Lets just jump in…
Here is a quick look at the Dining room in our little rental house. A little while back, we had my Boyfriend’s Parents over for dinner. The room was clean and pretty and the table was set, so why not take some photos?!?
We are renting a small little Mid century house in a quiet neighborhood. We love the location and the house is cute and cozy. Did I mention small?
Our table we found for free by the side of the road. I had to drive home and get my boyfriend and the van to get it home. We cleaned it, sanded it and re-stained it. The stain was $1 at a thrift store, and is the perfect gray- brown color. The table was a huge labor of love. Never mind that the table is a little too big for this small room, I don’t care- we love it! It is a little like a table my parents had in the house I grew up in. That table was a little too big for that room too!
All of the chairs were garage sale finds. The metal ones had been use outside by the previous owners. They were dirty and faded, but only $30 for the four chairs! Such a steal! All I needed to do was clean and sand and re-paint them. A lot of work, but I love them so much!
A simple centerpiece. The salt and pepper grinders and a butter dish on a old thrifted cutting board. With a pretty Hydrangea flower from the yard in a clear Ball jar. Pretty and simple and cheap!
The Hydrangea plant that is in the yard, is the “White Lacecap” variety, which can look a little lime green in color. To add some acidity to the soil in the garden beds, I put used coffee grounds in my flowers beds and it changed the color to a soft pink/ coral color. So pretty, I love it!
The dishes, napkins, and silverware are all from Target. The dishes were a set on clearance awhile back, you gotta love those red clearance stickers! The silverware were a gift years ago. They are classic and look a lot more expensive than they were. And they can go into the dishwasher! How about those navy checked napkins? They are tea towels from the Target Dollar spot- 2 for $3. Who doesn’t love looking at the dollar spot at Target? I know that I can always find a little something I never knew I needed!
I love Galvanized metal. I am always drawn to anything made of it. This is a nice tray with a folding stand. It is a great size for a small serving area in the dining room.
The artwork is a Quilt pattern painted cork board, that I made from a found cork board on the side of the road. (Do you see a pattern here? You put something by the curb and I will stop and take a look!) I had seen a couple of similar painted pieces on Pinterest. Pinterest made me do it! I really love the look of Quilt patterns. They can be modern and graphic. I think that Barn quilts on wood are amazing, I have a whole Pinterest board for them. It was a fun craft, that I love looking at in our home.
Can you believe those Sunflowers were from the grocery store? They are so pretty in another clear Ball jar.
The tablecloth, I found for a couple of dollars at a thrift store. It is funny how closely it matches the paisleys in the dish ware. The reds, oranges and yellows are too perfect! And the blues and greens in the cloth and on the dishes match too!
I love the look of Ampersands. They can look different depending on the font, but they are always a graphic statement. I collect them, this is just a small part of that collection. Again, notice all the galvanized metal. If I see a Ampersand in galvanized metal- I have a hard time walking away.
The little blue square piece of artwork is a little craft I did. I got the canvas at a garage sale. It had a frog on it, not what I wanted at all. But at only .50 cents I could paint over that, which I did. Then I painted squares and rectangles in different color blues. I love the graphic modern look it has, while still feeling old school crafty.
I love going to thrift stores, and garage sales. I love getting a great deal on something. For me it can be more about the story of the good deal, than the item itself. Everything on this table has one of those stories.
If you buy items that speak to you, they will always work together.
Not a fancy table setting for sure. But simple and pretty.
Some stained and painted wood, a little galvanized metal, many different patterns, a few thrifted finds, crafts made by me, and fresh flowers. I love it all!
Well, that is a small look at our small dining room.
What do you think?
Too much color? Too much pattern?
Thanks for stopping by my little site.
-Jackie