Thanks to everyone who commented on our can light installation post yesterday! Now for a true before and after, here is the before shot of our dining room ceiling:
And here’s the after!
The new lighting in this room inspired me to dust some shelves and rearrange some accessories over the past couple of days. Since I haven’t posted many photos of our dining room on the blog in the past, here’s a little tour.
My back is to the kitchen doorway in this shot, looking to the north. Beyond the dining room is our living room, and Yes our Christmas tree is still up! It’s not bad unless it’s still up on Valentine’s Day, right? 
We love our dining room table and chairs. They were purchased separately, but I think the set goes together really well.
I got everything for our centerpiece on sale at one point or another. The runner is from Pottery Barn several years ago, the succulents, which are growing like crazy, were on sale at Lowes at the end of the season, the pots and wooden leaf tray are from a thrift store, and the gold tray I found yesterday at Hobby Lobby – you’d better believe I had my 40% off coupon!
This is probably the most colorful room in our house. It was the first room we painted, the first (RED) light fixture we installed, and the first furniture we bought, but we still love it!
The world map was another thrift store find that I removed from its icky frame and attached to a cork board. We’re planning to use it as our world travel map. I added the first pins this morning.
I’m thinking I’ll color code the pins at some point, but right now the four pins you see are all places Stephen and I have been together. (I’m sure there are more, but I’ll have to have Stephen remind me where they should go.) What I’d like to do eventually is have four different colors of pins – one color for trips together, one for places I’ve been, one for Stephen’s trips, and one color for trips we WANT to take!
I’m thrilled because we’re going to be adding a “together” pin to right side of this board this spring!
Looking towards the other side of the dining room, the other large piece of furniture is a hutch my dad made for us as a wedding gift. What can I say, he’s a talented guy!!
We like to keep our 6th dining chair on this wall so the walkway through the dining room is kept clear. We actually have two more of these dining chairs for additional seating, but we use one in our entryway and one at Stephen’s desk when they’re not needed.
The crazy orange arrangement on top of the hutch is our previous table centerpiece. I love how it turned out, but you can probably imagine it is hard to have a conversation around when it’s sitting on the table!
Do you remember when I found this globe on a trip to Mountain Home? The niche in our hutch turned out to be the perfect place to display it. I added some travel books and champagne glasses to the top niche and that little H was another sale at Hobby Lobby find.
This is my favorite little fruit bowl. It currently holds all the snacks that came in a Christmas gift basket (thanks Smith family!) along with a fun red liner. When I use it for fruit, I take out the liner and you get to see all the pretty white ceramic ruffles around the edges of the bowl.
To the right of the hutch is a mini bar cart Stephen got me for Christmas. He remembered me admiring it while we were out shopping one day – 1000 points for paying attention! 
We keep most of our barware in the china cabinet, but the top of this cart is just big enough to hold a few bottles of liquor and some cocktail napkins, and there’s still enough room to mix drinks.
And on that note, we end our tour!
I hope you have enjoyed seeing our dining room. Like most of the other rooms in our house, there are still things on the to-do list. In the next few months, I’d like to add some trip photos to the world map wall (have you picked up on the Travel theme in this room?) and get an area rug for under the table.
Further on down the line, we’ll be replacing the flooring in the dining room and the rest of the house, and then this room will finally get its baseboards back!
I’m pleased with how everything is turning out though, and I can’t wait to continue on this remodeling, DIYing, decorating adventure we call homeownership! Thanks for reading!
Linking to:
Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Meredith, your dining room looks fantastic! I love all of the color and warmth. I’m so glad I came across your blog. I’m a new follower!
I like your dining room and am in love with your light! I like all things mid century modern.
Your dining room is beautiful! Love you ideas and use of color. Blessings!
I’m totally loving your dining room!! You’ve done such a great job of injecting personality and color without going too far. And I’ve secretly been wanting a world map for our travels . . . so cool that you have one. And by the way, your dad is my hero – I can’t believe he MADE that hutch! It’s just gorgeous! There are too many fun things to compliment you on in one comment so I’ll leave it at that, but it’s just great.
Awww, you all know how to make a girl feel good! Thanks Jena, Lisa, Shannon, and Liz!
Love your dining room! I like the splash of color from the table runner and your old orange centerpiece is cool – did you make that? And I love your travel map! Great idea. Plus your dad is one talented dude. What’s up with the flooring that makes you want to change it – it looks like hardwood, is it laminate?
Hey Samantha! Thank you!
