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September 18, 2014

Our 1970's House Makeover Part 10: The Dining Room Reveal!

DIY budget dining room makeover ideas. Love this post....so many practical ideas on how to update an outdated house on a budget. A total must-read!
Hey ya'll!
So, the dining room is finally finished. It feels like it took a lifetime to piece together, but nonetheless, it's done. And I'm so excited to finally be able to share all of the little details with you. 
I was tempted to type out a little warning for you, telling you that this is a very long post filled with very weird pictures and very weird stories, but then I realized that my entire blog is that. 

And then I kinda felt like hiding.

But, anyways, enjoy!









So, let's start at the beginning. 
This little 1970's house has been through so many changes over the past four years, and it's so rewarding for me to look back and see how far it's come.

When we first moved in, the upstairs area looked like this.


The house was a two story split-level, and although it was totally dated, I knew it had potential the moment I saw it. The other houses in the area were about twice the cost and half the size, so this house had me excited even though it was stuck in total 1970's overload.
 And although quite a few tried to steer me away from buying an older house, I did it anyways.




Within the first year, I started to make some changes. 
 I really had no idea what I was doing.  
Like almost in a scary way. I remember standing at Home Depot and looking at white spray paint and being like 'Hmmmm...can I just spray this on my trim?'. 
No, Virginia. No, you can not.

So, after a lot of googling, and a lot of standing around confused in the hardware store, I finally got the courage to paint all of the trim in the house. I started in this front part of the house (living room, entryway, dining room, kitchen) and just kind of learned as I went. 
I rationalized that all of this trim would eventually have to come up when we replaced the flooring anyway (which it did), so if I messed it up, it wasn't the end of the world. 




This was around the same time that I found us our first dining room set on Craigslist for $400. In retrospect, it wasn't all that awesome, but at the time I thought it was the best thing ever.
Even though the table was almost as large as the room, and we had to squish around it like eager little sardines.




About 6 months later, I came to terms with the fact that it was just too big, and I decided to sell it on Craigslist and try again.
It sold right away, for about $500, and it was quickly hauled off, leaving an empty pit in our dining room.




This was all around the same time that I had closed my ebay store and had decided to start my blog (which I talked a little bit about during the office makeover), and I was just kind of running on financial fumes....able to get by, but not really able to weather any storms that came my way. Jesse had also recently switched jobs at the time, and although his new job seemed like a great opportunity at first, within the first month, the company had gone under and had stopped paying its employees. So, that was a fun time.


But, sometimes being pushed off the cliff forces you to fly and take that chance that you needed to take all along....which is ultimately how Jesse became a part of the media start up he's been working on for the past two years, and how I ended up pouring every ounce of my energy into this blog. 


So, how does this all relate to the dining room? Well, I've never really explained why our dining room was empty for the entire 2.5 year duration of this blog, and now you know. 
 And although going without a dining room was really annoying, in the grand scheme of things, it really wasn't that big of a deal.
Basically, I've learned that a perfect house is totally irrelevant to my happiness level. I've proven it to myself time and time again. I can make myself miserable and I can make myself happy, and some shiny table or chair or pillow or chotskie has nothing to do with it. 
But that being said, it is nice to have somewhere to sit and eat your macaroni.


And now, before we move on to the new dining room reveal, let me remind you that there was a little blip in the radar about 1.5 years ago when I found this little $50 table on Craigslist.
That's some random guy's garage. 
Mine isn't much better. 
Actually, it's worse. Yep. Definitely worse.



And then I tried to paint it with some homemade gray chalk paint. Which worked out okay, but looked kinda sad.


And then I painted it with some high gloss black oil paint.


And although I kinda liked it black, we never really used it.
Um, because there were no chairs. 


Every now and then I would haul the lonely desk chair in there and pretend like we had chairs, but let's be honest, that sucks.


So, the dining room just got kinda forgotten about for the better part of two years, and instead I focused my energy on the rest of the house. 
And on learning how to blog.


