The dining room has undergone a serious makeover since we bought the farm four years ago. Though it’s not completely finished, I simply couldn’t wait another minute to share this lovely space with you. So come on in for a tour of our dining room.
Before I show you the reveal, I just have to share what this space looked like the day we bought the farm.
When we moved in, the first thing we did was rip out the old carpet to expose the beautiful original 1893 hardwood floors. That was an easy fix, but the giant metal duct in the corner was an eyesore that would take a lot more work to make pretty.
Restoring the dining room back to its original Folk Victorian Farmhouse glory meant refreshing all of the gorgeous original details that were hidden in plain sight, like the incredible trim and beadboard. Next, we replaced the 1980s ceiling fan with an antique chandelier. We also replaced the ugly modern steel door with the perfect antique wooden door. Cleaning, painting, decorating, and taking out the huge window AC instantly made the room look better!
Over the next four years we slowly tackled the more labor intensive DIY projects including:
- Exposing the chimney
- Taking out the 1930s arch and putting in a more period appropriate set of antique French doors
- Taking out the large rusty floor grate
- Putting a door back where an oddly sized opening was roughly made
- Covering cracks in the walls and an extra doorway with beadboard
After all of our hard work this is what the dining room looks like today…
We brought the farm table from our last home, but we gave that too a makeover. You can read how we added the barn wood top by clicking {Here.} Over the last four years, I have also been carefully curating pieces to decorate the room. The antique white dishes in various patterns are something I am always on the look out for. I pick them up a few at a time from thrift stores and on Ebay. The round woven placemats are from Dollar General and the burlap runner is from Walmart.
I am always changing the centerpiece depending on the season or occasion. Since it’s mid summer, it’s currently just a mash of fun thrifted and vintage finds, plus lots of candles for ambiance. The dining room is what they call a “shotgun style”, which means there is a front and back door in line with each other perfect for shooting a gun right through (or a breeze more likely). I painted the oil portrait of the horse and my husband used his calligraphy skills to paint the farm sign. { His signs are available in our Etsy Shop.} The back window and door are covered, because we are temporarily using the back porch for storage while we finish restoring the master suite. Someday we will be able to have beautiful sunset views of our back yard from our dining room.
If you don’t follow Bryarton Farm on Instagram you are missing out on so much of the action. That’s where I first shared the story of our antique hutch. It took us about a year of carefully putting money towards this special piece, before we could bring the hutch home. It is handmade of English pine and is from the late 1700s to early 1800s. The hand-blown glass, wood pegs, and brass hardware are just a few of the details that take my breath away…
I feel so blessed to be working with the company Well Woven to showcase this amazing rug. They have hundreds of designs and styles, but I loved the muted turquoise in this faux Persian design. The color matches perfectly with the light turquoise on the walls and coordinates beautifully with the warm wood tones in the room. It’s so soft and squishy underfoot too! My girls love playing house under the dining room table, so having a soft dining room rug was particularly exciting for them.
Little by little we are working to bring back the original beauty of this farmhouse. Ripping everything out and replacing it with modern design is not what this piece of our national heritage needs. What we are trying to do DIY style is to polish what is already here. As restorationists, we are careful to make any changes look original. We still need to take down the acoustic ceiling tiles and repair part of the floor, but after being the ugliest room in the farmhouse for so long, I think I am finally falling in love with this space.
If you are enjoying following our continuing story and want to see more, please Subscribe! You can also see additional pictures of our little fixer upper farm on the prairie, by following us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, & Pinterest. Help support our “forgotten farm restoration project” by visiting our Etsy Shop!
If – like little Pumpkin sitting there – you loved the dining room reveal, let me know in the comments section below…
Absolutely love following you and your girls on your daily farm adventures! Your home is lovely!! I’m so inspired by what you’ve been able to accomplish on a budget. It just shows that restoration is attainable to anyone with some elbow grease and a vision! Much love to you and your family!
Oh My Goodness I would hug you if I could Kalie! Your comment embodies the purpose of this blog! I cannot believe that you feel this way! I seriously dreamed that someday this would be what our blog would mean to people. We truly live on a REAL tight budget and I am here on this blog to bring hope and inspiration to families. Yes you can have a beautiful home no matter your income if you are willing to work hard and get creative! Your comment made my blogging dreams come true and I love you for seeing my purpose for being here.
A great job, giving so much inspiration. You have both created such a lovely family home. Love following you on instagram. Your girls are adorable and a credit to you both.
Thank you Sarah for taking the time to come read my blog and bless me with your kind words.
I love it Sara Jo! You guys have done an amazing job! Oh am I wish we had a Dollar General where I live!! 🙈
Thank you Cheryl! It’s funny you would say that, because for us the closet store is Dollar General EVERYTHING else is at least 35 to 40 minutes away.
Hi Sara Jo, I just have to say you have the most beautiful warm inviting home and your dining room is wonderful! I enjoy your posts so very much! I also would love to say you are truly inspiring as a Wife, Mommy, and child of God. Thank you so much for sharing your home and family with us!
XOXO Wendy
PS… I LOVE seeing all of your barn kitties too 🙂
Wendy, You don’t know how amazing it is to hear from someone who appreciates every member of Bryarton Farm down to the barn cats. I could’t resist letting Pumpkin join the photo shoot, even though he lives in the barn with his family. I mean not everyone has a cat that perfectly matches their hutch! LOL
It is always amazing to me how you can make everything you touch Beautiful! You are such an inspiration.
Aww Peggie that is such a sweet thing to say. Thank you for your encouragement.
I have few words except to say it is one of the prettiest rooms I have ever seen…though I have thought that about each reveal. I am tickled to my core that you have another beautiful room you can use in your darling home. Thank you for sharing and when you get your own decorating show I will be your biggest fan!! 😉
You have always been our biggest fan Lori! You have been there nearly from the start cheering us on and we feel so blessed to have you in our lives.
Beautiful to the last detail!
Thank you Kind friend
Bryarton farm is my favorite Blog/vlog, instagram, pinterest post !!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! This is the life everyone wants !!! Keep up the good work! Always anxious to see whats next !!
Wow thank you Tara for being such an amazing cheerleader for our family and farm. We really appreciate your enthusiastic support!
Lovely home, and beautifully done. I have a question about the rug you chose, what is the name of it? It would match my decor perfectly.
Thanks for sharing your journey, really inspiring!
Thank you for appreciating our authentic farmhouse. It is such a privilege to call a piece of America’s heritage home. I was given this rug by http://www.wellwovenrugs.com and it is their Kensington pattern.
What is the name of the color of paint you used on the walls in this room?? I would love it for our bathroom remodel we are planning!
I can’t give you a name because I made the color myself by mixing craft paints into a leftover bucket of white trim paint. Give it a try.