dining room makeover

I didn't get great before pics (I didn't even think of it til after I'd started taking it apart to paint).

I'm a girl who likes pink and was thrilled when we bought this house and the dining room was pink.  Mike would never have allowed ME to paint it pink.  So I enjoyed it for 4 years (and even looking at these pics, I did like it, it was fun) but I'd decided I was just done with dark pink.  It felt too overstimulating in a time of life when I could use more of a calming effect.  I've debated for years about what color to change it to but never could really come up with anything. Then I found curtains at a consignment shop near the river house and decided to use them for my inspiration and starting point.  The curtains looked great with the wall color of the main room at the river house (Benjamin Moore Bleeker Beige), so I kept it simple and went with that.

BEFORE:

My parents came to my rescue last Wednesday.  After Tuesday went down in the crazy way it did (a whole other story), I just needed them!  So they came early Wed morning.  I went back to bed after they got here.  My dad got busy to work, finishing my dining room.  It was 3/4th painted so he finished that and then hung my curtain rods (I had no idea that takes so long!).  Mom ironed and hung my curtains.  I was proud of myself b/c the curtains are made with a "rod pocket" at the top but I don't really love that pleated look so I bought rod clips and used those instead for a neater look.  (And you don't really notice the rod pocket stitching from afar.)

AFTER:

I'd been wanting a white mirror for that room to make it brighter.  Mom found this one at a consignment shop in L'ville ($30) and painted it white for me.

We moved the kids table to a different corner and hung green ribbon on the wall for Peter's art work :)!  I love it!  (I might paint the kids' table and chairs at some point?) 

We also moved this piece of furniture to a different corner against the kitchen wall (Mom's idea).  I never would have thought it would work there and always had it on an "outside" wall.  I love it in this corner b/c its size is sorta hidden and so the room feels more open.

final corner close up:

Here's the whole room...

(I might eventually do something to the chandelier (white or bronze, like the curtain rods) but for now, I'm done.

Here's the price rundown...

One set of curtains: $45 at consignment shop (they were NEW)

Second set of curtains: $5 (!!!) on ebay, $10 shipping (also NEW)

Rods and clips: $25 per window from WalMart

Can of paint: $30-35 (?)

New Mirror: $30 (Mom paid)

Total: $140