And over time, Jesse's business began to grow, and my blog began to grow, too. And as a result, we were finally able to move forward with some of the ideas and plans we've had for this house since day one.


We started in February by tearing down the wall between the dining room and kitchen.


And also expanding the doorway into the hallway. Knocking down those two walls gave us so much more space, and really opened up the entire first level of the house.


And then we spent several long months installing new raw wood flooring throughout the house.


Then in May we built the new stair rail and I tortured myself trying to paint it with a paint sprayer. We also hung new light fixtures everywhere and painted all of the walls Benjamin Moore Simply White.



And then for remainder of the summer, I mostly traveled with Jesse and tried to recuperate my brain. Just this past month, I finally started inching back into finishing up the small details I had left behind. 
Like switching out the gross old tan outlets with fresh white ones (Okay, fine, Jesse did that part.), and finishing up all of the new trim (which reminded me that I really need a friend who will wear sweatpants and paint with me).
Thank you for making me feel like I already have one. Posting that and seeing your responses not only cracked me up, but also kinda made me cry because I was like 'Look Jesse!! There ARE girls out there like me. I'm not a total freak! It's a miracle!'



And now that all of the laborious little details are finally finished on this main level of the house....
almost 8 months later...


There's finally a functioning dining room that I can eat macaroni in!



Will you jump up and down with me and not be mad if I accidentally laugh-cry on your shoulder and leave snot on your sweatshirt? 
It would mean a lot to me. 



So, let's talk details for a minute. 
The table took me months to find, as I had very specific measurements and a very small budget, and I finally found one I loved at a local salvage store. The chairs are white leather with stainless steel legs from Overstock. I love the little steel legs. They just make everything feel so modern and fresh, which is really nice after the 70's cave of yesteryear.
And mostly, there are multiple chairs. Let's not lose focus on what's really important.

Oh, and the lighting was from Lowe's and the mirrors and accessories are mostly thrift store finds.



Also of note...I moved the lucite chair from the office into the kitchen. Because it's a terrible little chair (kinda like sitting on a fork), but it's got a lot of sass, and I can set my junk all over it when I first come home.



Jesse thinks this is really bizarre, but seems to tolerate it.
Just imagine a similar face as below.
From that one really awkward time we made Mathias take our 'engagement photos' at my grandma's house. Also known as Jesse's least favorite day.


As for other new additions to the the upstairs area, I've made another irrational orchid purchase. 
I feel like most bloggers would just put it there and not feel the need to talk about it. Ever.
But, me? Oh no...I buy orchids. I kill them. I buy them again. I kill them again. And then I buy an even bigger one, and pretend like this time it's gonna be different.
It's a sickness, and I refuse to suffer in darkness.


As for that wall with the mirror (that you can't really see thanks to my promising photography work), it still needs some help. For now, I'm just too depleted. But, I'm thinking eventually...a painting? a gallery wall of plates? 
I'm working on it.
But like not right now.


I may also eventually add a rug, but for now, I'm enjoying not having to clean a rug.


I've also added a few new additions to this little area, like a copper mug, a silver tray for the coffee machine, and some little alphabet magnets that I spray painted silver and gold.


Those magnets are a hot mess, and I love them. I don't know that I'll ever get sick of Jesse leaving me weird messages.


I've also added some little gold scissors to my utensil pot. 
I have nothing else to say about that really, but it seemed noteable.



And then I swapped out the living room pillows with my most favorite ones ever that I found on Etsy. 
I'm thinking of making an additional pair for the bedroom, as they're just black and white striped fabric, cut into four squares on the diagonal and then sewn together. 
Kinda awesome.


I think they may have officially put an end to my compulsive pillow swapping problem. 
I'm probably lying.


I just love that you can see a little pop of them in the background from the dining room.



