it’s finally starting to feel like home. Although we did some quick fixes when we first moved in with new flooring, paint, and some kitchen renovations, we knew in our minds that it was all just a temporary coverup until we were ready to dedicate the funds and time to doing what we really wanted with the space.
A few months ago, we decided to finally just go for it. A few (dozen) trips to Lowe’s and Home Depot later, we now have a finished kitchen and dining room, with the living room not too far behind! I’m excited to share the before-during-and after of our spaces here – starting with room #1: the dining room.
*Cue “Started from the bottom now we’re here”
Here’s how our dining room looked when we first bought the house. The previous owners were using it as some sort of strange sun room/den combination. That extra long cable really ties the space together, no?
We immediately ripped out that awkward bannister and Luke installed new laminate flooring throughout the entire house literally a week after we moved in because neither of us could stand the sight of the dated thin plank hardwoods. We painted and bought a few accessories (red metal chairs and “EAT” sign) to make the place feel a bit more like home. It was decent for what it was, but the flooring was cheap and the paint color and decor were never exactly what I had envisioned for the space.
And now, the AFTER. We repainted (again) and Luke installed gorgeous chocolate brown hardwood floors and made custom trim. We replaced the red metal chairs with this distressed copper set, added a bar cart that was gifted to me from my in-laws last Christmas, and purchased art from Society6 to give the room some added character.
Vase – Target | Table – Handmade | EAT Letters – Hobby Lobby | Chairs – Amazon
Light Fixture – Lowes
Bar Cart – Gifted | Artwork – Society6 | Candle Holder – Target
Black Metal Pumpkin – Target | Cake Stand – Target | Match Holder – Beulah’s General Store
Plant Hanger – Urban Outfitters | Wooden Utensils – Thrifted
We’re still in the process of building one last piece to use as a wallhanging (stay tuned for a fun DIY project!), but I’m absolutely loving the way this room turned out. Not to mention I’ve kept that plant alive for a solid 3 months which is basically a record for me. If that’s not something to celebrate, I’m not sure what is!
Which room of your house is your favorite? Follow along with our home projects, decorations, and renovations on Instagram using #GillsEdenEstate.
