Switch It Up!

 one year, on the day before Easter, i awoke with a wild idea.

[which, truly, isn't that unusual]

the family was coming the next day for Easter dinner, and i wanted to do something different.

and no, i'm not talking about making a new dish for the meal.

i'm talking about the place where we'd HAVE the meal. i was ready for a big change!

 this photo shows my lovely seven-foot-long pine dining table in the dining room. 

which is fine, but the sunlight never really reached this part of the house.

 and i wanted a sunny Easter gathering
[since the weather in Seattle was cooperating that year!]

so... i pulled the dining room table out into the living room,

and moved the round farm table from the living room to the dining room...

sadly, while i don't have a photo to show the whole dining table in its new location,

i do have this one with GLORIOUS sunshine pouring in the windows onto the pine. 

it literally glowed with warmth, which was exactly what i wanted!

with two windows facing the front yard (south) and a glass door from the porch (west),

the table was a bright and happy place for our holiday meal.

 the round farm table made a charming addition to the dining room space.

 i pulled a park bench and two garden chairs from the front porch, 

which completed the seating area.

the room offered a more sunny and open look - much like a 'breakfast room',

which is exactly how it was used for months afterward!

[and when the kids showed up on Easter, 

everyone gathered here for pre-dinner drinks and conversation!]

here's a floorplan sketch to show you how it played out:

i left the tables this way all through spring and summer that year, 

and loved the way that we used the space differently.

i used the large dining table as a desk on many days,

since i was able to look out onto the sunny yard and porch awhile working.

remember: it didn't cost me a thing - just some muscle and a little time - 

but the Cottage was renewed and refreshed!

what about YOUR rooms?

is there a switch you can make that will revitalize your space

 and give your rooms a new look and functionality for the season?

give it a try!

[i know, it may be hard to convince your hubby that this is worth doing...

just remind him that it's a free way to redecorate!]