Considering a room revamp, but not sure where to begin—or how much to invest? In our latest series, One-Room Renos, we explore renovation projects big and small, from soft-good upgrades you can accomplish in a weekend to total overhauls that cost a small fortune and take months (or longer).
Today, a couple in Houston, Texas shares how they turned their unused dining room into a “sipping room” for themselves and their company to enjoy.
Tell us about your dining-room renovation plan.
We’ve lived in this house 37 years, and we’ve only ever used the dining room twice a year—for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other than that, I folded laundry on the table, but that’s it. It was wasted space.
How did you decide what to turn the room into?
I was tired of not having anywhere to store my glassware collection and alcohol. I loved the idea of a dry bar and countertop for mixing drinks. More than that, we wanted a space where my husband and I could relax, and, when we have company, a space where everyone could sit but also easily move around.
Why now?
Our kids are grown, and we felt it was time to finally finish the house. I wanted the home to look updated and feel done, so we can enjoy our time here until it’s time to move to assisted living.
How did you come up with the design?
My husband found our interior designers, Laurie Coton and Mariana De La Garza, because their company, Coton House Realty & Design, was on the floor below his office. They came up with the design, which they call “modern classic.”
What made you decide to hire a designer?
I don’t like looking online at furniture or design. Laurie and Mariana asked to see my Pinterest board for the room, but that’s not me. Luckily, a friend of mine had just completed a similar project, and I liked what she had done.
Did you give them any direction?
I told them I wanted to get rid of my beige-and-gray aesthetic. In my mind, I also saw the room with four chairs—maybe I’d seen that in pictures. Sofas would have looked crowded and not allowed us to move around.
Was it all decor updates or was there any construction?
I had the cabinet with a dry bar custom built. Laurie and Mariana recommended a carpenter, since it’s a very specific thing to build. Mariana did a drawing, and that was the starting point. We also knew that we wanted it to hold liquor, so we took our bottles and measured to know exactly how deep the drawers needed to be. Now, when I slide them out, I can read the tops to know what’s what without pulling anything out. We love the functionality.
Were there any mishaps along the way?
The carpenter mismeasured. He built the cabinet in their warehouse and assembled it at my house, which is when I could tell it wasn’t symmetrical. I called Laurie and Mariana, and they called the carpenter. He promised to fix it. He offered to rebuild the whole thing but ended up adding a shelf that wasn’t in the original drawing. It made the whole piece look balanced.
Did you ever doubt the designers?
Laurie and Mariana suggested wallpaper for the back of the cabinet. At first I questioned it, but it ended up being a great touch that pulled the room together.
Was there anything else that helped complete the look?
On the last day, Mariana rearranged the shelves. She brought a collection of vases and tchotchkes, telling me I didn’t have to buy any of it. She knew exactly what and how much to bring. She’d step back, take a look, then rearrange. In the end, I liked it and kept it all. The goal was to have a finished space, and that’s exactly what she gave me.
Where did the money for the renovations come from?
We’d been saving. Our kids are out of the house now, so we’re empty nesters. My husband is an executive with a private holding company, so we were able to put away a good amount. We actually renovated quite a few rooms to update the home.
What was the biggest expense?
The Tufenkian rug was the biggest expense—and the first thing we bought. It gave the room the color scheme. That’s where the pretty teal color was pulled from.
Did you change your design at all based on budget?
Initially I wanted a mini-fridge. But the size of the built-ins dictated that the fridge couldn’t be deeper than 20 inches. Curiously, the smaller you go, the more expensive these things are. I was thinking it would be cheap—like a dorm fridge. The only one we found was $2,500, and that was too much so we nixed that.
What do you like most about the space now?
How inviting it is. The chairs have great style with tiny blue dots, and they also swivel and rock—they’re crazy comfortable. My husband likes to read in this room, and we often decompress together after dinner. We’ve been using this space a lot in the last couple of months, so much more than we ever have in the last few decades!
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