Monday, February 11, 2013

133 Our Dining Table Deets!

Well, it's been a little over 7 months now since we swapped out our dining table. 7 months!!  Where does the time go?  And since the switch, I have received oodles of comments, emails, Instagram questions and Facebook inquiries about our new dining room table.  I am SO excited to finally be posting about it!

Back in July of 2012 I acted on impulse.  I do this from time to time, and luckily this impulsive act came with a happy ending.

We had been working endless hours on our home getting ready for our big Better Homes & Gardens magazine shoot.  Majority of what we took on included DIY projects, painting, cleaning... and just two weeks before they were going to be in our home, photo equipment in hand, I gazed at my dining room wishing that our dream table was sitting there...

My husband and I had been chatting about swapping out our dining table for a good two years.  We had a small budget set aside, and had been playing with all of our options.  We even picked up a large round table found on Craigslist that lived in our kitchen for a good six months, waiting to be refinished, before we decided it wasn't right for us.  Lucky enough, it was right for another family member. 

We looked at the numbers and searched Craigslist for comparable listings to see what tables similar to ours were selling for.  We had tried to sell the chairs separately prior, since I like to mix and match pieces, and because we also had recovered the chairs three times already due to the kidlets.  They had been sitting in storage for over a year and we didn't have intentions of bringing them back into our home.  Instead, we were using temporary espresso wood chairs from our old lower level game table.  We were finding that we weren't going to get what we wanted out of the maple chairs, unless we gave in and sold the table and chairs together as a set.

Some of you may be wondering, what was so wrong with our previous table?


The table itself has a special place in our hearts.  More on a sentimental level since it was our first furniture purchase when we built our home over eleven years ago.  But it was just that, our first furniture purchase.  We knew nothing about purchasing furniture, or had any clue about how our family would expand.  The chairs were covered in a beautiful ivory fabric and we purchased everything as a set vs. mixing and matching pieces to create a more unique feeling {which I later grew to adore}.  Although beautiful in the photo above, the table began to show it's age.  It had a maple veneer finish that would easily scratch and ding and wasn't something that could be fixed easily.  And at the end of the day, we were just over the Maple.  And since it wasn't a real wood top, we couldn't even have sanded it down to refinish it to better please our style.

So, we decided to list it on Craigslist.  Surely we would be able to find a table in our budget before the photo crew showed up at our door.  No problem.... ha!

Little did I realize that within hours of listing the table... she would be gone....


She sold on a Monday, so we made plans to keep on with the house projects throughout the week and begin our table search on Saturday.  Big mistake.

Who would have thought searching for a dining table would be so hard?  Especially because we knew exactly what we wanted!  And Bryan and I even agreed what style table we were after, which meant is would be even easier to bring one home.  We wanted this table:


Oh, but we didn't want that price.  $1300 for just the table?  I knew I could do better.  I was determined to do better!

Seventeen stops it took us before finding the right table.  Sun up to sun down on Saturday, we hauled a trailer around the entire Twin Cities area.  We looked at high end furniture stores.  We looked at thrift and consignment stores.  We looked at design centers, more furniture stores and even unfinished wood furniture places.  And then we thought we found it.  The perfect match to our high end Pottery Barn inspiration table....


We had stopped into the Macy's furniture store and we gazed at this beauty.  My hubby was about to hand over the cash, $600 total {now on sale for even less!}  But then we got to chatting and they were going to be able to have the table delivered.  They didn't have any in stock.  So after taxes and delivery charges, the table wasn't $600 anymore.  And then the bigger news, the delivery date would be the day before our magazine shoot.  And it wasn't even guaranteed.  That didn't sit so well with me.

So we told them we would call back and let them know for sure, after we did a little more searching.  Our very last stop of the day was a cute little furniture boutique in Minneapolis, called Nadeau.


This store has always been a favorite of mine to check out, as they always have unique pieces and pretty finished furniture for reasonable {and sometimes unreasonable} prices.

Ten minutes before closing, we made it there, and it took me a total of two minutes to find the table!  Happy dancing, jumping up and down and squealing are all a few of the things I did right then and there.  And even better yet, we could take it home that very day!  And even better the table was the best price we had found.

But my husband got cold feet.  The table didn't offer any leaves to expand or shrink down.  And there were small imperfections in the wood.  So he said no.  He said, we needed to sleep on it.  All of that running and searching and he was making me wait... Ugh!  Darn logical thinkers!

So I begged the kind folks at the store to hold it and I promised to let them know right away our decision in the morning.

My hubby and I chatted and chatted and went over all of the pros and cons.  The table was the perfect color, match and price.  It was available now and it was made of REAL wood.  That was my biggest argument.  Real wood that could be dented and dinged and scratched and the same dark beautiful wood would be below the surface.  Real wood that could be refinished someday.  It wasn't veneer and it would have love marks and character over the years of being used by our family. 

