IF YOU’RE NEW TO SHINE YOUR LIGHT…
A quick summary. After living in two new, spacious and perfectly lovely houses when our kids were small, we decided to downsize when our oldest was eleven so that we could do less mortgage paying and more living before our munchkins grew up. I desperately wanted a fixer upper that we could make our own through the years (I can’t tell you how many houses on the market I rejected because they were “too nice”, welcome to Mark’s world!), and somehow managed to talk him into a basic 80s-era house with good bones but in need of a lot of updating. It’s been a slow and steady crawl versus a sprint, but we’re getting there one project at a time! Last spring I rehabbed one of our bathrooms:
In the fall I added moulding to a half wall and pillar that separates the family room from the bathroom and entrance from the garage (it’s still not 100% done as you can see but I’ll post about that project soon.) Here is the before and so-far.
Now that this space is almost finished up I’m dying to get the family room pulled together. It’s the first room you see when you walk in the door from the garage and the room we use the most.
After renovating the fireplace a few years ago, I tried to make the rest of the room a little more cohesive, but truth be told it has always been a room of misfit furniture from our other houses. The DIY reupholstering of two club chairs, a new rug, curtains borrowed from another room and some styling of our built ins bought us a little more time, but when you have to strategically place baskets and drape throw blankets around the room to disguise the shabbiness, it might be time to pull the trigger on a room makeover!
From afar all looks fairly decent,
but upon closer inspection you’ll see a few harrowing issues, starting with…..
THE SAD STATE OF THE DIY REUPHOLSTERED CLUB CHAIRS
This part looked great at first but eventually came undone.
After a few frustrating attempts to take the back of this chair off and fix the seams, I just went right after it with the staple gun. It’s a good look don’t you think?!
I have spent many, many hours of my life trying to fix my poor reupholstering only to accept the fact that upholstering is not one of my finer skills! It’s all smoke and mirrors over here people!
THE RUG SITUATION
Let’s talk about the state of the rug, and how many times I have taken pictures of this area between the couch and the coffee table and texted my entire family about how disgusting they all are and how I’m not their maid and how no one is ever allowed to eat in the family room again. Or let’s not. Maybe a cream colored carpet is not a good choice for the Scibilias?
THE ELEPHANT IN THE CORNER
What about that sweet AC unit, so cleverly disguised with a dying plant and a basket? Pretty. Did I mention our second floor has central AC? This house is nuts.
THE BROKEN COUCH
The brown leather couch is part of a set we bought from Domain 13 years ago, and it has served us well with three growing kids and our dear old sweet slobbery Saint Bernard who is no longer with us. Seriously there is nothing like leather for resiliency with kids and pets! BUT…..
it’s hard to tell from these photos but the center cushion dips down because as it turns out the frame of the couch is SPLIT IN TWO (a discovery also group texted to all the members of this family about how we can’t have nice things). I reinforced the frame on the bottom of the couch but unfortunately this created a VERY SQUEAKY couch situation AND the center cushion still dips down and you feel like you’re falling into a sink hole. So yeah. This baby will be retiring to the basement!
THE LACK OF ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL
While painting our whole first floor Simply White made a world of difference to this 30+ year old house, I think we can all agree this room is a bottle of boredom. Especially when I am so sick of the art that we’ve had for 20 years that I take it off the wall and leave this scenario for months on end 🙂
But oh the potential!!!!!
WHAT’S STAYING IN THE ROOM
The coffee table,
and possibly these two chairs that are small, comfortable and fit so well on the half wall.
ONTO THE VISION!!!
Copious amounts of moulding on the walls, topped off with crown
(as you can see from my Wainscoting and Moulding Pinterest board, I’m slightly obsessed with this subject….)
AND…….
the sofa of my dreams, navy blue velvet, but with a coastal vibe! And some fun, interesting art for those white walls!
Sofa | Chairs | Art: DanHobdayArt on Etsy | Rug | Table (similar)
What do you think – am I nuts? That sofa with those chairs with that art? Mark is giving me the side eyes but it’s time to shake things up around here!
