Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Room makeover, a before & after: Better than winning the lottery

Looking for a little more excitement in your life? Would you settle for some in your family room?

This redesign I recently completed for a client illustrates a few ways you can brighten things up.

First: I loosened up the furniture arrangement. There was not much space between the sofa that faces the fireplace and the wall behind it. Now the room has a much airier feel.

Second: I added lamps to the end tables. Even if there is plenty of overhead lighting, lamps will add a warmer, cozier feel to a room. They also add much-needed height to the tables.

Third, and perhaps most importantly: I sprinkled in pillows and accessories, adding the color blue. The rug has some blue in it, as does a print above the chair shown at left. Spreading that color around the room brings zing to an otherwise neutral color scheme.

1, 2, 3. Now that's exciting.

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34 comments:

please sir said...

Fun - you did a great job!

savvycityfarmer said...

This is so soothing and inviting

...I did a book nook/dining room in one house I lived in....loved it

I have a make-over business called
"At Home Design...design or redesign on any budget"....

let's chat

cindy at my romantic home gave me an award and that's how I found you (she's on my sidebar favs)

Melis said...

I love what you did with this room.

MaryBeth said...

Well done, it is amazing what a new eye (and talent) can do for a room.

Kim said...

that looks sooo good and such simple changes!! I never would have thought of that!!

And thanks for the sweet comment on my blog!!

Anonymous said...

Great redo! Love your blog!

Blessings,
Libby

duchess said...

So much better. Love it.

Michelle said...

You did a great job...I so enjoyed reading your blog and looking at your tips....thanks

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

You did a simple, but absolutely wonderful redo on this room! :)

If you have a Big Lots near you. they have the charger organizer stations like you featured a few posts down, in black and brown for around $10, I believe! They look really good....PB'ish!

Thanks for the kind comments on the LH project! I will post the remainder of the unit Thursday and Friday, so stop back if you get a chance! I still have a few pillows and rugs to find, but that can come later! :)

~Rhonda

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary! and it's so nice to meet you. I'm so glad you popped in to see my rooster pillows. Now I'm going to go back and look at your blog. I'll probably find something that will help me in my decorating situations.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Darlene said...

I LOVE it....you did a wonderful job!! It is now very inviting and before it looked a little scattered.

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

ahhhh- much better!
Karla & Karrie

Cynthia said...

Very nice! And thanks for the comment on my blog!!
Cheers!

Chris said...

This looks fantastic! I've always loved a room with the two couches facing each other. It's so cozy. For some reason, I couldn't access your e-mail, but I wanted to clarify the tags for you. You will cut the round shape out of the paper using the hole punch. Then you will put the circle shape into the metal rim. Hope that helps! Great room!

Christina said...

Looks great! Come do mine. Please.

FancyPants-design said...

Looks soooo much better!! You did a great job :)

Anonymous said...

I love how you turned that room around...I feel a sofa move coming on lol!

isn't it amazing how some colour, new cushions and a talented stylist can really change a room???? it amazes me all the time how different things can look which is why I love to see before and after photos, I would love to be able to do it as a job

Anonymous said...

Wow! what a big difference moving around furniture made... great job! Susie H~

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Great makeover! It's amazing what a few little changes can do to improve the way a room looks and feels. Love it! -Julia

Anonymous said...

Great redesign! Crazy to think that just taking furniture out really helps! Love the touches of color too! Very cozy... you must be addicted to Freestyle (HGTV) like I am. :)

Heathahlee said...

Wow! It really opens the room up! You need to come visit me! :)

Unknown said...

I love how you can see the shapes of the furniture come out in the redo. Lamps- always a plus!

Anonymous said...

Mary, come on over to my blog. I've Song Tagged you!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Anonymous said...

You certainly spruced up the living room. Definitely warmer and more inviting!

Kylie

Kim -today's creative blog said...

Hi Mary! I know it says my name is Kim, but it's really Jennifer P. from the Peterson's Go Public!. I'm getting to fill in for my bloggy friend Kim at Today's Creative Blog this week and SURPRISE! I featured you!

You'll be getting a great blinky this weekend!

Enjoy all your comment lovin' :)!

Anonymous said...

Wow! You really did lighten the room up just by a few simple tricks!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Have a Happy Wed.!
XO
~Christine

Letti said...

I found you on Today's creative blog and I was just wondering when you were planning on coming to California so you can fix my house?

Melissa Lester said...

Congrats on your feature! You have a wealth of great ideas here. Woo-hoo for you!

Lea said...

I love what you've done to the place!! What do you think of my antiqued cabinets?? AWM
http://artsywritermama.blogspot.com/2008/07/antiquing-your-kitchen-cabinets.html

Anonymous said...

I think I commented yesterday how I love the simple redesigns on your blog. Well head over to my blog, you've been song tagged!

libby

Kimba said...

It really looks great! The new arrangement makes the room look so much more comfortable!

Anonymous said...

what a great change the AFTER pictures are. Really smart.

Kathi Roach said...

It is amazing how much better this new arrangemet looks.

Here's a question for you...
When you go into a space like that, do you already have a plan in mind...or do you have to try a bunch of different arrangements to figure out what works????

Mary said...

Hi Kathi:

I wouldn't say I have a definite plan when I go into a space. I certainly have ideas based on design principals.

But I try different options... cause sometimes you just don't know what's going to look good until you try it out.

Thanks for your interest!
Mary