But my husband was still concerned about the size and the inability to shrink it if we needed to.  The full size of the table was the same as the full size of our previous table.  Which we only removed the leaves from twice in our years and years of using it.  In the end, all of the pros outweighed the single con, and we went back for our new dining room table!


Loooooooove doesn't even describe it.


Her curvy legs, beautiful wood finish.... sigh... it is amazing.


So, now we had our table, but we also needed seating.  Again, looking at the inspiration pic, I knew I could do less than $300 per chair for the slip-covered options, so we went to IKEA and snagged four of the Henriksdal.


I know what you are thinking.  Am I nuts?  Quite possibly, but I am also sure we have already confirmed that a few times over the past three years.  White slipcovered chairs while raising three busy boys.  I am seriously looking to be punished.


But I refused to believe my kids were messy.  And that I would have a problem having white chairs.  It was only a matter of time before the white chairs were moved around the home, and the brown espresso wooden chairs were back.  But that didn't make me happy.  I didn't want espresso wooden chairs and after looking hours upon hours for a suitable replacement, I knew I just wanted my slipcovered chairs back.  They were so so comfortable, they were washable and they gave our dining area the bright and fresh look I was after.  Plus, I needed something that was cozy since I love to move around my home when I work, and I figured quite a few hours would be logged at the table...


And then it hit me one day.  Boooom!  Like a ton of bricks!  What about a bench instead?  So I scoured inspiration pics and I totally loved the look.  And the practicality!  If we were to use a bench instead, we could fit three bottoms on the bench and bring the white chairs back!  Sweet!

I began looking into benches and found a few really great options, and then boom, it hit me again that we already had a bench in our master bedroom that we would toss our pillows and bedding onto at night.  So I grabbed it to see how it would fit and look.


It was only meant to be temporary, just to see how it would fit the table and the space.  Could the kids all fit on it?  What size would we need.  Would it look unbalanced or funny? 

But it was perfect.  Like it was meant to be.  And then it happened, ketchup spilled on it the first day.  And I wanted to cry.  But I grabbed a cloth that I ran under water and quickly wiped up the spill.  It came up and seconds later, it was like it was never there.  It was magical and I thought... this could work!


And it has!  It's been working for a good four months and I couldn't be happier! 

The boys like the bench and fit on it perfectly, and if they decide they would rather sit in a white chair, I am at ease since I know they can be washed.  In fact, I have only had to wash them once in the past seven months, and they still look great. 


The room is used and abused daily, but we love it and adore that it now offers a great compromise of pretty finishes, soft upholstery yet is family friendly and versatile.

Funny how the table completely changed the feeling of the space!




And to really drive the happiness home, the side by side dining table before and after:


So there you have it.  The roller coaster, happy ending story of our dining room table and seating. 

And for the final budget:
  • Table: $500
  • Chairs: $360
  • Bench: Already owned
  • Cash from selling previous table on Craigslist: -$400
  • Total:  $460
Much much better than the inspiration price!  Wahoo!

Let's chat.  Have you ever been on a wild goose chase for that perfect item that you refused to settle on?  Are you a furniture mixer and matcher too?  Have you recently discovered that a piece of furniture that has been living in your home for years, would work oh so much more brilliantly somewhere else?

133 comments:

  1. Love the new table, and the journey to get it! It looks so good in that space!

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  2. I recently took the leather recliner that matched the sectional/ottoman in the living room, moved it to my master and replaced it will 2 blush pink high back chairs I inherited from my Grandma. Makes the living room look more inviting and less cold.

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  3. The after is very lovely!

    We lived in NC for one assignment and went up to High Point: it was overwhelming and disappointing and busy but we finally found something we liked. I ended up ordering our dining set from a local boutique, though, because they gave a better deal. The table looks quite similar to yours. Unfortunately, the upholstery options weren't the greatest (we bought matching chairs), so I chose the most neutral cream. I put towels over the chairs when kids sit in them, take them off after the dinner to wash, and haven't had a problem. I recently discovered the lined drop cloths at the big box stores and have plans to make a few slip covers that won't let liquid through.

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    1. Oh yes! I was a part of the towel on the chair club for many years! :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  4. I live in MPLS and LOVE Nadeau! I totally agree with you on the pricing, but I love how everything is so unique and colorful. Great find - your dining room looks wonderful!

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    1. I agree with Nadeau.. such a fun store with really interesting pieces! Have you ever tried the little bakery around the corner from it? Its called Isles Buns & Coffee, and they have the best cinnamon roll "doggie tails" ever! Yum. I had no idea you lived in Minneapolis until this post!

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    2. Hmmm, I haven't heard of the bakery, but I will be sure to check it out, thanks for the suggestion! Nadeau is one of my "happy places" and in the summer, I love to go there just to window shop. :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  5. I love this story! It has all the right parts to making a beautiful room: luck, perseverance and a sense of style! awesome. xxoo

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  6. beautiful transformation! love that flower mirror above the bar so lovely! xx. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com

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  7. Great choice, the new table. It's an effective improvement. And indeed: why not a bench.

    I'm pondering over painting our table white. It is a kitchentable from IKEA, that looks still very o.k. - only the wood became yellowish over the years... But I wonder what it would look like with a bench for the kids...

    Fantastic idea. Thank you so much!

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  8. LOVE the new table! So glad you found it!! I have been looking for a bench for the end of our bed but have been unable to find one at the right price and size. I've been thinking about making one - we'll see. Your dining room looks amazing!!

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  9. Wow, your dinning room looks amazing! Love the table AND that bench!!!
    xo,
    Marcela
    http://tucasablogonline.blogspot.com

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  10. Love your dining room switch-outs! :)

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  11. PS: Love that pitcher you used as flower vase, where did you get it? I would look great as utensil holder in my kitchen ;)
    xo,
    Marcela

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  12. You are right Jen! It sure did change the whole look of your dining area!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I love the pop of color the bench offers.

    Oh how I wish I had your knack for mixing and matching. Everything here is too matchy. I am not liking it anymore. But, my hubby is not about to let me sell/replace furniture. I have an oak trestle table that we bought at HOM furniture in Woodbury, 14 yrs ago. It has those nicks and dings that you speak of.. It is also the same color stain/finish as our woodwork in our house. I don't know if I am up to sanding and refinishing the whole table, two leaves and six chairs. It has crossed my mind though, for a second. I have thought about even re-staining the entertainment center... Not sure on that either.. (old photos of my house) http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/source/20/206685/DSC_01553.jpg I am trying to update it ever slowly... Darker paint on the two living room walls. We added a sectional. Replaced the floral chair we bought 14 yrs ago with an IKEA Ektorp. I found a mirror for above the sectional at Kirkland's this weekend... $29!!! Score! http://momma-paparazzi.blogspot.com/2012/10/it-was-finished.html So what do you think?? Stain the entertainment center darker?? Have you used those gel stains?

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  13. I sold my dining room table and then lived without one for over a month. I never thought it would take that long but in the end we purchased a new table. We had a very small space and I had a very specific aesthetic in mins. I also went with the white hendriksal chairs too and really love them. IKEA has another parsons chair but it is tiny and doesn't feel as high quality. However, the chairs are BIG. They take up so much more room than the wood chairs, but I love the look. I really like your dining area, such an improvement!

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    1. My guess is that it would have been a month or more if we wouldn't have been under such a time crunch. Glad it worked out in the end for you! And yes, the chairs are BIG! I think that is why I love them, I sink right in! :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  14. I love that you find what you love and on a budget! I need to know where your bench is from... It is too perfect! Please share!

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    1. Thank you Christen!

      I found it a few years ago at Home Decorators, but you are in luck, they still have it: http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Hammond_Bench/330/

      {I would watch their sales, I know I paid less than the price they have it at now}

      xo!
      Jen

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  15. Love love love! The new table and chairs look gorgeous! We also use a bench, and I just adore it for kiddos. =)

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  16. Love it! Thanks for sharing your story too. I am on that chase right now as I look for the perfect loveseat in my budget. Budget being the hard part here! There are so many beautiful high end pieces but the lower end you get the more overstuffed they seem to be! Gah! Can't wait for my happy ending!

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  17. Absolutely love your dining room--all of it! New table, chairs, bench--I'm a big fan of mix and match. You and your husband did a great job. I searched for the perfect table (for me) for years. It's just me and I do all kinds of things on my table, not just eating. Didn't want four sharp corners because of grandkids. One day I wandered into a thrift shop and noticed they were having a sale on furniture. There it was -- a large white table with four rounded corners and very sturdy. Paired with my four hardwood chairs that I found by a dumpster, I'm very happy. Total investment $10!

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    1. Wow, that is a price that can't be matched! And I love that waiting paid off!

      xo,
      Jen

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  18. I heart that table, and the teal bench. I have a teal teapot that I would love to use for my inspiration but my husband is not so fond of the color. Our dining room is currently one grey wall (Vessel Grey Behr) and has a huge picture of a London bus on the cream wall. The other wall has a big picture 'window' into the family room. Our floors are (being installed as I type!) a mocha colored hardwood. We have a bar height table that we got a couple years ago. I wish I would have stuck to my guns and said no because our daughter was 3 when we got it. I have hated that table for the last 3 years. She's always falling off her chair and it doesn't seat more than 4. We squish 6 around it and someone is always hitting their knees trying to get up.