I made the orange centerpiece that’s now on top of the hutch a few years ago. It’s a white vase from Michael’s with river rocks in the bottom, some sticks of ting-ting (the curly brown stuff) in the center, and orange berry branches (I can’t remember what they’re called) on the edges. The berry branches were a total score – I got them at a craft store that was going out of business.
The flooring is laminate and would be fine for now, but when we took out the wall between our dining room and kitchen, it left a 6″ wide gap in the laminate where you can see the concrete slab. We’ve looked for the laminate to match/ patch, but haven’t found it yet. It’s fine for now, but we’ll probably replace it soon with a slightly darker tone… not to mention I’d like wood in our adjoining living room eventually!
Wow, your dining room is spectacular!! I absolutely adore that light fixture, so amazing.
Thanks Alicia – it’s a Kartell fixture we found at a modern furniture store after months of looking!
Ohmygosh! GORGEOUS room!!!! I’m obsessed with your table and runner! and the can lights make the room so much brighter! Good eye for design! <3
xoXOxo
jenn
great room. I love the dining table and chair set and your dad is one talented cookie with some wood. That hutch is to die for.
Loving the travel map and the theme you have going on.
I cannot believe your dad made that hutch! That is amazing. The room looks great. I love the extra lighting from the recessed lights.
Found you through j-a-girl and I’m glad I did! =]
I can honestly say you made my jaw drop. Your room is gorgeous!!
Your dining room looks gorgous! I would have never thought of a travel themed dining room but you pulled it off perfectly. I love the tray on your table – I wish there was a Hobby Lobby where I live. Thanks for the beautiful inspiration!
I’m definitely going to have to pass the compliments on our hutch along to my dad! Thanks for all the sweet remarks on our dining room. Let me know if you’re interested in a source list for any of our other decor!
Your dining room looks marvelous, very spacious and love the touch of orange. Great idea about the map…Christine
Awesome room! I love the Baileys too!!
machelle
Yum Baileys!
I didn’t know if anyone would actually pay attention to what was on our bar cart – it’s a pretty weird combo at the moment haha!
Wow, I’m loving your colors and sense of style! So glad I stumbled upon your blog. I will now be reading more of your entries!
Thanks Erin! That’s one of the highest compliments a blogger can receive – for another blogger to want to keep on reading.
I love your room! I love the pops of orange you have around the room. How lucky to have a furniture maker in the family! My dad is pretty handy and is recruited for my projects probably much more than he would like. great tour, thanks!
Your dining room is lovely!
What a pretty room. Your dad did a fantastic job on the hutch. I really like your rich paint color.
Thanks Kim. It’s Mocha Syrup by Valspar, in case you were interested!
Wow, I love your dining room! The colors, the details, the linens, the furniture…it all blends beautifully together. Great job and thanks for sharing!
-Desiree
Looks AMAZING, Mer!!!! It has come together so nicely!!
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I have the exact tray! I bought it from Target when their Christmas clearance was 75% off. It was only $7! Great dining room by the way! Saw your post about using a flat sheet as curtains.. definitely going to try that.
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Love the dining room. I wish Pottery Barn still had that runner! BTW, I have the twin to your globe! : )
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Looks awesome…I especially love the travel theme. Maps, globes etc. are some of my favorite decorating elements. I also, want to know more than ever what your paint color is. Thanks agsin for sharing!
Hi MrsOgg,
The dining room paint color is actually just a shade darker than our kitchen on the paint swatch. Mocha Syrup by Valspar, I believe!
Just stumbled across your blog and love what you did with the room! Can I ask where you got the dining table and chairs. The table is exactly what i’m looking for. Job well done!
Hi Lindy,
Thanks for the comment on our dining room!
Our dining table is from Ashley furniture and was about $400 3 years ago, if I remember correctly. It’s most similar to this one (http://www.ashleyfurniture.com/Showroom/Showroom.aspx?PageId=Showroom&CategoryID=10&ItemNo=D551-35&SetDomTab=1&SeriesNo=D551&CollectionId=&style=&PageNumber=1&IsClicked=1&CatPageNumber=4) and is 6.5 feet long when the leaf is in.
The chairs were purchased separately at IO-Metro in Fayetteville, AR. Here’s a link: http://www.io-metro.com/ic280frm.asp?prodno=662CROWNIV&SelectedWebCat=DINE
I stalked that store for months until they had the whitest chairs in stock (their dye lots vary sometimes). The chairs are super comfortable and easy to clean for being white.
Hope that helps!
Meredith
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That hutch honestly kills me. Your dad MADE it? ho-ly mo-ly. It’s gorgeous.
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