This is an “after” photo of our recently remodeled 1950’s beach cottage dining room.
Here’s what it looked like before, right after we bought the house.
I wanted the window removed to have a feature wall.
Plus, we live so close to each other on Lido Isle, you looked right into the neighbor’s front door.
The low opening to the dining room was slightly arched to raise it. The door to the kitchen on the left was removed so that we could have a walk-in pantry (see here) on the other side.
Where the door used to be we created a small alcove.
The alcove now houses a Napoleon III marble topped bookcase and an
oil painting that we bought in Paris.
Also, displayed is a painting that I love done by my cousin,
Janice of the apartment where we lived in Paris. 
The Louis Philippe commode above (behind the loveseat)
is in our current living room featured here.
My mother gave us the antique sconces that I had refurbished.
They are sentimental as I remember them from my childhood hanging over the
living room mantel and later in the dining room. 
We moved the peak of the ceiling to center it more in the middle of the room and added a tongue and groove wood treatment. The iron chandelier is from Circa Lighting by Suzanne Kasler.
I hand applied some gold to the quatrefoil design and added candle wax covers. 
The original watercolor and ink shell engravings are from the antique book
“Conchology, the Natural History of Shells” by George Perry, London, 1811.
We have dinner here most nights. I shouldn’t admit this but you can eat here
and also watch the television in the living room. Anyone else watch television during dinner?
Have a seat and join us for dinner! I’ll turn off the television.
Best Wishes,
Mary Ann
What an inviting dining room Mary Ann, I love that you have special family pieces in your home, so lovely and sentimental,Kathysue
I'd love to join you for dinner tonight. Does six ish sound okay….?
🙂
What gorgeous things you have. You must have shipped back masses of stuff from Paris. I'm drooling! I love the architectural tweaks you gave the room. It's created such a gorgeous new look.
Sarahx
Another beautiful room post! Your remodeling is amazing and your decor is simply timeless. Love it!
Mary Ann, it's beautiful! I especially love your alcove and all your antique furnishings! An apt in Paris? How lovely……
Mary Ann, I'm available anytime…it just looks fabulous!! Love the way you redid the ceiling with the tongue and groove paneling…the perfect beach touch!!
Many Ann – I love your dining room – and that feature wall is beautiful! I love the idea of closing off those windows. The ceiling is gorgeous too! What a classic room!
Its gorgeous, love that iron chandelier & the paneled ceiling really changes the sense of the room, timeless classic!
Just beautiful. I love the finishing touches like the added gold on the lighting. It's always the finishing touches that make a room special.
Stunning, simply stunning. I love everything about it. I have shells around my house too, on shelves and in jars, which might be funny considering I live in the desert. I love the green shade of those pillows, they add just the right pop of color in your elegant dining room.
We are not big TV watchers and cannot see it from where we eat, we play cribbage during dinner 🙂
Stopping by thanks to Suzanne at Privet & Holly.
Let me just say I love your home!
It's stunning!
Biz
Gorgeous. Love it all. You have turned it into such a stunning place. Hugs, Marty
It's a great transformation Mary Ann congratulations.
This is certainly one example where getting rid of a window was THE thing to do!!! Great room!! Love the ceiling, the table and the mirror/shell pictures focal point.
Thanks, everyone. We were in Paris for two years for my husband's work and shipped a container back of our belongings (even wine)…this was 10 years ago when the exchange rate was better 🙂
Mary Ann
What a wonderful space Mary Ann!
{thanks again for the stylish blogger award, I mentioned it yesterday}
Happy weekend!
Be right over…what's cooking? Fabulous…love that you added that touch of gold to the light fixture. Just picked out some Suzanne Kasler sconces for a client bathroom redo…it was hard to choose they are all so wonderful! .
It's beautiful!!!!! Love that tongue and groove ceiling. And I have been known to enjoy a dinner or two a la TV too. : )
Melissa
Now this post is full of true pink perfection! So very lovely.
We did a whole flea market booth of pink accents.
Come take a peek:
http://metislinens.blogspot.com
Have a wonderful weekend!
This is a beautiful before and after! I love everything about it! You have wonderful taste. You need to submit this to a publication.
xo
Amy R.
I love your timeless designing – just beautiful. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Love your blog! Your dining room is so beauiful–really! ~Delores
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
WOW! This is beautiful. What wonderful changes and what amazing pieces you have. And to have *lived* in Paris! I studied there for 2 months in college and it was such a fabulous experience.
Hi Mary Ann,
Thank you for stopping by. Very nice dining room and I love the mirror!
Blessings,
Sandi
Looks great and you can't beat the location. I love the painting your cousin did. What a great souvenir of your time there.
wow, how beautiful. love the addition of the arch.
You have done an amazing job created a classic space. I am a new follower and will be reading some of your old posts so that I can catch up.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Oh my gosh…it's beautiful!! Great job:)
Splendid job! I love the shape, the chandelier, and the mirror (oh my I need that mirror – where is it from?)
p.s. I'd LOVE to visit my best friend in Irvine again but it probably won't be until next year. We're traveling a ton this year – Mexico, Italy, back to NYC so vacation days are really running out!