    I'd love a trestle table, with wood leg Eames style chairs. I have one in teal that I got at a consignment shop for $19. Total steal. I'm trying to convince my husband to just let me find something off Craigslist that I could refinish and make 'funky'. But until we sell our current table, no dice...he's incredibly unadventurous!

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  19. i love it! we have a nadeau in our city and it is such a cool place. like a treasure hunt for new furniture.

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  20. I'm in love with that room!! You're so right... it really lightens up and puts a smile on my face! Great job Jen... Great job indeed!

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  21. I love Nadeau! Such a good place for furniture! Your new table and chairs look like they belong in that room.

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  22. SUCH a difference! I've never been in love with maple, but since it worked so well before, I can see how it would have been hard to give up. Personally, I thought your impulsive decision was going to be a lot more, well, impulsive!

    Everything turned out so great, and I love that bench. Any details on it? I'm not sure if you shared previously, but I love the color and the size of it! It's always great to repurpose an item for another space in the house. What catches all your pillows now? :)

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    1. Hi Diane!

      I found the bench a few years ago at Home Decorators, but you are in luck, they still have it: http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Hammond_Bench/330/

      {I would watch their sales, I know I paid less than the price they have it at now}

      We actually moved a chair to the corner of the room that we now pile pillows on. :) It was a recent update, I will have to blog about it, looks better now too! :)

      xo!
      Jen

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  23. So fantastic. Sexy legs on the table, for sure. And I love that you went with the white slipcovered chairs. I am eyeing those for my captain's chair in our dining room. The whole space looks so inviting and beautiful. And such pretty photos, too!

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  24. beautiful!! i actaully clicked on your link to the Macys table and it looks like it went on sale.. if only i had space for it in my home!

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    1. Yes, I saw that! Crazy great price for the table. It really was lovely in person!

      xo,
      Jen

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  25. Ahh, going totally ga-ga right now over that bench!! Blue is my favorite color, and this shade is just gorgeous. The bench and white slipcovers make everything look so chic!

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  26. I love the new table and chairs! I swear though, I think my table is the same exact table as your old table :) Ivory fabric on the chairs as well....that need to be recovered because of my kiddos. We bought it from my husbands older brother and his wife, and its also about 11 years old. Table twins:)

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  27. Beautiful!!! I only recently happened upon your blog and love, love ,love your home and ideas!!! Can't wait to try some of them in my home. I have been looking for a buffet for a wall in my kitchen. I don't have a formal dining room. All kitchen, table and chairs, together. But I do have a wall where I could place one. Love yours!! Where did you find it? I want one with drawers for storage, as I don't have a lot of that in my kitchen either.

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    1. I found it years ago at homedecorators.com, and swapped out the bland wooden knobs for new hardware, which gave it a whole new look. They always have great options, and we have been really happy with the quality.

      xo,
      Jen

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  28. p.s. I LOVE your blog.. ive been a bit obsessed lately with organizing and de-cluttering because we are about to move out of state. Your blog has been so inspirational to me. thank you!

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  29. I love it! The mix of all three elements is amazing. It makes the whole room look elegant and chic. It should be in a magazine!

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  30. Beautiful Jen! Love the change! :)
    -Shayna
    www.TheWoodGrainCottage.com

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  31. Love this story. I would suggest microfiber cloths for your clean ups. I'm a norwex girl and suggest them but most microfiber cloths will get the bulk of a mess up.

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  32. I loved reading about your dining room table adventure! Your room looks fantastic, the table is spot on - as is the gorgeous bench. We have a bench for our 3 boys, too, and it works really well!

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  33. I LOVE it! We are in the process of transitioning our dinning room too! I've been eyeing those chairs! So glad to hear you love them! We have two boys and recently added a bench from ikea that I love but it's a hard bench. Totally easy to clean though which is a plus. I had the same idea if I were to get the white slip cover chairs then I could just wash when I need to. Our poor chairs we have now have been re-done so much that they are falling apart now and we need new chairs anyways!!
    I'm excited now!! Thanks for the post!

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  34. That is amazing!!! And I am SHOCKED that you got so much for your old one (not that there was anything wrong with it)... but that's wonderful! The new beauty fits that space perfectly and I love the dark with the light! Perfection.

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  35. Your wild goose chase really paid off. The darker wood table looks beautiful in your dining room and I love the upholstered benches.

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  36. Just lovely and what a deal! Love your entire story, love your blog. You bet, wild goose chases are what I do almost all the time in one way or another with my decorating and artwork. I can't help myself with the perfection I constantly strive for but the feeling of fulfillment is worth it.

