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Annette Suarez reworked the dining room she shares with her husband, Sergio, replacing terracotta tile and white walls with warm wood flooring, deep green paint, picture-frame molding and layered lighting. The makeover cost $5,000, including a corner bookcase she built from MDF for $150; the account comes from Apartment Therapy, and no independent cost breakdown is provided.
Annette Suarez transformed the orange-and-white dining room she shares with her husband, Sergio, into a darker, vintage-inspired space, according to an Apartment Therapy before-and-after report. Suarez said the project cost $5,000 and included new wood flooring, deep green paint, layered lighting and a $150 DIY corner bookcase.
Suarez described the original room as cold, outdated and sterile, citing terracotta floor tiles and white walls as features that did not fit the mood she wanted. She said she began by removing the tiles and knocking down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. Apartment Therapy’s report says those changes opened the space and cleared the way for a new design.
The replacement scheme centers on Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue green paint, warm wood flooring and picture-frame molding. Suarez furnished the room with rich wood pieces, including thrifted and vintage finds, and used a mix of old and secondhand frames above a credenza. She said she spray-painted some frames while leaving others in their worn finishes to create a collected look.
Lighting was part of the plan rather than a final addition: the dining room now includes a chandelier, sconces and a candelabra. In a corner, Suarez built a bookcase from MDF boards and basic trim, then installed a sconce above it. She put the bookcase and fixture cost at $150. The total project figure of $5,000 is Suarez’s estimate as reported by Apartment Therapy; the article does not provide an itemized budget.
How Layered Details Changed the Room
The makeover shows how a room’s character can come from a coordinated set of changes rather than a single statement purchase. In Suarez’s account, removing the tile and opening the kitchen wall changed the room’s layout and baseline, while green paint, wood tones and molding supplied the visual warmth. The furniture and frames then added variation without abandoning a shared palette.
Her lighting advice is also practical for homeowners planning a similar renovation. Suarez said that overhead lighting alone was not enough for the cozy atmosphere she wanted and recommended planning for multiple light sources early. That timing can affect where fixtures go and whether wiring work is needed. Her $150 bookcase is a specific project example, not a guarantee that comparable built-ins will cost the same elsewhere.
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From Terracotta Tile to Vintage Vogue
Apartment Therapy presents the project as a before-and-after dining room renovation, with Suarez explaining the choices behind the new look. She said the terracotta tile felt heavy and clashed with the moodier design; after removing it, she chose warm-toned wood flooring to make the room feel more grounded. She also used paint and subtle wall trim to add depth.
The finished design brings together vintage and secondhand pieces rather than relying on a matching furniture or frame set. Suarez advised keeping wood tones compatible, though not identical, and using softer textures such as linen or dried florals to help the mix feel intentional. Her account does not state when the work took place, give the room’s dimensions or describe the property’s location.
““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
Budget and Renovation Details Missing
The report gives Suarez’s $5,000 total and her $150 estimate for the bookcase and light, but it does not include receipts, a line-by-line budget or details about what labor costs were included. The project’s location, timeline and room measurements are also not stated, making it difficult to compare the total with other renovations.
Apartment Therapy says Suarez removed tile and knocked down a wall but does not explain whether the wall was load-bearing, whether permits were required or who performed that work. The account does not identify contractors or provide a full description of electrical work for the added lighting. The design and cost details are attributed to Suarez rather than independently verified figures.
No Further Project Update Reported
The supplied Apartment Therapy report focuses on the completed dining room and offers no announced next phase, future renovation date or follow-up project. Readers considering similar work should treat the $5,000 figure as a project-specific estimate, not a standard price. Wall removal, wiring and other structural or electrical work should be reviewed with qualified professionals, with applicable permits and safety requirements addressed before work begins.
Key Questions
How much did the dining room renovation cost?
Suarez told Apartment Therapy the total cost was $5,000. The report does not include an itemized budget or independently verified receipts.
What changes made the biggest difference?
The reported changes included removing terracotta tile, opening the wall between the dining room and kitchen, installing warm wood flooring, painting the walls Benjamin Moore Vintage Vogue and adding picture-frame molding.
How much did the DIY bookcase cost?
Suarez said the MDF-and-trim corner bookcase, including its light fixture, cost $150. Her figure applies to this project; the report does not give a broader estimate for similar builds.
What lighting does the finished dining room use?
The room includes a chandelier, sconces and a candelabra. Suarez recommended planning for layered lighting early, especially if wiring changes may be needed.
Source: apartmenttherapy.com
