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DINING ROOM REFRESH REVEAL – A FURNITURE TRANSFORMATION FOR LESS!

Filed in DESIGN & STYLING — July 20, 2023

A major transformation can take shape with just the use of new furniture. Sometimes a whole renovation isn’t necessary and all it takes is a little swap of furniture to take a space from feeling drab to inspired! That’s exactly how my dining room refresh came out. See what I mean below…

Our dining table had seen better days. It lasted through three little boys and had a few dents, scratches, crayon marks I couldn’t get off, and well, it was just time. We also needed additional storage and a larger table for hosting. I went to my friends at Illinois Home Stores to find the perfect pieces for my dining room and what came together was pure magic! Beautiful design can be functional AND affordable.

My design plan was simple I wanted a beautiful designer look cabinet for storage and decor. A large table and a mix of chairs- I love a black chair to ground the space, and had wanted to bring in head chairs for a more formal look while still being a little relaxed. Exactly how I tend to define my style; casually elevated.

THE BEFORE – I knew we weren’t utilizing the space as best as we could. We needed to reconfigure the layout a bit to really stretch the square footage. Adding a larger cabinet on the back wall behind the table gave us more depth, and created a better visual focal point.

I love the sleek legs on the Langford Dining Table and the fabric on the head chairs is gorgeous! I like the mix for functionality, the spindle chairs are classic while also easy to clean. If you’ve ever been worried about upholstered dining chairs, don’t be! I use my little green machine and it’s a life saver for spills/stains on upholstery and carpet!

The real show stopper here is the Lenston Cabinet. A MAJOR designer look for less at a fraction of the price. I love the drawer for table linens, flatware, extra plates, etc. It’s so functional but it’s absolutely beautiful! I also love the frame and color tones. The outside is reclaimed wood stained black and that is right up my alley! Also comes in a sideboard.


I styled the cabinet with a few of my favorite decor pieces and sprinkled in some dining essentials like my gorgeous fluted barware, extra plates, and cookbooks. It’s so beautiful, even with a few functional pieces out on display it looks so nice layered in with all my vases and other accents.

See a video styling my new cabinet HERE – & follow on IG for more styling inspiration.

I can’t wait to host in this space now! The best part my new dining table has a leaf so we can add even more around the table! I’m looking forward to all the gatherings and memories we’ll share in here.

If you’re in Central Illinois stop in to your local Ashley, Illinois Home Stores in Champaign, Bloomington, Peoria, Mt Vernon, and Peru tell them I sent you and use code: GRACEOAKS in store to save!

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  1. Smitha says:

    Your writing style is so engaging. I couldn’t stop reading!

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Grace Oaks Designs is an interiors and lifestyle brand located in Central IL.
Creating homes that are both stylish and deeply rooted in livability. Offering design services and inspiration encouraging an elevated everyday.