Please do not turn off the tv on my account. Yes I have to admit that we are watching TV to at the litchen table, oh well at least we are all sitting together. That was a good idea removing the window, and I love the alcove. Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. So nice to have met you.
Wow this is amazing. I love the mirror:)
I love seeing the "before and after" photos – you really did an amazing amount of work that paid off beautifully. I can't decide what part I like best.. heck I love all of it!!
I know who I am going to have re design my house when the time comes!!
I had a look at your kitchen and it's gorgeous. You're right…I LOVE the colours you've used. Yummmmmmmmy!
Sarahx
The alcove is a great addition to the space. the room is so pretty and I like the pop of color with the green pillows. Yes – guilty of the tv watching 🙂
The quality of your style is so upscale yet approachable and livable! It's truly beautiful and i can't wait to see more changes in this home.
That is a seriously gorgeous room! I love the light fixture and the table…just perfect for the room! Have a great Monday! Angie xo
I love everything about this room. Beautiful yet comfortable!
Great job, a beautiful, light and inviting room. Love from London xo
wow! You put in a lot of work. It looks great!
I love the dining room re-do. Great idea for the niche, the arch AND I love the pop of green on the pillows. Thanks for stopping by curlywillowdiy.blogspot.com I will be keeping in touch!
Mary Ann,
I just love what you have done here…beautiful dining chairs and outstanding tablescape.
Blessings,
Linda
Love the transformation! Such a beautiful space. By the way, I can see my tv from the dining room too!
You did a wonderful job with the window…and I love the vaulted ceiling. Your chandelier caught my eye…it's perfect for your beach decor! Nicely done!
XO,
Jane
Quite a transformation! You have some lovely things!
Fabulous makeover!!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting on my daughter's room re-do. She has loved all the comments!
And…wuh!!!! Your dining room is GORGEOUS! I love the ceiling, and your accessories are so unique. Your cousin's interior painting is so pretty. I love painting interiors! Great room!
xoxoxo,
Ricki Jill
Lovely. I love peering into beautiful homes. I'm your newest follower. http://moogieland.blogspot.com/
Dinner? I'll bring the popcorn!
Lovely, all very lovely.
Mary Ann,
I love your dining room! What a difference. The sconces and the commode are beautiful.
Hope your week is going well.
Teresa
xoxo
This is quite fantastic – love the structural changes and the decor! Love every detail,
Kathy
Your dining room is stunning. Love the mirror vignette and love the window gone. Everything is gorgeous. Your tablescape is perfect. Truly lovely. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
Gorgeous dining room! I love it! I'm really loving the slipcovered chairs!
Wow – it came out great. And I do love the alcove where the door used to be. That really looks very nice.
Wow, that looks fabulous…beautiful job! Yes we really do say "Barbie" – Oprah has let out all of our secrets! Tracey xx
Mary Ann, beautiful space! I love how you personalized it with keepsake pieces and your own history. Very fresh and light….good design.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I am enjoying keeping in touch with other designers.
Carla
There is nothing like a fabulous Before & After to make my renovator's heart beat faster! You had a wonderful vision for this room Mary Ann & it's a triumph.
Millie ^_^
Hi! I've just discovered your blog, and I have bookmarked it – I will be back!
Your dining room is beautiful – I love what you've done with the space, and it's so beautifully decorated.
Susan
you did an amazing job with your dining room! I can just imagine the process to be where are you are now. Great alcove, great mirror, and great chairs. Yeah, great room indeed! 🙂
What a fabulous transformation. You'd never guess it was the same room
Cheers,
Lisa x
Beautiful work and very elegant…thanks for sharing!
Lovely. It's amazing how a few little things like taking out a window or removing a door (little in the sense that you're not adding space) can have such a big impact.
– The Tablescaper
such a gorgeous room!
I love your style Mary Ann. These pictures make me want to paint my newly painted rooms! Maybe I could just move in with you?
I am going through your old posts and I love these rooms. Your dining room is gorgeous. Love the chandelier and that planked ceiling. I am going to add you to my blog roll so I don't miss a post.
Goodness! So lovely! I'm intrigued by your arched doorway. Did you hire that out? I'm trying to figure out how to trim out the arched doorways we have. What did you do for the trim?
It looks straight out of a magazine!
Beyond beautiful. You are a lucky lady to have such a lovely place to dine.
Camille
I've just been poking around your site a bit. So many great projects! I'm a new follower!
Wow Mary Ann! This is seriously an astonishing post. The chandelier above the dinner table is f***ing brilliant!
Such a pretty room. Reminds me a lot of my own, simple and elegant, nothing overly done. It has a very welcoming feel. Great makeover.
Its gorgeous, love that iron chandelier & the paneled ceiling really changes the sense of the room, timeless classic!
That is absolutely gorgeous! It's far above and beyond what normal new luxury homes have today. I really liked how you played with the lighting to really bring out that effect of the painting and bookcase.