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Apartment Therapy reported that Annette Suarez renovated the dining room she shares with her husband, Sergio, replacing terracotta tile and white walls with warm wood flooring, dark green paint, trim and vintage furnishings. Suarez said the full makeover cost $5,000; her corner bookcase, built from MDF and basic trim, cost $150 including its sconce.
DIYer Annette Suarez renovated the dining room she shares with her husband, Sergio, replacing its terracotta tile and orange-and-white palette with warm wood flooring, dark green paint and vintage furnishings. Apartment Therapy reported the project cost $5,000; Suarez said the work also included opening the room to the kitchen and building a corner bookcase for $150, including its light fixture.
Suarez described the former room as “cold and outdated”, saying the tiles felt heavy and the white walls made the space seem sterile. She began with demolition, removing the terracotta tile and taking down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. The report says those changes opened the space and gave her a blank canvas for the new design.
For the replacement floor, Suarez chose warm wood tones. She painted the room Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue green and added picture-frame molding, rich wood furniture and a mix of secondhand and vintage details. The furnishings include ladder-back chairs and an old credenza; she also assembled a gallery wall using frames from thrift stores and flea markets, some left with worn finishes and others spray-painted.
Lighting was part of the plan: the room features sconces, a chandelier and a candelabra. Suarez’s corner bookcase was her first project of that kind. She made it with inexpensive MDF boards and basic trim, then put a sconce above it. According to Suarez, the bookcase and light cost $150 altogether. Apartment Therapy put the total dining room renovation at $5,000.
A $5,000 Room Rebuilt Around Character
The project shows how a renovation’s effect came from several coordinated changes rather than a single decorative purchase: flooring, wall color, trim, furniture, lighting and layout all changed. Removing the dividing wall also linked the dining room more directly with the kitchen, while the darker palette and older furnishings gave the area a different visual identity.
For readers weighing a home refresh, Suarez’s account offers specific choices and costs, including the $150 bookcase within the $5,000 total. That figure describes this project, not a guaranteed budget for similar work; the source does not break down the remaining spending by materials, labor or individual room features.
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From Terracotta Tile to Vintage Vogue
The source presents the renovation as a homeowner’s before-and-after project, not a construction-industry study or a claim that one design approach works for every home. Suarez said she wanted a moodier, more intentional look and began by removing materials she felt worked against that goal. The newly exposed floor area and wall changes set up the rest of the redesign.
Her advice focuses on decisions visible in the finished room. She recommends considering lighting early, rather than relying only on an overhead fixture, and keeping a coherent range of wood tones when mixing vintage pieces. She also suggests using textures such as linen and dried florals to soften the combination. Her comments are personal design guidance drawn from this project, not a reported assessment of resale value or renovation performance.
“The tiles felt outdated and heavy, and the white walls made the space feel sterile instead of inviting.”
— Annette Suarez, as quoted by Apartment Therapy
Project Costs and Construction Details
The report gives the $5,000 total and the bookcase’s $150 cost, but it does not provide a full itemized budget, specify how much of the work Suarez completed herself, or state whether any contractors were hired. It also does not identify the project’s location, the room’s dimensions, or the cost and scope of removing the wall.
Suarez advised readers to seek help if they are unsure about wiring or structural work. The article does not say whether the wall she removed was load-bearing, what permits or approvals applied, or how the lighting was wired. Those details should not be inferred from the before-and-after account.
No Further Renovation Plans Reported
Apartment Therapy’s account focuses on the completed dining room and Suarez’s lessons from the project. It does not report a scheduled next phase, additional renovation work or a follow-up date. The next available update would need to come from Suarez or the publication; for now, the reported outcome is the finished room and the costs she shared.
Key Questions
Who renovated the dining room?
Annette Suarez renovated the room she shares with her husband, Sergio, according to Apartment Therapy’s before-and-after report.
How much did the makeover cost?
Suarez’s total dining room transformation cost $5,000, as reported by Apartment Therapy. The article does not provide a full itemized budget.
What changed in the room?
The project included removing terracotta tile and a wall between the dining room and kitchen, adding warm wood flooring, painting the room Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue green, installing picture-frame molding and bringing in vintage and secondhand furnishings.
How much did the DIY bookcase cost?
Suarez said her corner bookcase cost $150, including the sconce. She used MDF boards and basic trim to create its built-in look.
Did the report explain the wall removal or electrical work?
No. The report does not say whether the wall was load-bearing, identify permitting details or explain who handled the wiring. Suarez advises getting help if unsure about structural or electrical work.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
