Project Diary #16 – Efficiency Apartment Dining Area & Coffee Bar

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“Thyme” for another reveal! Squeezing in a dining area and coffee bar in an efficiency apartment can be a challenge! But a round counter heigh table, mix of bar stools and a coffee station/microwave cart fit perfectly tucked away in a corner of the room. 

Before…

Shaw Monterrey Grandview hardwood floors

After…

apartment dining nook

Before…

old floor with fireplace

After…

apartment dining nook

Before:

DIY craft studio // workshop - before room makeover @diyshowoff

After: A sneak peek of the kitchen too! See the full kitchen before and after reveal tomorrow!

apartment dining nook

I initially wanted a smaller table but kept coming back to this beauty. The size is a little bigger than I wanted but I was determined to make it work. 

And I originally thought I’d put the microwave and coffee maker on the kitchen counter but the gorgeous quartz kitchen counter was a splurge and once it was installed, there was no way I wanted to clutter it up. My Mr. DIY recommended a microwave cart and after a lot of online searching and shopping, I found one that fit perfectly behind the pantry closet door/short wall on the other side of the kitchen cabinets. Perfect solution!

coffee bar microwave stationapartment dining nook

And since the efficiency apartment sleeps 6, the addition of the pub/console bar behind the couch with barstools not only functions as a work station, but additional seating for dining as a breakfast bar. Perfect, right? 

breakfast bar console table with usb port

Looking from the bedroom doorway: 

apartment dining nook

Share your thoughts! 

What do you think? I mixed up the barstools that went with the breakfast bar with the seating I bought for the dining room table since the space is compact. I love the eclectic mix and how it all worked out. The leather barstools are my absolute favorite! That color and shape are perfect! 

Next up:

A gorgeous compact modern kitchen reveal! 

More about #helloredreno

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There’s a gorgeous Butler, PA Bed & Biscotti across the street called Suite Retreat (how cute is that?!) and an antique shop nearby. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno and #suitethyme

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! 

The #helloredreno project diary:

Project Diary Entry #1 – Hello Red Reno!

Project Diary Entry #2 – Efficiency Apartment

Project Diary Entry #3 Color Passive Paint

Project Diary Entry #4 – Full Bathroom Demo Day

Project Diary Entry #5 – Sealing A Wood Plank / Shiplap Wall

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

Project Diary Entry #7: Sealing Brick

Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors

Project Diary #9: Carpeted Stairs

Project Diary #10 Vinyl Floor Tiles

Project Diary #11 – Living Room Before & After

Project Diary #12 – Christmas at the Studio

Project Diary #13 – Wallpaper Mural

Project Diary #14 – Entryway, Stairs & Landing Before & After

Project Diary #15 – Apartment Living Room Before & After Reveal

Project Diary #16 – Dining Nook & Coffee Bar

 

Spring Decorating with DecoCrated

Add some spring touches to your decor with a Spring 2019 subscription box from DecoCrated! That’s exactly what I did when I recently finished up my spring cleaning. Well, at least the main floor of our home is clean and organized. Upstairs is another story.  haha! 2nd floor, 2nd story, another story. See what I did there? Get it? I know. I’m so weird. 

decocrated wood organizer and chalkboard clipboard

Anyway, so…DecoCrated.com. With the exception of my monthly Young Living order, I am not usually a fan of subscription boxes. I find that usually they’re filled with sample items that I wouldn’t choose for myself (skin care with questionable ingredients, jewelry that isn’t my style, etc.). Know what I mean? The surprise part is happy, the contents … eh.

However, when it comes to decorative accents, count me in! I’m all about adding a few new pieces to freshen things up and I know you’ll fall in love with this subscription box too. Because if there’s something in there that you don’t care for, simply tuck it away in your “gifting” closet/box for a friend’s birthday or pay it forward and brighten someone’s day ‘just because’. But, my decor-loving buddies, I think you’re going to enjoy sprinkling some new spring accents around your home, adding a couple of key spring touches or swapping out something old for something new. 

decocrated spring pillows

It’s like treasure in the mail, a Christmas gift curated for your home each season, you guys! I love that! Imagine having a fun box filled with beautiful decorative home accents every quarter! You don’t have to ‘imagine’. Spoil yourself and make it happen.

Because I’m a nerd and really value getting the biggest bang for my buck, I mentally added up the items as I unboxed. Break it down. Each month when you walk into TJMaxx or Target or your favorite store or do some ‘window shopping’ online, how much is the cost of what’s in your cart for decorating? If you’re like me, it’s definitely more than $23.33 a month for an item or two. This Spring 2019 DecoCrated subscription box came with 9 items + a free gift (10!) so that’s approximately less than $7 for each piece of home decor when you use the code “DIY10” to get $10 off your subscription (did I mention free shipping?). SCORE! 

I created an unboxing video with all the details: 

After the video, I crated it all back up and popped over to the #helloredreno studio to refresh the decor. Take a look!

