Farmhouse Dining Room Makeover Finishing Touches
As I near the end of my dining room makeover and start to put the finishing touches on the room, I stand amazed at what a difference a little fabric and paint can make. I’m so close to the end and couldn’t wait to give you a few sneak peeks!
{CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL BEFORE AND AFTER REVEAL OF THE DINING ROOM!}
At the beginning of this makeover, I had no intention of painting any of my furniture, other than possibly painting the small chest that was located under the mirror. I agonized over that little chest. Then, I remembered that I already had a gray chest in my foyer. After moving it into my dining room and changing the hardware, I knew that I couldn’t stop there and wound up painting almost every piece of furniture in here. Ha!
If you’ve been following the makeover progress, then you’ll notice that the chair beside the chest is different than what originally resided here. When Pookie asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I immediately said, “Recover the old office chairs!”. And so we did. Happy birthday to me. Click HERE to see the original chairs. I found the awesome buffalo check fabric at a local fabric shop!
Once I moved the gray chest from the foyer into the dining room, the sea of brown furniture bothered me even more. That chest and the fabric that I recovered the chairs and chair cushions with was the jumping off point for painting the rest of the furniture. The brown chairs just didn’t look that great with the gray and white fabric.
Spray paint to the rescue! If you’ve been following me for long at all, you already know that I’m a totally lazy and messy painter and love it whenever I can use spray paint. I have a go-to gray spray paint color that I almost always use – Rustoleum Anodized Bronze. It’s a rich gray color that isn’t cold, like some grays can be. Each chair used two cans of paint (three coats) to completely cover the brown. Even though it appears that I added a dark glaze over the paint, I didn’t. This is just the spray paint and nothing else.
Of course, one thing leads to another. Right? After the chairs were painted, it became obvious that I needed to do something with the table. Sooo….I painted the legs of the table to match the chairs. There was no way that I was going to haul that heavy table outside so that I could spray paint it though. I simply sprayed a solid coat of the spray paint onto a scrap of wood and took it to my local Sherwin Williams paint store to get them to color match it for me and it was perfect!. All I had to do was to put a dropcloth under the table and spend an afternoon with my trusty paint brush. Scroll on down to get the formula for the matching paint that Sherwin Williams created.
I opted not to paint the top of the table for two reasons – 1) I knew it would get scuffed up with use and 2) I actually like the look of brown wood mixed with painted wood.
That left one more large piece of furniture that I truly never ever thought I would paint – the sideboard. But, guess what? It stood out like a sore thumb once the gray chest was brought in and the table legs and chairs were painted. However, I felt that having another solid gray piece of furniture in the room would be too matchy matchy, so I gave it a gray-wash, that allows some of the wood to show through, with the gray paint that the paint store had mixed for me. I used 1 cup of the gray paint mixed with 1/2 cup of water and applied it with a paint brush. I dabbed more paint on where needed and used a rag to wipe places off that had too much, until I got the look that I was after.
Just like on the table, I opted not to paint the top of the sideboard. At certain times of the day, the gray-wash is very subtle (like in this photo), but at other times it’s more pronounced. I kept the same hardware, but removed the backer plates to some of the knobs and painted the remaining hardware with matte black spray paint.
That left one last decision to be made. What to do with the mirror above the chest. Replace it with a chalkboard? Keep it? Paint it? In the end, I decided to keep the mirror as it helps to bounce light around in this often dark room. I didn’t mind the black frame, but did not like the garish gold accents. Once again, I didn’t want to paint the whole frame a solid color, so I played around a bit with a couple of different stains. I first applied a coat of Minwax Special Walnut and before it was dry, I added a coat of Minwax Classic Gray. I used the same dabbing on and wiping off technique that I used on the sideboard until I got it just right.
You can see that the stain still allows the black part of the frame to show through, but dramatically tones down the gold. It’s a good technique to use if you don’t want solid coverage.
