before + after: dining room

Until last week, I had never owned a dining table. I spent the better part of 6 years eating dinner on barstools at an island or at a cocktail table in front of the TV. Needless to say, I'm pumped that I can finally eat like an adult. So pumped in fact that my husband has asked me on numerous occassions who we are having over for dinner because I set the table for four "just for fun." Sorry I'm not sorry.

We weren't exactly sure what kind of table we wanted (as indicated by the multiple posts I've dedicated to the topic) but once the 1900's Boulangerie French Bakery Table from Restoration Hardware came into our lives, there was no turning back. I love the rustic feel that it adds to our more modern kitchen. Rustic-Modern, is that even a term? I think they call it eclectic these days but no matter how you put it, we like to mix different looks. It makes our home feel more like it was pieced together with elements that we love rather than purchased out of a catalog.

Without further adieu here is the before + after of our dining room.

{when we first moved in}

{now}

What do you think about the rustic table with the modern aluminum chairs? 

I tend to gravitate toward the clean and timeless decor for everyday, but the dinner table is the perfect place to add color to your home and play with trends. As noted above I've been pretty excited about setting the table lately so here are a few "fun" looks I've been trying out. 

Feminine + Floral

Ikat + Tortoise with a pop of my favorite color: red-orange. 

My table top resources are currently limited, but now that I have such a fab table to dress I will most certainly dedicate future posts to new themes. This opens a whole new shopping door for me (my husbands eyes are rolling as we speak). Does anyone have a favorite go-to kitchen store? Also, the one major element missing in this room is a chandelier. Any advice or suggestions?