Oh my goodness it’s week 4 and the part in the One Room Challenge where the stress really outweighs the fun, and it’s hard to believe the dining room will ever be finished! I’m in HELL trying to finalize a few furniture details. I hate how hard it is to make decisions and feeling rushed makes me even more indecisive. (hand hitting face emoji, laugh cry emoji! lol!)
If you’re new to our dining room get caught up on the week 1 exterior renovation, week 2 new windows and trim plan, and week 3 tablescape debate!
What We’ve Tackled So Far!
On the BRIGHT side the trim is up and almost finished and has made this space feel incredible and it’s so far from the afterthought it was. The space was cold before and only used in the summer and for storage. Now we’ve insulated the crawl space below, replaced the windows, removed an unsightly door to nowhere, insulated the walls, caulked the ceiling between each tongue and groove and it’s feeling amazing!
Trim Details and Progress
I’m so lucky to have partnered with Metrie on the trim. Our trim work has made this space feel elevated, and enchanting (and like a real legit room!)…the magic is starting!
You can see in the pic below that the original windows were flush with the wall and we needed to build them out with jams and we made a much deeper sill!
We took out the old yuck door to nowhere and replaced all of the windows and used an LVL beam so that we would have no posts between the new windows. We switched the windows from double hung to casement and added grills! 
We added a much larger window sill and an architrave above the windows. AND we built out the window jams which is my favourite detail! 
We added a huge and stunning crown moulding that matches the crown moulding in our living room and family room.
We added the most amazing baseboard. I told Matt that this baseboard makes me want to build an entire new house because I love it so much! 
We added a crown moulding below the sill. This part has been super tricky because the walls are at different depths and things aren’t square and we had to cut down the crown from the ceiling to use for the detail and we still have some finagling to do. 
We still have some trim ceiling details, which are being added today, and a quarter round shoe mould for the baseboard.
Top Notch Construction
I actually can’t believe how much work it takes to make this space feel like a true additional room in our home…thank you so much to our contractor Mike Breault from Top Notch Construction for being so professional and solving all the crazy issues when your house is from 1886 and not one wall is plumb, and helping me meet these One Room Challenge deadlines!
So What Else?
Matt has to continue caulking everything, so that it can be painted. Holy crap he has so much to do…eeek!
Once it’s painted, we’ll hang our chandelier and sconce….( but first brick work needs to be repaired because a brick was broken when rewiring the knob and tube (F!!! so crappy!)
Furniture!
Then, if I ever make any final decisions about the furnishings I’ll install them at 1am before the reveal…and that’s a big “IF“! Are you guys wondering what my vision is for the space is?! I know I have a lot to share on that!!
Thank You!
Thank you again to Metrie for rocking the trim which is making our dilapitated porch into an enchanted private dining room!! woohoooo! Almost there!
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the One Room Challenge participant progress!
It’s coming along so beautifully! I love those deep window sills. They really seem to add like a sort of grandeur (grandness? Idk…) to the room. Now you have me thinking where I could widen my window sills…
Oh thank you! Yes it makes such a difference eh? Makes it feel more like a pinterest picture and I wouldn’t have known why I liked a photo but now I’ll realize it’s because the sills are really built out.
thanks so much for the comment! If you find a place that would be so fun! Especially do it, if you ever need to replace some windows 😉 xo
These windows are really amazing!!! And I love that you left the brick. This room is going to be stunning!!
Thank you, so glad you like the brick, it’s one of my fav parts! Thanks for the encouragement!
It has all of those elements that will make it a fabulous room. It’s the perfect size to add coziness, deep window sills, character filled brick wall, wood ceiling, lots of natural light. With such great bones and detail how can you go wrong. Putting it all together with furniture and accessories should come easy because the room will dictate what goes in there. Just keep it simple, comfortable, cozy and pretty with a few antique elements. I can’t wait.
That’s amazing advice! The space can’t fit much that’s for sure. Can’t wait to try entertaining in there and see what people think! Thanks for the amazing vote of confidence!!