I’ll have the room ready for its full reveal soon! In spite of my fear of painting my “nice” dining room furniture, I’m beyond happy that I did. Thank you to my daughter and to a sweet blogging friend who strongly encouraged me to go for it. I finally came to the realization that I would never be happy with my furniture as it was, no matter what else I did in the room. So, if you’re hesitant to paint any of your furniture, start out with something small and take it one step at a time.
Sherwin Williams Matching Formula for Rustoleum Anodized Bronze Spray Paint
Hi Suzy,
I have been watching your beautiful dining room transformation on your blog. It is BEAUTIFUL. Your home is beautiful. You are so creative and I love that you share each step.
Could you post a photo showing the entire dining room?? I would love to see how all of the painted furniture looks together.
Thank you for sharing your home on your blog.
Esther
Hi Esther. Thank you so much for your kind words! Hopefully, you’ve seen the full room reveal by now, but in case you missed it, here’s a link to the post: http://www.worthingcourtblog.com/dining-room-before-after/
Love, love, love your easy directions. I’ve been wanting to do this to my dining room but wasn’t sure of what color to use. You’ve inspired me to get busy!
That’s great to hear, Pam. Have fun painting!
Thank you for sharing your fabulous dining room! I have been lamenting over painting the furniture at our beach house, and you have given me the confidence to just do it!!!! The colors and patterns are exactly what I’ve imagined in my mind, and now I have pictures to prove how awesome my room will now be!!! Can’t wait to go through the rest of your redo’s (I just signed onto your site today), I know there’s allot more inspiration coming my way….thanks again for your talent!
Hi Marilyn. I’m so glad that I was able to inspire you. Have fun painting!
I’m a new follower and I Love your style! I cannot believe you spray painted the dining room furniture! It is stunning! I love me some buffalo check, such a classic neutral… So very happy to follow you and learn ways to change my home to reflect me instead of our sea of brown lol! Hugs and thanks!
We are gathering the supplies to redo a bedroom, your dining room helped us FINALLY decide on some colors! Just beautiful! Thanks,
I love the way you used different techniques to bring your furniture new looks. I have some very old furniture which was expensive but needs to be restyled the way you did with yours. I just need to make the decision and take the plunge. Seeing your results makes me want to try!
Oh Suzy, it’s absolutely beautiful! You have given me the confidence to tackle painting my “good stuff”! You are so creative. Thanks so much for all the ideas! However, I’m not sure my husband feels the same way : )
Thanks for your tip on the spray paint. I’ll be pinning that technique for my future projects. We’re not lazy, just extra efficient!
i keep having to visit your dining room over and over. love that GRAY! and the rug is just perfect.
After visiting 3 stores, i finally found the paint, now if i can just get over this stomach bug and get back to playing…
Wow! I am so happy to finally come across your blog. I have been looking around for that perfect inspiration in my dining room area and this is IT! Thanks for sharing and you have inspired me with some great ideas. Now I just have to use that inspiration to get some of the work done. Not an easy task with 2 young boys around, but it will happen. LOL thanks so much
Your dining room is amazing! I purchased the spray paint to have it color matched for my table and china hutch, what finish did you choose? Did I miss that in the comments?
Hi Robbyn. I used semi gloss finish for the paint that I had mixed.
Your dining room inspired me sooo much that I’ve been copying your talent for my beach house (I think I had left a remark earlier about how you’ve inspired me!). I’m having great difficulty in getting my paint store to “get it right” with the Anodized Bronze for the table…it keeps coming out brown. Would you possible share with me the store name, and color blend that they came up with to match your table to your chairs? Thanks ever so much!
Hi Marilyn. I’m happy to share the formula, but it has a ton of numbers. Just sent you an email about it. You might want to check your spam folder if you don’t see it. 😀 The email will be from handgrs@gmail.com .
Your dining room is beautiful. Can you please share the formula for the Anodized Bronze for the table? Thank you!!
Hi Martressa. Please send me an email request to worthingcourtblog.com and I’ll send it to you. I can’t post a picture here in the comments.
Hi Suzy. I tried to send you an email request but was unable to send due to a error in the email recipient.
Gah! That’s my fault – I gave you the wrong email address. So sorry! Please send it to worthingcourtblog@gmail.com.
Where did you find your dining room curtains? Are they lined? Thank you!
I found the curtains at HomeGoods. They are unlined. 😀
Love the dining room. Did you sand, prime, or seal the chairs first and when you finished? I have the broyhill Windsor back chairs in burgundy with the oak hutch. Have already started painting my dining room and living room
the same color as yours. How many coats of paint? Great minds think alike. However I either want my chairs cream or black. Very nervous about painting them as they are only 10 years old. Just can’t touch the oak China hutch. Thanks and great job
Hi Sheila. The only thing that I did to the chairs prior to painting them is to dust them and wipe them down with TSP, to remove any fingerprint residue that had accumulated over the ten’ish years that we’ve owned them. I think that each chair took two complete coats of paint, but that I hit a few spots that didn’t have complete coverage with a third coat. If you paint your chairs cream, it may take more coats than mine did. Have fun with your room!
Thanks so much!!! Do you think I could distress with the cannned paint? I spray paint everything outside. Now I have some end tables trying to decide. I get so nervous, because I want everything to be perfect. Ugh!!! Thanks again.
I sure do! If you do a Google search on “distressing painted wood”, you’ll find lots of tips and how-to’s. Maybe you could try it on a scrap piece first, if you’re nervous. 😀
I have been watching postings of dining sets in my town to buy one for my home. It’s a great item to buy second hand as most of the people point out it was rarely used. I’m looking for a farmhouse style and I’m not finding what I want. Oh does this post of your dining set Open my EYES! What a difference the paint and fabric does to transform the style of the furniture. Thank you! I have a better idea now on what to look for.
I can’t believe the paint is Rustoleum Anodized Bronze and it turns out that gorgeous grey color!
Even the cap in the store is more of a brownish color.
How on earth did you stumble across that and know how great it would turn out?!!
I used a flat grey on a wicker chair and I am not thrilled with – I now want to change it!
Your house is gorgeous and it is so warm and inviting! Thanks for sharing!
Can you share the lighter color of gray you used on the small chest in your dining room? Is that canned spray paint also?
Hi MJ. Yes, it’s spray painted! I used Rustoleum Automobile Primer in Light Gray and then finished the piece off with clear spray Polyurethane. The reason that I used auto primer instead of regular spray paint, is that I couldn’t find a gray that was as light at this one. 😀
Oh my! You dining set is just beautiful. I have found gray to be one of the hardest colors to get right but you have done it. Thanks for the tip on the gray you used and the one about spray painting a board to get it color matched. I have been struggling with what color to use on the walls with dark gray chairs. I really love the soft color you used on the walls. I’m sure I can find what color it is by searching your blog, and I will, but just in case I don’t find it what color did you use?
I’m brand new to your blog and I am really enjoying it.
Thanks for all you share
Hi Gail. I apologize for taking so long to respond to you! The walls are painted with Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige.
Trying to find the rust oleum anodized bronze spray paint. Several different cans come up on my search. Some semi gloss. Some gloss. Some enamel spray paint to cover rust. Could you clarify exactly which one you used? Or maybe take a pic of the can of paint. Absolutely love what you did with that table and chairs.
Thanks so much!!!!
Hi Louise. Here’s a link to the exact spray paint that I used: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Rust-Oleum-Stops-Rust-Anodized-Bronze-Enamel-Spray-Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-12-oz/3729843
I am dying to know…is that the Carolina Gingham Gray or the French Gray. It’s so hard to tell online. Regarless it looks fantastic!
Hi Wendi. I assume you’re asking about the fabric??? I honestly don’t know which color/pattern it is. lol I purchased the fabric at a local fabric store and I don’t believe that the description specified which it was.