This home belongs to a friendly and dynamic young family. But when we first met them, this room was anything but. The dining room and kitchen were a sea of dark brown wood: cabinets, dining table, and chairs included. Combined with the beige walls, it made for a space that felt rather uninspired, and certainly nowhere near as fun as the family who lives here.

We set to change that with lively fabrics, warm metallics and white paint deployed in equal measure. The cabinets got a fresh coat of white and some shiny new hardware. This did wonders to brighten the whole space, and bend it towards the clean Scandinavian vibe the clients favor.

The dining chairs were a vintage find. Distinctly sorry looking in their previous state--they were covered in beige vinyl and had chipped cream-colored legs--they are nothing short of show stopping now. Kitted out in fuchsia velvet and gold, they provide some real glamour to the room. But since we used indoor/outdoor velvet, they're completely durable for the two young children who live here, too.

The children also informed the choice of dining table. The rustic farmhouse tabletop is already weathered, and will easily stand up to anything the kids can dish out. It also keeps the dining chairs from feeling too serious. The combo makes for a mix of casual and fancy that's both interesting and fun.

Like many old houses in the area, this one was majorly lacking closet space. So we created a wall of storage for them in a previously underutilized part of the room. It now holds everything from laptops to off-season clothing to coats for guests. Dressed up with pretty hardware and moulding, and flanked by some spectacular abstract art, that wall is now both practical and stylish, just like the room itself.

The family loves their new space. They told us that for the first time ever, their home truly feels like them. We couldn't ask for a better review!