• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

August 30, 2011

DIY Faux Wainscoting in the Dining Room

Ok. So, we all know that “faux” is just a fancy word for “fake”, right?
But I gotta tell ya, there is nothing fake about my love for my dining room walls now.
Faux Sho’!

Here is where it all began…
Sigh…green carpet…’nuff said.
I might not be able to do anything about that carpet right now, but I could do something with the walls!
Once I got my feet wet adding a chair rail and picture frame molding to our powder room, I knew my miter saw and I were going to be inseperable as we tackled the dining room.
I never thought I would get so much satisfaction out of seeing 2 corners match up!
Once I added the chair rail I was all set to start cutting the trim for the picture frame molding.
And then I spotted these on Clearance at Lowes!
There may or may not be a nice couple in our city who are still talking about the crazy, desheveled lady covered in saw dust and caulk they met in the wood trim aisle at Lowes who went on and on all about how excited she was to find these premade picture frames on Clearance and
how much time and energy that was going to save her.
 Just sayin’!
Here we are with the chair rail and the frames installed.

And after 2 coats of paint (make sure it matches your existing trim!), my faux wainscoting came to life!
Heather’s in love with her farmhouse sink and I’m in love with my walls.
We are deep like that here at the Fence!
My sweet hubby changed out the light sockets and switch plates from cream to white so they would blend in.

Looking back towards the living room, you can see that it isn’t truly an enclosed room. Which meant that the wainscoting had to have a point at which it came to a stop.
The walls are slightly rounded and my plan is to eventually put a chair rail in the living room as well. But to create the look of true wainscoting, I needed to have a “line” to define where it ends.

This was easily accomplished by taping off the wall in a straight line from the point where the chair rail ends.

Now, I really did love how the wainscoting turned out but what I wasn’t lovin’ so much was how stark this black table now looked against it.
I’ve been on the hunt for awhile now trying to find just the right sideboard for this space but haven’t had any luck yet. It can’t be very deep because there needs to be room for the chair to be pulled out so it has been a bit tricky to find something that will work.
Hmmmm….
What if I just switched it out for this one in the family room?
Definitely an improvement! Lighter, brighter and free!

I had my eye on this chicken wire cloche forever but the price tag kept me walking away from it every time.
Until a few weeks ago when it was 75% off!

My next challenge? This chandelier. You can see how it isn’t an easy one to switch out since the ceiling angles up to meet the 2nd story of our house. Even painting it would require renting scaffolding or teetering on a very tall ladder. Neither option thrills my heights-fearing hubby!

I do love how the wainscoting helps to ground and define the space now
and helps it to not feel so cavernous.
Until I figure out what to do with that light, I will just continue to admire my handiwork in the dining room and walk around the rest of the house trying to decide which space will be the next victim of my miter saw!
I think I just saw these walls raise their hands! Didn’t you?
Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today!
This post will be partying at the following places:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
DIY By Design: Sizzle into Summer
Guest host On Sutton Place: Open House Party
A Stroll Thru Life: Tabletop Tuesday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home Party
DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
Roomspiration



40 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « How to make an easy DIY window cornice
Next Post: Have your cake…and your veggies too…Chocolate Zucchini Espresso Cake »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    Love the wainscoting, and those panel frames are such an awesome find!

    Reply
  2. Michelle Paige says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Wow! Your home is so beautiful! I love how you made your own wainscoting and learned how to use a miter saw! You are an inspiration!

    Reply
  3. Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    The wainscoting looks fabulous! And I love that you got it on clearance! Great job!

    Pam

    Reply
  4. Carolyn@SweetChaos says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    It looks fantastic! And how awesome is it that someone thought to make the premade panels?? I have a serious weakness for wainscoting. It just gives everything a more custom look. Way to rock the miter saw!! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Jamie says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    GREAT work! And we’ve all been “that crazy lady at Lowes” at some point in our lives, right? hahaha!

