One Room Challenge Dining Room Reveal

Cheers! I’m so excited to share my One Room Challenge Dining Room with you!!!! The renovation portion was totally completed during this Spring’s One Room Challenge and then a few hiccups with styling caused a delay in the reveal, but better late than never! lol!  You can get really detailed info on the project by clicking the links to the week’s topics below! If you’re new to the project, we turned a 2 season covered porch in to a full on 4 season dining room and we’re pretty thrilled with the results! We needed a dining room because this past fall we turned the dining room into our new kitchen! Ok let’s get right into the rrrrrreveal of my One Room Challenge Dining Room! woohoo!

6 Week One Room Challenge Dining Room Recap!

week 1: Exterior Renovation

Week 2: Interior Renovation and Trim Plans

Week 3: The Tablescape Debate

Week 4: Trim Installation

Week 5: Chandelier and Paint

Use the Space You Have Instead of An Addition

One of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned when renovating is to use the space that you have instead of building an addition. An addition is incredibly costly. Instead of blowing your budget on an addition, what if you get creative with the space you have? You’ll save tons of money and in my experience you’ll love the projects more because they honour the home, but allow you to put your stamp on them, and let your creativity shine.

We considered an addition when we first bought the house. We thought maybe we could live here for a long time and save up and then add a modern greenhouse type of glass space on the back that could be a kitchen etc. Then I thought no. Why spend that money? This house has a ton of space, the space just needs to be rethought.

The previous owners only used this space as a hangout in the summer months and thought that it wasn’t possible to fully insulate it year round. It had a door which they sealed up permanently and put a couch against it. They kept a treadmill in the front of the space. Here is a view from their original dining room, into the covered porch. Isn’t it crazy what you can do with a space if you think the spaces through on their own and not as a reflection of what the spaces have been traditionally?

Original View From Dining Room into the Porch

Same View through our New Kitchen into the Dining Room

 

DIY Plant Shelves

Corbels

As you can see in the photos above the spaces originally had an exterior window between them. We decided to take the window out to make the spaces feel more connected. To add a focal point to both spaces we installed shelves inside the window. The shelves are made from antique salvaged corbels. They actually match the corbels we used to make our laundry room shelf in the Farmhouse Salvaged Laundry Room renovation which we just revealed! 

Shelves

The shelves themselves are made from a quartz sill that was left over from our airy modern feminine bathroom renovation. You could also use marble sills and that would be stunning! 

Plants from Anna’s Flowers

As soon the shelves were installed, (putting shelves in the window was an idea that my friend Cori gave me…have to give credit where credit is due!) I knew they needed to have plants on them. I love the life that they bring to the space. I found these plants and succulents at Anna Flowers. Anna’s Flowers is the cutest place on earth for gardening and home decor in my town and worth a drive to the county for. I love how the pots that they sell all flow together so well. I want to add a shelf to the bottom sill as well…bring on the plants!

I had no clue how to take care of plants and especially succulents and the owner Frank took the time to explain in depth how to grow them and what kind of light they need and you know what….I totally have kept these babies alive for months now…they are growing so well, so don’t be intimidated at all! 

Dining Room Lighting

Oh my gosh lighting is SO important…I can’t even tell you how it elevates a space. Honestly, if you’re bored with your home or just feeling kind of “meh” about it, then change up your lights!! All of the lights in my home are from Lighting Connection. They have such a gorgeous selection and they do an amazing job at stocking a ton of knock-offs and steals, so that any budget can knock it out of the park with their lighting.

How I Choose Lighting

In my Week 5 One Room Challenge post, I shared how I make my lighting decisions using Photoshop, and shared about 15 lights that were contenders for this space.

I am so beyond happy with the final choice that I made. I knew that I wanted a light that I had not seen anywhere. I wanted to make my own statement and this was the perfect light. I’m really happy with peoples reactions to it…it’s always so fun to have something super unique. I also love love love the way it the Saltwater Chandelier ties in the blue/green of the kitchen island colour so well.

