Update on the Dining Room and the $40 Rug that Transformed it All

A little before and after:

Last Thanksgiving at 11:59 pm, I found myself with hundreds of shoppers waiting in line to go into the Pottery Barn Outlet in San Marcos. I had dreams of dancing sofas in my head, while Will was wondering where to get the free pajamas he had been promised – something about showing up in your pajamas then getting a free pair from the outlet… don’t ask. Finally the time was right and the doors opened. I had dolled out the dutys – Will was on the hunt for a media center and my sister-in-law was on the hunt for a rug I had spotted the week prior. Within 2 minutes of the doors opening, she had spotted the rug and snagged the ticket – thank you, Stacia!

I was so pleased! It was still expensive but nothing compared to the original 1400 something price tag. I loved it and put it in our dining room for months. Just recently, I started to realize how busy it was and how it might actually be doing more harm than good. I replaced it this past week with a delightful $40 find from Craigslist.

I think it’s transformed our dining room from a buzy bohemian mess to… to.. to something else! I don’t know what to call it, but it’s soothing, it’s proportional, it matches and it just works.

Before:

Getting there – Right now, we’re a little too country…

Experimenting with paint and one very large mirror:

After:

So what to do with that beautiful rug?? It’s a crewel Williams and Sonoma rug… it’s just gorgeous. I will try it in a bedroom before I opt to sell it. I hate to see it leave me because it really was a steal.