So, ya'll. That's the dining room (and other things I felt like mentioning). 
I know it's not perfect. And it never will be. 
But, it feels like the glorious finish to a really long marathon that I didn't really train for. Thanks for sticking around to witness me limp through the finish line.
I love ya for it.
'Til next time!
P.S. The other posts in the House Makeover series can be found here:



DIY budget dining room makeover ideas. Love this post! So many practical ideas on how to update an outdated house on a budget. A total must-read!





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92 comments:

  1. Lurve the chrome chairs! And that table has some hot legs. Looks awesome, lady!

    On a completely unrelated cat note, I bought my cats a laser pointer and it's the best thing ever. They love it, but not as much I do. You think Toots and Cheese would like it?!

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    1. Ooooh girl, Toots and Cheese LOVE laser pointers. We discovered that obsession back in the kitten days, and it's been an effective 'Go over there, Cat!' behavioral tool/playtime fun ever since. I'm so glad you got one for your little purrs. Life will never be the same. And thank you!! Muah!

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    2. That is too funny! I am way behind the laser train, then. I'm OBSESSED. It's my new favorite activity.

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    3. Oh yes, it can entertain for days. I should have shared this classified cat information with you years ago. For shame. (Also, my cats will literally chase a laser up the wall. So much skill in such a little body.)

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  2. It all looks fabulous, Virginia! You did a really great job! Congratulations on your accomplishment! :)

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  3. I love your comment on how when you first started DIYing you thought you could spray paint trim. I made so many of those mistakes too.

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  4. V, I swear. You seriously need to come visit my 1970s home and make it better. Please. For high school's sake.

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    1. Heather!!! Oh my gosh, I miss you! 'For high school's sake'!!!! And I've seen a few glimpses into your house....you don't need me, sister. You're good on your own! :)

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  5. I'll jump up and down with you and will not be mad about your snot. Teehee. Love the legs on that table! Thanks for your honesty about how the room came together, us regular folk need reminders that it doesn't always just come together. Btw. I am starting to decorate my rental for the first time (even though I've lived here for 3 yrs) and your blog has become my go to guide on how to do everything. I was showing the guy at home depot your blog and all the paint stuff you recommend on my phone lol. Thank you! You home is gorgeous and your dining room is beautiful!!

    Sarah
    thesloppyperfectionist.blogspot.com

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    1. Aw, thank you, Sarah!!!! That's kind of an amazing comment. And I know what you mean....I always feel like everyone else has this superhuman ability to pull things together in a day. And then I kinda cry-snot when I try to do the same thing on my own. So, being a regular folk and all, I have to fight for the people. :)

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  6. Today's post had me smiling. Your beautiful dining room really appeals to me. You have done very well to finish to such a high standard. It looks like an easy, but classy place to live in. I think you have nailed it Virginia and I could do with your decor advice for my home. Fancy a trip to Australia? :)
    Love the new table, new cushions and the beautiful orchids. My brother is a fantastic orchid grower and had several different types.
    Happy days

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  7. I just love the way you write! I was smiling and giggling throughout the entire post. Everything looks amazing!

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  8. Just have to say, i just love how it turned out... so pretty!!!! I wish my house would look so great :)
    and by the way, i also have a problem with Orchids or lets say i used to have a problem.
    They always died, but at least they looked kinda pretty for a few weeks.
    However since I moved into my new apartment - for some reason the orchids are not dying anymore and now i have a little addiction to buying even more orchids because I am so happy they are not dying anymore...
    Well... I guess we are all a bit crazy ;)

    Anni

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  9. That table is gorgeous and has legs I want to touch. Not creepy, right? Love the chairs and lighting! I am so happy for you to be finally done on this journey. Everything looks very welcoming and classy.