    Reply
  6. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜@ Debbiedoos blogging and blabbing says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    That is unbelievable Vanessa! What a HUGE difference that makes in the room. Who will even notice the green carpet? Only you, believe me, this looks gorgeous!

    Reply
  7. Leslie says

    August 30, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    Your home is beautiful!! Great job in your dining room.

    Reply
  8. Rachel says

    August 30, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    I absolutely love that you got those frames for a steal – save TIME AND MONEY! (Let alone stress!) 🙂 Looks great! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Debra @ Common Ground says

    August 30, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Oh Vanessa, I’m lovin’ your space! That wainscotting real or not is amazing! You did such a wonderful job! My monster light fixture is just like yours except more “monster-y”. I’m thinking that chalk paint might work, little nervous about trying it though…
    If you get a minute come help out Dianne at Design Challenge. xoxo

    Reply
  10. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    August 30, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    WOW Vanessa you are goooood!! I’m lovin your walls too, and I love how you brought in the white table. Looks beautiful! We did the same thing in our dining room and hallway a few months ago and I couldn’t be happier! Martina

    Reply
  11. FABBY'S LIVING says

    August 30, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    Fabulous wainscoting Vanessa! I love the way it turned out, your dining room looks beautiful and elegant, I love it as I have it around our living and dining room too. Your house is very pretty, I love the photos you took of it. Nice chandy too! Thanks for sharing.
    Lots of hugs. FABBY

    Reply
  12. marina {yummy mummy} says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    You are so creative! And I love the chicken wire cloche! I may have a go at making a diy version 🙂

    Reply
  13. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    Vanessa, you did a great job on that trim. I let the mr. do those kind of jobs here. I do like the furniture switch you made to. Thanks in advance for joining the party.

    Reply
  14. housedressingblog.blogspot.com says

    August 30, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    Love the walls, you done good!… and where did you get those plaid panels? I am in deep lust over them!

    Reply
  15. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    August 30, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    Really wonderful transformation. It’s great that you even changed out the switchplates. Details like that make all the difference. Love the white too!

    Reply
  16. Pamela says

    August 30, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    Looks amazing Vanessa!! I really do need to go back to Lowes and get them again. You have shown me I CAN do this project!

    Reply
  17. Graces Goodies says

    August 30, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    It turned out so well! Love the white table in there:)

    Bianca

    Reply
  18. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    August 30, 2011 at 11:31 PM

    Your diningroom looks amazing. I totally love your wainscoting. It is just fabulous and it turned out sooooooooooo good. I really like the white buffet in there also. It is perfect and your vignette and wall collage is gorgeous. So pretty. Such a huge difference. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  19. NanaDiana says

    August 31, 2011 at 12:42 AM

    You did a wonderful job on those walls! LOVE that you found that framing and that it was just perfect for the job. What a time saver. Hmmm…I think those wall are quaking to see if they are gonna get nailed next! xo Diana

    Reply
  20. Refresh restyle says

    August 31, 2011 at 1:41 AM

    I think your faux looks fabulous ! And the white buffet was the perfect move!!! This post is full of eye candy, love the new cloche!
    Debbie

    Reply
  21. Debbie says

    August 31, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    Faux Sho? You make me laugh.

    I also admire the dining room. It looks great!

    Reply
  22. Michele Smith says

    August 31, 2011 at 2:48 AM

    Beautiful! You did a fantastic job. Your home looks some cozy and inviting!

    Reply
  23. Christie says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    It looks amazing! I think it does create such a warm space! Your entire home is so inviting! Love to you! Christie

    Reply
  24. FiliGrace says

    August 31, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Wow, nice job! 🙂 Congrants!

    Found your post via DIY by Design blog. 🙂 I joined the party, too. 🙂

    xoxo
    Grace.

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    August 31, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    on the light change the shades. love what you did to your room.

    Reply
  26. Shelia says

    August 31, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    Woo Hooness! I love it! What a great job you did! So so pretty and I know you’re enjoying it so much!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  27. tableandtop.com says

    August 31, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Your home is very pretty. Love the post!

