Today’s Friday Lust post is all about dining tables and chairs. Ooh la la.

In my post earlier this week, I told you all about how much I hate our dining set. It was absolutely perfect for our apartment that we lived in from 2007-2010, but now it’s just not what I envision for my home. It’s also hard to scoot the stools/benches in once you sit down, and it’s just…not me.

It’s got 2 stools + 2 benches (and a wedge we’re not using that connects the 2 benches to form a L shape), so it sits about 6 people. It’s counter height and nearly impossible to find a table cover for. Sad face.

Here’s what I’d rather have:

Traditional Dining Room by Burnsville Design-Build Firms Highmark Builders

Contemporary Dining Room by Lewis Center Interior Designers & Decorators Instyle Interiors

Traditional Dining Room by Centreville Photographers Buchanan Photography

Traditional Dining Room by Vancouver Architects & Designers Kerrisdale Design Inc

I want a gorgeous, weathered pedestal or trestle table with really beautiful chairs that have tufting or nailhead accents. The overall vibe I am wanting is sort of like if Restoration Hardware and ZGallerie hooked up for a one-night stand and had a baby. I WANT THAT BABY. Rustic, glamorous, classy and timeless. I also love the weathered, hand scraped table look because if a friend slams a glass on the table, or I drop a fork onto it, it just adds to the character. I don’t want a normal, super smooth finish, cherry or espresso dining set.

And that may be why I can’t find anything I can friggin afford. Here’s what I have found so far. In a perfect world, I’d buy this table:

$1295 from Restoration Hardware

And then I’d buy 6 of these chairs:

$449 each from Restoration Hardware

And then I’d move on with my life. But unfortunately, I don’t have thousands to spend on this endeavor, so onto the copycat versions of these pieces. This table from World Market is a strong contender, but the finish is too dark…

On sale for $499 through 9/30/13 @ World Market.

Then there’s the Cane Dining Table from Home Decorator’s Collection- I called to get the specs, and it seems like it will only seat 4 because the overhang at the edges is only 9 inches. Although, in a pinch, I don’t think it’s awful…but then again I wouldn’t be the one sitting at the edge. I’m also iffy on the color since it looks gray washed in one photo and really dark in another. On sale through 9/30/13- $599.

And another potential table from Home Decorator’s, but I wonder if the 48” size would be too small for my space? I’d like to be able to fit 6 people, so this may not work. I’m also not 100% on board with a circular table.

On sale through 9/30/19 for $359.

 

However, I’m about to contradict myself because I LOVE this round table from Ballard Designs:

$1199 at BD.

 

Chairs are easy enough to find, and although they’re cheaper than RH’s version, they’re not that cheap, KWIM?

 

$301 for a pair at Overstock.

 

Sigh. I don’t know what to do. I want what I want, and I know this is not a project I’d ever want to DIY, so do I just save up for my dream dining set? I’ve thought about freshening up my current set with some slipcovers or something, but finding slipcovers for the 2 benches is proving to be quite a task.

 

Advice, thoughts? If anyone cares to sponsor my entire dining set, please let me know. (Hey, it never hurts to ask) :)

This post is going to have a ton of pictures, so I totally apologize in advance if I cause you to go over your data plan for you mobile users.

My dining room has kind of stayed as is, plus or minus seasonal décor, ever since I did this reveal post last year. Well, the hubster and I have been lusting after a new dining table, so we rearranged the space a bit to see what it’d feel like in a different configuration. Ok, and I sort of lied…I’ve been lusting after a new dining table while my husband is 100% OK with the set we have.

It is the bane of my existence. But more about that in a post later this week.

We flip flopped the layout and now it looks like this when you walk in:

Now the dining table is what greets you when you walk in (before it was the sofa), and I’ll admit I despised the layout the first few days…Now I LOVE IT! It flows nicely, the room feels more spacious—which is a challenge since the room is about 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. Yeah, seriously narrow and long.

The chandelier is centered beautifully over the table, and mercury and jewel tone accents add drama to the space.

The candlesticks and mercury glass pumpkin are from one of my top 5 favorite stores: ZGallerie. The blue and magenta pumpkins are from Hobby Lobby, and the flocked damask runner is a wedding leftover from Kohl’s holiday collection back in 2008. Silver chargers are 98-cents each at Walmart.

Past the dining table, is a comfy, luxe seating area perfect for cocktails with the gals. Plus, there’s a doorway that leads straight to the kitchen, so that it’s easy to get refills on drinks or check on the puffed pastry in the oven.

And if you haven’t noticed, I finally splurged on some curtains with COLOR. My other ones were 5 different shades of beige, and these are STUNNING. They are a gorgeous peacock blue color, but when the light hits them, they can morph into having more green or blue. I am in love! The price is oh so right—these gorgeous SIlkana Teal Curtains are only $52 for a pair, and they are worth every penny. They do not totally block out the light, but they do filter it so it just softly embraces a room. Highly recommend!

And now onto more pictures and less of me talking…

 

Pee Wee always comes into my blog photo shoots to give his approval.

Or to lounge.

