20 Years Ago My Dream Came True

Twenty years ago on October 11, 1995 we moved in our home after six months of building. We designed and built our home since that was the only way we could afford our dream home at that time. Good thing we are avid DIYers. Lots of hard work and long hours were put into building our new home. You can read an old story about it here.

I thought it would be fun to do a series of how our home has changed, since obviously my taste and style have changed, and I have a lot of new readers that weren't here from the beginning when I started blogging in 2010.

Let's start with the dining room. Excuse the bad photo. Jewel tones were the trend when we built and I certainly filled our home with the deep blues, raspberry, dark green and well, you get the picture. Yes, the walls and ceiling were navy blue with off white below the chair rail. Mr. Savvy and I loved this room for many years.

Then in February 2010 I revealed a much brighter and yellow room. The blue walls had stayed around for fifteen years! I bet y'all didn't think anything lasted that long around here.

After I started blogging it wasn't long before I was painting furniture and purchasing some ironstone. I have a few pieces here mixed with my china and silver. I painted the back of the hutch green.

Here is a Thanksgiving table setting with the bright yellow walls, which really were't this bright in person, and the green hutch with my growing ironstone collection.

One year later the room was painted again. I just couldn't take the yellow any longer. This time I painted it in Swiss Coffee by Behr. I primed and painted three coats over the yellow. I didn't ever paint the ceiling and that is why it is still yellow to this day. It was actually a different yellow than the walls and a lot softer.

This wall has changed a few times. This was a gallery wall I did with cheap prints found on ebay and super cheap frames from Hobby Lobby.

Then I found this painting and the gallery wall came down.

Then I really wanted the pastoral painting to hang over the fireplace in the great room so there was a switch. This was okay, but there just may be something else hanging here now that I will share soon.

On the other side of the room this buffet has been painted a couple times. I painted it in Old Violet chalk paint by Annie Sloan the first time.

The Old Violet wasn't working so well so I painted with Aubusson and loved this new color.

Then one of the best things happened....the chandelier was replaced with this beauty that did not cost a fortune. You can see the old one here with the original crystal globes. Mr. Savvy did not want to replace the old chandelier. He thought it was nice and fancy, but it was so not my style anymore. He agreed and hung this one for me and loves it.

In September 2011 I painted the hutch to go with my changing style and it is still one of my favorite projects.

In 2013 I painted and reupholstered the chairs.

Painting the chairs took some time, but was so worth it. The room felt a bit less heavy and I added the upholstered bench at that time, too.

I occasionally switch the breakfast room chairs and the dining room chairs like I did for my summer tour. It just keeps things fresh.

One thing that has stayed constant are the toile drapes. I don't take many shots towards the windows. I lucked up on those drapes in a local home decor store that had them ready made, but are the only custom style drapes I own. They are lined and weighted and were only $75 a panel. Score!!! I wish they still sold them.

This is how the room looked when the photographers were here for a magazine photo shoot that I never dreamed would happen. What's hanging on the wall on each side of the hutch has changed a few times, too. In the other photos there were brackets/sconces plus plates and then I found these vintage Ethan Allen brass sconces and they have been here ever since.

This year I painted the base of the table after putting it off for so long. I love the change.

And this is how it looks now.

I hope y'all enjoyed seeing the evolution of this room and I will share more room changes as I can.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Be sure to follow me on IG for behind the scenes shots.

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