After dragging out the completion of this little corner of our house for as long as possible, I’m ready to call it a day and share the finished photos with you.
This is where I started. My parents gave me their pedestal table, which I paired with the chairs from our dining room. Although this area lacked any personality or pizazz, it sat this way for a while after we moved in.
And, after months of trying to figure out what this space needed, this is how it looks today:
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we changed the original light fixture out with a large lantern pendant. And, many of you will remember our adventures in painting the horizontal stripes.
The ladderback chairs are a little more traditional than I like, but I recovered them in a sassy fabric to give them a little boost (and to hide many months of Pop-Tart stains).
By the way, this is how all home improvement projects go down around here. Even the simplest tasks become a challenge when you’ve got a foot in your face. . .
This is the table my parents had while I was growing up. When they originally gave me to me last year, I had planned on painting it. Then, I walked into a Pottery Barn a few months later and saw one very similar, scratches and all, for over $1000. I decided if the worn look was good enough for Pottery Barn, then it was good enough for me.
And, yes, I did decide to go with shorter curtains after I found four yards of this beautiful Windsor Smith fabric in a remnant bin for just $10/yard. I’ll give you more details on those and how we hung them in another post soon.
So, that’s it for now. Time to get this space off of my mind and obsess over something else that needs to be done in my house.
Wow! You have turned this into such a beautiful breakfast area! Very well done!
I love it all Emily. I’m pretty sure a foot in the face was worth the trouble.
-Rene
Gorgeous, you really knocked it out of the park! I think the large mirror is my favorite piece, the change in color was perfect for the space. And your children a precious, looks like fun times never end at The Clarks!
Abbe
A lovely, cosy family space! Thanks for sharing!
Well done! The re designed space feels so rich and vibrant
WOW looks great- I love the light and the stripes! off to read up on “lessons in painting striped walls”
I love the stripes and those lamps!
It looks fantastic! I think my favourite elements are the leopard on the chairs, stripes on the walls, amazing mirror and lantern over the table- gorgeous!!
This is AMAZING. You have made your house so incredibly beautiful. I love everything about it!
Gorgeous! The addition of the paint, new light, and some pictures on the wall took everything from ordinary to wow.
I love your breakfast area! I have really studied it and there is not one thing I would change. Glad you didn’t paint the table – love that look! Thanks for sharing!!!
Jennifer
That’s a beautiful space Emily!! Great job!
You have taken a standard “builder beige” room and taken it to amazing heights! {O.K., that sounded cheesy but it’s true!} Every little detail, from the walls, to the curtains, to the chair fabric, is perfect.
xo,
abby
Did you submit this to Eddie Ross???
The stripes add so much drama and elegance. Love the lantern pendant and all the punctuation with black. It’s going in my inspiration file!
The stripes on the wall, the refinished chair covers (by the way, that pic is hilarious with the “foot in the face”), the curtains and light fixture–gorgeous. Love it all! Thanks for sharing.
simply amazing! Love the stripes and the lantern!
just stunning. i love how a couple of simple changes can have such a large effect. this is also a lesson in camera angle and accessories, wouldn’t you say? thanks for sharing– am feeling so inspired!!
Wow! You did a fabulous job! I particularly love the light fixture and the mirror. Everything goes so well together. And your daugther is so cute!
absolutely gorgeous room!
Love it! Love the table, and with scratches already there perfect with the kids, the lantern and stripes makes the space and please tell us more about those drapes. They are funky sweet…if that makes any sense! :)
Janell
Wow, Emily! I love it! It’s so warm and beautiful. Fantastic job!
It looks just beautiful. I love that you added a mirror and chest to give it more of a sitting room look.
Such a beautiful eating area, Emily! Our kitchen table is similar to yours. I wasn’t a fan of it until I saw the way you paired dark chairs with the light oak. Just wish I could get my husband to agree to “let” me paint them…he’s uber traditional. I love the stripes on the walls, the light fixture, and the way you styled everything. :)
Emily, this comfortable sophisticated space suits you to a “t”. And I love the foot in the face – our kids are older now so it’s usually a paw in the face!
It looks beautiful!! Love the stripes!
OMG, Emily!!! I love everything about the space. The stripes, the light fixture, the fabric for the drapes! And speaking of the drapes, I LOVE that you went with the shorter length! I think if you would have carried them dowm to the floor, it would have been to much.
Great job girl. Another great redesign:-)
Gorgeous. Loving the stripes! Funny about the pottery barn table. I’m thanking the “genius” from pottery barn who brought back the “antiqued” finish. Now when the kicks whack my table and leave a dent, it actually adds more personality! (It must have been a mom!)