    ‘Please visit our new website http://www.tableandtop.com‘

    Reply
  28. Youaretalkingtoomuch.com says

    August 31, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    Love.Love.Love! I have got to get my rear in gear on doing this! Love, Me

    Reply
  29. Toni says

    September 1, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    You did an amazing job. I am scared of saws so I would never attempt this. Yea for you!! The white table is perfect. Your home has so many interesting details. Love it.

    Reply
  30. Honey at 2805 says

    September 1, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    The changes made such a difference. It’s absolutely beautiful!

    Reply
  31. Poppy says

    September 1, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Absolutely fantastic job! what a difference the picture frame moldings and the chair rail made… it gives such a beautifully custom look to your dining room. I like how you placed the white console table and the wire cloche is such a darling… pretty vingette with the lamps and silver teaset. You have a gorgeous house! Thanks for having us over every Thursday. Have a safe Labor Day!~Poppy

    https://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  32. Honey at 2805 says

    September 1, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    Your really did a fabulous job-it looks so custom. Custom by Vanessa!

    Thanks so much for participating in the first Potpourri Friday Party!

    Reply
  33. Karen says

    September 1, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    You did a fabulous job, it looks just like custom wainscoting.

    Reply
  34. Tracy Suzanne says

    September 2, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Trim and molding makes the biggest difference. You did a great job Vanessa! I’m know you’re lovin’ it.

    Hugs…Tracy 🙂

    Reply
  35. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    September 3, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    You are such a worker bee. This looks like it was professionally done. Those frames are amazing. So glad you came to the party!

    Reply
  36. Ricki Jill Treleaven says

    September 3, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Linking over from 2805! I like your dining room and the shadow box molding and chair rail. Nicely done! I think your light fixture and my dining room light fixture were separated at birth. I would like a new light, too, but I probably won’t be getting one any time soon 🙁

    Reply
  37. Ellen says

    September 5, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    Love the new look, so crisp and clean. Just in time for the holidays. Sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Linking up from 2805.
    Hugs,
    Ellen

    Reply
  38. Sherry says

    September 6, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Vanessa,
    What a great idea that trim was. It looks wonderful! I love the furniture switch too! I liked the “walls raised their hands.” That was cute!
    Thanks for joining HSH!
    Sherry

    Reply
  39. Ange says

    September 23, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    I recognized your dining room right away! Isn’t the moulding such a fun touch to add to any room? 🙂 Looks great, as always!

    Reply
  40. Jena @ Involving Color says

    September 25, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    Vanessa, the new molding looks great! We did picture frame molding in our dining room, but the hard way. That was such a great idea to get the premade kind. It really adds a nice touch to your room. Thanks so much for linking up to Roomspiration!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Kim @ Savvy Southern Style Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the pa When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the payoff of your investment in your children, it is truly one of the greatest gifts. We had that experience twice this week with our 18 year old son and were overwhelmed by this opportunity we had to watch as he handled two very different situations (one personal and one professional) with grace, maturity, integrity and courage. Those of you mamas of little ones, don't ever minimize the job you are doing in raising this next generation. 

Every story read at bedtime
Every correction made to strengthen character
Every outdoor exploration
Every nose wiped
Every bandaid applied
Every time you say no when the world says yes
Every night of helping with homework
Every difficult conversation
Every prayer uttered

The final pieces of the puzzle of his childhood are falling into place and the picture revealed is one that is more wonderful than we could have imagined. And we know that it is only by God's grace on us as we sought His wisdom and guidance that we have come to this point. We have been FAR from perfect parents, but one of my most sincere prayers for the past 18 years was that the Lord would stand in the gaps that were surely to be revealed by our imperfections. And He has answered those prayers again and again. He's taken my humble petitions and most sincere intentions and knocked our socks off with the young man we are so privileged to call our son. And we can’t wait to watch as his future unfolds!
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence