Welcome to our dining room reveal! It feels amazing to have the first proper “adult” room finished in the house. Designing Arlo’s nursery and our closet was so fun, but completing a main living space has been especially satisfying. I shared my initial inspiration and plans for the dining room earlier, and at the last minute I decided to add floor-to-ceiling bookshelves — a decision I absolutely love.
Through designing a few rooms I’ve learned that I adore layering color, texture and pattern. My original idea for a single large art piece felt too flat for this space. The bookshelves fixed that and even make the tiny room feel larger somehow. I’m thrilled with how it turned out. Here are the details.
First, a look back at the before photos — the transformation is so satisfying.
The before-and-after shots make me so happy.
One of my first ideas for this room was wood + pink dining chairs. We worked with Room & Board on a few items and loved their walnut Evan Chairs. When I found a pink Sunbrella fabric I asked if it could be used on those chairs — they said yes, and it was destiny. I love how the chairs look and how easily the fabric wipes clean.
Next, the rug found me via an Instagram sale and matched the chairs perfectly. I used it to set the room’s palette: mint, blue, pink and pops of lavender.
Because the rest of the room has a lot of color, I wanted a simple pedestal-style table to ground the space. I agonized over table choices but settled on a marble-and-brass pedestal that felt refined without competing with the colors around it.
The shelves were a highlight — I spent a whole day FaceTiming my best friend while we styled them. It was so fun to incorporate family photos, books (many by friends), heirlooms from late family members, and new decorative pieces. We hadn’t collected many decor items before this house, so shopping for baskets, planters and vintage finds felt like a joyful treasure hunt.
With a small child at home, we kept the bottom two shelves kid-friendly: baskets for toys and a few soft dolls and animals that are beautiful and sturdy.
The print on the wall is meaningful to us. After we got married we decided to buy one piece of art each year of our marriage. On a recent trip to Mexico we found a piece depicting Ixchel, the Mayan goddess associated with love, fertility and healing — nicknamed “Lady Rainbow” — and we knew it would be perfect here.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
And that’s the dining room! I’m so happy with how it came together. Now if someone can just help me keep these plants alive — we’ve only successfully kept an air plant once, and spoiler: it didn’t last.
Furniture + Decor Sources
Marble + Brass Table | Custom Walnut Chairs | Vintage Rug
White Bookshelves | Mint Curtains | Gold Curtain Rods + Corner Adapter
Blinds | Fringe Chandelier | Green + Gold Handles
Ixchel art from our trip to Mexico (artist unknown)
Tall Pink Vase | Green Milk Glass Vases | Protea Arrangement
Bookshelf Sources
Gold Watering Can | Marbled Planter | Green Woven Bowl | Teal Planter
Flamingo Print | Tropical Print
Rattan Tray | Green Milk Glass Vases | Gold Bowl
Triangle Planter | Pink Planter | Round Gold Frame
Purple Patterned Vase | Pink + Rattan Planter | Scalloped Bone Frame
Gold Bookends | Mint Lidded Basket | Blue Woven Bowl
Pink Woven Bowl | Wood Frame | Illustration of Arlo & I | Monstera Leaf
Purple Planter | Carved Wood Frame | Frida Doll
Pink Globe | Wool Elephant | Baskets
On Me
Purple Button Down | Jeans
Pom Pom Earrings | Pink Heels