SPONSOR
I am beyond thrilled to be partnering with Raymour & Flanigan on this project. I was so impressed with this company when I worked with them on the Bloggers Heart Habitat houses (August 2017 and January 2018) – this family owned company has such a big heart and supports so many community endeavors and I am honored to work with them on this room makeover.
Many thanks to Linda at Calling It Home for creating and organizing the One Room Challenge with media partner House Beautiful! Check out more room challenges that kick off today on the new ORC website!
For those of you who are taking on a room for the One Room Challenge this round, best wishes and let me know so I can follow along!
I’ll be back next week with an update on the family room!
Jessica says
Well again your vision is amazing!! I am so excited to follow along with you and live vicariously through your projects!!! I love your style and you are a DIY wizard.
Lisa says
Oh you are the sweetest, thank you for your kind words Jessica! I’m wishing for some DIY wizardry when it comes time to hang crown, that always challenges me big time no matter how many times I’ve done it before!
Dannyelle says
Life with a family definitely requires updates every now and then -I feel you on the wear and tear. Love your new sofa and can’t wait to see your progress.
Lisa says
Dannyelle I hope we might be over the “breaking of a couch” phase of parenthood, how does that even happen? 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by and I’m looking forward to seeing your ORC project!
Iris Nacole says
Oh, I love the couch and art, Lisa! I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I hate when things around my house nag at me, especially when I know just a bit of effort and maybe some money will transform it completely. I can’t wait to see it all come together for you!
Lisa says
Thank you for that vote of confidence Iris! I’ve been biding my time to give this room some love for a long time and can’t wait to pull it together!
Lauren@SimplyLKJ says
I think it’s gonna look fantastic. Love the navy blue velvet sofa (a no go in our house with a Golden 😉 I know you will pull it all together in the end.
Lisa says
A golden instead of a navy velvet couch is a pretty great trade off! Thanks for your encouragement Lauren. Fingers crossed it all comes together!
Monica Benavidez says
Lisa, that SOFA! What a beauty. Can’t wait to see this space transform, and hopefully your family will cooperate so you can have nice things! 😉
Lisa says
I hope so Monica! Otherwise they’re not going to be allowed to come in my pretty blue sofa room 🙂
Jewel Marlowe says
Oh my!!!! That sofa!!!! So pretty!!!
Lisa says
I know Jewel, I love it! It might be the fanciest thing I’ve owned ever!
Joy says
It is going to be so very good! Love your ideas! Oh, and it is nice to know I am not the only one having texting conversations about interesting discoveries the fam is responsible for. LOL
Lisa says
Oh Joy, allllll the time. I am famous for it, my kids show their friends the photos I group text them! Glad I’m not alone!! 🙂
Emy says
That couch is absolutely gorgeous!! Your room is going to be amazing!
Lisa says
Thank you so much Emy! I appreciate your vote of confidence!!
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says
Lisa, I am loving your plan…and that sofa!!! Gorgeous! Best of luck to you over the next crazy 6 weeks!
Cheers!
Shelley
Lisa says
Thank you so much Shelley! It’s coming together little by little…….I’m excited to get this room done and can’t wait to see more of your navy dining room!
Susie says
Your room has great bones and you have a great plan. Looks like this family room will soon be a dream room for your sweet family. Following all the fun and stealing….I mean….lovingly borrowing some of your fab ideas. 🙂 XO ~~Susie from The Chelsea Project
Lisa says
Susie I’m so glad to be doing another round of the ORC with you! You’re so supportive and your comments brighten my day!
Tee at Beauteeful Living says
Oh Lisa, this room is going to come out so fabulous! Love our choices especially that gorgeous R&F sofa! Bet it’s super soft! By the way, thanks for keeping it real…cream rug and DIY upholstered chairs. I don’t think upholstering furniture is something I’d ever be good at…terrible that I never tried? Ha. Good luck and I can’t wait to follow along!
