Hello Friends! Today I am super excited to reveal Natalie’s dining room and to give you more of the story behind it! You’ll remember the reading bench/nook that I revealed a few weeks ago.
Well, there is a whole lot more to this space and I really love how it turned out. My favorite part about the room is the story behind it and the friendship that now surrounds it.
Natalie contacted me after seeing this project (below) on another blog. She loved the look of the fish scale feature wall and out of curiosity clicked the link, did a little research, and discovered we lived about 10 miles away from each other! Small world.
Anyway, I visited the Renfrow’s house to get to know them and see what expectations they had for their room. The first meeting went really well and we figured out that I had just joined the CrossFit gym they went to. All CrossFitters have an instant connection, so that was really fun!
Through different circumstances (a baby being born, workouts together, and a shared vacation) I really had the chance to get to know the Renfrow’s as I was designing their space. I decorate some spaces quickly, but with the Renfrow’s, we took our time. And I loved it! We’ve really developed a friendship. As a matter of fact, Natalie and I have decided that we will be participating in a monthly girl’s night, which will of course involve dancing! Ha! Anyway, you’re probably more interested in how the room turned out, so let’s get to it! 🙂
Here are a few Before and Afters. . .
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER 
The goal of this room was to create a place where the whole family could come and commune. A very large table was needed for such a tall and important order. This rustic beauty is from Restoration Hardware. I need some more/better photos to show off it (and the lighting). I’m hoping to have some soon. Metal seats and upholstered end chairs provide ample places for family to gather around the table.
The wall with the bench seating got a total revamp. Besides the bench being built and the feature wall getting a wood treatment, the closet doors flanking the inset were done away with.
Instead of keeping the closet area closed off, I wanted to open the area up creating lots of space for open storage and display. This area not only serves to hold dining/cooking type items, but it also brings a ton of interest to the space. Changing out the dated doors would have been one idea, but I think all the wonderful pieces on the shelves tell the stories of this beautiful family.
Tim built the shelves into the former closets and I painted the back of the shelving area with gold paint. Yes, gold! Because it is quite possibly the best color ever. Love it! 🙂
Here are a few of the shelf pieces that are particularly meaningful. . .
This little frame with fish scales pays homage to the way Natalie found me and to her love for the beach.
Natalie’s mother is a wonderful artist and often does drawing or painting projects with the kids. Of course I wanted to display a few of their sweet creations on the shelves. 🙂 The Oklahoma cutout also tells of the family’s love for their home state!
I don’t like to only decorate with family photos, but in conjunction with other pieces, I love them. . . especially since Natalie is such a talented photographer herself– as evidenced by that amazing print adorning the feature wall!
Of course the huge “WE” sitting on the right side of the built-ins not only balances the space and follows the slant of the ceiling, but it speaks to the bond this family has with each other.
So, there you have it! A dining room fit for sharing meals and memories! Have a great weekend! 🙂
AMAZING!! Love everything about it!
Love the room but love the story of friendship even more! You guys were destined to know each other. Great work, Kara!
Oh my gosh… I love everything about this! You did an AMAZING job. I just love how you incorporate so many textures. And my favorite is the cluster of chandeliers. If I had higher ceilings in my house, I’d totally to that!
Beth
http://www.sawdustandembryos.com
this is FANTASTIC! i love it – the color pops and the rustic and the sense of family.
How awesome, totally in love with this room
I love everything in this room. Truly awesome!
I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this room, Kara! Is there a source list anywhere? Does she have a blog? (I only saw a Facebook link & I’m not on there anymore so just curious)
Kara it’s all lovely! I love your style and how you bring things together!
I love this! I have been looking for large letters for a ledge in our home. Can you tell me where you found the “WE” letters?