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Apartment Therapy reported that Annette Suarez spent about $5,000 transforming her dining room, replacing terracotta tile and white walls with warm wood flooring, deep green paint, vintage furniture and layered lighting. The project also included removing the wall between the dining room and kitchen and building a corner bookcase that Suarez says cost $150, including its light fixture.
Annette Suarez has changed an orange-and-white dining room she described as cold and outdated into a darker, vintage-inspired space, according to a before-and-after report published by Apartment Therapy. Suarez said the renovation cost about $5,000 and included new wood flooring, green paint, layered lighting, vintage furnishings and a corner bookcase she built herself.
Suarez, who shares the home with her husband, Sergio, said the original terracotta floor tiles felt heavy and dated, while white walls made the room seem sterile. She began by removing the tile and opening up the layout by knocking down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. The report does not specify whether the wall was load-bearing or provide details about the work involved in removing it.
For the redesign, Suarez chose Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue for the walls and added picture-frame molding, warm wood flooring and rich wood furniture. She also brought in vintage and secondhand elements, including ladder-back chairs, an old credenza and a mix of frames collected from thrift stores and flea markets. Some frames were spray-painted; others kept their worn finishes.
The room’s lighting combines wall sconces, a chandelier and a candelabra. Suarez said she wanted to plan lighting early rather than rely only on an overhead fixture. A corner built-in bookcase was another DIY project. Suarez told Apartment Therapy that it cost $150, including the light fixture, and was made with MDF boards and basic trim. The reported total for the dining-room renovation was $5,000.
How Layered Details Changed the Room
The project shows how flooring, wall color and lighting can work together to alter the feel of a dining room. Suarez’s redesign replaced the original room’s orange-and-white palette with darker green walls, warm wood and softer, varied light. Those choices give the space a more collected appearance without relying solely on new matching furniture.
For readers planning a similar renovation, the report offers practical details as well as a finished look: Suarez’s $150 bookcase was a small part of a larger $5,000 project, while her advice emphasizes planning the room’s lighting and keeping a consistent range of wood tones. The figure is specific to her project; the report does not establish it as a typical cost for comparable renovations.
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From Terracotta Tile to Vintage Vogue
Apartment Therapy’s report presents the work as a before-and-after renovation, rather than a product launch or a broader study of home-design trends. The changes began with demolition: Suarez removed the terracotta tile and opened the dining room to the kitchen. She then chose materials and furnishings to support a warmer, moodier look.
Suarez described the new floor as grounding and inviting and said paint and subtle trim added depth. She collected frames and furniture secondhand, aiming for a sense of history rather than a perfectly matched set. Her guidance was to choose wood pieces that complement rather than exactly match, and to soften them with textiles and dried flowers. The report identifies the paint color and bookcase materials but does not provide a full itemized budget or construction timeline.
“Moody, cozy rooms rely on good lighting. Layer your light sources — overhead lighting alone isn’t enough.”
— Annette Suarez, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Renovation Details Not Reported
The report gives a rough total cost of $5,000 but does not list expenses by category, state when the renovation was completed, or explain whether the total includes labor, permits or other related work. It also does not provide measurements, a detailed construction sequence or information about the wall removed between the dining room and kitchen.
Suarez’s comments describe her experience and design preferences; they do not establish that the same materials or budget would suit another home. The source does not say whether all work was completed by Suarez, whether contractors were involved, or what approvals applied to the layout change.
Planning a Similar Dining Room
Apartment Therapy’s account focuses on the completed makeover and does not announce a follow-up project or additional reporting. For homeowners considering comparable work, Suarez advises sketching and measuring carefully before building a bookcase, and taking plans to a hardware store if cuts can be made there. She also recommends thinking through lighting before the end of the project, particularly when wiring may be involved.
Suarez cautioned readers to seek help if they are unsure about wiring or structural work. Anyone planning to alter a wall or install electrical fixtures should check applicable permits and safety requirements and use qualified professionals where required. The source does not report whether Suarez’s project needed permits or professional assistance.
Key Questions
How much did the dining-room renovation cost?
Suarez told Apartment Therapy that the overall transformation cost about $5,000. The article does not provide an itemized budget.
What changed in the room?
The renovation replaced terracotta tile with warm wood flooring, added Vintage Vogue green paint and picture-frame molding, opened the room to the kitchen, and introduced vintage furniture and layered lighting.
How much did the DIY bookcase cost?
Suarez said the corner bookcase cost $150, including the light fixture. She used MDF boards and basic trim to create its built-in appearance.
What lighting did Suarez use?
The dining room has sconces, a chandelier and a candelabra. Suarez said she recommends planning multiple light sources rather than relying only on overhead lighting.
Did the report give details about permits or structural work?
No. The report says the wall between the dining room and kitchen was removed, but it does not identify the wall’s structural role or discuss permits, contractors or inspections.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