My DecoCrated:

beautiful accent pillow covers in fun coordinating patterns for spring (or all year long)

decocrated spring pillows decocreated at diyshowoff

cute quirky cork coasters (say that 10 times fast)

decocrated cork coasters

rustic frame with clip for displaying your favorite photos

or cute seasonal/inspirational message decocrated free giftdecocrated frame clipdecocrated spring

wooden organizational caddy with leather handles and iron-inspired hardware

decocrated wood caddy

chalkboard clipboard/memo board for ‘Things to Remember’

and a decor guide with style sheet to help you with key themes, combining elements, key colors and accent colors, style tips, decorating inspiration and ideas. 

decocrated wood organizer and chalkboard clipboard

mint/light aqua antique-inspired table clock

faux succulent//white ceramic planter

decocrated faux succulent antique inspired clock

two-sided hanging wood plaque (fun/motivational)

decocrated two sided spring sign

The deets: 

• Link: DecoCrated.com

• CUTEST decorative accents shipped right to your door. Happy delivery day to you! Order for Spring or pre-order for Summer! 

• Quarterly (seasonal) subscription box $79.99 (Use code “DIY10” for $10 off!) = $69.99

Yearly subscription also available for 10% discounted price of 289.86 

• Free gift with subscription.

• Free shipping.

• Show off, share and inspire: use hashtags with your photos on social media –  #idecocrated and #diyshowoff 

• Tag: @decocrated and @diyshowoff – we want to see the beauty in your decorating!

• Refer: When you refer a bestie or everyone you know, you get rewarded each time they sign up! For each friend you refer, they’ll receive 10% off their first box and you’ll receive 10% off your next box. That adds up to be quite the savings! 

So what do you think? Ready to decorate with DecoCrate?! 

Eclectic Sun Room Makeover

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This little room at the back of our house has gone through several transformations. We mostly call it the mud room but it’s more of a sun room, reading nook, sitting room, overflow from the dining room when entertaining (more seating)… a quite space off the dining room with French doors leading to the back patio.

Boho Sunroom Makeover

Well, the sun room got an unplanned makeover when we used some leftover paint from the man cave paint job. And it gave me a chance to turn Spring cleaning into something so rewarding – a room makeover with a zero budget by shopping the house. But first, let’s take a trip down memory lane for this little room…

When we bought our house, it had a single door and blue indoor/outdoor carpeting. Right away we added French doors, slate tile and a fresh coat of paint. 


It’s one of my grown up “doll house” rooms. I’m always changing it up in there by shopping the house for furniture and accessories. The HUGE mirror was frameless and above the fireplace in our living room when we bought our house. We moved it to this room to give the illusion of more space and light, added a frame and a vinyl monogram. 

sitting roomchristmas sitting room

Do you move furniture and decorative accessories around from room to room to freshen things up or do you call it permanently perfect and enjoy things as is for years?
sitting-roomsitting room makeover

There was even a brief stint as a breakfast nook.

thrifty sitting room

I love an eclectic vibe of the collected decor…can you tell?

This DIY half globe light fixture cover is one of my favorite projects: 

globe light cover

DIY Globe Light Fixture Tutorial

sitting-room-ceiling

And these DIY no-sew script curtains. They didn’t go back up this time but I’ll be finding somewhere else in our home to use them. Do you have decorative accessories that you hang onto because you’re just so in love?

DIY script drop cloth drapes

Remember when I had these vintage teacher desks in the kitchen too? Again, always rearranging. It’s just such a joy! Motivation to clean, something new without spending. I’m addicted. 

Holiday decorating too! 

Christmas sitting room DIYShowOff Sitting room at Christmas rustic Christmas sitting room Christmas sitting room

Remember these DIY painted chairs

sitting-room painted upholstered chairs

Okay, already! I took these beautiful Sauder chairs from our reading nookreading nook @diyshowoff @SauderUSA #puttogether

Let’s see the latest look, shall we? Finally, right? I am in love with the happy and bright atmosphere with the dark moody wall color! The collected decor from shopping around the house gives it an eclectic boho feel!

And all that’s new in this room is the wall paint (which was actually leftover, so again, zero dollars spent! Gotta love that!). Wall color: Carbon Copy (Behr)

Boho Sunroom Makeover Boho Sunroom Makeover There’s that fun eclectic globe light fixture again. Fits right in!Boho Sunroom Makeover Boho Sunroom Makeover

This is my Springtime in Paris floral arrangement from a few years back. So pretty!Boho Sunroom Makeover The dream catcher was a fall DIY project but I love it in this room. What do you think?

DIY hula hoop dream catcher/wreath

Boho Sunroom Makeover

Boho Sunroom Makeover Boho Sunroom MakeoverBoho Sunroom Makeover

Check back next week when this room has a whole new look and purpose! Just kidding!!! I think we’ll keep it for a while. Although, my orange velvet wing backs would look fab in here too. lol 

One more time. Before:

sitting-room

After: 

Boho Sunroom Makeover

Have a great week, DIY friends!