I have been very busy in the past three weeks challenging my very best in the interior decorating department.
Thankfully, I came out triumphant as the outcome was more than satisfactory than I originally expected.
My project was my Dining Room Makeover.
A Do-It-Yourself undertaking in its truest sense as Dearest Husband was initially unsupportive.
I could not blame him. After all, I have none/or very little experience in the decorating aspect especially in stripping down wallpapers or painting the wall.
But as I have often told him, I wouldn't know unless I've tried. So try I did!
There are the professionals anyway who can do the job properly should my DIY turn out a disaster but at least I gave a try.
Here is the before photo of my dining room.
My apology as this is the only before photo I have. In the midst of the all the preparations and chaos I just forgot to take a before photo.
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| My dining room at Christmas time last year |
The old wallpaper is beautiful with its lovely print. Unfortunately, it is not a dining room wallpaper.
It is more of a bedroom or living room feature wall.
As soon as the wallpaper was up I just knew straightaway that it was the wrong wallpaper choice.
It overpowered and dominated the room as an average size as it is. Worse, it was even on 2 walls.
I thought that perhaps a new set of furnitures might just remedy it but sadly it still didn't.
Fed up and been unhappy for a time already,I finally decided that its about time it should have its long over due necessary makeover. This whether by a professional or by myself which ended in a DIY by yours truly.
As above mentioned, I have no prior experience in stripping down wallpaper.
A bit of research and a few episodes of home makeover TV shows did the trick for me.
It does look easy on the TV and on Google but the truth is far from it.
It requires the right tools and lots of patience and time.
The first wall took me about 3 hours and I was so amased and proud of myself as it went on smoothly with barely visible scratches although some paint peeled off together with the wallpaper.
As soon as I found my way of doing it properly, I then allotted an hour or 2 in the evening when Little Girl was already asleep or at daytime when she was at school.
Then came the hardest and tedious part.
Cleaning the wall by removing the residue is the most laborious part.
Some tiny bits of the wallpaper were so stubborn it didn't peel easily. This was a very necessary evil though because if left, it would only produce an unsmooth surface once the wall is painted.
And here is the clean walls finally stripped off its wallpaper and ready for painting.
Floors and furnitures were covered and glasswares/chinawares were emptied out from the cabinet.
Skirting boards to the floors and around the windows were also taped.
And here's me in action!
Painting sounds easy but surprisingly, in reality it actually did.
It is the preparation that is the tiresome part. Paint colour selection is not even easy to begin with.
Since I stripped the wallpaper off, I wanted to revert it back to its original colour to match the two untouched walls. Now, the problem lies on which shade.
We had no idea what brand or shade was used when the walls were originally painted. We even had to refer to the house manual but there was nothing there to suggest any help.
We bought several paint testers in the end until we found the closest.
Finally, here is the collaged photos of my finished Dining Room!
I simply carried on the theme and colour scheme of the living room - cream and chocolate brown with solid oak furnitures.
This way, should it happen that we would finally decide to take down the wall between the living and dining room, at least there is already a continuity between the two main rooms.
Here is a photo of our living room (which the dining room makeover design is inspired by).
Of course I understand that the above collaged photos of the makeover are not that appealing so here are the bigger, individualized versions.
Dining room photos from the different angles of the room.
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Floor lamp by Next bought 2 years ago which has been discontinued so I could not find a matching ceiling shade anymore
Table runner by SM Home Accessories in the Philippines
Wooden candle holders from The Range
New Ceiling Shade from Dunelm Mill |
I am very happy and surprised of the finished article.
It came out so well put together considering the furnitures and the soft furnishings were bought at different shops at different times.
The makeover made the room bright, cosy and spacious.
The curtain was even a last minute second choice as I was originally eyeing for the
Debenhams Lucille curtain but had to return it as the chenille material is not appropriate for a dining room.
A light material is essential so as not to overpower the room as there are big solid furnitures in it.
In the end I settled down with
Como Printed Curtains by The Range at almost half price and much closer to my living room wallpaper print.
The only new things we have in this makeover are the clock, the ceiling shade and the curtains in which Dearest Husband happily put it up for me as he observed and realised that I was doing well with the makeover.
Even bragged to his colleagues how good I am with the decorating!
Here are a few of the accessories in closer details.
As with my living room, I want my Filipino heritage evident in my home furnishings.
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Top left : Big Statement Clock by Edinburgh Clock Works Co.
(colour to match my mirror and dining chairs)
Bottom left: Large brown twig Balls from Kultura Filipino in a large clear vase with lead crystal decanters on both sides.
Upper Right: Giant Wooden Spoon and Fork from a native shop in the Philippines
Bottom Right: A Filipino frame picture from Gaisano home accessories |
I forgot to mention that I also bought a new display cabinet to accommodate my ever growing bone china collection and crystal glasswares courtesy of mother-in-law and her sister
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Left photo: Large solid oak glazed display cabinet bought more than 2 years ago from Marks and Spencer
Right photo: A similar smaller version but still solid oak glazed display cabinet bought at Home Sense at a bargain price of £199.99! |
Here is a closer look at my chinawares/glasswares!
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Left photo: Royal Doulton in Regency Gold collection courtesy of mother-in-law as wedding present
Angela Collection by Wedgwood from aunt-in-law
Right Photo: Some Royal Doulton glasswares from mother-in-law
the rest of the different types of crystal glasswares and decanters all from aunt-in-law
Tea Set Revelry Collection by Coalport purchased by myself |
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| Angela Collection by Wedgwood |
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| Some of the crystal glasswares from aunt-in-law |
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Tea Set Revelry Collection by Coalport
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The makeover is not truly finished yet. I still want to put a brown rug underneath the table and a mini cupboard or a wine cabinet by the floor lamp, all funds permitting!
I apologise for this very long post but I just want to share in details what went through my dining room makeover as I put too much passion and dedication in it.
Indeed, it was a labour of love.
It was physically exhausting and made me even poorly over the weekend yet the result was just simply rewarding.
Above all, it made me realise that there is actually an interior decorator/designer in me!
Would I do it again? Yes of course! In fact, another room is in mind. And that will be in one of my future posts, hopefully!
Good night.
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