Live and Dine; Before & After! Party Highlight

I saw these rooms and instantly fell in love!  I love the bright feeling of the dining/living room.  Thanks Samantha over at Walnut and Ivory  for linking up to the party.  Here is what she said

I thought I’d share the latest happenings at Walnut & Ivory homestead!

This is the living area before, with the previous owner’s furniture…

And this is after a few ‘afters’ since I moved in, as I’ve now moved my dining table here as well! The walls are ‘Limed White’ Dulux and the back of my bookcases I painted ‘Pebbledash’ Nippon for extra depth and focus! I’ve also joined up to the leaning mirrors bandwagon which in my opinion works better when you have such heavy mirrors!

I decided that I should be arranging my house as to what works best for us, not how it ’should’ be. So I have used this large area as a living and dining as we simply don’t need so much space!

Please note the gorgeous round pedestal table and adorable chairs! These were my latest find from the thrift shop as I had been on the hunt for a round table for a while! In the spirit of a true DIYer, I was far too excited to remember to take a before picture so I had to hunt one down on the net. This is the closest I could find, the whole set was in the baltic pine colour of the top of the table..

I busted out my trusty spraypaint and only required a primer and top coat and they were ready to go! I also picked up some cute ‘ducks egg’ cushions to make them a little more comfortable… Here is the after!

I’m so pleased with the cosy ‘country farmhouse’ feel it has. I still do intend to sand down the top and stain it more a walnut tone, because MY NEW HARDWOOD FLOORS ARE COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. Sorry, a little excited there.  More pictures? Sure!

The blanket box found it’s way out of our bedroom, it’s just too nice to keep hidden away! A little seating area for reading…

My very first ‘tablescape’. I went for a simple country theme to match the dining setting.

My own DIY cloche I made from upturning a cheap vase and a little wooden cheeseboard!

Beautiful wine glasses were an engagement present from my parents…

I love the detail of these little lanterns, they were on special at Spotlight a while ago,
I wish I had have bought more! Love lanterns!!

I’m really pleased with how the dining set turned out. Just how I had imagined, which is always a good thing!

I’m lovin that tulips are in season, found these pretty pink ones at the supermarket!

This is another before from a different angle… It’s amazing how dark the space felt looking back now!

And after!

Please excuse the hulking air-con, I’m afraid it’s a necessity in Australia!

So that’s the new arrangement, I think it works better for us and I have always felt that a dining room should have lots of natural light, whereas the corner it was tucked into before just wasn’t providing it. As much as I would love a huge window in my office, I don’t particularly need one as I have lots of pretty things to look at on my computer (such as all your lovely inspiring blogs!!) Thank you to those who have joined up to follow my process, it means a lot and inspires me to keep making the most of my home! Much love!!

I love the white furniture!  
What do you think!