Dining Room Tour

I was approached a while back by a prominent website that saw my dining room plate wall on Pinterest and wanted to know if I'd be interested in having a feature on their site.  Of course I said HELL-to-the-YES! and grabbed my camera to take some updated photos of the wall and the entire dining room.  I straightened up the room, cleared out all the baby crap that was piled sky high in there and I even dusted - that's how excited I was.  I sent them off to the site, along with a write up on how I did it, where I found the plates, my inspiration, etc. and got all excited to become super famous!  And then...nothing happened.  

I don't know, maybe they forgot about me?  Maybe they hated the room?  Maybe they realized I don't have a clue what I'm doing decor-wise?  Maybe they went with a cooler plate wall from someone else?  Maybe the woman who contacted me was in a horrible heli-skiing accident in the Swiss Alps and was rescued by St. Bernards and is now in some little Swiss hospital with amnesia and doesn't realize there's a blogger out there (not so) patiently waiting her five minutes of fame?  I'm pretty sure that's exactly what happened.  

So, since I did all that dusting and have the photos, why let them go to waste.  Without further ado, here's my dining room (like you care).  Just pretend, ok?  Thanks.

The dining room is painted a bright apple green, with cherry wood accents and natural elements. The gorgeous (and very large) antique dining room table is on loan from my mother-in-law, who purchased it at an estate sale a few years ago.  With both leaves in it seats eight comfortably.  I think we've even managed to get 12 at the table once. 

The gorgeous china hutch and black wooden chairs are a consignment sale purchase from a local shop up the road from our house.  Rumor has it that the chairs were actually on the set of The Price Is Right for years before making their way to our dining room.  I love telling people that they are sitting on a piece of TV history!  COME ON DOWN! 

The most fun part of the room is the plate wall.  A few years ago I started collecting plates with the thought that I’d hang a few to give the wall some added color and interest.  I found plates at department stores, yard sales, online boutiques, consignment shops and even found one at the grocery store.  Somewhere along the way I developed a flower/daisy motif and have a few that almost even match.  

Back when I originally posted about the plate wall, I wasn't sure about that big dark plate.  Well, you all convinced me to keep it but try to add some other dark plates to balance it out, so I added a few little Kate Spade plates with the brown stripes and polka dots.  What do you think? 

Yes, I hate the chandelier. It came with the house and I have had grand plans on replacing it with something a little more modern (and way less gold) for almost six years now.  Someday...  

The curtains and sisal rug are both Pottery Barn.  

I don't remember where I got the place mats, but similar wooden mats can be found here.  

The cactus is fake.  I can't keep real plants alive for anything. Not even a cactus.

Do you recognize those tree trunk trays from our wedding?

Well, that's it. Make sure to tip your tour guide!  

Now who wants to come over for a dinner party so we can mess it up again?  

I'm not used to having it so clean!