My dining room has been a work in progress since the holidays. I know I have yet to really show the “after” photos. I have a hard time with “after” photos when I’m not really all the way “finished.” I’m always more of an “in progress girl.” After might be a long time in coming.

So what is preventing me from feeling the room is “done?”

Um, well…let’s look up from the usual corner I have shown quite a few times (above) in this room, to see one of the things that keeps me from feeling the room is finished. Go ahead, look up… well, actually, look DOWN now for the photo.

Behold, my current dining room light. Otherwise known around here as Flying Saucer Surrounded By Goblets. I turned the lights off so you wouldn’t be blinded.

If you ask me, the flying saucer surrounded by goblets kind of ruins the old world mood I was trying to create in this space. It is absolutely NOT inspiring to me. No, it is probably not the worst dining room fixture ever so don’t call me crying if you have a similar light. It just isn’t working for my style right now, I need a change!

{And of course, painting the remaining band of swine would be pretty awesome to finish things off as well.}

Recently I was invited by Apartment Guide to be a part of their New Year New Space Challenge. I love me a challenge! Apartment Guide is an online resource all about making the most of your home, no matter where you live.

Through this challenge, I was given the opportunity to get something new in my home that would inspire me in 2011. Well you don’t have to ask me twice to get inspired to spend a gift card. I’m ON IT!

After thinking long and hard, I knew what I wanted to do.

Ever since I stated my goal was to get this house to feel like HOME in 2011, I’ve been looking around for the perfect lantern to update my dining room light fixture. I want to go beyond predictable builder fixtures to something a little more unique and inspiring.

I loved the quirky old lanterns and chandeliers in my old houses so I’m SO looking forward to aging my new house with more interesting light fixtures.

Before I left for Blissdom, I asked my friend Holly to help me find a new old fixture (because she has amazing taste!) and she found this beauty from Wisteria! HOLLA!

I think I love it. It has just the right touch of old world style and unique personality that I want for this house.

Here it is pictured above a dining room table so you can imagine it above a table:

But, because I like options, here is another contender I am smitten with option #2 from Pottery Barn.

It is a little simpler and maybe not quite so unique, but still would make a great statement! I love it. Here it is above a table (well, there are two of them but imagine just one!):

Which lantern do you think I should choose? HALP!

I’m so excited about the opportunity to have an amazing light fixture. Whichever one I end up with, I’m going to love it!

making a statement

Sometimes all it takes is one brave but simple change in a room to make a big statement.

I’ll be able to show you the “afters” once I choose which light, but meanwhile, would you like to have a $100 gift card for yourself? What would inspire you at home in 2011? It could be a new office, a new command center, new paint, new dishes … let’s dream a little about what a $100 AmEx gift card could do to make a new statement for our home!

There are up to 3 ways to enter this giveaway!
One random winner will be chosen.

1. Leave a comment here telling me what new space you’d create with a $100 AmEx gift card! And then, tell me which lantern I should choose and why!
2. “Like” Apartment Guide on Facebook and leave a comment on this post saying you liked it!
3. Go to twitter and tweet about what new space you’d like to create. Use these in your tweet to enter: @aptguide @theinspiredroom #newspace

Easy enough? Good! Thanks for your help!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

PS I’ll announce the previous giveaway winners this week, sorry for the Blissdom delay! I’m looking forward to getting back into my routine of blogging!!

Apartment Guide is owned by Consumer Source, Inc. Apartment Guide partnered with bloggers such as myself to participate in its New Year, New Space Blogger Challenge. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the New Year, New Space Blogger Challenge. Apartment Guide and Consumer Source believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.