apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Before and After: Dining Room

2007-12-5-before.jpgMaggie recently purchased her first home in Denver. This WAS the dining room...now, granted it's not the best photo, but the design minuses are clear to see.

It's dark, oddly too formal and just generally blah...but not any more!

Click below for the really well executed, colorful, sunny update - the transformation is fantastic.

 
 

2007-12-5-after2.jpg

So inviting! A nice modernization and refresh to a room that really needed a makeover. Great job!

We'd love to hear more from you, Maggie - paint colors, light fixture, furniture, all the details - don't keep us in suspense...

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Comments (20)

That is an amazing transformation. Maggie, you obviously have a good eye for design. All the elements are working together and that dining room is, as Janel said, fresh and inviting.

I also would love to hear details, especially the paint colors. What color is the room at the front of the photo - I'm assuming it's the living room? It looks like it might be a very light green or greenish-gray?

posted by greer on December 5th 2007 at 8:12am
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daaaaaammmmnnnn! you've obviously got the eye. very verry verrry nice.

posted by kdkaboom on December 5th 2007 at 8:13am
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Maggie, please come to my house!!

That is one beautiful transformation. Please do give us the info on the colors you've used. I'm really liking that green on the very back wall.

posted by oceandreamer56 on December 5th 2007 at 8:23am
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Well done!
I am quite impressed. I'd be curious to see how she handled the ceiling.
Such an inspiration. Love the touches of orange and the colour story developed among the three spaces is intriguing. I'd love to see more.

posted by Alana in Canada on December 5th 2007 at 8:26am
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Really really nice!!! I'm loving looking through the rooms and seeing all the different colors that go so nicely together!

posted by katie on December 5th 2007 at 8:39am
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Refreshing! Great job, Maggie!

posted by KathinCO on December 5th 2007 at 9:21am
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beautiful! feels like a breath of fresh air. love how the sunlight bathes the entire room. I'd like to know the paints used, too.

posted by selena on December 5th 2007 at 9:23am
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Literally the difference between night and day.

posted by hejiranyc on December 5th 2007 at 9:25am
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Nice. But I could totally see working WITH what was there and still have a stunning result.

posted by patrick (the other one) on December 5th 2007 at 9:38am
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huh... I kinda prefer the before. The after is rather blah... expect I do like the blue and green combo, though I also like the plum(? or is that brown??) and orange combo in the before.

posted by sparkle on December 5th 2007 at 9:47am
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uhh..yeah I agree...i like the before more. I thought the after was a little cliche.

posted by scydream on December 5th 2007 at 9:52am
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Is that melancholy blue?

posted by bramasoleiowa on December 5th 2007 at 10:18am
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hm.. i think the "orange" in the "before" shot is just actually poor lighting.

posted by selena on December 5th 2007 at 11:47am
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The orange was real- and a pain to cover up.

The blue is 'Labrador Blue' from Benjamin Moore. The green is 'Stem Green' from BM as well. The color in the living room is from the previous owner so I'm not sure what it is.

If you liked the before you can buy the light fixture on CL this week!!

Let me know if you have any other questions!
Maggie

posted by Maggiempbp on December 5th 2007 at 12:12pm
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I like the "after" - it's fresh and happy. All the same, I also liked the "before". I like a bit of formality, particularly for a dining room.

posted by otis on December 5th 2007 at 12:16pm
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Amazing what a bit of (well-chosen) paint can do...!

posted by Bex on December 5th 2007 at 4:39pm
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HOLY COW! WHAT A STAR!

posted by venus_thames on December 5th 2007 at 4:49pm
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The After is nice, but I prefer the Before. I love older places and hate to see the original charm and character taken away.

posted by Sleek on December 6th 2007 at 4:49am
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I don't think anything other than the ceiling fixture and the paint colors were taken away.

It's just like what I ask clients: "Is this a day time or a night time room?"

For Maggie, it seems the answer is "day time." And that's what she accomplished.

Yeah, I could see keeping the dark and the formality. But based on her furniture and artwork and style, formality is just not in the cards (NOT a criticism!!)

It's a totally great blue, btw.

posted by patrick (the other one) on December 6th 2007 at 6:30am
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the 'after' is fantastic! where did you get the shelves on wheels on the back wall?

posted by pdesign on July 1st 2008 at 9:37am
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