March 27, 2012

Living Room Makeover

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:

44 comments:

  1. My, you've been a busy girl! Your living room turned out wonderful, Robin. I like the mix of light colors and the little pops of brightness. You sure did a great job on those chairs :)

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  2. It looks fantastic!!! I love the color palette and how bright and breezy it all is. And of course I adore the vintage clock and fans. I used to have one like that one in the last picture and someone somewhere along the way convinced me to get rid of it!!! I SO regret it!

    Love your room!

    ~Angela~

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  3. feels like a completely different space & I'M IN LOVE with all the details - those shelves ROCK girlie! well done!

    www.NorthernCottage.net

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  4. Oh you definitely achieved the light easy breezy look and it is totally fabulous. Love it all. Hugs, Marty

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  5. It's amazing , Robin! You have done so much work! Your wall color is gorgeous and so pretty with your accent colors. The bench makes a great coffee table and I love the color of it. I'm so impressed with your slipcovers ~ they look totally professional. I just want to know how you got your husband to agree to the paint color ~ you didn't resort to any trickery, did you? ; )

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  6. Robin! Your room is GORGEOUS!!! Very easy, breezy and light filled. You did a fabulous job on it! I love the colors, the little bench, the picture ledge and the numbers, all of it. It's really nice and looks very family friendly. Good for you, you are one talented lady.
    I love the wall color, it's almost identical to the color in my living room and isn't that primer/paint wonderful? I LOVE.IT.TOO!!! Now sit back and enjoy it!
    Hugs, Cindy

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  7. Everything looks so great! Loving the pops of blue and especially love that you used an old coverlet to make slipcovers for the chairs!

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  8. i just love the colors- so beautiful and springy!

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  9. Robin, it all looks great! You did such a good job on those slipcovers, and I love the pops of blue. FANTASTIC!!

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  10. It looks AWESOME!!! All your hard work made paid off! Now, ENJOY it!
    Warmly,
    deb

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  11. You did a great job with the room. I use Behr a lot, too. It is great! I am impressed with your sewing skills and the slipcovers. Also loving the vintage fans.

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  12. I love it too!! It looks so light and lovely! Really refreshed and so pretty for spring! I remember that blue bench you built. I've always loved it. Your chair makeovers are awesome. That must have been a lot of work, but totally worth it!

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  13. I loved the yellow but this looks so much better. It's beautiful! You've done a great job with the space.

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  14. I loved the yellow but this looks so much better. It's beautiful! You've done a great job with the space.

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  15. Those chairs are amazing, and thats an awesome bench that you built. The shelves look really good and I love how you mixed it up with those number plaques! You did a great job on the whole room! You're so good.

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  16. Your room is beautiful. I LOVE LOVE the colors it's just so cozy! What a great transformation.

    I have been wanting to make over my living room. I wanted to look for picture ledges like yours, I love yours. Did you make them, or buy them, plus they are a nice length too.

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  17. Well I just love your new look. So fresh and updated. I need to get going on my makeover. Mimi

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  18. It looks fabulous! Thanx for linking up to THT!

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  19. it looks great-i love the pops of blue and the picture ledges!

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  20. Love your picture shelves. They really fill out that long wall.

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  21. it looks so great! love the light color it's so bright and fresh! the shelves are fantastic you did a really great job putting them together!

    how wonderful to have it done! i get the mommy time! my kids are all in school so it doesn't happen during the day anymore but i sure remember that!

    susan

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  22. This room looks fabulous Robin! I LOVE that blue bench & your curtains. The wall with the shelves does indeed look amazing, and those number plaques are genius. Great job on the slipcovered chairs, too. I love how you recycled a damaged coverlet. They look perfect on these chairs.
    Well done!!!

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  23. I don't know what to say, there's so much to say! I just love everything you've done here! The before was nice but the after is truly breathtaking. I can really relate to mommy work, I'm only now just getting used to the interruptions during projects, makes everything much more interesting, right?? lol. :) Sersiouly, great work here, I really love those fans too!

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  24. Beautiful Robin!! I just adore everything you did and the pop of color here and there is just perfect!
    Hope you have a lovely weekend.
    Sincerely,
    Melinda

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  25. I LOVE it!!! So light and airy! I love the slipcovers you made for the two chairs! I have 2 similar type chairs and I want to paint the arms and legs too but I will have to order some slipcovers from surefit, I don't think I would be able to make my own... Love the bench as a coffee table too!! My house is very small (and most coffee tables take up too much room)so I want to find a small bench like that to use for a coffee table but haven't had any luck finding one yet.. You did such a beautiful job on the room!! Love how you did the shelves on the wall too! I LOVE shelves but I always have a problem deciding what to put on them and then I get frustrated. Yours look beautiful! The whole room is very cute!!Thank's for sharing.

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  26. Robin, this is a great makeover! Love the paint and the pops of color. You did such a great job on the chairs and the shelves...you are so good at building things and upholstery!!

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  27. The colors are so pretty and I love all your sweet little vignettes!
    Blessings,
    Janet

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  28. Robin, I love it! The wall color makes it so much lighter and brighter. And you have one of those return ducts in the wall too - we're twins! Are you goig to show how you made the chair slipcovers? Those are gorgeous. Love the texture the coverlets give it.

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  29. I love it--being that I love white that is not a surprise.:) The chairs look great--everything does1

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  30. Robin! Your living room turned out fantastic! I just love the soft - serene feel to the room. Love your bench! It is perfect - love the slip-covers! I have a couple of arm chairs I have been procrastinating to cover - you've inspired me! The pink faux flowers add the perfect contrasting touch - I am loving that shade of blue and pink together these days!
    Bravo!
    Kathy

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  31. Beautiful room! I love your choice of fabrics. You really did a fabulous job. And that little blue vintage fan. {LOVE}

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  32. Wow!! I love the transformation of your room! Awesome job- it is so bright and airy! The pops of blue are such a nice touch.

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  33. I love the transformation of your room - it looks so peaceful! I love the paint color you've chosen, and the curtains are so pretty! Good job!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  34. It's amazing...love the soothing color palette and what a great idea to us an old coverlet to make slipcovers...brilliant!!

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  35. I'm really loving that blue bench/coffee table! And good luck finding that pudding steamer! :)

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  36. wow robin, this is such a cool makeover, very good job!!
    i love the new wall color and the blue table :))
    and all the details... its really beautiful :)!

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  37. Love your mostly neutral living room with touches of blue and green! I'm your newest follower.

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  38. Your room turned out so beautifully, Robin! So fresh, airy, and just right...I love everything about it! GREAT job!!

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  39. Your makeover looks great, so bright and cheery. Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment on my lamp makeover.

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  40. Oh My Gosh!!!! I thought the first picture was the one you were trying to copy! This is so fantastic! I love so many parts of it! Mag worthy! and I'm not just saying that!

    --Katie

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  41. Great changes! We are going to be moving from our home ..... So I will have some renoing and re decorating in our new place when we arrive. Your changes are encouraging! Love em !

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  42. So fresh. So Springy. So light and airy! I love it. That blue bench with the hints of blue around the room is perfect! Thank you so much for linking to Cowgirl Up!
    ♥Linsey

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  43. I love how light and airy the room looks with the colors and fabrics you chose. I just posted My Home Tour this week. You should stop by and check it out when you have a moment. Cheers, MGal watchmediy.com I

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