Thank you so much for participating in the reader survey. I learned so much about you. You are kind and intelligent women looking for some down to earth and inspiring ways to refresh your home without breaking the bank.
Dining Room Chairs
We share our time between a rental home outside of Boston (my husband works nearby) and the home we own in Maine that I blog about. Some of you asked to see some pictures of our rental house. Well you asked and today I am delivering a tour of our dining room. We’ve moved three times over the last four years, so trying to make each new place feel like home has been somewhat of a challenge. Our last house we lived in had white woodwork and pretty gray walls. This house we are in now has a lot of dark wood trim and textured walls. It almost has a lake house retreat feeling. If you know what I mean? It has an open floor plan, so I’ve been trying to create a cohesive space. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. One of my solutions was to recover the dining room chairs. I’ve always wanted to try reupholstering a simple dining room chair.
It’s just as easy as it looks. I used a houndstooth fabric in chocolate brown. It bought it from House Fabric. It was only $9.95/yard. and they shipped it quickly.
I was happy with the end result and I got to use a staple gun and power drill which is always a plus.
I bought the curtains at Target. They are not really curtains. They are 84 inch table cloths. I used drapery clips (affiliate link) to hang them.
I used old Anthropologie catalogs and a butterfly punch to make the framed butterfly specimen.
This cabinet had really dated wooden and brass handles. The screw holes were not standard so I had a hard time finding replacement handles. Finally I found some that worked. They were $10.00 a piece, but they made the cabinet look so much better.
I have it filled with my collection of colorful mid century dishes.
I’m using a small antique cupboard as a bar for the time being. I think it works.
So that is the dining room at our rental house. It is a totally different look than the dining room in our coastal Maine home. This dining room gets us through the work week dinners until we can get home to the bay.
I’ve just returned from the Haven Conference. It was a great experience. I learned lots and made new friends. I will share a few highlights from the trip later this week. I also have a trash to treasure post to share. Right now I have to do laundry and catch up around here.
Very inspiring, Mary! You make me feel like I could do over my own dining room. I love the butterfly art!
I didn’t know you had two homes to take care of. It was so fun meeting you at Haven!! Yes, now back to the real world.
You have inspired me to try recovering my own dining chairs as the fabric on mine is 32 years old and tired-looking and faded. Your dining room is lovely.
It was so great meeting you Mary!….I am enjoying seeing your “other home”…the dining room is wonderful and I love the butterfly art that you made….how very creative!!!
Thanks so much for the tour of your rental house dining room. You have added so many pretty touches without spending a lot of money …very clever ideas that you shared with us…thanks!
I love your butterfly art! It was great to meet you at Haven. We had so much fun and we can’t wait till next year. Have a great week!
Cheers!
Mary – thought I would peak at your blog but I couldn’t stop. Your pictures are fab along with the way you write. You had me at Bay! Your blog is great, I’ll be following! All the best Maven sister!
How fun to have 2 homes to decorate! I keep telling my hubby I need another house so I can keep hoarding — I mean shopping! Can’t wait to see those Maine sunsets!
Kelly
Oh Mary, how lovely! I’m a huge fan of houndstooth, so I am drawn to your new dining room chair fabric. The drapery/tablecloths coordinate so well. I’m glad to know about that trick!! And I am in love with your butterfly art! Creative indeed! So blessed to meet you at Haven!
A very elegant room, Mary. You did a fantastic job on the chairs. Love the butterfly collection – so very imaginative!
Poppy
Love it. I like the curtain idea. I’m struggling to find what I’m looking for in ready-mades, but I haven’t tried looking at tableclothes yet.
Wow! Really inspiring. I was also thinking about decorating my dining room. You have done a great job. It looks simple yet elegant. I really loved the butterflies.