pink explosion

Not so long ago, I was lamenting about the sad state of affairs in my dining room.  I had a bold plan to change things up.

We’re not looking at a completed transformation here, but the progress is substantially complete enough (imho) to chronicle.

Anyone remember where we started?

The secretary is now in the bedroom (beneath the round mirror here) and we are contemplating finish colors.

The paintings and prints are awaiting new landing places.

And I’m going to live with things for a while here.  And hope the room gives me some hints about where to go next.  While I cannot name an identifiable decorating style for our home, the overarching themes we keep in mind are serene, uncomplicated and reminiscent of the seashore.

It’s a very large space and I find that my attempts to add interest with small details often seem invisible in the larger context.

 

One of the reasons I selected pink.  It’s impossible to not notice.  This was the dresser originally.  Nice scale, smooth lines.  I had hoped for a different result with the painted finish, in all honesty.

I wanted a light distressed finish, but wanted a darker brown color beneath the pink.  I goofed.  I used primer, then applied 2 layers of brown, then 2 layers of pink.  When I tried sanding, it was a mess.  Muddy and dirty looking.  Not at all what I had envisioned.  So in the end, I just added a nice layer of paste wax over the pink for a soft, smooth finish.

The hardware is from Anthropologie.  I wanted to echo the silvery tone in the large mirror on the adjacent wall.

The little frames to the left of the suzani hold a collection of costume jewelry – sparkly brooches pinned to white cotton, a look I borrowed from an earlier project.   And instead of using my quilt press to hang the suzani, I sewed 3 yardsticks to the top of the fabric (on the back side) and attached 5 string loops across the top to distribute the weight.

And the accessory in the middle of the dining table is my favorite seaglass arrangement.  The arrangement is actually pretty large, but everything looks small in this gigantic room. 

I like the addition of color and the change of furniture and wall accessories.  The scale is so much better now.  It may not be perfect, or complete, but it is definitely an improvement.  Thank you so much for reading and for your earlier suggestions! 

 

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Linking to

Pinkalicious Thursday at Frugalicious Me

It’s a Party at A Creative Princess

Blogger Block Party at Debbiedoos

Funky Junk Interiors

Chic on a Shoestring

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Handy Man, Crafty Woman

Coastal Charm

The House in the Roses

Between Naps on the Porch

Be Colorful

The Girl Creative

Boogieboard Cottage