    Lady, while I did not try spray painting trim, I did spray paint in the house years ago. Stupid, I know. I kept telling myself it was a small piece and that there really can't be that much overspray. WRONG! My goodness, I had to clean everything. :( I also used to never prime and wondered why it did not turn out as well. Now, I prime and sand (if needed) when I spray paint. ;)

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    1. Yep, girl, been there! I definitely spray painted some hardware once back in the haunted house room and that orange hardwood floor never did quite feel the same. My shoes kinda stuck to the floor for a year afterwards. (But since it was the haunted house room, I was like 'WELL, that definitely backfired. Oh well.'.) Ha! So, thank goodness for having a creepy area of the house to run my experiments in. :)

      And thank you, sincerely!!

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  10. I have to tell you that I never comment on blogs (silent blog troller) but that I totally love your blog AND when I remodeled my garage a few months ago and turned it into a man cave for my husband (so I could kick him out of the house because he is a slob), I copied your wainscoting wall from your dining room EXACTLY as it appears! If I were smart enough I'd know how to attach a picture. But.I'm.Not. Just know that there is a huge (3 sides, actually) matching wall way out here in Hawaii because of you. And I have 5 cats (but not because of you, always had em). Your dining room is awesome, glad you made it to the finish line!

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    1. That's so awesome. I'm so glad you spoke up and told me! I would've never imagined that my little wainscoting would make it's way all the way to Hawaii! Thank you! :)

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  11. Oh my goodness, thank you so much for bringing us along on this journey. I come from a household where neither of my parents are decoration-minded, nor do they care (there's been a lot of moving in my life). My dream is to have a home that I can call mine, however long it takes. :3 These posts have given me hope. And I cannot thank you enough for that~! ^.^

    That said, it looks absolutely stunning. A complete dream home! (:

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    1. Thank you so much. That means so much to me. And you will have that one day, I'm very sure of it. If you want it, you'll find a way to get there!! xo

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  12. Man, it would drive me NUTS to not have a dining room table. What about Thanksgiving! What about birthdays! AH! I would have to have one. I love that you finally do! I love everything you've done in your house!! Congrats on surviving!

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  13. Gorgeous! I am jealous of all of the white in your house. I'm not brave enough to do that. Plus we just moved into a new house full of maple trim. And don't you love Overstock? I've gotten all of our area rugs there (among many other things) and you can't beat free shipping.

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  14. Laugh-cry and snot away- the sweatshirt's washable! It looks so lovely and airy! I like the traditional table with the not-so-traditional chairs. We've inherited some beautiful antique furniture from family (woohoo free!), and I'm always looking for ways to make it look fresh without painting since we can't afford to reupholster at the moment.

    (sorry if this is doubly posted...my computer freaked out on me)

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    1. Woohoo free, indeed! :)

      And thank you so much, Kim!

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  15. What an incredible transformation. You did an absolutely amazing job! I wish my house had that kind of potential because this post is truly inspiring. (It's a prefab home from the 80s and it just...doesn't. But we don't actually own it; we rent it from my grandmother. I have hope that when we finally buy a house of our own, it will have potential!)

    Also, I have the orchid disease too. I swear I follow the instructions perfectly!! And they die EVERY TIME. What the heck!!

    Also, I totally need to do that chalkboard paint on the inside of the cabinets because after living in our house for 4 years, my husband still puts stuff in the wrong place. -_-

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    1. Thank you, Nicki!! You'll find your 'lots of potential home' one day! I just know it! Until then, just enjoy painting stuff and making your current home a place you enjoy! And thank you for understanding my orchid dilemma. :)

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  16. So great, so clean, love all your work!! ;)

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  17. That table is AMAZING!!! I love the gold and silver letters!! I just created a magnetic/chalkboard wall in our daughter's playroom even though she has no idea what letter are.... and I love that idea! I'm totally stealing it! Hope you don't mind!!! :) Love you blog!

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    1. Yes! Absolutely...go for it! That's what this little blog is here for! And thank you!

