One Room Challenge | Dining Room Delight | Week 5

One Room Challenge | Dining Room Delight | Week 5

Hi Everyone! Can you believe this is week 5? OH MY goodness! This seems like the longest (insert sarcasm here) yet quickest ORC challenge I have participated in. This was suppose to be a quick dining room refresh. So much for the quick part! I really should be done with this challenge by now, but the wallpaper issue, really put me behind in the overall progress of my room’s completion date.

I’m happy to FINALLY report that my grasscloth wallpaper is getting installed today. Hallelujah! These last two weeks of slow progress have felt like a year. Thank you so much to James O’Brien Wallpaper for coming to my rescue.

Speaking of grasscloth wallpaper if you or someone you know is considering grasscloth for your/their home be sure to check out- The Grasscloth guide here.


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Here is a little update on the progress this week.

Last week you saw the applied molding that I had added to my ceiling to create a little interest and dimension. This week I added another layer of dimension. My simplified take on trompe l’oeil-sorta, kinda. Wondering what that fancy word is?

trompe ‘oeil /ˌtrômp ˈloi/

visual illusion in art, especially as used to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object.

  • a painting or design intended to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object.

Ok, so it’s not exactly Andrea Pozzo’s fresco dome in Vienna but it did create an illusion of a shadow and added dimension to the applied molding. What do you think, did I trick you into thinking this was a tray ceiling?


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The One Room Challenge most definitely has its challenges and can be stressful at times. So I thought it would be a fun activity to get my kids involved in this dining room too. After all this is where we plan to eat on occasion together.

Many studies actually show that eating together is a great way for parents and children to deepen their bonds in today’s fast-paced world. I’m a BIG believer in eating at least dinner together. So I tasked each kid to select a set of dishes that reflected their style. My idea was to take all three plate selections and mix them up into our own unique Donohoe table setting.

Now, I really thought they would all dread this task and think it was totally boring. But to my surprise each of them very much enjoyed the idea. I took each kid separately and went thru a number of on-line sites to look at pictures of the dishes. They selected all their favorites and then they narrowed it down to their personal favorites. I did not, I repeat I did not guide them in their selections at all! (see below for what they picked)

I decided to invest in a complete set for each kid so that when we are done making memories here in our family, they could take those dishes and start making memories with their own families. (Ok, I’m getting a little teary thinking about this now).

Here is what they picked-


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Shop our plate picks (click on image)

While we are on the subject of tables setting. I’m also teaching them about table manners (more like reinforcing) and how to set a table. What you actually do with that fork and spoon above your plate. Don’t let it intimidate you. (hint: it’s delicious and my kids favorite part)

Here are some really great books I recommend to help guide you. These are for formal and casual tables.

Shop our book selections (Click on image)

With just one week to the reveal I wanted to share some of the artwork that will be going into the dining room. Some of the pieces are small and will sit on the built-in and some are larger to hang on the wall.

If you watch my Instagram stories I’ve given a couple sneak peeks at the large original artwork I found at High Point Furniture Market earlier this month. I had my local frame shop stretch the canvas and add a floating frame. It looks so great! I can’t wait to reveal it and the room.


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Shop the Art (click on image)

You may all start the count down. Just 1 week until the final reveal of my Dining Room Delight. I’m very anxious to get the room pulled together this weekend and hopefully I won’t have anymore interruptions.

If you happen to be just joining in on this challenge you can certainly catch up by clicking each week.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Next week- The Reveal! You don’t want to miss this.

I appreciate the time you’ve taken to come here and read about my One Room Challenge. Be sure to check out the 20 featured designers and the 200+ participants this season for their updates.

I hope you all are enjoying following along as I freshen up my #diningroomdelight for the #OneRoomChallenge. You can follow along too on Instagram, on the tag, #oneroomchallenge #ORC and #BHGORC

And, if you haven’t yet, I invite you to subscribe to my blog and connect with me on Instagram here to see my latest scheming. Don’t forget to watch for my IG stories for behind the scenes peeks.

Drop a comment below and let me know what you think this week.


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Please note this post may contain affiliate links. If you click to buy one of these, I will make a tiny percentage, at no additional cost to you. Thank you all!

Comments (10)
  • Sarah
    | 1 November 2018

    They all have excellent taste. The idea to start their collection is so beautiful. I felt water come to my eyes as well.

    • Jana Donohoe
      | 1 November 2018

      Hi Sarah!
      Yes I was pleasantly surprised by their selections. Maybe future designers in the making. 🙂

  • Christine
    | 2 November 2018

    I am insane over this idea of mix matched unique styles for the place settings. This is going to look so amazing! Cant wait to see the BIG REVEAL!

    • Jana Donohoe
      | 4 November 2018

      Thank you Christine! I’m excited to see them all together, still waiting on a few to get here. ;/
      Only a few more days until the reveal….. I’m dying to see your reveal btw!

  • Janet Lorusso
    | 3 November 2018

    I love that you had your kids pick place settings – what a terrific idea! And quite nice that they end up mixing together so happily too 🙂 Yay for the wallpaper installation!! Can’t wait to see the results!

    • Jana Donohoe
      | 4 November 2018

      Hi Janet,

      I thought it was a pretty cleaver idea of mine…lol and maybe a little sentimental too. 🙂
      I was beyond excited to see all their choices and yes such a bonus I think they all will look smashing together. My son originally picked a black (which would have been nice too) but they only had 2 in stock, so he reselected the blue ones.

  • Wendy
    | 4 November 2018

    Can’t wait to see the big reveal! It looks like it’s going to be so pretty and fresh.

    • Jana Donohoe
      | 4 November 2018

      Hi Wendy!

      Thank you so much! I’m definitely ready for the reveal to be here. 🙂

  • Marina V
    | 4 November 2018

    Can’t wait to see. Love the art pieces.

    • Jana Donohoe
      | 7 November 2018

      Thank you so much Marina!

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