Lisa says
Tee I am once and done with the reupholstering of something major like a club chair!! Dining chair seats I can handle! Thanks for stopping by, I’m looking forward to seeing more of your room this week!
Debbie - MountainMama says
I love this post, Lisa – especially the comments about the group texts to the kids, ha ha – what mom hasn’t done that???? My mom didn’t have a cell phone to text us back when we were kids….but she did keep notes on a yellow legal pad and start in with us as soon as we got home!! Looking forward to seeing your progress on this room!
Lisa says
Debbie I LOVE texting my kids those kinds of things because it saves me from having to say the words. That’s funny about your mom and the legal pad! My mom used to leave little notes in our rooms so she wouldn’t have to continuously say, pick up after yourself, and now I get it – she was exhausted by saying it over and over and over just like this momma is! HA at some point it will kick in and they’ll just do it without being asked, right? 🙂
Julie S says
I love the sofa + art! This mix is good. “Coastal” is too pale and bland for my taste, while navy velvet is usually paired with heavier moody sorts of rooms. I feel like if you get the balance of these elements right, it is going to be a room that just sings!
Lisa says
I hope so Julie! I do love that art and think it would look fantastic on white walls!
cassie bustamante says
i love your plan and so relate to your reality…. i have texted my husband similar things and shouted, “i am tired of cleaning up after everyone else!!!!!”
Lisa says
I am so glad I’m not alone in that regard………sometimes I am grateful I can text those messages rather than have to say it out loud again – I AM NOT THE MAID AROUND HERE! 🙂
Rachael @ This is our Bliss says
ok…that sofa and those art prints…are you kidding me?!! This is going to be so beautiful, Lisa! I can’t wait to see it all spruced up and better suited for your needs!
Lisa says
Thanks so much Rachael! I can’t wait to see your space come together too, it’s going to be the cutest nursery ever!!
Carol @ CAD Interiors says
Excited to follow this makeover, Lisa! Love the design plan and can’t wait to see the millwork really transform the space!
Lisa says
Carol the millwork is the part I think I am most excited about! I’ve been designing it in my head since the day we moved here!
Denise says
So excited to follow along with you during the ORC Lisa! I love your plan! That couch is all the things!
Lisa says
Thank you for your support Denise! I cannot wait for the couch to arrive!
Dara says
Lisa your plans look so beautiful! I’m in love with that couch and artwork! It’s going to be so good!
Lisa says
Dara thank you so much! Sadly that piece of art is not going to work after all but there are so many gorgeous pieces on Etsy…..I’m sure I’ll find something else I adore!
Kate Smith says
I love your plan! Can’t wait to follow along!
Lisa says
Thanks Kate! It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait to make some changes to this space!
Design Chic says
It’s going to be beautiful ! I can’t wait to follow your progress!
Lisa says
Thank you so much, it’s long overdue for this room and I’m excited to change it all up!
Jessica | Petal + Ply says
Your inspiration images have me swooning! Gorgeous!
Lisa says
It’s fun to dream isn’t it? Now to execute the plan! Good luck with this next week!
Susanne says
You are so brave to have reupholstered those chairs yourself! I tried once and it was an epic fail, lol. Your mood board is gorgeous and I say YES YES YES to that sofa with those chairs and that art!! I can’t wait to follow along 🙂
Lisa says
My upholstered chairs were an epic fail too Susanne! I actually had the seat cushions redone by a pro and in retrospect should have had all the reupholstering done too, but it was SO pricey!! Now the only redeeming part of those chairs are the cushions! I’m excited for them to exit the room, I can’t stand looking at them anymore! 🙂
Leslie says
OH my heavens!! That couch is STUNNING!!! I am drooling over here. What a gorgeous room this is going to be!!
Lisa says
Leslie thank you! I hope that couch lives up to my expectations for it, you know, seeing as I planned the whole room around it! 🙂 Good luck this week!