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  37. Your house looks so gorgeous, I love home decor and that table is seriously gorgeous, I love the white it really adds a chic edge! Great post

    A little bit Unique

    x

    Oh and I'm running a giveaway, if you want to pop over and have a nosey! Giveaway here


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  38. It took us such a long time to find our dining room set. We found it in a catalog and ordered it without ever seeing it in person. We were so nervous, but it was/is perfect! A few years later we moved and went back to the same store and ordered the matching china cabinet and pie safe. It's still perfect!

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  39. Your new table is lovely and I am now planning a day off work to check out Nadeau :)

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  40. Love the new table, but I was drooling over the bench the whole time. I love the casual, but elegant look of it all. And, your photos are stunning! Can't wait to see it in person :)

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  41. Just curious if you kept the pottery barn rattan chairs or sold them? Wondered if you re-used them somewhere else in your house or not....I always liked them too but I absolutely love the changes you have made.....looks gorgeous!

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    1. Hi Kristen!

      I still have them. I am waiting until we finish up a couple of areas in our home before I determine if I will Craigslist them or not. I really love them and think they will work in other areas of our home or on our covered front porch in the summer. :)

      xoxo!
      Jen

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  42. LOVE this space! I'm sure I missed the boat on this one, but where did you buy your wine shelf AND your striped pitcher?? Love :)

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    1. Thank you! The shelf is this one from IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20159107/

      with these wine racks mounted below: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0Y6OY/ref=as_li_tf_tl/?ie=UTF8&tag=iheaorga-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000H0Y6OY

      And the striped pitcher was $10 at HomeGoods! :) LOVE it!

      xo,
      Jen

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  43. What a beautiful transformation-- and a great story to go with it! You have me thinking about how I can rework my dining room now...that's always dangerous! ;) Thanks for the inspiration, Miss Jen!

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  44. I remember when we got our very first dining table.....we still have it in fact!!! It was second hand, we bought it from our neighbor. I still LOVE it! Your new dining room looks perfect. The bench is serendipity!!! Perfect punch of color. Enjoy every spill, they wil grow up WAY too fast, trust me. BTW, if you ever want to get rid of those rattan chairs, PLEASE let me know! XO, Pinky

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    1. Thanks Pinky! So happy you found your dream table. :) And I am clutching super hard to those seagrass chairs, but I can definitely let you know the day I have to let them go...

      xo!
      Jen

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  45. I love the table and the fact that the legs are on the corners to make seating comfortable for everyone (nothing worse than knocking your knees on pedastals)! My wild goose chase was for our home. We were relocating from Scotland to Houston and only had 3 weeks to purchase (based on el hub's work policy)...well 2 weekends and 71 house later we found the winner, which of course was #71. But I am thrilled that we didn't settle and we have been having a blast renovating the house and making it our home!

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    1. WOW! That is a lot of houses!!! So happy you found "the one" :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  46. Love, love, love the look. You have inspired me. I'll be moving in a couple of weeks and since I am going from the midwest to Florida, I've sold a lot of my furniture. So, once I get unpacked, the hunt will begin. I can't wait.

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  47. It looks fabulous! I think the bench was a wonderful and creative idea :) The space is certainly brighter and more inviting! Great job girl!

    XO Samantha

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  48. I love the look! I have 2 boys, 8 and 9, and people (my mom and sister) thought I was nuts when I swapped out black wooden chairs from Target for some ballard designs parsons chairs I bought off craiglist. I already had a black crate & barrel pedestal table I loved but the black chairs were matchy-matchy and the set too dark. The new chairs have removable slip covers and it just softens the room. I still have the wooden chairs in my garage b/c I was afraid the new chairs would be a disaster. It has been since Xmas and I have only spot cleaned a few times. I already had a bench, too, and I had a cushion made from someone on etsy. If really little people are over I sometimes just take off the cushion and let them sit on the bench.

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  49. I have been searching for 2 years for kitchen chairs to go with our hand me down table. Very hard to find unique and comfortable chairs. I am not matchy, matchy but I don't like certain styles. The hunt continues.

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  50. I'm so jealous that the closest Nadaeu to me is 3 hours away :(.

    I've definitely been known to mix and match - both with old and new, different styles, craigslist finds, etc. I'm very lucky to have extremely generous parents who have kept all their old furniture for when my sisters and I get our own places! I proudly own a small dining room table that my parents purchased for their first cottage in the UK. It, along with my coffee table (which used to be the door to a captains room on a ship - you can still see the hinges) have made it from Newcastle, England to my little apartment here in coastal North Carolina 20+ years later in one piece and looking GREAT. I love having pieces from my childhood which have finally found new homes in my adult apartment :-D.

    Love the blog Jen and appreciate the inspiration as I am DIY-ing my first apartment! I haven't quite got to the organizing stage yet, but am nearly there and especially excited to tackle my kitchen this month.

