I’ve never been into formal dining rooms—they always feel a little cold and stuffy to me, and that’s just not my vibe. I’m much more of a casual gal. But I do love having a cozy, inviting spot to enjoy a good meal, play cards, or work on a puzzle with family and friends.
About twenty years ago, our current dining room was actually our only living room. When we added the great room, that space naturally transitioned into the dining area. But honestly, we never truly gave it the attention it needed. It never quite felt like a real dining room—more like an in-between space that was waiting for its moment.
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After years of asking my husband to replace the bay window (it always bothered me because it was so noticeably offset!) with centered French doors, I finally won him over. The timing couldn’t have been better—our new raised garden beds in the front yard (see that post here) practically begged for a beautiful, centered view and easy access. It all just made sense!
The walls in this room had a very heavy texture, and it absolutely had to go! In the rest of the house, I had painstakingly floated and sanded everything to a smooth finish—but this time, I was able to save myself hours of messy work. Instead of resurfacing the walls, I installed shiplap panels to get the clean look I wanted. They were easy to install, budget-friendly, and so much less work. A total trifecta win!
I also knew I wanted built-in cabinets so I could finally display my late grandmother’s china. To create them, I used IKEA Billy bookcases and, with a little extra effort and elbow grease, transformed them into something special. I added top and bottom molding, replaced the original backing with the same shiplap paneling I used on the walls, filled in all the shelf-pin holes, then sanded, caulked, primed, and painted.
Voila— a champagne-style custom look on a beer budget!
The fireplace surround was finished with my favorite product from Portola Paints—this time in the color Jacket. My husband built the gorgeous pine mantel, and I stained it to match the dining table before sealing everything with a matte polyurethane.
I couldn’t be happier with how this project turned out. The room feels so much more cohesive and inviting now, and we’ve been using it more than ever. It’s amazing what a thoughtful refresh can do for a space!
Paint color on cabinets, walls/trim and ceiling is Sherwin Williams 7004-Snowbound
Here are some links if you see something you like:
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