Simply Sarah Style Decorating (Part 1): A Rustic Chic Dining Room

I recently decorated an entire house... yes, someone wanted Simply Sarah Style to come in and complete a whole house project. I was honored and had a ball!

This house has great history. It was built by the daughter of the McAlpin family who owned McAlpin's, the department store. It has unique character and has been well maintained over the last 90 years.

I thought I would start by sharing the first space we completed, which was the dining room. I partnered with Steve Hannagen from Brookside Photography to capture the details of this space. (If you're in need of a photography, you must check out his site!)

The photo below shows the space before I began styling.

The owner of the home wanted a rustic chic look. I started with two farmhouse-style pieces she already purchased: the table and hutch. I used them as a base and added bits of glam to balance out the rustic vibe.

She also already owned the clock, the drapes and chandelier. The paint color was there when she purchased the home. She liked it, so we kept it. She also started collecting rugs for a layering effect.

She gave me free to reign to start styling the space and building on what she already owned.

We went for a simple pop of color in the dining room. We used a peacock-colored plates from Pier 1, layered with chevron print cloth napkins from Home Goods.

My favorite piece is the primitive hutch. It definitely brings rustic to the room. I started by pulling glassware and ceramic items from the kitchen. I only ended up purchasing a few new items, which makes the end result even sweeter (and cheaper).

We ordered a Kentucky spellings print from Kentucky for Kentucky. (See the far right.)

You might of noticed the chalkboard artwork. I had the photos taken the same night as the owner's 30th birthday party. We found this list of "30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Know by the Time She's 30" by Glamour Magazine and added them as art for the party. The list is pretty cute. If you are throwing a milestone party any time soon, I recommend checking this list out.

Items Already in the Home

Farmhouse table and hutch: Custom pieces from a carpenter in Bellevue, KY
Drapes
Clock
Antique Dining Chairs: Everything But The House
Most Glassware: Everything But The House
Printed Rug
Mason Jar Drink Dispenser

Items Purchased

Upholstered end chairs: Tuesday Morning
Chalkboard: Home Goods
Woven Rug: Overstock
Peacock Colored Plates: Pier 1
Chevron Napkins: Home Goods
White Round Serving Tray: TJ Maxx
Artificial Wheat Grass Planter: Home Goods
Wire Basket: Home Goods
Cake Stand: Target