Rich, Rustic Dining Room

Homeowners Richard and Monica Thow like to entertain but their dining room is nothing but folding chairs and a plywood table. Designer Karen McAloon brings in her team, painter Danielle Hirsch and contractor Ian Read, to give the room a remarkable makeover using things they already have, a fresh coat of paint and almost no money.

The Thows are convinced that their sherbet-colored dining room is hopeless. The plywood table covered with a vinyl cloth and folding chairs they've used for six years turned out to be a not-so-temporary solution.