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DIYer Annette Suarez spent about $5,000 transforming an orange-and-white dining room she described as cold and outdated. The project included removing terracotta tile, opening a wall to the kitchen, adding green paint and molding, and building a corner bookcase for $150.
DIYer Annette Suarez renovated her dining room for about $5,000, replacing terracotta tile and white walls with warm wood flooring, deep green paint, vintage furnishings and a custom-looking corner bookcase. Apartment Therapy reported that the project also involved removing the wall between the dining room and kitchen, opening the space shared by Suarez and her husband, Sergio.
Suarez told Apartment Therapy that the room’s original orange-and-white palette and terracotta tile felt cold, outdated and heavy. She began by removing the tile, which she said clashed with the moodier look she wanted. New warm-toned wood flooring gave the room what she described as a more grounded and inviting feel.
The renovation also changed the room’s connection to the kitchen: Suarez said taking down the dividing wall made the area feel more open. She added Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue green paint, subtle picture-frame molding and rich wood furniture. Vintage and secondhand pieces—including ladder-back chairs, a credenza and frames—helped establish the collected look. Suarez said she used a consistent range of wood tones so the mix would feel cohesive without requiring the pieces to match exactly.
A corner bookcase was one of the project’s main DIY elements. Suarez said the build used inexpensive MDF boards and basic trim, with a sconce installed above it. She put the cost at $150, including the light fixture. The overall renovation cost was about $5,000, according to the Apartment Therapy report; the supplied material does not provide a full itemized budget.
How the Renovation Changed the Room
The project shows how several coordinated changes—not just paint or new furniture—can alter the feel and use of a dining room. Removing the tile, opening the wall and changing the flooring affected the room’s surface, layout and connection to the kitchen, while paint, molding, lighting and secondhand furnishings supplied its more vintage-inspired character.
For readers planning a similar makeover, Suarez’s account offers a concrete cost reference: she reported spending about $5,000 overall and $150 on the bookcase. Those figures describe this particular home and project, not a standard renovation price. The account also highlights that demolition and changes involving walls or wiring can require more planning or professional help than decorative updates.
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From Terracotta Tile to Vintage Green
Apartment Therapy presented the work as a before-and-after renovation of the dining room Suarez shares with her husband. In describing the starting point, she said white walls made the area feel sterile and that the terracotta tile dated the space. Her stated goal was a darker, warmer room with a sense of history and personality.
Suarez also emphasized lighting as part of the design, rather than a finishing touch. The completed room includes sconces, a chandelier and a candelabra. She advised planning layered light sources early, noting that overhead lighting alone was not enough for the cozy atmosphere she wanted. The report does not specify whether the fixtures required new wiring or detail the work involved in removing the wall.
““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
Costs and Construction Details Not Listed
The source gives a reported overall cost of about $5,000 and a $150 price for the bookcase, but it does not provide a full breakdown for flooring, demolition, furniture, paint, lighting or other materials. It also does not say how long the renovation took or whether the work was completed entirely by Suarez.
The report says the wall between the kitchen and dining room was removed but does not establish whether it was load-bearing, what approvals or professional work were involved, or whether any structural changes were needed. It likewise gives no detailed account of electrical work for the sconces or other fixtures. Those details should not be inferred from the finished-room description.
No Further Project Update Provided
The supplied Apartment Therapy report focuses on the completed makeover and Suarez’s design and DIY advice. It does not announce additional work, a follow-up project or a future milestone. Readers considering similar changes would need to establish the scope and cost for their own home, and check whether wall removal, wiring or other construction requires qualified help or permits.
Key Questions
How much did Annette Suarez’s dining room makeover cost?
Apartment Therapy reported a total cost of about $5,000. The source does not give a full itemized budget.
What changes did she make to the room?
Suarez removed the terracotta tile, replaced the flooring with warm-toned wood, opened the dining room to the kitchen by taking down the dividing wall, and added green paint, picture-frame molding, vintage furnishings and layered lighting.
How much did the corner bookcase cost?
Suarez said the bookcase cost $150, including its light fixture. She used MDF boards and basic trim to create its built-in appearance.
What did Suarez recommend for DIYers planning a similar room?
She recommended planning lighting early, keeping wood tones and finishes visually cohesive, and sketching and measuring carefully before building. She also said to get help if unsure about wiring or structural work.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