That mirrored table off to the left developed a HUGE crack out of nowhere. Ugh. So now a nice serving tray from World Market covers that sucker up.

I’m still obsessed with my ghost chair. I’m writing this very sentence right now while sitting in my ghost chair from Overstock. It’s so comfy. I think my circa 2008 Dell PC is an eyesore. Maybe Santa will bring me a new all in one PC this year…or maybe a Mac? Hhmm.

This frame is one of those fugly gold frames you can find at garage sales. While the gold may be old/ugly, a coat of spray paint can work wonders! Plus, look at those gorgeous, ornate elements on the frame.

These flocked damask pillows were a great score at JCP a few years back. I got 4 of them for $6 each.

The mirrors are from Kirkland’s and were about $10 each. They always have sales and coupons (plus you can use coupons from your phone), so I always go to Kirkland’s for affordable home décor such as mirrors, vase filler, and pumpkins for fall.

There you have it! Again, the primary “makeover” aspect of this simply involved moving around furniture, and bringing in accents from other rooms, but in the interest of full disclosure, I did splurge on the following:

• New Silkana Teal Window Panels (4 panels, $100 total)
• New trellis patterned pillow ($15 at Ross)
• New magenta pumpkin ($4 at Hobby Lobby)
• New black lamp shade ($10 at Ross)
• New bright white bulbs ($12 at Walmart)

Total: About $150 for a whole new look!

I have this obsession for pumpkins, so I love being able to scatter them throughout my home. The dining room won’t get to enjoy the fall décor too much since I have been selected for a super awesome opportunity that I’ll tell you about later this week. IT IS EXCITING!! I am so over the moon about it and can’t wait to gush all the details to you lovely people.

There are a few things I want to change about the space, in addition to getting rid of the dining table. I’d love a luxe throw with a fun geometric or damask print, a bar cart, wine fridge, recessed lights, a tufted storage ottoman, more wall décor, mirrored/acrylic serving tray, metallic pillows, and a less “beige” wall color. Oh and a gorgeous arm chair! I’ll be working on those during the next phase of my dining room facelift. :)

What do you think of my “new” dining room? Like? Love? Want to come over and have drinks with me?

If you have any questions about anything in my dining/office/living room area, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll reply to you in the comments as soon as I can.

But here are some questions I am anticipating and will just answer now:

• Where is the sofa from? Macy’s: Chloe Sofa in Granite
• What is the wall color? Sahara Desert Sand by Glidden
• Where are the chandeliers from? Home Depot: Maria Theresa Chandelier
• Where is the “C” table from? Pier 1’s Hayworth Collection

I LOVE FALL.

Even though here in South Texas it’s more like “less summer” than “true fall,” I love grabbing my bins full of pumpkins that I’ve been collecting the past 4 or so years. They’re mostly metallic and sparkly, and I adore each of them like I would a small child.

My lil’ pumpkins.

That sounded kinda dirty, my apologies.

But I also love curating and collecting more fall items every year, so needless to say, I’ve been scouring my fave websites to see what I want to nab this year. And I figured maybe my Monica Wants It readers would also like to get in on the fun, so I bring to you my top 10 frugal fall finds for the home that will give you a lot of bang for your buck for years to come.

I tried to keep them under $20 each with shipping/tax included, or under $10 if you can find them at a store near you.

And you may think it’s kind of early to have such a post, but trust me, if you snooze, you lose. Browse early, buy early, enjoy early.

1.) Fall Scent: Every fall home needs a signature scent. The one in my home used to be creamy pumpkin, but from 2011 until I die, it will now be cinnamon sugared donut by Bath & Body Works.

At $5 for a little jar of their home fragrance oil, this will last you for YEARS. I’ve had some little vials of scents for over 5 years and am still not done with the bottle. About 5 drops will scent your whole darn house, unless you live in a mansion, in which case, stop reading this list and invite me over for a cocktail or 4.

2.) Sparkly Pumpkins: People, the dollar store is your BFF. And like your BFF, you should visit and chat with her on the regular. If you did this, you’d know that Dollar Tree is rolling out their GOOD Halloween stuff already. If you go in October, you’ll end up with the vampire teeth candy that I am pretty sure is made of chalk, not sugar. They have a new addition this year that is actually kinda cute:

Glittery gourds! These would be great to incorporate on mantles or tablescapes. And unlike typical fold out décor (honeycomb baby shower centerpiece, anyone?) these don’t look tacky! $1 each at Dollar Tree.

3.) Shimmering Votive Holders: The great thing about this set is not only the gorgeousness of them, but it’s also the fact that if you want to leave these up into Christmas, New Year’s or Easter (don’t judge) they totally will look fine. Even better? Go halfsies with a friend, and you can get 6 stunning, shimmering votive holders for $10. If you can’t find anyone to go halfsies with, $20 at ZGallerie.

4.) Mercury Glass Pumpkin: I show you how to easily make one, but if DIY is not your thing, the absolute cheapest and most beautiful mercury glass pumpkin is $18 at Kirkland’s. I’ve seen this beauty in person, and she is swoon worthy. Print coupons (or show them the coupon on your smartphone) for even more savings.