Lighting Connection Saltwater Chandelier

When I’m looking for a light I want something with texture. I love how the Saltwater chandelier’s thick, chunky beach glass contrasts again the soft glow of the light. It’s so damn romantic and yet airy, modern, and feminine… the definition of my style!! I love the contrast of the soft glass against the brick! So dreamy!

Lighting Connection Fremont Sconce

We also had a sconce which was an original exterior light to replace. I loved the original light but it didn’t fit with the new style of the space, so it’s carefully saved for when we need it.  I am obsessed with the Fremont Sconce from Lighting Connection that I chose for the dining room. I love the glass against the brick, it’s such a beautiful juxtaposition. I also love the size!

Size Matters (I know so cheesy…but it’s so true with lighting!)

One of my tricks when buying lighting is to always check the dimensions not just rely on photos. Photos online don’t give you any scale for the light. A light might be huge and awesome and a great price compared to the others, but you can’t tell because all the pictures are scaled the same. Lighting images are really deceiving. It’s awesome if they have a photo in a space, but most of the time they don’t. Always check the measurements when you’re searching for a light. 

Tabletop and My Skyros Designs Dinnerware Choice!

I could not reveal a dining room without having a new dinnerware to set endless fancy tablescapes from right?! Ok so glad you agree! You know what? I didn’t have a registry for my wedding. We were renovating, so we asked for money to go towards the renos. However, the experience of picking heirloom dinnerware for my family completely fulfilled what I imagined picking out dream pieces for a registry would be like. You have to go to the Skyros Designs site and scroll through the collections and see which one speaks to you…it’s SO fun!  Do it and pretend you’re doing a registry and then just get them for yourself because you’re a grown ass woman or man who deserves all the fanciness right?!  lol…so dreamy!

Do you remember I was picking between two Skyros Designs collections in my Week 3 One Room Challenge Post? I loved how you guys shared which set you thought I should go with! You all know me so well! Ok I can’t wait to share any longer! I chose the Villa Beleza and it’s absolutely divine!

Villa Beleza by Skyros Designs

I chose the Villa Beleza collection because the dishes literally feel like if Hermes, Tory Burch, and Chanel had a baby it would look like these dishes! Oh my god I LOVE them!!! They are 100% stoneware handcrafted in Portugal by ceramicists. Stoneware means that you can put any of the pieces in the oven to 500 degrees and then literally put them in the freezer too. So you can be all top chef Michelin star restaurant fancy and warm your dishes, and freeze your salad plates…you know how they do that…I love that!

You know how you go to Paris for cheese and wine, and Italy for shoes?…well you go to Portugal for Ceramics. I went to Portugal when I lived in France for a year in university and I was just in awe of the ceramics. I had literally no money, so I bought some address numbers with the date of the year that I was there. I am so lucky to have this set now. Obrigada Skyros for making the most beautiful ceramics I have ever seen and bringing them here for us have.

In this shot below you can see I set up two different place settings to show you and help me decide on which look I wanted. I set a place setting with the charger, dinner, salad, and bread plate. I also tried another look where I layered a napkin between the dinner and the charger and didn’t use the bread plate. I love both looks. You could also set your bread plate up and to the side of your place setting. There are so many layering options. If you look at the collection you can also layer the Villa Beleza in lapis blue into the setting!

I ultimately chose to use the charger, dinner, and salad plate for this tablescape. Which do you guys prefer?

Glassware by Skyros Designs

ummm did I mention Skyros makes mouth blown glassware?…cause they do!! K I don’t even know where to begin because the glassware collection that I chose has a hand stamped monogram on every piece. Like if you’re coming to my house you’re drinking from a “B” piece of glassware. (My last name is Biggley;)) Pretty much has blown my mind. Since the day we got the monogramed glasses I have not drank from anything other than the champagne flute. I kid you not. I am drinking from it right now. It’s the glass to end all glasses. I just pour club soda in it at any time of the day and it’s the best thing ever. I wish I was lying. So not lying. Obsessed.