Emily…looks so warm and cozy…I know you must be pleased! I love the shorter drapes…keeps the room a little whimsical and that fabric was indeed a score!!!
That looks great! I love your choice of fabric for the curtains.
It was worth the wait! I put the same fabric on my dinning chairs :) And the walls are perfect…glad you shared!
Looks fantastic! …how cool is it that you have a breakfast nook in the first place :) xo Cat
Hi…I visit your site often but never commented….love this room!! I have the exact window set up in my kitchen. Love the curtains!! I might have to consider shorter panels as well…hmmm….
I love it! It is beautiful, and you did it – you made short curtains look good :-)
Awesome job Emily! I love how your kids “help”. Great curtains.
What a transformation. I love the stripes and the fabrics you chose. Looks great!
This space gives me so many ideas. The stripes, panel fabric, the balanced photo display, the light fixture, really love the chair fabric too — it all works and I will study this further. Vibrant, fun, elegant.
so impressive, Emily! That fabric really brings the chairs to life. And I ADORE the light fixture!!
Simply beautiful!!
That looks really great! So inspiring!
Absolutely gorgeous, Emily! I can’t seem to pick one thing that’s my favorite. I love it all!
looks great!! love the tonal tan stripes
It looks great! I’m loving that lantern so much! Nicely done! The whole room came together beautifully.
It looks so warm and inviting, Emily! Great job :)
Emily, the obsessing so paid off. It’s just beautiful. And the photos are gorgeous by the way. I LOVE the stripes and the fabric choice is so great. Daughter photo is precious.
Looks great! I really love the light fixture!
What a transformation!!! I love what you did with the stripes! Worth every bit of effort that I know goes into lining those things up right :)
That’s one adorable foot! I love how you used the table just how it came to you, did not paint the chairs and yet managed to make the space feel fresh and modern. Great job! And, the shorter panels are fun!
Cathy
Wow, it doesn’t even look like the same space! I’m impressed how you made such a dramatic transformation with keeping the main pieces the same – awesome!
Emily that is absolutely fantastic! You have such a gift!
I love the look! The fabric and lantern light are wonderful, a sucker for pedestal tables, and I really love the 4 pieces of art to either side of the mirror. Excellent job, it is warm and welcoming and breakfast-worthy… great job :)
Wow, I love this! I love that you have the same furniture, but completely changed the look with just paint and accessories. Very inspiring. :)
I love the stripes with the printed curtains! The room looks so rich and luxurious now.
gorgeous! gorgeous! Emily…it’s so cozy, I wouldn’t mind having breakfast here every day!
love the wall stripes. love the lantern. love the animal print fabric. love the table. etc. etc. etc.
you did a fabulous job! can’t wait to see what other area you obsess over!
Hello Emily, Your breakfast area is
beautiful, very warm and inviting.
It’s a gorgeous transformation!
Hugs & Blessings ~*~ Wendy ~*~
Looks amazing!
What a transformation! I can’t tell which my favorite part is. I love the lantern, the walls, and the curtains. I love all of it!
Looks great. You have such beautiful taste!
Wow, what a transformation! It looks fantastic.
I have a space in my eat in area that is laid out very similar. I haven’t known what to do with the wall. I now have inspiration. Thank you! I will share photos with you when I finish.
Beautiful makeover! I have a table almost just like that at my parents house. They keep trying to get me to take it, but I just couldn’t figure out a good way to use it. I’m definitely going to use this room for inspiration!
Fantastic room! I love the contrast of the table and mixed chairs. The wall is amazing and the color choice, wow!
Megan
LOved the unexpected dresser and mirror in the nook…very cool…love the fabric on the chairs too! :)
Gorgeous! So warm and inviting!
I can totally relate to slow moving projects, we have the same foot! Your room is gorgeous Emily, I love everything about it! I really need some fun drapes in my dining room.
Londen
Gorgeous, I love your renovation. Love the horizontal stripes and the large pendant lamp. The space is so warm and inviting now.
Beautifully done! I really like the stripes. Oh and the table is a classic. What a sweet memory to have your kids eat at the same table you did as a kid.
It’s gorgeous! So fun to see the transformation! I use my parents old kitchen table too and like you, I have embraced the worn look of it. And it’s special because that was the table we used during my childhood. Excellent job, as always :)
love love love it. it looks so rich and inviting while still being live-able.
I love it! And it’s great to see how you framed small prints in a way that gives them some weight. I have some framed, but now I see that they could use much bigger mats to stand out.
Night and day! Love the new paint, artwork and lantern best.
xo,
cristin
Looks great Emily!
