It took a village, but I’ve finally got my dining room makeover ready to show you!  I’m still waiting for my chandelier, and I also want to hang some drapes, but overall, I’m really happy with how the makeover has turned out. (Here’s the before of what the dining room looked like, complete with brown wallpaper, yucky carpet, and a mishmash of stuff.)

My inspiration was this mood board I pulled together with the colors I’d chosen:

And here’s a quick before shot for your reference, complete with ironing board (haaa):

And here’s the after (with baby! Because somebody is crawling and EVERYWHERE):

So here’s how it went down: when I had the entryway wallpapered, I had my guy (who is awesome) take a look at removing the wallpaper in the dining room while he was at it. He determined that since the paper was adhered directly to the drywall, the best course of action to keep from gouging the drywall was to mud right over the paper carefully, making sure that it didn’t bubble in the process. He did a great job and it was worth every penny to have him handle it for me (not to mention the wallpaper hanging in the entry – there are some projects that don’t need to be DIY’d).  After letting it dry, it was ready to paint.

The paint color is Lucerne AF-530 in Regal Select (eggshell finish). This paint is so crazy luminous – I can’t tell you how beautiful it is. It’s got surprising depth and the color changes all day long depending on the light. But it’s form and function – super durable, and easy to work with. I painted the entire thing myself over a couple of days (allowing time for drying and multiple coats). The room overall feels much larger and airier without the wallpaper (as well as the new wood floors – more on that soon) and we’re still oohing and aahing every time we walk by.

I’m still debating about whether or not to mount the Slim Aarons photo to the mirror or if I will hang it on the large wall opposite the window (that really needs some art). I really love catching a glimpse of it from the entryway or the kitchen when I’m passing through, which wouldn’t happen if I’ve got it on that wall. DECISIONS, you guys.

Is it an unusual color pairing with the aqua and bold blue? Absolutely. But it brings together the living room and the entryway so perfectly. Plus the West Elm rug that we’ve had for almost 10 years is finally happy to have a proper home.

Of course, we’re not the only ones who’re big fans of the dining room. Nickels’s favorite afternoon nap spot is in on the rug in front of the window, although I’ve never seen him smoosh up against the shutters like he did here. Silly poopie.

Now excuse me — I’m off to chase Archer, who’s chasing Nickels. IT NEVER ENDS, you guys.

Thanks to Benjamin Moore for sponsoring this makeover. Be sure and check out the Regal Select line if you’re in the market to paint anytime soon – it really is some of the highest quality you can get. And as a bonus, it’s paint and primer all in one so you save time on your project.