One Room Challenge: Dining Room Dreams, Week One

The Surprise is out! 

I’m thrilled to kick off the Spring 2025 One Room Challenge. For this mini project, I’m transforming our dining room into a space that feels like us... well... me: a little Palm Beach flair, a touch of Southern charm, and a whole lot of personality. 

This dining room has been through it. After living through not one but two floods in our apartment (thanks to back-to-back Austin ice storms and some very angry pipes), it’s time to bring some love—and style—back into the heart of our apartment. The orange peel textured walls have been taunting me ever since we removed the peel and stick wallpaper, and I’ve been dying for a good DIY excuse to tackle them. Enter... the One Room Challenge.

The vision? A simple but high-impact refresh that brings life back to our dining space. I’m honing in on the walls, using eucalyptus boards and lattice panels to change the texture, charm, and add a dose of that Palm Beach-meets-Southern elegance I love. It’s all about creating a clean, layered backdrop where I can show case some large-scale artwork I've painted. The "Charcuterie is a Statement of the Home" is an in progress piece I'm working on. It makes me laugh and it's perfect for a hosting household. As both an interior designer and artist, I can't wait to turn this blank wall into a fun artful moment. I made the image below by prompting the new ChatGPT 4o image generator to give you a sense of where I am aiming.

This is a mini project with big visual payoff. I’m not touching the dining table or chairs just yet—those are on deck for a future DIY. The chairs need repair and reupholstering, and the table could use a new top, so I’m saving that for round two. For now, it’s all about the millwork detailing and finding joy in a focused, manageable upgrade.

I’ll be using tools like a miter saw, circular saw, Dremel, and jig saw. As a renter, I’m being really mindful of not creating too much wall damage in the process. Every cut, anchor, and install has to be strategic—and a little nerve-wracking—but I’m ready for the challenge. 

This will be a full DIY journey, and I’m excited to take you along for every success, surprise, and sawdust-filled moment. Follow along for updates on Instagram, TikTok, and hopefully my first go at YouTube! 

Be sure to check out the One Room Challenge page here to see the other participant updates, and cheer them on! Thank you to One Room Challenge and Apartment Therapy for this opportunity.