As I mentioned weeks ago, we are (were) simultaneously updating our dining room and remodeling our back bathroom.

Here's the skinny on the dining room:

• It's attached to kitchen in one very open floor plan. However, we've always tried to make the dining room its own space.
• The dining room is enclosed by three walls. Two of which lead to other areas of the house through big openings. Meaning there is actually very little wall space to worry about.
• I've always liked the dinning room. I only have two complaints about it.
• One, the wall separating the dining room from the living room has way too many white things on it like outlets and switches and vents and the thermostat.
• Two, I don't care for the light fixtures. They're gaudy and not my style.

We decided to paint the wall separating the dining room from the living room and put wood on the other two walls. This is a bit of a digression but I thought I'd share how we finally arrived at this decorating decision.

Originally, I wanted to paint the wall with chalkboard paint and line the other two walls with reclaimed wood (an idea I stole from here). But, reclaimed wood is hard to come by and it's hella expensive. We're on a shoe string budget. Like half a shoe string.

Then I wanted to line the walls with pallet wood. You know how pallets are all over Pinterest, right? If you don't, you can check out my reclaimed wood board. Anyway, pulling apart pallets and cleaning them and sanding them turned out to be a lot of work. I don't know if you can tell, but we're pretty lazy when it comes to home improvement. We don't have to a lot of time to invest in labor intensive projects.

Anyway, we painted the wall a lovely shade of Poppy Seed - the same color as the back bathroom.



And we moved the thermostat into the living room. It was pretty easy. Stephen just knocked a hole in the other side of the wall and pushed the wires through. Then we patched up the old hole in the dining room, leaving one less big white thing on the wall.

Like always, I forgot to get a real before picture. However, if you follow my blog, even inconsistently, I am sure you've seen plenty of photos taken in the dining room. We spend a lot of time in this area of the house. Have I mentioned that I like to eat?

But because I could sense that the transformation was going to be so incredibly awesome, I did take some photos of the dining room before we moved forward with the wood on the walls idea.



So then we bought some thin sheets of real cheap wood and Stephen cut them into four inch planks with the help of our friend Steeley, who has apparently been suckered into helping us with all projects lumber related.



And we got to work hanging them. But first, Stephen had me paint a strip of Poppy Seed every four inches along the length of the walls because there is quarter inch gap between each plank. Except it was a wasted effort because we forgot to account for the difference that gap would make as we moved down the wall. Just goes to show that two folks with limited math skills should not attempt challenging home improvement projects at 10 pm while drinking Pabst.



But as always, it ended well. Damn well, if you ask me. I actually think the dining room is my most favorite thing about my house right now. It's so effing cool. And it was hella cheap. Like maybe 70 bucks, although I never add up the total cost of any home improvement projects - it's too scary.



The cardboard buck trophy came from here. I saw it on YHL and gave it to Stephen for Christmas this last year. 'Cause he doesn't have a real one and all.



Our dining table is super old. My mom found it on sale in 2T and it was a deal she couldn't pass up. She bought it as gift for either my college graduation or my engagement to Stephen, whichever came first. And we all know the answer that! I'd like a new one though, preferably with a white top and industrial looking legs made out of rebar or something else metal.

We intentionally have a mix of chairs - I don't like matched items. The bench (that you can't really see) is from Cost Plus. The blue chair came from my grandparent's garage. And Stephen borrowed the other chair from the University of Montana. I guess he forgot to return it when we left Missoula.



We spray painted the light fixture and mirror the same steel something or other color. Both were originally gold and red-ish. I also bought three new glass shades with little bubbles in the glass for the light fixture. They're not a perfect fit but we're keeping them.



And that's that. Isn't it awesome? I know, it's like really awesome. I like how it's rustic but not cabin-ish, if that makes sense. Of course, now I want a new kitchen in...wait for it...white! We stained the kitchen cabinets red a few years ago but it's not holding up as well I as would like. Plus, the red doesn't jive with the new wood walls. It's not neutral enough, in my opinion.

But all that is beside the point! This post is about my dining room and I love my dining room. Like I could marry it kind of love. I hope you like it, too. Feel free to copy it. Imitation is the sincerest from of flattery!