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  51. Jen!
    I just had an " aha" moment for my own dining area!
    After reading about your adventure of a new table, which is lovely! I have a round dark wood table with a granit top. I am going to which out my two espresso chairs, for two chairs, like yours from Ikea! I have a corner "L" shape bench that is a pine color. I am going to prime and paint the bench white, sew a new bench cushion for it!
    Never ever thought about a re-do of my dining area until I just read about your new table!
    Ooo I've got some planning to do now!
    Thank-you Jen.... You have inspired me once again!
    ~Blessings~
    Rhonda

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    1. LOVE that!! <3 That's what it is all about! Yet I am sorry if I just added a bunch of extra projects to your plate ;)

      xo,
      Jen

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  52. The new table looks beautiful! I purchased a vintage french table last year and had been obsessed with the look of mixed chairs...especially host chairs. I wound up buying two of World Market's Hayden chairs in linen. Whenever we have dinner parties, I also pull up a bench for extra seating. It's perfect for kids. Now I can't imagine going back to a super matchy-matchy set.

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  53. You are really creative person. I enjoy the way you decorate and refresh your surroundings. You chose very nice furniture, it fits your home style. I also decorate my home with IKEA items and I hope it also looks fasionable and cute as yours.

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  54. LOVE the new table! Great find! We are planning a kitchen renu in the near future and your table will be my inspiration! Question, where did you get your light fixture above the table? I love it!!

    Thanks!

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    1. Hi Lizzie!

      The chandelier is from Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202326281&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&MERCH=REC-_-SearchPLPHorizontal1-4-_-NA-_-202326281-_-N#.URsPR2dZ1BE

      xoxo!
      Jen

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  55. Your dining room is sweet!...I am a Nadeau...I did not know that my last name was a furniture store.

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  56. Love the new table/dining combo! Looks great. I have a quick question for you. My house has a similar floorplan (no traditional dining room to speak of). How do you "split the difference" between a casual, everyday family space and a prettier dining room for entertaining? Do you accessorize differently? Also when entertaining, how do you keep the kitchen on the up and up? In other words, I love my open floorplan. But whenever I have anyone over (even for a cup of coffee), I feel like I have to keep the kitchen spic and span because I'm forced to look at it the entire time! Do you think we'll get "some walls back" with the next wave of new home construction? Sorry, this post is rambling! :)

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    Replies
    1. It is very true that it is challenging. And to think we are taking more walls out {hopefully}. :) In a dreamy world, my dining would be separate, but I just have to be OK that it is not and that the kitchen mess can be seen. We don't do a lot of extravagant entertaining and we are a pretty laid back family, so I just try to keep the kitchen tidy and set the mood in the "dining area" when the time comes. Someone once told me to use a Rubbermaid storage bin to toss your dirty kitchen dishes into and tuck it to the side until after to wash. That way, they are temporarily out of site.

      xoxo!
      Jen

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  57. I, too, bought a dining table when we'd been married just a few years, and although I spent a good bit of money on it, my tastes have changed and I'd love to have a different one now! I need to just buckle down and look for a great deal like you did, and I also want to mix and match chairs and a bench like you did. We have four kids (10, 8, 4 and 1), so bench seating would be great for us! Love what you've done. :-)

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  58. My favorite part is the green and write vase with the pink flowers. I love it.

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  59. Your dining area has come together so nicely! You certainly were brave with your use of fabrics with all those little people but it's gorgeous! I love how you turned your vision of the space into a reality.
    MelanieL

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  60. Where is the vase on the table from? I love it!

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    Replies
    1. I scored the green and white pitcher from HomeGoods for $10! I was so excited to find it, it is amazingly bright and happy. :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  61. This is just fabulous!! Love everything!! Where on earth did you get that cute green and white striped pitcher? I want one!! Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kim!

      I found it for $10 at HomeGoods! It wasn't too long ago so fingers crossed they still have some. :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  62. I'm a mixer and matcher as well. I love your new dining room! Like the commenter above, I'd love to know where you got the vase.
    Brenda

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    Replies
    1. Hi Brenda!

      I scored the green and white pitcher from HomeGoods for $10! I was so excited to find it, it is amazingly bright and happy. :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  63. Love it!! You did a great job mixing the dark wood and white. I'm on a hunt for chairs to go with an Ikea desk. It is sooo hard!

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  64. "...it was made of REAL wood...It wasn't veneer and it would have love marks and character over the years of being used by our family." ---best line ever!! Looks beautiful Jen, I was waiting for this post! ~Anita Y. in southern California

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  65. MY JAW DROPPED
    you live in the twin cities toooooo?!?! I love this blog 10x's even more now.

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  66. I have always loved those white chairs from Ikea too! Your table looks amazing! Now, I can't wait to check out Nadeau sometime.

