Living & Dining Room Renovation

Before

After

Before Transformation

The living and dining rooms felt heavy and disconnected despite sharing an open plan. Dark espresso-stained hardwood floors absorbed light, and the beige upholstered furniture — a settee, two club chairs, and a dark round coffee table — sat low and dense in the space. A burlap drum pendant cast a warm but flat light that couldn't reach the corners. The dining room beyond was dominated by a dark wood table and formal chairs on the same dark floor, creating a continuous visual weight. The rooms functioned, but they felt like a stage set — arranged but not lived in.

Before

The Approach

We replaced the dark hardwood with wide-plank white oak that immediately transformed the rooms' relationship with light — natural sun now bounces off the floor and fills the entire volume. The fireplace was resurfaced with a pale marble surround and topped with a large oval mirror in a sculptural black frame, giving the room a clear focal point. The heavy furniture was replaced with a deep white linen sofa, a pair of cream slipper chairs, and a live-edge stone coffee table that sits low and light. Above, a woven beaded chandelier replaced the drum pendant, introducing texture and a soft, diffused glow. The dining area received a round oak table with leather-strap chairs, creating an intimate zone within the larger space.

After

After Transformation

The rooms now feel like one continuous, breathing space. Light travels from the French doors across the oak floor, up the white walls, and into the beaded chandelier. The marble fireplace grounds the living area without heaviness, and the oval mirror doubles the sense of depth. The white linen sofa invites you to sink in rather than perch, and the coffee table — with its books, ceramics, and garden clippings — tells the story of the people who live here. A straw hat hangs on the wall, a string of shells catches the light. This is a home that has been unburdened.