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  18. You've given me hope that there's light at the end of this very long, dark, spray paint and hot glue covered tunnel. I feel like we've been working on our main floor which includes our dining room FOREVER. But you've proven that if you just keep on keepin on that a finished room does emerge. Thank GOD! oofda

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    1. Thank you so much, Amanda. And don't give up! There were many times over the past few years when I've felt trapped inside of an endless renovation tunnel. You'll eventually find your way out, and probably much sooner than I did!! :)

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  19. I'm not even CLOSE to buying a house, but I read your blog faithfully and it gets me excited about 5 years from now :)

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  20. You have done a lovely job! And by the way, you shouldn't feel bad that you keep buying orchids. If you love them and they look beautiful in your room, don't beat yourself up if they die. Just replace them and enjoy their beauty! BTW, I love your humorous way of writing.

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  21. Great post and that dining table is fabulous. Love your home and how you have revamped it to be so "today"..

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  22. I am in love with every inch of this space!! It is so warm! I just bought a table we thought would be a perfect fit in our dining room and it could arguably be too big. We have to come up with some seating solution to accommodate the table because it isnt leaving.

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  23. Hi Virginia! I have been searching for a chandelier for my foyer, and loves the ones you have pictured here from Lowes. I tried looking in your older post, but couldn't find the name. Do you know the name or model by any chance?

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    1. p.s. I Forgot to mention, I love your new table, and those gorgeous chunky turned legs! Sometimes the third (or is it fourth?) time is a charm:)

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    2. Hi Kate! Thank you so much! It's the Lowe's Allen + Roth 6 light brushed nickel chandelier. Here's the link: http://www.lowes.com/pd_551553-76219-IIR9116A_1z0y296+1z10wd4+2z8vo__?productId=50169959&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=Nickel|$100%20-%20$200

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    3. Thanks for the info!! {doing my own hammer dance}

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  24. LOVE your dining room! Taking down that wall between the dining room and kitchen made such a huge difference. It makes that space feel so much bigger and brighter. Everything looks great!

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  25. This is Ah-mazing! This area looks like it's out of a designer showroom! You should be so proud! Now I need to get my butt in gear to paint my dining room table that I've had (a-hem) for 18 months and haven't painted.

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  26. Your dining room is perfect! I love the dark table against all the other light colors, and the legs on those chairs! LOVE. Also, I love each and every orchid picture you post :)

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  27. Amazing!! Love how open and bright it is now! Great job!!

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  28. Love how super your dining area turned out. Such a fantastic job. I love how you paired the chunky dark table with the smooth, blingy chairs - it works so well! I very rarely comment on yours but you have had such a journey with this room and I wanted you to know that alot of us silent bloggers have been wishing you well all the way to the finish line. Well done from Jenny in New Zealand.

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    1. Aw, thank you so much, Jenny! I sincerely appreciate that so much! xo

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  29. It's gorgeous! I LOVE THOSE LIGHTS!

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  30. I love how your house looks with new hard wood floors - so fresh and clean. And I love love love that dinning room table.

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  31. I just love your dining room! Enjoy your macaroni and I'll check back in three months when you are redecorating it and have another table :)

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  32. I just started following you and reading your blogs. I initially found you on Pinterest while perusing many DIY subjects, including your floating mantel. We have a fireplace similar to yours and I needed an idea on how to add a mantel. Now I know!

    I LOVE what you have done with your home! My goodness, who would have thought you could change the look with a bit of work! Beautiful work!

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  33. After painting my house a million different shades of grey/greige/beige/off-white/cream/neutralish ugly colors.... You REALLY make me want to go back and paint the whole d*mn house white again, LOL.

    Gorgeous. I *love* the lighting!

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    1. Oh, I've so been there, Sarah! I painted every room in my house from white to beige/greige/gray. And then back to white. Jesse really hopes I've figured it out this time. :)

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  34. Looks gorgeous! I love reading all about your progress...it gives me hope for my own 1970s split-level house. Well done!!

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  35. It look airy and amazing. By the way, how do you get all the photos on the post to be the same size and light? Looks beautiful

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    1. Hi Julia! I use a Nikon D3100 camera, and take most of my pictures in portrait view (rather than landscape). You can also use an editing software (I use picmonkey.com because it's ridiculously easy to use.) to crop them to be a certain size. I'm about as far away from being a photography expert as you can get, but I hope that helps you at least a little bit! :)

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    2. Thanks for replying :) I've always found your photos so beautiful!