    ~Sarah

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  67. I actually like your new table much better then the one you had originally picked out....wonderful!! Love it...you got me thinking on the chair covers from Ikea...they look great. Will have to check out Ikea to see if they come in different colors.
    http://littlebrags.blogspot.com

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  68. Love the contrast of the dark table and the pops of color really bring the room together. I love your aqua binder and was wondering if you could share where to find one.

    Thank you,
    Andrea Elliott

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  69. It looks so great Jen! I love everything you've done with the dining room! The table, the chairs, the bench, oh my! Love how things all come together like that!

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  70. Mix and match-er over here! Love the table and the contrasting darks and lights....
    I SEARCHED high and low for my perfect dining room table, and finally resigned myself to the fact that I had dreamed up something that didn't exist. My husband and I splurged and found an amazing guy that makes custom tables from reclaimed barn wood.
    New fans of your site, I blogged about my dining room table as well here:
    http://aristocraftgirls.com/dining-room-makeover-mix-traditional-and-contemporary-design/

    Funny thing... I was thisclose to buying those EXACT Ikea chairs, but found pattern fabric chairs at Target, waited until they went on sale and snapped them up. I'm a chronic color block-er and have to force myself to add patterns into my decor!

    Love your site, and would love you to check ours out too!!
    <3 AristoCraft Girls

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  71. I think you should add to your business :) One sends you a picture of her dining room and you use your Olioboard tool to help out with some inspiration! I would totally pay. My dining room is open to our living area and I struggle with whether or not I have to make it one big room and keep the color scheme the same or if I can do different things even though you can see it all at the same time. Thoughts??

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  72. Love the table! I just moved to Minneapolis and was excited to learn about a great furniture store. I was even more excited to learn that it's only half a mile from my apt. :) Thanks!

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  73. I just dont get why wives bring their hubs along shopping! Is he really that involved? I would rather just stay home than take my man with me! I just go buy whatever the heck I want and then call him and tell him where to go pick it up! Haha! I guess everyone is different! It looks beautiful tho!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We always make all large purchases together. When it's an investment, or something that we plan to live with for long periods of time, it's important to make those decisions together. Plus, we are a good balance, it seems he always thinks of the things I don't. :)

      xoxo!
      Jen

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  74. Jen, let me start by saying I really love your blog and I have gotten so many ideas from you, even if I have not put them all to use just yet. I had a question for you regarding the dining area. It seems to me that this is your everyday dining table, right? if yes, how does it fare with the kids etc every day? are you worried it will get damaged? I have a formal dining room in my house but I converted it to a piano room and decided I will only have one dining area --my kitchen is big enough. But I haven't got a new table yet, although we badly need it, because I'm worried that the kids (9 and 7) will ruin it and that I will worry about it too much. I would be grateful to hear your thoughts/suggestions on this! Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lily!

      You are correct, that is our everyday dining table. We do not have a formal dining room in our home. The table has done really well for us with the kids, and if they happen to dent or ding it, it will be OK since it is real wood, and I hope to hold on to it for years. I imagine it will get its share of lovin' and abusing and we anticipated that when we purchased it. If you are nervous about the kids, you could use vinyl placemats where they eat as it would be hard to damage the table through the placemats.

      xo!
      Jen

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    2. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to me when you get so many comments! I do appreciate it. You're right. I think I need to take the plunge and just get a nice table regardless... I hope you enjoy your lovely dining room for many many years!

      Delete
  75. I LOVE your blog! It's in my 'favs' in my reader. :) Where did you get the super pretty flower mirror above your white shelf?

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  76. Beautiful. You are persistent, and I love the bench. I have been looking for one myself. Enjoy your success.

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  77. I just adore your blog!!!! I look forward to reading it everyday. What a beautiful space. Would you mind sharing where the chalkboard menu came from or was it a diy?? Thank you!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! Here is a link to the chalkboard DIY: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/03/project-teal-chalk-it-to-me-again.html

      xo!
      Jen

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  78. Love it so much! Is the table runner gray? I've been on the hunt for a gray one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris!

      Check out Target, I saw a really great one there. :) But that was a bit ago.

      xo!
      Jen

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  79. Hi Jen, I'm looking to purchase a 5ft dining table and plan to use the same chairs from Ikea. They're great chairs. I can't help but sit in them every time I visit Ikea (which is often). I was curious about the dimensions of your table. How long is it and do those chairs fit comfortably around it? Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jennifer!

      Our table is 82" x 38". :) So almost 7 ft long.

      They are super cozy chairs!

      xo,
      Jen

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  80. I know that this has nothing to do with this post but I've been looking for a notebook to make a planner out of. I like that blue one you showed. Where did you get it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is part of the Martha Stewart line at Staples. It is a discbound notebook. I blogged about it here: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-2013-daily-planner.html

      xo!
      Jen

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  81. Love that mirror!!! Where did you find it???

