The Story of a Mom, a Wife a Small-Business-Owner-Hopeful (Happy Baby Designs) and a Craft Lover, trying to be present (not just exist) in my life with my children, my husband and myself. Follow along with me as I chronicle my crafting and business endeavors, my true life and some mommy moments along the way .


Thursday, July 15, 2010

Living Room Makeover Reveal

So I'm finally ready to show you my new and much improved living room/guest room/dining room/craft room. My sister and I worked very hard to cover up the red walls and I've been working on lots of other projects for that room (some you'll recognize, some you haven't seen yet).

It's not totally finished yet, because I still have lots of walls to hang things on, but I figured I'd better share it with you now since I've been talking about it for so long.

And be sure you check out the whole post because I'm going to be asking for some design opinions at the end.

So without further ado...here's my new room!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how it all turned out. In order for you to fully appreciate this makeover, let me show you what we started with.

Dining Room/Craft Room BEFORE:

AFTER...

As my crafting projects multiplied, so did my supplies. And I had no where to put everything. Unfortunately that rendered our dining room obsolete. But now, I've got all of my supplies neatly tucked away in the buffet and dresser behind the table. And do you recognize the fabric rack and lamp? I love that you can still tell that that area is used for crafting, but you don't have to look at everything...and we can actually use our dining room!


Living Room/Guest Room BEFORE...


AFTER...


Sure the room was functional before; the couch opens out into a bed (I love IKEA!) but it wasn't a comfy, cozy room to stay in for our guests (usually family, but still). Now it's a bright and inviting space for our guests. I picked up the fun, bright pillow covers at Target for about $4 each. Notice the lamps on either side of the couch? I love how they look in this room and they give such nice light to that space. And what better artwork for my guests to look at than my kids! :) I had the picture printed on canvas at Snapfish.com (they were having a Mother's Day sale and it was a GREAT deal). And of course, you've seen the fabric wall art. Don't they look perfect in this room?



Entryway BEFORE...


AFTER...

I'm planning to rehang the mirror, I just haven't gotten around to it.

We've also got a new place for shoes now that I've removed the shoe cabinet from the other room...



Piano BEFORE...


AFTER...

Remember that great, green frame I picked up at a church sale? I'm not sure what I'm actually going to frame in it, but I love how the green pops against the blue color of the walls.

Buffet BEFORE...


AFTER (with an extra dresser for craft storage)...


These pieces looked nothing alike before I started their makeover. But I wanted them to be painted the same with the same hardware since they would be lining this back wall side by side.


I primed both pieces and painted them a creamy white (almost pale yellow). I then glazed them using a walnut stain that I applied with a foam brush and then wiped off with a rag.


I got the knobs at Target. I got 20 of them for about $20. Pretty good deal considering most knobs average about $4 each!


Window Treatment BEFORE...

The curtains were barely hanging on to an existing rod that was meant for sheers, not big heavy curtains like mine. And those white blocks you see are wood that the previous owner had a big, ugly valance hanging from.


AFTER...

I bought a new rod at Lowe's for about $45 (on sale) and new clips to match the rod. I like the added detail of the amber finials.


And just because I am so happy with this NEW room, here are some more AFTER pictures.






As I mentioned before, I still have a few remaining projects left to do in the room. Obviously, I need to get some stuff up on the wall and add all those fun finishing touches. But I also need to deal with this...

It's this crazy 1950's entry "wall" made of stone bricks. It's hollow and you can see all of the extra bricks that they must've just thrown in there. The previous owner had fake plants in there but my cat decided to make the planters his new litter box so I had to quickly dump them (not that I would've left the fake plants anyway). I hate it and I would love to just take a sledge hammer to it, but that would involve tile, carpet and wall repair. So that's not an option right now. So instead I'm going to cap the top of it with a nice piece of wood (painted or stained? What do you think?). At least that way I can cover it and it won't be such an eye sore when you walk in the front door.

Also, you may have noticed that the buffet is missing some hardware.