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  36. I love your blog. I love seeing it pop up in my email and can't wait to read it. I like that you don't just write five words and one picture then go. I think that you are funny. I like your decorating and diy ideas. Keep on being you.

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  37. Wow Virginia! Congrats, it looks amazing! (OMG, super diggin' the striped pillows) I have to tell you girl, your blog is awesome and inspiring. As in, I used some of your ideas already for my home. I'm one of your international "fan-lowers" (see that? Fan-Follower? Jejeje, I'm such a dork:-p )
    Following you from Puerto Rico and the tropics are feeling the need for some really cool DIY decorating ideas. Your blog and ideas kept me some company during the last couple of months of my last pregnancy, asWow Virginia! Congrats, it looks amazing! (OMG, super diggin' the striped pillows) I have to tell you girl, your blog is awesome and inspiring. As in, I used some of your ideas already for my home. I'm one of your international "fan-lowers" (see that? Fan-Follower? Jejeje, I'm such a dork:-p )
    Following you from Puerto Rico and the tropics are feeling the need for some really cool DIY decorating ideas. Your blog and ideas kept me some company during the last couple of months of my last pregnancy, as I was on bedrest. (Sucked big time) However, gave me some cool ideas for nursery (bathroom stripes inspiration) and for kitcWow Virginia! Congrats, it looks amazing! (OMG, super diggin' the striped pillows) I have to tell you girl, your blog is awesome and inspiring. As in, I used some of your ideas already for my home. I'm one of your international "fan-lowers" (see that? Fan-Follower? Jejeje, I'm such a dork:-p )
    Following you from Puerto Rico and the tropics are feeling the need for some really cool DIY decorating ideas. Your blog and ideas kept me some company during the last couple of months of my last pregnancy, as I was on bedrest. (Sucked big time) However, gave me some cool ideas for nursery (bathroom stripes inspiration) and for kitc I was on bedrest. (Sucked big time) However, gave me some cool ideas for nursery

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    1. Aw, thank you so much, Gretchen. That's so awesome!! xo

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  38. You did an amazing job! You must LOVE living there now. I would have a smile on my face everytime I walked through the door.

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  39. Great post! Your home is lovely :-)

    Happy Weekend!
    Sherri

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  40. Wow! It's really quite stunning!!!

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  41. Ah, Virginia - a dining area and a table at last - and how good they look.... it took 2 tables (at least!!) before you realised that oblong was just the right shape - and what a shape. Never seen legs so shapely (not in the UK anyway), but it's lovely. And the chairs too - so "U"! Enjoy your mac 'n cheese on that table - oh, and isn't thanksgiving coming up this year for you?

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  42. Hi Virginia! Just a quick note from near Venice (Italy) to congratulate you (and that patient, angel of a hubby you've got ) for all the hard work you guys have put into making a just a house turn into a lovely home. Trust me, you will look into eachother's eyes years and years from now and there will be a secret understanding that just you two will will share... all the long hours, the fatigue, the tears of despair and of joy...all packed within those walls! Enjoy your home, you deserve it! You're a lovely person! (And I too leap with joy when I get an email from LIVELOVEDIY)! Keep up the good work! Tea from Italy :)

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    1. Aw, thank you so much, Tea! Your comment brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.

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  43. Hi Virginia!
    I'm a long time lurker, first time commenter on your fabulous blog! Your ideas have given me so much inspiration and I love and appreciate your candidness in a virtual world of "everything effortlessly looks perfect all the time!" I tend to learn things the hard way and like you, killed off many an orchid plant. This last time when it wilted and browned, I decided to actually google it and see if there was something I did wrong (I watered them like clockwork and they pretty much thrived for about a month!) Lo and behold, like most plants, orchids actually have a blooming season and a "quiet season" when the flowers turn brown and the plant stores energy to promote the next bloom several months later. So instead of throwing away my orchid, I am deciding to maintain the leaves for the next several months in hopes that they will actually promote blooms again in the future! I don't know if this is similar to what you have experienced, but figured I would share in case it could be helpful! :) Your house looks beautiful and I look forward to your next posts!

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    1. Aw, thank you so much!!!!! For both the very sweet words (that made me so happy) and the very sweet orchid advice (that made me soooo relieved, because I think that might be what's going on...OR I'm just very plant-inept.)
      Anyways, thank you again...I so appreciate you taking the time to comment! xo

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  44. I will jump up & down with you! And I could totally be that friend, if I weren't on the other side of the world. But sitting on thefloow in sweat clothes (yes, clothes, not only pants) and painting is one of my favorite hobbies ;)

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    1. Thanks girl! And the visual of just painting in pants kinda cracked me up. Thank you for that. :)

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  45. I love it, Virginia! I don't care what you say...it's gorgeous and perfect! Now come over to PA and help me, please! :)
    I check your blog religiously, so when I saw this on Pinterest today, I was highly disappointed to be four days late! Ha!
    But seriously, I feel like you're me every single weekend! Let's face it, your girlfriends just don't wanna come over and do manual labor with you! They just don't get it! But every time they come over and see my latest completed project, they always seem to want my help to do the same thing at their house! Lol!
    Rambling....Anyway, I just wanted to give you a shout out that no, you're definitely not alone....and I absolutely LOVE what you've done to your house!!
    -Christina

    PS...I'm an orchid killer, as well :(

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    1. AWWW, Christina...you so get me. Thank you. Love love loved that comment. xo

      And P.S. I try to remind myself that it's totally normal for people to look at me like I'm crazy when I want a friend that does manual labor with me. I mean, we can be honest...I'm the crazy one in this situation...not the poor girlfriends who just want to sit and watch Scandal. :)

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  46. Love this blog! Just realized that I haven't a clue what the house looks like on the outside...did I miss it? :)
    -Christina

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  47. Hey V!!! I have sort of lost track of you because I don't get your emails anymore. :( But I saw this on Pinterest so hopped over. It's amazingly stunning...really. I love everything and what a bright space. Well done girl. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Ann!! It's so good to hear from you! Miss you, sweet lady! xo

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  48. I absolutely love it!!! You're blog is by far my favorite.. I hope you know how incredibly talented and amazing you are. You've inspired me to paint my daughters bedroom a pink and green stripped pattern. I figure if you can remodel a whole house... Why then should i be scared of a little bedroom. You should be so very proud of yourself. It's just wonderful. All I keep thinking is though... what are you going to do when the little ones come and those white walls are no longer white??? Can't wait to see those updates!! Love it all!!

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  49. I found your blog via a pin about spray painting tips from Pinterest yesterday and then proceeded to read about 6 months worth of posts! Your projects and house look amazing! I love your combination of blushes, grays and whites - they're stunning together. Congrats on the beautiful remodel! I can't wait to see who the rest of the house turns out.

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  50. I can't believe it! The tile you have for your countertops is what I have in my 79's house bathroom! I keep wondering if I can pair it with white (right now it has a photo mural of Hawaii!)...you made that work so beautifully!! Our houses must have been built the same week...same tile, same stone work...I love what you're doing!! I'll be letting it inspire me in my "new to me" 70s house! :)

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  51. Hello! I apologize if you have already answered this question somewhere else, as I did look but to no avail. I LOVE your dining table, especially those legs. Would you divulge any information as to what make and even where you found it? These are what makes a room sing--the details! Thanks! You have a great eye!! Well, two great eyes . . .

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  52. Hi there! Beautiful what you've done! I especially love the table because I have the same one :)

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  53. Absolutely love your house! It's far, far too bright for one as light sensitive as I but I adore it anyway.

    Love your blog too and I'm so happy I stumbled on it on Pinterest. You are funny, irreverent and talented, just the kind of person I like. I look forward to ongoing blog binging - until I'm caught up.

    (if this is the second time I've posted this comment, feel free to delete the repeat. :) I had some trouble signing in)

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  54. Gorgeous! I just started reading your blog and already I'm hooked. Virginia, you've done a truly wonderful job with your home. And I love your honesty about your budget constraints and how its still possible to make a home lovely on a small budget. I feel like I stumbled upon your blog at just the right time. I was so excited when we bought our first home 3 years ago, and I keep trying to love it, but I can't. I keep trying to do things to make it feel more like "us" on our tiny budget, but just end up feeling disappointed. I've painted the living room three times in three years, and I'm already thinking about painting again! Sigh. Your blog has given me so many ideas that I can't wait to try. Thank you and keep those posts coming! :)

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  55. Hello! I just wanted to first tell you that I discovered your blog a few days ago and I love it. You have done such an incredible job! I am specifically writing about your dining room table. I love the look and am really wanting to recreate a similar look (you've completely changed my mind from what I originally wanted :)). Did you paint the table yourself, and if so what did you use? Thank you in advance! I look forward to following your blog as I've drawn so much inspiration from it already!

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  56. STUNNING!!!!! YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TALENTED!!!!

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  57. I love it all!!! Question: How tall are your ceilings in your kitchen? I am just one of many victims of the unfortunate fluorescent kitchen light epidemic, and I really want to replace it with something like you have, I'm just afraid my ceilings are too low and it will feel like you could practically bump your head when you walk under it (like you, I don't have an island, so there needs to be plenty of clearance). Thanks!

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  58. Love your blog and home, so pretty! I am drooling over your black and white pillows. Do you know which etsy seller you bought them from? Thanks!

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  59. I just lost 2 hours of my night / morning reading your blog. Loved reading about your renovation journey, and thanks for sharing with us and making me laugh out loud ;) Can't wait to start decorating the 3 story townhouse I'm about to move ino with my hubs and two cats, will definitely keep coming back for your advice and I love that you don't make it look super easy and show the good and the (not so) bad. Well done for running a great blog too - I run a wedding blog called Want That Wedding. Sonia XxX

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  60. Good sunday morning V,
    I found your blog about 2 weeks ago and have been obsesed ever since...no not in the creepy close tbe blinds kinda way, but the how many of "V's" projects can i accomplish in 24 hrs kinda way. I have been looking for a new (used) dining room set and was doing research on how to strip and restain when i found ur site with the Blue dresser...and thats where the obbession started! Lol i finally found a table set 3 days ago and am embarking down the re-stain road today. It doesnt end there tho...i also picked up 3 paint sample containers and am delving into the paint my living room kitchen hallway and dining room journey as well. Youve been a true inspiration with your blantant "im not perfect" honesty and your humbleness (think i just made a new word there) ;). I would love to share the before and after pics w u. I know im taking on alot at once, but i know when if i feel overwhelmed, ill just come bak here (with stain/paint covered hands, sweat pants with holes in them, hair twisted high on my head and my daughter fast asleep ,while game of thrones marathon plays on tv) re-read your stories, see your pics and have agood laugh cry and plow on! Thank you V! Ps...thanku to jessie too for showing me that there really are good men out there...he doesnt happen to have a brother, or a cousin, or a 3 cousin 2x removed that is single does he.... :) lol! Your house is truely beautiful..you guys have done an exceptional job w your labour of love,.......nicholle from london, ON Canada

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  61. so i found your blog from a post on Pinterest you wrote about painting your tv stand... can i just say that i LOVE your house! i want to buy an older home and renovate it (which is like saying i want to have 6 kids because i've never experienced childbirth... easier said than done LOL) and i just love your style. also your writing style is hilarious. thanks for brightening my day!

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment!! I do the hammer dance every time I read one.

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