After weeks of on again, off again work transforming my living room to match the picture in my mind . . . I'm happy to report it's finished.
The room is now a light filled space with a easy, breezy feel I was hoping to obtain.
To refresh your memory, here is a before shot the kids took back in December of last year.
Gone are the nasty yellow walls from five years ago. Replaced instead by a pretty creamy white called Milk Paint from Pittsburgh Paint. I had the color matched at Home Depot so I could try their new Behr paint with the primer built in. Have to say, I kind of love it. One coat is all it took. Which is a good thing since this color went on the walls not only in the living room, but the dinning room, kitchen, entryway and stairway plus the hallway leading to the bedrooms. Painting took a good solid three and a half days of mommy work (mommy work = stopping every five minutes to put out a fire or make someone a snack...LOL)
After painting, I started working on a few other ideas for the room. I have so many new features to show off I'm planning to address them more in future posts. But today I'll just give you the highlights.
For accent colors I decided to used pale blue and lime green for a spring feel. Since I don't have a coffee table right now that I like, I borrowed a blue bench I built years ago from the downstairs bathroom to add a pop of pretty blue. Candlesticks, flowers, a few books and a lantern add the perfect touch of polish to the bench.
The previous white sheer curtains were replaced with a set I made for my bedroom a couple years ago. Hung with simple curtain clips they add just the right amount of my accent colors to the room.
The artwork on either side of the window was replaced with the DIY version I talked about here.
The largest wall in the room has long been a thorn in my side. Attempt after attempt has been made to find the perfect arrangement . . . each falling short of my expectations.
That is until now.
Two simple, five foot picture ledges hung in a staggered manner fills the space perfectly and helps emphasize the height of the wall adding to the open feeling in the room.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy this grouping. The idea popped into my head three months ago and I have been impatient to try it out. It has exceeded my expectations and transformed an eyesore into a gem.
To help blend the picture ledge into the furniture below, I painted simple wood plaques with a single number and hung them in a grouping to fill the blank space at the end of the pictures ledge. I think it adds the perfect balance to finish off the wall.
With the large wall complete, I next fixed my sights on two arm chairs I'd purchased from the thrift store way back in August of last year. The legs where a dark brown color and the fabric was a pink/brownish color - - not at all a color I wanted to add to the room.
After painting the legs and arms with my go-to white paint call Cottage White, I distressed the edges and gave it a protective coat. Next I began sewing two slipcover from a coverlet I've had for years that the kids had spilled nail polish on. I had just enough to cover both chairs after cutting around the damaged fabric.
On the small table between the two chairs I place an urn with faux flowering branches and a favorite white clock.
And what better way to add a breezy feel to a room then placing a vintage fan . . .
Or two!
There you have it.
My newly transformed easy, breezy, light filled room
I. LOVE. IT.
Stop by later this week if you'd like for more information on how I built the picture ledges and tips on sewing a slipcover for an arm chair.
Hope you all have a lovely day and I'll talk to you soon,
Robin
Linked up to these parties:
