If you were here at the beginning of the year, you witnessed me makeover the entryway of our home. Well, I enjoyed the Spring 2022 One Room Challenge so much I decided to join in on the fun again. This time I will be turning my attention to the spaces that are attached to the entryway, the dining and living areas.

However, before I show those spaces, lets talk a little bit about the One Room Challenge. If you’re new to my blog, you maybe asking, what exactly is the One Room Challenge? It’s a biannual (every spring and fall) challenge, where designers and home bloggers transform one space in eight weeks. I’ve always loved that its not a competition, instead its a space to gain limitless design inspiration and share ideas with other designers and DIYers. 

Now lets take a look at the two spaces I mentioned. When you walk into our home you step right into the combined dining and living spaces. Very open concept, which I don’t mind at all.

(Peep the paint already getting updated. Yup, that’s me… almost forgetting to take before pictures.)

The spaces function just fine, but are a bit boring and need to be updated to match the entryway. Also, our furniture is looking a bit worn from when my daughter was toddler.

Initially, I thought I would complete one area at a time, but since the two spaces are combined, it’s really not possible to makeover one space without addressing the other at the same time. Think about it, if I am going to apply a wall treatment or paint I have to do the entire room. So I figured if I have to plan it and finalize it, I might as well execute as much of the design as possible.

However, my primary focus will be on completing the dining space, with the living space being secondary.

Now you may have noticed I said “execute as much of the design as possible.” That is because the to-do list for both spaces is quite extensive and I’m not sure that I’ll be get to everything within the eight week timeline. Beyond that, the lead time for furniture is… ridiculous. For instance, one piece that I wanted to order said it was backordered until Sept 2023.  Yup… 2023. Like, what!?!?!? Another one had a delivery date of 12-18 weeks… so, I’m not sure if all the pieces I order will show up in time for the final reveal, but we will keep plugging away to completion.

Speaking of completion, let’s go over the to-do lists. I’ve divided the lists by space and must do, then liked to do.

DINING ROOM (All Must D0)

• Paint
• Trim windows and doorways
• Wall treatment
• New window treatments
• Refinish table
• Refinish wood chairs
• Slipcover parson chairs
• Build console
• Source tall curio cabinet
• New chandelier
• Decor, decor, decor

Living Room (Must Do)

• Paint
• Trim windows and doorway
• Wall treatment
• New window treatments
• New sofa
• New rug
• New ceiling fan
• New lighting (table lamps, scones, picture lights)
• Refinish old wall picture frames
• Sell old furniture

Living Room (Like To Do)

• Refinish fireplace
• Source/Build coffee table
• Occasional Chair

Well, there is nothing to make a person nervous like putting something in writing. I’ll be working on checking items off these lists for the next 8 weeks. However, to be honest with you a few of items have been checked off already. I’ll update you more about that next week when I share my design boards with you.

If you would like to see the other participant spaces, you can check them out here.

Till next week…

Iesha