A New Portrait In The Dining Room

It has certainly been a while since I have last written a blog post. A lot has transpired these past few months, but I feel like there has not been a great deal to give updates on as far as our home. We have done quite an overhaul of our basement (which is still very unfinished), and I will update on that when we get a little further along. But the truth is that we needed a break from a lot of the projects we had/have been working on around the house. Life has demanded more of our time (some good/some hard), and a lot has been put on hold. And that has been a welcomed blessing in many ways. It’s always good to remember that life comes before projects and that time with loved ones is more valuable than anything we “need to get done.” I recently did a little DIY project this past week though that I wanted to share, and I am so enthralled with how it looks in our dining room.

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good antique show. One of my favorites, the Utica Antiques Market, always has some incredible buys. And this last adventure to the market proved no different. I found lots of beautiful treasures, but I think this portrait was the clear winner of all my finds. I love artwork, especially artwork that is historic in nature. And while this is a new painting, it feels as if it has a unique story to tell. It drew my eye the moment I saw it. I looked it over and over, but ended up passing on it because I wasn’t sure of the price (which was actually fair, I am just a cheapskate-ha!). I left the market that day without it but could think of nothing else that evening and the next morning. I decided to take a chance, go back, and bargain for a lower purchase price…if someone else hadn’t snatched it up already. Thankfully for me, it was still there, and I got it for the lower price I wanted. The second I brought it into the house, I knew it had found its perfect new home.

The only thing that did not draw me to the painting was the frame. It was a new frame designed to feel old, but I was not in love with the color. Silver does not blend well into my style. I figured I could do a little DIY on it and make it feel like it properly belonged here. I used Rub n’ Buff in the color “antique gold.” What a difference it made to the painting! It drew out the colors so vividly and gave such a beautiful sense of dimension. Rub n’ Buff is such an easy way to transform any frame you wish. Here is a photo of the frame before the change:

My next task after changing the frame color was determining where to hang it. I sat on it for a week before I decided that the dining room would make the perfect place for it. I love watching period dramas (hello, Downton Abbey) where the dining rooms are filled with beautiful portraits. It just made sense to hang this piece in here and bring some life to space. Now I can’t picture the room without it.

Thanks for stopping by today and checking out my latest project. It isn’t grand or elaborate. But it made for an enjoyable little project that added some vibrancy and character to the room. Sometimes the smallest changes can make such a great impact. Thanks for checking in!

Oh, and if you were wondering…yes, I did name the lady in the portrait. Her name will henceforth be Georgiana. My nerdy heart just had to give her a name.