Love the room!!! Such a nice change. I had a similar table and painted the base of it black to match my black chairs and I really like it. Just a thought..
The colours are all so rich and warm. Loving it!…Carol
Gorgeous! I LOVE it! It was totally worth all the stressing and obsessing (nice to know I am not the only one!). The fabric for the curtains is just beautiful, and the lantern fixture is just perfect. Thanks for sharing!!
Oh Emily, it’s beautiful! love it and the stripes are really striking!
Emily, I like your use of tans and black to give this space some sophistication. The striped wall and the 4 prints look very classy. Really good job! I know you will enjoy it for a long time.
My favorite picture: The foot in the face! Priceless…I’m pretty sure that is how things get done in any house with little ones! (c: I can see why you went with shorter curtains, that fabric is just too pretty to pass up! And I love that you didn’t paint the table, things with stories and character are way better than just looking good (of course, it still looks great, too!)
WOW! I just came across your blog and I have to say. This room is BEAUTIFUL. If I could get my house to look like this, I could die a happy woman
It looks great! How special to have the table you used to sit at as a child. I know exactly what you mean about the Pop tart stains :)
looks great!! love the Windsor Smith fabric-good find!
I LOVE this space! And the foot in the face pic is too cute for words!
Love the new look! Both the room and the blog!
Just found your blog. Love it and love the breakfast area!
Looks Awesome! you did a great job. Love the lamps and new light fixture.
Emily,
It is absolutely gorgeous! I love those stripes on the wall. And the black furniture is so striking in that palette. Just an absolutely amazing before and after! Great job!!!
OR, come obsess over the unfinished rooms and projects in MY house. ;)
Gorgeous, as is everything you touch!
This room is a delight Emily. I can’t tell which element I like the most. Everything seems to work together so well.
Angex
What a fab transformation! Looks so cozy.
Love, love, love your new dining room! Love the stripes on the wall, love the table & chairs, LOVE the lantern!! It is all gorgeous! Oh…and love the fabric for the window treatments! Great job!
Lovely! Windsor Smith for only $10 a yard? What a steal! I can’t wait to hear more about the window treatments. Like you, I have a bay window in my kitchen that lets not only lots of great light but also glaring late afternoon sun. It has a sliding glass door that is too big for any sort of blinds, so the curtains have to close to block the sun and open for the door. I’ve had a heckava time finding a curtain rod that can support fully functional curtains in a bay window. I’m crossing my fingers that you have a suggestion for me!! Thanks, Emily!
I love it, total upgrade!
I am so liking how you have transformed this area, Emily. The “before” is so flat–one glance and you’ve seen it all. In the “after” photos you have created such an interesting room with so much depth and things to look at: the texture on the lamps, the finish on the dresser, the subtle animal print, the contrast between the table and chairs, color accents, the geometric-style pattern on the curtains, the lantern, and of course the stripes on the wall. Ack! It is all so beautifully blended and pleasing, not to mention so inviting! No chaos and confusion here! So well done, Emily, I just love it!
Sindy
It’s amazing! I love the softness it has. I remember reading the post you did on how to paint stripes and now it’s all complete! It’s fabulous, Emily (:
I love how it came out, Emily! And I particularly like how you styled it…the photos look fantastic. You’re right about that lantern…it definitely helps make the space. Again, your husband gets bonus points for being on the blog; especially with a foot in his face!
xo,
– e
Fantastic, Emily! The stripes really make the room and I love the Windsor Smith fabric you chose for the curtains (I have the same fabric in a different colorway in my master bath!).
this breakfast area looks fantastic. what a transformation. my favs are those curtains and the pendant light.
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This turned out great! I always love small, but meaningful changes and they are so satisfying, right?
Especially your wall treatment is a hit in my book and the lantern! gorgeous!
Looks fantastic Emily. The lantern and that horizontal stripe added instant warmth and elegance!!
It’s absolutely perfect!!! What an amazingly comfortable, yet glamorous room! Just because it’s a family meal doesn’t mean it can’t be in a stylish space!!! And everytime you show those lamps I get a little more jealous!
looks beautiful emily!!! love the stripes and curtains especially :)
xoxo,
lauren
Excellent! Totally!
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Looks great Emily! I love the lantern fixture and the horizontal stripes. Awesome job!
I missed this reveal…still thinking about those drapes. They do make me think of ones in a childhood home!
Janell
Love it! The black adds so much elegance and drama…fabulous looking..great choice!
I love, love, love your makeover and just had to share that I have that EXACT same table AND it was also a gift from my parents and the table we had growing up!! How funny!! I did paint mine though :-) I’ve recently found your site and am enjoying digging through all your wonderful inspiration!! Hugs, Jennifer