May 14, 2012

✥ Reader Feature: Beach Cottage Dining Room ✥

 I hope you guys had a great weekend! This week's feature is from Mary Ann over at Classic Casual Home. She's is a professional decorator, something you would have figured out on your own when you see her lovely spaces. 
 I could realistically share each and every room in her home for a feature- they are all that beautiful- and I second and third guessed my decision which one to pick for today!! I'll just have to invite her back for another round! ;-)

Maybe you remember her freaking ridiculously awesome kitchen she shared with us awhile back? Today she's going to share her dining room transformation.

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This is an "after" photo of our recently remodeled 1950's beach cottage dining room.
Here's what it looked like before, right after we bought the house.  
I wanted the window removed to have a feature wall.
 Plus, we live so close to each other on Lido Isle, you looked right into the neighbor's front door.
 The low opening to the dining room was slightly arched to raise it.  The door to the kitchen on the left was removed so that we could have a walk-in pantry (see here) on the other side.
Where the door used to be we created a small alcove.
 The alcove now houses a Napoleon III marble topped bookcase and an 
oil painting that we bought in Paris. 

Also, displayed is a painting that I love done by my cousin, 
Janice of the apartment where we lived in Paris.
The Louis Philippe commode above (behind the loveseat)
is in our current living room featured here.

My mother gave us the antique sconces that I had refurbished.  
They are sentimental as I remember them from my childhood hanging over the 
living room mantel and later in the dining room.

We moved the peak of the ceiling to center it more in the middle of the room and added a tongue and groove wood treatment.  The iron chandelier is from Circa Lighting by Suzanne Kasler. 

 I hand applied some gold to the quatrefoil design and added candle wax covers.

The original watercolor and ink shell engravings are from the antique book
"Conchology, the Natural History of Shells" by George Perry, London, 1811.

We have dinner here most nights.  I shouldn't admit this but you can eat here
 and also watch the television in the living room.  Anyone else watch television during dinner?

 Have a seat and join us for dinner!  I'll turn off the television.
Best Wishes,
Mary Ann

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What a great home- I love how Mary Ann saw the potential to bring the space to the next level, combined with her talent you get such a beautiful home! Her table dressed for spring knocks my socks off!!
Next, stop in and see Mary Ann's living room- all ready for summer. While you're there don't forget to ohh and ahh over her new wood and iron chandy! It's just perfect with those awesome vaulted ceilings!



Here's another glimpse into her home- it's her daughter's {and sometimes guest} room. I love how Mary Ann embraces color- her beach cottage is so cheery!!
Thanks, Mary Ann- for coming to visit today!
What do you guys think? Do you love that home as much as I do? Isn't Mary Ann a sweetheart?


[PS] I feature YOU GUYS  {my readers} every Monday! Do you have a room makeover- or maybe have a home tour you'd like to share? 
Drop me a email or shoot me a link. Let's see if we can work it out!!  xoxo