5.) Acorn Vase Filler: It may seem silly to buy these, but I unsuccessfully attempted to DIY this last year and ended up with moldy acorns. This set of 54 acorns for $14.50 with free shipping from Pottery Barn is not too shabby. Spray paint them a metallic finish (perhaps half gold/half silver?) for a glitzy finish. Great for vases, candles, or simply scatter them on a table and don’t let squirrels in the house.

6.) Faux Dupioni Chair Wrap: These are so beautiful! Perfect for making your dining set look “new” again, plus if you choose a creamy neutral, it could be great for Thanksgiving/Christmas, too. From Grandin Road, one is $19 or you can get a pair for $29. I am thinking of buying a pair for the 2 head chairs of my dining set.

7.) Pumpkin Serving Dish: This is such a nice way to incorporate some décor when hosting a dinner party. Use it to hold chips, pumpkin fluff or whatever else you desire. At only $8.97 (currently) from Collections, Etc.

8.) Chenille Leaf Placemat: I think the pattern and colors are striking, which means a big impact for only $4 a place setting (on sale) from Kohl’s. I think I need a set of these.

9.) Pumpkin Tea Light Holder: I know, I know…I’m obsessed with mercury glass pumpkins. This one serves double duty, as décor and tea light holder, and is a decent size (6”) and only $10 from Yankee Candle. It’s online only, but luckily they offer flat $5 shipping on all orders under $100.

 

10.) Burlap Table Runner: I used to be an Etsy seller (still on a semi-permanent hiatus), so I really wanted to showcase a seller who makes beautiful products at affordable prices and is not a huge corporate store. This burlap runner is $10 from Handmade by Sam, and would look beautiful, rustic and chic on any table.

There you have it! Ten accessories for your home that won’t break the bank. If you have a find you’d love to share, please leave it in the comments for everyone to see or hop on over to my Facebook page.

What’s your favorite item on the list?

Also, I was thinking of doing something like this every-other-Monday (with a different them and featuring 5-10 curated items…) is that something you all would like or not really?

Remember last month when I wrote about my $500 bathroom makeover plans? Well, I got started!

There are 5 ways to make sure your bathroom makeover dollars work smart and hard. Here’s what I learned while making over my guest bathroom. Over the summer we have family come over, lots of get togethers, game nights, etc. and it’s always nice to have a clean, fresh, gorgeous bathroom.

Ours was SO not that when I started on this project.

As you all can see, I removed ALL the wallpaper! YAY! Removing the wallpaper instantly brightened up the bathroom.

Here are the 5 things I felt made the most impact for little money:

1.) Paint: I painted the wall and ceiling. People forget the ceiling, but for about $60 you can give your bathroom a whole new look in a weekend.

The paint color I ended up choosing is Rainwashed by Sherwin Williams.

2.) Accent Wall: I used a stencil to create an accent wall. This is fun in this particular space because the mirror faces that wall, so it sort of feels like I stenciled 2 walls, if that makes sense.

3.) New accessories: Use what you have! A simple DIY project is taking satin ribbon + Glue Dots and adding it around vases or apothecary jars you might have on hand. Using Glue Dots makes the DIY project non-permanent so you can easily re-use accessories for the holidays, etc. Also, a decorative bag of potpourri can give your bathroom a fab smell + you can use the potpourri as vase filler like I did below. Another tip, use votive holders or even toilet/paper towel rolls to put in the center so you don’t need quite as much filler. No one will ever know!

4.) New towels: Towels can be as cheap or expensive as you’d like them to be, but nothing beats the feel of a fancy towel. We bought the white ones seen in the photos at Marshall’s for about $4-$6 a towel and they are heaven in a towel. Or if you don’t want to buy new towels, maybe check out the awesome Kleenex hand towels. They come 60 to a box, and are perfect for guest bathrooms. My sister-in-law sometimes stays over and she has a 3 year old and 1 year old…they have to wash their hands a ton! Kleenex hand towels make it easy on all of us. I don’t worry about random kiddy things on my nice towels and she can wash their hands up to 30 times a piece before I run out.

The nice thing about the Kleenex hand towels are that they easily fit on a normal towel bar.

5.) New light bulbs! Yes, new light bulbs. With the affordability of CFL’s these days, there’s no excuse not to get some that either create bright light, daylight, warm light, etc. So many options, and an easy way to bring new light to your space. Literally. These silver items always had a yellow cast to them before we switched to the CFL’s. Now it’s bright and shiny.

And bonus tip: Clean! This one is so obvious, but there’s nothing like a clean bathroom. Your fixtures will look brighter, your sink will sparkle. Such an easy fix, and if you have kids, you can bribe them to do it.

Hope those tips help you get your guest bathroom ready. Remember, the holidays are only a few months away…better start on these projects now!

I’ll be back with more photos of my bathroom makeover sometime soon. I could only get this part done in time, so I still need to revamp the other half of the bathroom which contains the shower and toilet.

What do you do to make sure your guest bathrooms are guest ready?

Join the 14 million people who have already joined the Clean Hands campaign by using Kleenex Hand Towels, and click here for savings and more!           

I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.