Well, that's because I can't find any drawer pulls to fit the existing holes. I have been all over town looking at hardware and I am so frustrated that I can't find any matching pulls. So I think I'm going to have to fill the holes, sand, prime, paint, stain and drill new holes. Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh! This project is pretty high on my To-Do list since a lot of my craft supplies are in those drawers and it's kind of hard to get them open without pulls!

The other project on my To-Do list is to repair the matching yellow chair so I can reunite the set.


These chairs were given to us by my husband's aunt, along with the curtains hanging behind the chairs. My husband's aunt and grandma handmade the curtains to match the chairs. I love the colors, the design and the history of these chairs and curtains. About a year ago, one of the chair legs broke on the other yellow chair. I moved it out of the room and "temporarily" put that flowered ottoman in it's place. Well, a year later and I still haven't fixed that chair leg. But now that my room looks so great, I have new motivation to get it fixed!

And finally, here's where I need your help. Remember this painting?


My original intention was to hang it above the buffet at the back of the room.


However, with the height of the dresser and the lamp, I'm afraid the painting would either have to be hung too high, not be centered on the wall or be partially blocked by the lamp. I'm not real fond of any of those options. To give you an idea of it's size, the painting is about as wide as the buffet and about 36" tall. I really don't have any other available wall to hang the painting on and I think the colors would look so great in this room. I need the lamp there since I do my crafting at the dining room table and the overhead light is not very useful. If I move the lamp to the dresser it seems ridiculously high and I wouldn't be able to center the painting on the wall. What do you all think? Any suggestions? I'm all ears!

Well, that's it. My living room/dining room/guest room/craft room makeover. Although it's not 100% finished, it looks 100% better and I am so happy that I was able to get it done this summer (with my sister's help, of course!). I hope you all enjoyed taking a look around. And let me know what you think about that painting!


Sharing my makeover at these fun parties:

UndertheTableandDreaming

Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special
Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap up party!





Decor Mamma

30 comments:

  1. Wow!! It looks great. The last details that you need to finish will definitely put it over the top.

    My favorite part of the room is the couch with the canvas over it. The picture makes me smile and the colors are so happy!!

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  2. it's beautiful!!! i love the light color scheme, and the blues are all so beautiful together. the couch looks so much nicer against the soft blue wall than it did against the red and the pillows add a nice punch! i love that you made what you already had really work for you, like the curtains, couch, tables, dressers.... it all looks so nice! wonderul!

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  3. You and your sister did a wonderful job. Everything looks so fresh and bright. I especially like the arrangement on and around the piano.

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  4. I love that blue wall color, it shows your great crown molding up so well... It is hard to give advice online, but I kind of like the lamp up high on the chest, as long as it still gives you proper light...and the picture centered above the buffet, would balance it... you will just have fun playing with it all...Great job, Sisters! Lezlee

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  5. You know what else you can do with the stone thingy? You can cover it with wood as you said, and make like a tablecloth and cover it with it, it will look like a little table, then you can put anything you want on top...hope it helps!

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  6. I love the new look of your room! The color looks more soothing. And the big canvas pic of your children is just precious.

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  7. you did a great job!!!!! i like it so much!

    love the sofa and the art wall, and your dresser! uau!
    as to the painting...why don't you put it on the entryway?
    and you have the ceiling...like in those antigue rooms of lord mansions...

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  8. I loove that painting, I think hanging it above the buffet would be fine. Normally I like bold colored rooms but this light color is more open and attractive. It's hard to pull off a red room, but you did the blue room admirably.

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  9. Awesome makeover! The light blue made the room look so much bigger, and I love the wall art of your adorable kids. :) Great job.

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  10. I love your blue makeover too!! Everything looks so new and fresh and clean and open and crisp! Yes it looks great!

    Thanks for the comment on the end table! I am sooo glad it turned out good. I painted the table and am building the room around it! haha!

    You should go to the give away I am having right now!! Its a pair of sheets of your choice from Serena & Lily!! They are magnificent!! I can't wait to announce the winner!

