I don't think I've ever taken you on a tour of my farmhouse dining room (though we did just give you a tour of our kitchen a few weeks back, just in case you missed it!). It's really quite the shame that I haven't walked you through our dining room yet, because this is probably my very favorite room in the house.
(My bedroom used to be my favorite room until a gigantic spider jumped onto my pillow and then ran at my face while I was laying down watching Gardener's World on my laptop in bed the other night. Now I just feel so violated every time I enter the room. I was quite traumatized.)
Anyway! It's high-time I took you on a tour of the dining room (if you'd like a video tour the dining room, you can do that right here). Here's our farmhouse dining room in all her glory when we moved in:
As you can see, much as changed! The carpet has been taken up and the cedar floors refinished. The popcorn ceiling was refinished in tongue-and-groove planks. The walls were painted “Revere Pewter”. The doorway into the kitchen was widened. The sliding glass door was replaced with a new set of french doors that I painted yellow and distressed to look old.
It's mismatched and colorful and pure magic. Enough talking! Let's tour this farmhouse dining room!
Yes, the baseboards are dirty and in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint. And yes, the trim lining the ceiling still needs to be painted (a major paint-spilling fiasco ceased progress initially). But my humble farmhouse dining room is full of life and food and movement. Each meal of the day, every day of the week, this space serves our family as a place to come together, refresh, and renew.
Multiple times a week, this dinged and well-loved table is opened up to others in need of sustenance, often a family with a lot of kids (Moms with lots of kids need lots of breaks from cooking… can I get an AMEN!). I love when other families visit and we have to belly-up, slide in all the extra chairs and stools from around the house), and practically eat off each other's plates to fit around the table. That is when my heart is fullest!
Just know when you get your farmhouse dining room set up in your space, it means you'll basically be washing dishes until you die.
The end.
PS: If you'd like to take a video tour of the space, you can do that right here:
Fabulous! I love the warmth of your space. My home (city apartment) doesn’t have the inherent age and softness of cour cottage but I’m adding it in wherever it fits. My gardening hat hung on a nail, my briday bouquet from our teeny covid wedding hanging to dry, vignettes of old tins, recipe booklets, bottles of vanilla and jars of pantry staples, stacks of books, and more. You’ve become a really positive influence in my home just by doing your thing!!! I’m grateful.
I love you style! I have always get the same way even when friends and family are quite the opposite when it comes to a livable welcoming space That doesn’t have to be perfect! I would love to see the items that you store in your homeschool cabinet and maybe a video centered around a day in your families home on a homeschool day. Im choosing to stay home this year and would love any tips from a long time homeschool mom!
I can’t believe the before picture, it doesn’t even look like the same room. You and your family have brought so much character and life to a space that was, well honestly, pretty boring. I am inspired to bring a little more life and love to my home to reflect the family that LIVES here!
Shaye,
I love your confidence in your ethos and style. It’s very refreshing in today’s world. I am a chef (though this had nothing to do with my career) and a devotee of the life of the table, and share many of your views. Like you, I believe in family dinners, and the deep magic they invite. Have you watched the movie “Babette’s Feast? If not, you will love it. The chef’s menu and all her copper are great fun, but the deep magic of the table, and the sacrifice to make it possible, will resonate with you, and with much that you hold dear. Cheers, beautiful lady. Annie
Love it!
The before and after pictures are so awesome. It just makes me feel so happy for you to have such a profound transformation happen in your home. It doesn’t take millions of dollars either. Hard work, elbow grease, creativity, flowers and treasures.
I think I have a new appreciation for mismatched cloth napkins!!!
YES! Heavy on the elbow grease 🙂 Thanks for your kind words! I’m so glad you enjoy it.
Your Farmhouse tours always give me so much inspiration!! We live in very different homes, but I’m trying hard to dictate my style and really make our home a home. It doesn’t take thousands and thousands of dollars, just an eye for things you love. I appreciate you bringing us along!
This space is so pretty and inviting, it looks well-loved and well-lived in—you did a great job! And, your “Le Lait” postcard caught my eye because I have that set of postcards, too! Happy memories of Mont-Saint-Michel and flan. 🇫🇷😁
Thanks for showing, so pretty!
Lots of inspiration for embellishing my own home.
What is the picture right of the Oiseau drawing? The building looks very central European (in case you know the origin of the picture, just curious…).
This might be my favourite set of photographs on the internet – ever! This page is going to stay open for a long while, reminding me that lives are still being lived with confident joy and creativity (despite the season of Covid-19 and my very quiet, mostly restriction-isolated days caring for my 95 year old Mum who has dementia). It’s food for the soul.
Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful! Inspiring and cozy. Thanks for sharing!!!!
So beautiful! Love the bar but also loved the icebox bar that I saw on one of your videos. What happened to it?
We’ll be there in a few! Can 7 more squeeze in there? 😉 I’m a sucker for antique furniture. Thanks for the tour!
I loved the video and it helps so much to see the still photographs also. For example, those beautiful yellow curtains show up much better in the photographs. They give such a Provencal feel to the room. I love seeing your children popping in and out in your videos!
WOW! Just wow! Such a dramatic change. I love it! Great job!
Lovely and very comfortable a place where memories are made
You are a great photographer! Reminds me of Victoria magazine.
So warm and inviting. Such beauty in your humble surroundings. Such beauty in the purposeful life that you embrace with joy and gratitude. God bless you and your family.
I love your home! I hope I can create this kind of cozy and welcoming atmosphere in my home and I continue to stretch my homemaking skills. Where do you get your beeswax candles? I never have enough and want a good place to source them.
I have enjoyed your youtube series. I have purchased two of your cookbooks and have made a few of the recipes already. You all have really transformed your property and home. Everything looks great. I enjoy the music added to your programs. Best wishes to you and your adorable family.
I love that you’re not afraid of color. In fact, you embrace it. Isn’t it ironic that the “farmhouse” aesthetic that’s so popular these days is all about white, white, and more white? You show what a true farmhouse should look like–full of color, full of life.
Lovely! I said it before and I’ll say it again, the first time I saw your place I thought it was in Southern France! Beautiful and homey.
I love the vision you guys had even way back when you bought your house. Flipping through your books and instagram brings so much inspiration. You are great at knowing when to break the rules of decor and turn back time in the way you decorate. I love the old imperfections including our plaster walls and old windows, which every contractor insists are of no value. As I walk my property and home trying to get a plan I’m always asking myself “what would Shaye do?” I just love how much you’ve transformed you home and gardens