{Home Tour} Fireplace Update

 This fireplace is one of the features we loved most about our home when we moved in 6.5 years ago. But with the off-center opening, massive amount of brick, and just a slab of wood on top acting as a mantel, it was leaving me with a desire to spice things up a bit.  With the help of Pinterest and first-hand inspiration from a friend's home, I think I finally found something that works.

    

It adds a crazy amount of depth to the room, as well as add height to the wall between the mantel and the ceiling.  I'm very pleased with the look... all for about $45 dollars.

I chose to paint the mantel and planks white to create a more cohesive look for this room and our kitchen -- they are right next to each other.  Plus, the white helps brighten the area which tends to be little darker.

Now, just to update the brass fireplace bi-fold doors with something a little more modern.  We do use this fireplace, so it needs to be something that little boys won't be interested in... at least until they are a little older.

I have heard about some spray paint you can use on fireplace doors and I'm half tempted to give it a whirl.  Especially since I also recently found a way to spruce up the handles too.

But for now, I think we'll just sit back... relax... and enjoy our newly improved fireplace this weekend.  It has been a cold one in our neck of the woods this past week.  Stay warm over the weekend, friends!

{Home Tour} Dining Room Update

This space has really whipped itself into shape.  We originally used it as a dining room, then changed it to extended living room space... and now, back to dining room.  And I gotta say - I'm loving it.  The space really makes our home feel cozy and open, all at the same time.

The big change to this space was adding our new table that we helped transform this summer (see post HERE).

We find ourselves wanting to sit at our table often and not just for meals.  The boys even like to play at it and underneath it.  Next summer I will spend time transforming our chairs to match, but until then we added navy chair pads to all but one (Kingston's designated seat gets our old cushions since he spills often).  My plan is to paint them with the same milk paint I used to paint the trim/border of the table.  

Two other big additions to the space are the drum pendant and striped rug I found at Crate & Barrel for a steal of a deal.  The light this space gives is amazing, yet filtered thanks to the floating base design the fixture has.  And don't even get me started on the rug - I swoon every time I see it (the hubs thinks I need help with my stripe addiction... and maybe I do).  It adds just the right splash of color to really warm up the room.

Oh, and our table has two leaves (one is in place currently) - which allows it to extend to approximately eight feet in length.  When we host a big crowd (first will probably be this Christmas), we plan to scoot the table over to the window seat which will help add extra seating.  And we may eventually add a bench to the table too.  

So there you have it... probably one of my favorite rooms in our house.  I forgot to pan to the right to show our hutch as it stands today - maybe that calls for another post in the not-so-distant future.  Now, off to finish preparing dinner... happy Sunday friends!