The finished room
When we moved into our house, almost 5 years ago, the dining room had cream walls, cream carpet, the original pink vertical blinds, and a brass light fixture. We didn’t own any dining room furniture, except the antique hutch that we found in my mother in law’s garage (waiting to be refinished).
The picture of the dining room from the real estate brochure.
(Water spots and all!)
The room sat empty for about a month and then my partner in crime (my sister this time) came up with a plan. First, we sat at her kitchen table thumbing through every Pottery Barn Catalog we could find for inspiration. At the time I was thinking, “Who keeps all of their Pottery Barn catalogs?” I know better now, thanks to my older and wiser sister. We found a beautiful dining room that I just loved, a light fixture that was simple, and velvet drapes. The wall color was a gorgeous wheat color. This was it, inspiration found!
Pottery Barn Catalog
Pottery Barn Catalog
Now for the second step of the plan. Keep in mind that this was five years ago… She had heard of this little website called “Craigslist” that I might be able to find some furniture on. I had never heard of it before, so this was all new to me. We found a listing for a buffet for $50 and it wasn’t too far from our neighborhood. I piled six kids into my car, which left her car open for furniture. Oh, the things we’ll do for a deal. I ended up paying only $40 for the buffet. I got it home and immediately started priming it and painting it black, like my Pottery Barn inspiration pictures. 
The next day we found a dining table and chairs on that same little old website. I paid $80 for the table and the six lovely leopard print chairs. The table and chairs were in really bad shape. I knew sanding and refinishing would not be a great option, so out came the paint cans again. I painted the chairs and base of the table black, to match the buffet. I was hoping for a nice dark wood color for the top of the table, to match the antique hutch. Since that wasn’t going to happen, I opted for a crackled paint finish with a brown glaze over the top. I don’t think crackle would be my first choice now, but five years ago it was the thing to do.
The walls got a coat of Applesauce Cake paint from Lowes. The chairs got new fabric in the same wheat tone. Velvet drapes from Lowes and a $79 light fixture make it look almost as good as my inspiration pictures. Five years ago this was going to be my temporary dining furniture, until I could afford to buy a real set.
I still can’t believe how similar the chairs are to the inspiration picture!
Lessons learned:
Black paint is a good thing.
Save your Pottery Barn Catalogs.
That little old website called “Craigslist” is now my BFF!
Listen to your older and wiser sister.
Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in.html
The Comments
kim
You did and outstanding job on a limited budget and got the look of the over priced Pottery Barn. Good job!!
Diane at Perfectly Imperfect Life
I'd never actually seen the inspiration pictures. Good job capturing the PB room.
Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria
Outstanding my friend…thanks for sharing this…hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
harvey
Great blog. Very useful information on dining room furniture. Good job.
Cheryl
Love your dining room. I would never have known you did it all on a budget.
Stacie@HobbitDoor
Too fun! You did a great job finding pieces that look like your inspiration ones! You have to love Craigslist!
Jessi
Your dining room looks amazing! Very, very nice job. And yes–I keep all of my PB catalogs and thumb through them all the time for ideas!
Molly @ A Bit O' Shine
Wow, wow, and WOW. That is so beautiful! I'm just going to sit and stare at it a while it's so dreamy.
Chrissy @ Home.Kids.Life.
It looks amazing! It looks like it's out of the catalog! Great job!
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage
Wow I love that!!!
Stephanie Lynn
Your room is stunning! You've done a great job creating such a warm and cozy feel. Love the color palette.
Jami
So nice! I've been looking for at least 2 years for a dining set on Craigslist and I've never seen a set like that for $80, no matter what condition it's in. $80 sets where I live are all the oak or pine faux farm tables with the bow-back chairs…there must be a million of them. 🙂
One Cheap B*tch
Wow! Your dining room really looks like it's fresh out of a PB catalog. Nicely done! Coming over My Backyard Eden – new follower!
Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures
I really like your dining room. My bedroom is wheat walls and black furniture. I like the look. You did good. Kudos to your sister too.
Closet Crafter
Beautiful room. Makes me want to make over something too!
Lanie Ree
So pretty! I love your table runner, too.
Thank you for linking this to A Little Craft Therapy, with Life in the Pitts.
michelle@somedaycrafts
Oohhh! So pretty! I love the buffet table! Thanks for linking up at Someday Crafts!
Emily {Frilly Details}
Wow, you guys are good!! What an incredible looking room.
fawnda
I heart craig's list too! Your room turned out fantastic! Great work! : ) I love the paint color!
Joy
That's so great! Looks like a farmhouse retreat! Very beautiful!!!
Kristi
LOVE your DR!! And I love CL as well! You did a fantastic job! Can't wait to look around for more of your projects! 🙂
Kristi
Kim
Wow! What a lovely Dining Room Becca! You really captured the essence of your inspirational picture from PB! Great job. Btw, I do a weekly series on Craig's List on my blog. I'm a CL addict and most of the furnishings in my home are from CL! HA!
xoxo,
Kim
kuestermom
love your room! where did you get your scones or lanterns? i am looking for some to put on either side of my mirror in my dinning room. thanks! love your style!
Becca
I bought the sconces through At Home America. The website is online. I don't know if they have them anymore. I recently saw some similar lanterns at my local Safeway (of all places).
Thanks for the nice comments!
Becca
javieth
costa rica investment opportunities is the best option if you are interested to built a house in this beautiful country. Or if you want to buy a house in Costa Rica which have a great dining room, or a great space so this is your opportunity.
Tracy
LOL – I have years worth of PB cattys, all dog earred and flagged with ideas I want to incorporate in my house by season…now I just have to weed through them and start scouring stores for the stuff I can make look PB. I love what you did! Thanks for the inspiration – I am a new follower, your blog is wonderful.
The Little Blog about kids...
Thanks for stopping by my blog. You will never believe this – but I have a photo of a dining room that looks almost exactly room is currently empty). Today I emailed someone on Craigslist that lives in Edmonds – she's selling an all pine dining set just like this that I want to paint black:) – Keep your fingers crossed – I'll need some major pointers on how to get this baby ready – I'm a new follower 🙂
Shawna
I love your dining room. Its so warm and inviting! You really make we want to paint my dining room. lol.
Kymberly Foster Seabolt
I've been too scared to paint my oak "press back" chairs (nothing special c. 1998 Oak Express).
You've inspired me. Thanks!
Looking forward to following you for more!
Ramiro Bowdon NBA BLOG
Thank you to stop my blog. You'll never believe it, but I have a restaurant pictures, it looks almost completely room is currently empty). Today I send mail to someone Craigslist, live in edmonds – she is selling a all pine table is like this, I want to paint black:) – the forefinger and middle finger cross – I need some main Pointers on how to get the baby ready – I am a new followers:)
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