Tonight I’m participating in a blog party over at Nesting Place called Price my Space. Each partygoer is showing photos of a room and telling where things came from and what everything cost. I’m crazy for doing this. There is a not a room in my house that is “done,” and one of my goals for 2009 (and then for the summer since I hadn’t started yet) was to work on my decor on my teeny tiny budget. The one room I am pretty happy with is my dining room, so here goes:
(Apparently I wasn’t holding the camera straight)
1. I wanted a geometric focal point for the room, and I also associate the dining room with “family,” so I had 8×10 portraits done of my kids and found a custom framer on Ebay for the frames. Total cost was under $100, and I can even switch out the photos if I want to update them someday.
2. We needed a larger dining room table once the twins were older, so I bought this one off Craigslist for $250. It was a spectacular deal considering that I sold our old 4-seat table the same day for $150. I recovered the cloth chairs with fabric from Wal-mart, so total cost was (net) $120.
3. We just upgraded from highchairs to these bar chairs for the toddlers (they’re 3). I got two tall chairs from Craigslist for $30.
4. There used to be a basket of fruit on the table, but it’s too hot this time of year to leave it out. Now we have this lovely handpainted lazy susan, which I won in a blog giveaway. Cost: FREE.
5. The dining room is the front room in our townhouse, so the previous owners installed these blinds that go the length of the wall. They’re great for privacy, but I do feel like we need some softness, some fabric, a valance? Please leave a comment with any advice you have for me!
6. Continuing with the “family” theme, I framed three photos from my sister’s wedding in this $12.99 Ikea Ribba frame (I love these frames and have them all over the house). The photos were expensive because they came from the actual photographer, probably $50+, so I’ll say the total cost was $65.00.
7. The plant is also from Ikea, only $14.99. It still needs an appropriate container (I’ve been to 100 yard sales and haven’t found one yet–but I have a creative solution that I’ll blog about in the next week or so).
8. This is one of my favorite pieces, it’s a Creative Memories Everyday Display. It has a magnetic board and magnets so you can change it around. Earlier this year it had Christmas cards and photos, then homemade Valentines, and now it’s still stuck on “spring” because I haven’t changed it yet. It was FREE as a hostess gift when I hosted an event a couple of years ago.
9. Last week, my 4th of July decorations were hanging here; now it’s a Southern Living at Home Card & Photo Display, also earned FREE. My son has started collecting photos and mementos of our summer trips there.
10. My work in progress. I got this great buffet at a yard sale for $20. It’s got great lines, and the seller had sanded the top but never finished the project. I want to paint it black, but my husband thinks it will be too dark. So it sits there unfinished, and it would be the perfect place for a Nester tablescape except for the three small children running through here all the time.
11. Not pictured in my dining room: two tricycles (yes, I’m serious), a bin of sunscreens and bug sprays, and all the clutter I cleared off the buffet before I took that picture. 
Also–my camera didn’t capture the bright sunny yellow on the walls because I took the photos at night instead of with natural daylight. The previous owner picked a great color for this room, so we didn’t change it. The total cost for my dining room was $350.
Go see everyone else’s Price my Space at Nesting Place. They’re WAY cooler than mine. As you can probably tell, I don’t have a sense of style. But I’m working on it. I love Nester’s motto, “It Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful,” and I’ll be sharing a lot more decorating posts as I tackle projects around the house.
**UPDATE: Since this post, I D-I-Y’d both the buffet and the bar chairs. They turned out great! But I need to add $23 to my total above. Still, $373 for my dining room that looks even better now–what a bargain!
I love your photo display!!! I know how you feel about the unfinished part.
Visiting from The Nester's party. 
What a pretty blog you have! Love the colors and your logo. I'm trying to get mine redesigned at the moment, so I've been noticing the blogs that I really like the looks of.
A dining room for $350 is pretty amazing, if you ask me! They're one of the most expensive rooms to furnish. Great job!
Great deal on that table! Craigslist rocks for finding fab things on a tight budget.
Enjoyed the tour! I always love family photos in a room. Your table and chairs are great. Sally
What do you mean you don't have a style? I think your dining room is great, I LOVE the pictures of your kids and sister. Photos make a room so personal, no wonder you enjoy it!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm so glad that you liked my Beach Guest Room. My guests always feel at home and never want to leave! LOL! I love the framed family pictures on your wall. I'm a sucker for kid pics!
Keep checking in on my blog for new updates and future projects. (I have a garage full of projects waiting for their great reveal!)
Wow – you did a great job with that budget! I'm so impressed! I spent all my big money when we were a DINK family. Now I'm working the tight budget so I appreciate your inspiration!
I'm glad you are enjoying your FREE SLAH products! I can't wait to help you get more. And you are so sweet to link up to my blog.
BTW – I got your card over the weekend and I must send you a picture of how it arrived. It was interesting! Thanks again!
very nice. loving the family photos.
Great ideas! What is the wall color in your dining room, if you remember. I'm getting ready to paint and am gathering ideas
Thanks!
your blog is so pretty. i love that you actually USE your dining room, tricycles and all
great deals on all your furniture.
Thanks for the comment on my living room! I really like your dining room table, and you got it at such a great price!
I really like your space. I do like the window coverings. They seem to have a nice texture to them. I am working on some cornices and some box valences for my ultra tall, ultra skinny windows in my home. The cornice has the mouldings at the top, and the box valence will be fabric covered, but have a more formal feel than the swag valence. Good luck with finishing your room! Abbie
love the buffet!
Please check out my blog if you have a minute.
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You got the plant at Ikea? I'll have to look for that next time I go. And I too love the photo display
When my daughters were young (now grown ups) I remember I had to put the wooden coffee table against the wall so they wouldn't fall and hit their head! So I remember what you have to do with small kids in the house! Tricycles will work!
Brenda
WOW! It looks great! I can't believe you did all that for $350!
Hello! Love your dining room. Especially how you've arranged all your photos. I have one of those Creative Memory boards too! It's in my kitchen. Thank you for sharing!
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com