The barcart is styled with the Legado Champagne Flutes sitting on a Villa Beleza Charger, the Eternity Hurricane as an ice bucket, the Eternity Pitcher as a flower vase, the Legado Double Old Fashioned glasses on a charger, and the piece that started my collection over two years ago the Historia Cake Stand…which I highly recommend…it’s in almost all of my shoots…seriously! We also have the Legado Balloon Wine glasses on our table.

The Legado Balloon Wine glass is perfect for wine but it’s also perfect for serving beer in like you would get a Stella when you’re in a restaurant…guys have loved them as a beer glass. (Guys like to be fancy too…people always ask me how I have all these flamboyant details like Flamingos in my house and it’s because guys like to be stylish too. Matt’s friends will come over and look around and say, “I wish my wife was into this stuff”…so don’t be afraid of your husbands…they like to feel fancy too! I swear!)

Momeni Rugs Area Rug

Oh my goodness we just need a moment of silence for this Momeni Rugs stunner. It called the Anatolia. I can’t believe what a focal point it becomes in the space. The floors are painted white which would not have been ideal with chairs dragging over them, so I knew that I needed a rug to cover the space. I searched the universe and found this game changer! It fits the space so perfectly it was meant to be. My rug is the 8 x 10. It’s so soft and well made. I recently used 4 Isabella Momeni Rugs Runners to create a runner on my staircase and you can see that project here.

Grid Wall

The last detail I added to the space was this gallery wall or grid wall from Sarah Swanson. I first found Sarah years ago and used 4 of her prints in my last home. I also have two in my current family room hanging from the sconces. I became obsessed with her work and I was so excited when suddenly it hit me how I was going to lighten and brighten the exposed brick wall!! Sarah’s paintings feel so peaceful and elegant and just amazing…I can’t describe the style that they add to a room.

I actually was going to do three columns here, but at the last second I realized it wouldn’t fit with the little amount of brick that would be left showing, so I narrowed it down to 6 paintings. It’s so hard….she has so many good ones! You need to follow her blog and Instagram….so much inspo it’s just so inspiring. Sarah’s Instagram is literally one of my top 3 favourite feeds and has been since I first got on Instagram.

Metrie Trim

I have to draw your attention to the Metrie trim work. In week 2 I shared our trim plans and then I shared the full installation and every detail of the trim install and specific profiles we used in week 4. There are tons of photos!  The trim is such a huge component in this space. From the crown below the windows acting as a mantle/window sill, to the architrave above them and the multiple layers on the ceiling (crown, then chair rail, then panel mould)…it all makes this space feel like a true extension of our home and no longer a porch. Trim is what makes this space feel elevated and enchanting. I hope you’ll take a look in the wide angle shots of the room for the trim work…it’s truly the most beautiful detail and I’m so lucky to work with Metrie.

If you are building or renovating, I highly recommend looking at their Fashion Forward Scene II collection. It’s stunning. The baseboard is to die for! it’s what we used in the dining room and I’m just in love.

Our Contractor and Window Supplier

Thank you to our contractor, Mike Breault, from Top Notch Construction. If you followed my Instagram story you saw that he supplied our windows, installed them, installed the trim work, and came up against two million hurdles with this space and cleared every one of them with ease. I can’t wait to work with him on a new project! Can’t say enough good things about Mike Breault and we’re so lucky to have him!

Vicki Bartel Photographer (A.K.A. the Magic Maker)

Gahhh I just love Vicki Bartel and working with her! Her work just leaves me speechless every damn time! We actually have big plans for our next collaborations…like BIG!

CJH Florals

Cori Heer from CJH Florals is amazing and whipped these blooms up from her….wait for it…Garden. Yup that’s how she rolls. Boom! If you’re having a wedding you just need her. It’s a fact. Love her.

Ok Photo BOMB time!! With Some Before and After Action!

 

That’s my fav pic…the last one…had to end on it!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the One Room Challenge Reveals if you haven’t!!

Ok what do you guys think? I’m dying to hear your thoughts!!

Shop the Post