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    Replies
    1. I actually DIY'd it with inspiration from The Nester. You can find the details here: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/02/iheart-good-weekend-update.html

      xoxo!
      Jen

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  82. Jen,
    Where did you get your lovely cake stand? I adore it!

    Love love love your blog!

    Thanks!
    Lisa

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa!

      It came in a set of three and I purchased them during a flash sale at Joss & Main. You could also check HomeGoods, I always see cute ones there.

      xo,
      Jen

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  83. Hi Jen: I love your style, and have been looking for a dark table/white chairs combination for a while.
    My youngest is only 2 (usually in a highchair) -i don't think he could manage the bench, and i don't think i could manage washing his chair every other day. :-)
    I'm wondering what would you have done if the bench didn't work out? Did you have a "plan B" for chairs?

    thanks so much!
    xoxo

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    Replies
    1. My plan A was to do a wooden bench, but this one we already owned and ended up working perfect! :) There are plenty of beautiful white wood chairs that I am sure could work also, if you are not interested in washing the slipcovers.

      Check out IKEA and overstock, even Target.com.

      xo,
      Jen

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  84. Hello. I have been inspired and found the table and chairs! What are the dimensions on your bench? OR where did you get it from? I understand you already had it, just wondering if you remember where you got it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Loida!

      I found the bench a few years ago at Home Decorators, but you are in luck, they still have it: http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Hammond_Bench/330/

      {I would watch their sales, I know I paid less than the price they have it at now}

      They also have the dimensions for the bench listed on the site. :)

      xo,
      Jen

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    2. OMG you are the first person to ever respond to a question I have about home decor. You have no idea how happy I am! Thank you for taking the time to respond. I am working diligently trying to find pieces to do what you did at a price I can afford.

      Delete
  85. Hi I was wondering if you painted the floating shelf white or you just replaced it with a new one? I have some dark ones that I was thinking about painting white but I'm not sure how to or if it will hold up. I LOVE YOUR BLOG, and it drives my hubby nuts that I want to organize every nook and crany but he loves the ease of finding things and is even getting used to putting stuff away :-) Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!! :)

      We actually replaced the shelf with a new white one, and moved the darker ones to our son's closet.

      However, I had another shelf which was the same style. I spray painted it and it seemed to hold up pretty well. I think it is just important to use a good spray paint, either with primer built in or making sure to prime first, and making sure it has time to cure well before using it.

      Good luck and tell your hubby sorry for me! ;)

      xo,
      Jen

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    2. Thanks I think I might go for the painting when the weather is hotter I live in CT and its starting to get chilly out here. U r really making a difference with ur blog in a lot of peoples homes, thank u for u organizing, and beautifying tips. I wish u and ur family many blessings, health and success.
      Thanks,
      Lilly

      Delete
  86. Are the chairs brand new, or did you just buy the slip cover itself? I am thinking of buying slip covers from Ikea, not the actual chair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I purchased both the chairs and covers from IKEA.

      xo!

      Delete
  87. Hi Jen. Are your Ikea slip covers an off white color? I went to get some, thinking they were white, and then found they weren't a true white. I already have white curtains for the dining room, which it seems you do also. I just couldn't completely tell what color your chairs were. Do you like it (which I'm guessing you do!) with the off white slip covers and white curtains?
    Thanks!
    Erin

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    Replies
    1. Hi Erin,
      My slipcovers are a soft white. They were very close to the curtain color, which I had also purchased at IKEA {the MERETE in bleached white} The chair covers we selected are the HENRIKSDAL Blekinge white.

      Hope that helps and that you can find what you are looking for,
      Jen

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    2. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! We just moved to a house that has a dining room and I'm totally copying yours because I love it. I've had the white Ikea curtains for several years, but I can't currently locate them as they are still in a box. When I got the chair covers home I was thinking they were a lot more off white than the curtains were. I'm glad they all look good together. I can't wait to get everything unpacked and set up in our dining room!

      Delete
  88. Love your room! The bench is my favorite. Do you mind sharing the paint color on your walls?

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  89. Beautiful room and the table and chairs are gorgeous......where did you get the sideboard, I am looking for one very similar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! The sideboard was purchased from Home Decorators many years ago, but I have also seen similar styles at Walmart, Target & Pottery Barn. I also always recommend checking out Craigslist.

      xoxo!

      Delete
  90. Just came across your blog...love table and bench idea! Also can you tell me where you found your buffet table and shelf for hanging wine glasses....I'm the hunt for a beautiful and not break the bank buffet table!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! The sideboard was purchased from Home Decorators many years ago, but I have also seen similar styles at Walmart, Target & Pottery Barn. I also always recommend checking out Craigslist. The shelves are LACK shelves from IKEA, and I attached wine glass holders found on amazon (http://amzn.to/1VCk9ry) below.

      Delete

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