I can’t believe I am starting on the One Room Challenge again. I haven’t done it for a few years but this time I thought I would join in the fun and craziness of transforming a room in just six short weeks. So here we go….
This blog has been on a little stall. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen that my dad passed away in September after a very short cancer fight. We just had three short months between his diagnosis and when he passed away. My mom and I are moving forward together and I am at peace but the amount of things that must be done when someone passes away is astounding. It’s almost a full time job.
We’ve waded through all the paperwork and have just one more appointment with Social Security (worse than the DMV). So, I need this ORC to kick start me back into blog land because decorating and blogging is such a stress reliever for me. Right now, painting and decorating is such an outlet for me.
So, what room am I going to do?
This is the dining room set that was left by the previous homeowners. I put up a poll on Instragram on whether I should paint this set or start from scratch. Although 75% of people said I should paint it, so many had such strong feelings about not painting it. I ended up deciding (for now) that I am going to do a little hybrid. I am going to paint the table, keep the two arm chairs for a future project, and donate the china cabinet and side chairs.
First, let me share my inspiration photo with you.
I first saw the photo of this room posted on Instagram and I immediately became obsessed. I tracked it down and found the photos were provided by Haven In of this Beautiful French Chateau.
Isn’t it just gorgeous? Obviously, a room like this is filled with incredible pieces that unfortunately, are way out of my price range. However, if you know me and have been around here a while…you know I’m all about getting the look for less and working with what you have. A beautiful home doesn’t require a huge budget…just a lot of creativity and some hard work.
So what is my plan? What is my budget?
I plan to not spend more than $1,000 on this dining room. In fact, I’m aiming to come in much less than that but I am accounting for surprises. I would love to give you a handy list of every single item I’m putting in my room. But I don’t work that way. I have to feel what is the right thing while I’m doing the room.
I think it is part of the creative process for me. To not really know what is coming next. I know it when I see it. I also do so much DIY that it is hard to link products here from the start because I will literally be re-working almost everything that goes into this room (except for lighting). I don’t mess with electricity. 🙂
I hope you follow along on this journey! I’ll have a lot more to share next week.
Be sure to check out all the participants for this season of the ORC! There are going to be so many amazing rooms!!!!
One Room Challenge Guest Participants
I am so sorry to learn about about your dad. I will say a prayer for you and your mom.
I am also excited to see what you’re going to do with the dining room. I know it will be amazing!
Looking forward to following along with you. You could paint just the base of the table and leave the top intact or I wonder what it would look like to strip it down to get the lighter color of your inspiration photo? So many possibilities : )
Nancy, my deepest sympathy in the loss of your dear Dad. Hold on to the precious memories that you have of him as they just become more precious as the days go by.
What a nice picture of you and your Dad as he walked you down the aisle at your wedding. Nancy, you are so beautiful and you have such a loving heart.
Glad that you are doing the One Room Challenge with your dining room. It’s going to be a lot of work — and fun! When you are finished, it’s going to look beautiful, I know! You always do such a great job with everything you do. I admire you!
That French Chateau dining room is quite the room! It’s nice but, as you say, pricey too! I know you will have no problem applying many of these ideas in your dining room and will be so happy that it didn’t cost you a million!
I am getting to love the French Country décor more and more. It’s just so nice and peaceful to look at and takes your thoughts back to a great place in time. Going to France is definitely on my bucket list! (My hubby, not so much!) I think he’s afraid that I might buy too much furniture!
Nice that the dining suite was left for you. Nancy, I’m wondering if the china cabinet is separate from the buffet? If so, I’m sure you could do a fabulous job of painting it and using it somewhere! Then, you can give the china cabinet away. Just thinking!
I have always loved that little ornate chest that you have. It’s so cute!
Nice to see you enjoying your home. Your home looks so beautiful. You have done such a nice job of decorating it. It always takes a little while once you move to a new home. For me, I have to live in it for awhile and then move the furniture exactly where it looks best. As I have said, Nancy, you have done a fabulous job with all your décor in your new home. You are so good at giving us all your wonderful ideas!
So happy that you moved away from Amelia Island. It’s not easy living with hurricanes when you are by the water!
I will keep you and your dear Mom in my thoughts and prayers. Bless you both in a very special way and may you feel God’s comforting arms around you at this difficult time.
First, I am so sorry to read about your father. May his memory be a blessing to you all as you walk through your grief.
Your dining room plan looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m excited to see how this will come together.
This is an amazing room and I can’t WAIT to see what you do with it! You are such an inspiration.
Your dad would be proud.
KariAnne