Even if I try to pretend this little wall of hooks is just like my dream mudroom, it just doesn’t work.. And that’s just fine.

I thought, “Hmm, if only I could find the perfect little stool, something plain that I could fix up.I wonder how long I’ll have to look through thrift stores until I find it?

If only I had such a stool already.Say, sitting around somewhere like an attic or a basement.Just one lowly stool.” Oh wait!

This was just a plain square stool.Full counter height and from Ikea a few years ago.

We cut it down to an unconventional height so it would fit exactly how I wanted it.

I think it’s 23 and 1/4 inches..If your dining room is really just a corner of a living room or a kitchen, adding in an area rug that you love can really help to define the space and give it its own identity.

I like the rug to have something in common with other rugs that are nearby, like our grey living room rug, but not to match exactly.this grey Orla Rug from Birch Lane.

and I love how special it makes the space feel.While we have a cheapo rug in the living room, this one has a really stylish pattern and is made out of 100% wool.