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Annette Suarez transformed her dining room with green paint, warm wood flooring, vintage furnishings and layered lighting, according to Apartment Therapy. The reported project cost was $5,000, including a DIY corner bookcase that cost $150.
Annette Suarez renovated the dining room she shares with her husband, Sergio, replacing terracotta tile and white walls with warm wood flooring, deep green paint, vintage furnishings and layered lighting. Apartment Therapy reported that the project cost $5,000; a DIY corner bookcase, including its light fixture, accounted for $150.
Suarez told Apartment Therapy that the former room felt “cold and outdated.” She said its tiles felt heavy and the white walls made the space seem sterile. Her renovation began with demolition: she removed the terracotta floor and knocked down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. The publication reported that opening the two spaces made the area feel more open, while the new flooring gave it a warmer foundation.
For the updated room, Suarez chose Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue green paint and added picture-frame molding. Rich wood furniture and secondhand pieces, including ladder-back chairs, an old credenza and vintage frames, contribute to the collected look. She said she used frames from thrift stores and flea markets, spray-painting some while leaving others in their original worn finishes.
Lighting was another part of the plan. The room combines sconces, a chandelier and a candelabra, rather than relying only on an overhead fixture. Suarez’s corner bookcase was her first project of that kind. She made it from inexpensive MDF boards and basic trim, then placed a sconce above it. She told Apartment Therapy that the project cost $150, including the light fixture, and that the full dining room renovation came to $5,000.
A Lower-Cost Route to a Collected Room
The renovation offers a specific example of how a room’s atmosphere can change through several coordinated choices, rather than a single decorative purchase. Flooring, wall color, molding and lighting all contribute to the finished look Suarez described, while secondhand frames and furniture add age and variation without requiring a matching new set.
The reported $5,000 total gives readers a rough reference point for this particular project, not a standard price for similar renovations. The work included demolition, a new floor, paint, trim, furnishings and lighting, and costs for labor or other project details are not itemized in the source. The $150 bookcase is a separate example within that larger budget, not the cost of the full transformation.
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From Terracotta Tile to Vintage Vogue
Apartment Therapy’s Before & After report describes the room as an orange-and-white space before the renovation. Suarez said the terracotta tile clashed with the moodier style she wanted. Once it was removed, she viewed the room as a blank canvas for warm wood tones and deeper wall color.
She also shared practical advice for people pursuing a similar look. Suarez recommended keeping thrifted wood pieces within a compatible palette, even if their tones do not match exactly, and softening the mix with textiles or dried flowers. For the bookcase, she advised sketching the design, checking measurements and preparing carefully. She said hardware stores may be able to cut boards to size, which can save time and tools.
““Moody, cozy rooms rely on good lighting.””
— Annette Suarez, speaking to Apartment Therapy
Project Costs and Scope Details
Apartment Therapy reported the $5,000 total, but the source does not provide a line-by-line budget, identify which costs included labor, or say whether the figure covers every related expense. It also does not state when the renovation took place or how long it took.
The report describes the wall between the kitchen and dining room being knocked down but does not provide details about the wall, permits, or whether the work required professional help. Readers cannot use the account alone to determine whether their own wall or wiring work is safe to do themselves. Suarez advised bringing in help when unsure about wiring or structural work.
No Further Project Update Reported
The source does not announce a next phase or a follow-up date. It presents the dining room renovation as complete and offers Suarez’s advice for readers planning similar work. Any later project updates, final itemized costs or details about the demolition and installation work have not been provided in the report.
Key Questions
How much did the dining room renovation cost?
Apartment Therapy reported that Suarez’s total project cost was $5,000. The article does not give an itemized breakdown or explain which costs included labor.
What changed in the room?
The renovation removed terracotta tile and a wall between the dining room and kitchen. Suarez added warm wood flooring, green paint, picture-frame molding, vintage furnishings and layered lighting.
How much did the DIY bookcase cost?
Suarez told Apartment Therapy that the corner bookcase cost $150, including its light fixture. She built it with MDF boards and basic trim.
What advice did Suarez give for a similar renovation?
She recommended planning lighting early, sketching and measuring carefully for a built-in, and coordinating the tones of thrifted wood pieces. She also said to seek help if unsure about wiring or structural work.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