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  11. Hi Im a new follower. I love what you guys did with the rooms. The coach/bed in the guestroom looks ss comfortable. Your guest might not want to leave.

    Have a great weekend.

    http://rwriterjourney.blogspot.com/

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  12. Your room is so cool and inviting. Great makeover.

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  13. Wow, there are so many beautiful elements of the room I'm just speechless! I adore that paint colour, which is odd because I normally don't go for something like that but in that space it looks perfect! The colour makes your crown molding really look elegant and crisp. Your family will not want to leave a room like that!!!

    Thanks for coming to visit my little bloggy! Happy Friday!

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  14. Great job on your updated family room! What a difference the lighter color makes. Love your fabric wall art and picture of your kids!
    Alissa

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  15. Wow this all looks so great!!! I'm a new follower from FFF. I look forward to reading more of your posts! I'd love for you to stop by my blog!

    http://www.ingenuemom.com

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  16. Hi, stopping by from Life In The Fun Lane. Love your mismatched chairs in the dining room. The dressers are sure to add lots of great storage.

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  17. Great job!! The soothing blue looks amazing!

    http://alltheabcsofmylife.blogspot.com

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  18. What a wonderful transformation - absolutely beautiful!

    For the painting, I would just go ahead and let the lamp block it. I think - its hard to say online! Have you thought about cutting out a piece of kraft paper (or even wrapping paper) in the same size and taping it up, just to get an idea of the best place to put it?

    I think your solution for that brick wall is wonderful. Have you thought about painting the brick? Maybe the same color as your trim? That might also help it blend in a little. I'd also think about beefing up the top of it a bit, so it sits a little higher. Or, could you frame the whole thing in wood, paint it to match your wall color, then add your table top?

    One more idea...for your drawer pulls. Have you tried myknobs.com? They have a huge selection, and might have the size you need. Another idea I've done in the past is used ribbon. I just cut a length of ribbon, threaded it through the holes, and tied a knot in either end. I tried to find a photo online to show you - this is the best I could come up with (the bottom drawer):
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_J-BpmKedoXE/SxQdRzuYyRI/AAAAAAAAAng/jyK0xcXaX2I/s1600/Advent+Box+drawer+pull+detail+MD.jpg

    Hope this helps!

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  19. The wall color is fantastic; the entire room looks great! What a lovely multi-purpose room.

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  20. I think the picture would love great just to the left of the lamp...it may not be totally centered, but you could off set it with another item or even two....anyway, love the whole makeover!!

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  21. It probably won't make you a bit sad that my favorite part of the entire makeover is that incredible shot of your two kids. I absolutely love the photo! Whenever my second comes along, I hope they have "that". Great room!

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  22. I would love the picture above the buffet - it would make it seem more cohesive. 2nd choice - in the entryway.
    for the brick planter, what about making wood to fit on top, then a bookshelve or cubbies for things that you need/use as you go out the door
    love the blue

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  23. love the room! i say cap the stone planter with tin to give it an upbeat spin. Might paint the piano black to tie it all in...and as for the drawer pulls, use ribbon.

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  24. looks great!
    it would cost more, but you could get plates that match the pulls to put behind the pulls. they sell them near the pulls. that way you wouldn't have to worry about the odd dimensioned holes. we did it on out kitchen cabinets.

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  25. Love the new color. The wall art above the couch is fantastic. The molding trim is simply gorgeous - amazing details - It really looks pretty with the new color. Lovely room! Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase. Hope you have a wonderful week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

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  26. I think you did such an amazing job transforming the room. There are so many neat things in the room but I think my favorite is your blue lamp with the black/white shade! I love LOVE it.

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  27. I LOVE the new color scheme you chose. Those blues are so soothing. I especially love the lamps - those are gorgeous!

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  28. The paint looks more soothing to the eyes. You did a great job! I am too working in our kitchen and I can't wait to get it done. :)

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  29. I saw this post http://lindycottagehill.blogspot.com/2010/07/making-entry-where-there-isnt-one.html#links and remembered your very similar entryway.

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