Hello my friends! Today I think I’ve officially fallen off my rocker because after hemming and hawing and fence sitting and then officially proclaiming I’m out for this round, I just can’t resist the lure of the One Room Challenge!!
As you surely know, the One Room Challenge is a 6 week room makeover frenzy created and hosted by Linda at Calling It Home. I’m late to the party because on Week 1 of the ORC, I was super busy staring at this…..
….and also lounging at the pool, reading books, eating guacamole, drinking something amazing called The Pink Lady, taking naps under an umbrella and walking on the beach.
So what is the Last 20% challenge I’m taking on? It’s this little project called MY FAMILY ROOM which I keep posting about as if I’m actually going to finish it up and call it a day, but NEVER GET TO THE FINISH LINE. Does this sound familiar to you too?
In early February I posted about some changes that I was working on in this space, but between client projects, a big blog move to WordPress that has seriously rocked my world, the onset of college searches for my 17 year old, and our recent travels, our family room is eternally on the back burner. The reason I decided to jump into the ORC and start posting about this room is because I hear from clients all the time that the thing they struggle with the most is finishing a room. The details that bring it from functional to fabulous. And while I can finish up a room for a client no problem, in my own home I just never get there – your typical cobbler’s children have no shoes story!!
So my friends – this is the BEFORE before (at our inspection 5.5 years ago, because it’s always fun to start with a really good before right?)…….
This is what the family room has looked like for since we’ve lived here, in which a constant game of musical furniture was played and the fireplace was always under redesign in my head….
The room was totally fine but always felt like a hodgepodge of furniture that didn’t fit anywhere else.
Today the fireplace reno is done…….
Demo & Reconstruction | Tiling the Surround | Tiling the Hearth
and now it’s time for the last 20% of this room to be finished already!!!!!!! Here’s the plan as I shared back in February…..
THE LAST 20% HIT LIST
Finish reupholstering the two chairs – a project which I have dragged out for over SIX months 🙂
Lighten up and bring some blues to our brown leather couch
Finish the art project for over the couch – in process for 3 months
Figure out what else is going on the walls
Build or buy doors for the lower shelves of the bookcases for hidden storage
STYLE the bookcases – the absolute most arduous part of this project that I have been ignoring since before Christmas
Rug – Pillows – Curtains
And………….a new coffee table that fits this room as opposed to the one we are currently using that was in a room twice this size in our last house.
For some, demoing a space and rebuilding, or figuring out what buy or how to layout a space is the daunting part of a room makeover. For me, it’s the LAST 20% that finishes a room and makes it feel like HOME.
I hope that by posting about what I do to finish up this room, I will inspire or help someone along the way who suffers from decorating paralysis too!
That is my challenge that I commit to you One Room Challenge lovers to get done by May 12.
{Deep breathing into a paper bag}
Good luck to the other One Room Challengers!
Check out the 20 ORC Designers (including one of my dearest blog besties, Kris from Driven By Decor!!!) on Wednesdays
and
everyone who is linking up their rooms on Thursdays at Calling It Home. A big thank you to Linda for creating and organizing this fun and motivating challenge!!
Vel says
With what your did with the fireplace, this room is already fabulous Lisa! And with this mood board? A home run again for you for sure! Can’t believe your doing this after coming home from a vacation too! We’ll cheer each other on!
Sharon says
The vacation pictures are so pretty! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Michael and I haven’t gotten alone in 3 years–need to make a plan for that! Love the design board and can’t wait to see it finished, especially how you restyle the sofa. I need some ideas for my leather sofa that refuses to die! I’m sure it’s all going to beautiful, and the fireplace being finished means you can focus on all of the fun stuff!
cassie @ primitive & proper says
your trip sounds heavenly! and way to jump right back in!
Denise says
Love the plan! It always feels good to finish a room, and I’m with you on getting stuck at the end. For me, I think by the time I get to the fun part, I’m exhausted from all the work! Ha! Excited to follow along!
Lisa says
It’s so much easier for me to sink my teeth into a carpentry project, the styling is always what gets me Denise! Can’t wait to see how your closet is coming along!
Katie says
Yay!! So glad you are joining in for the fun. And I think your first week of the challenge was the best out of anyone’s! 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks Katie – yes I am quite happy with how Week One progressed, preparing my mental state for 5 weeks of crazy!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Yay! I know you’ll thoroughly LOVE having this room finished up, it’s off to such an amazing start!
Lisa says
Thank you my friend! It’s a hot mess right now but I’m glad to have a deadline now, I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Pam @ Simple Details says
Oh, how I love seeing your fabulous fireplace and built ins! Those chairs are going to be an awesome addition, and you had me laughing at styling the bookcase! Haha! So happy to have you stressing with us! 🙂
Lisa says
Funny how the bookcase styling is the part I am stressing over the most! I am excited to join in this game of stress with you my friend!
Tiffany says
Lisa your fireplace is gorgeous. I love your plan and I can totally relate to starting but not finishing rooms. Here’s to finishing our rooms once and for all!!
Lisa says
Are you doing the ORC Tiffany?? I have missed you in the blogosphere and am so so so happy to see your name!! You know I am a big fan of your house makeovers and of you. Hope all is well and thanks for stopping by over here!!
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Lisa I adore the direction that your room is headed towards! You did SO much better than I did in my room this week.
I would love for you to share this post at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. I think our readers would really enjoy it!
Good luck in the upcoming week!
Lisa says
Thanks for the invite Laura, I will! And I can’t wait to see what room you are working on!! So glad to be in this with you 🙂
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
Holy WOW! That fireplace looks amazing! And the color of that ocean has me dreaming
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says
So nice to get away, isn’t it? That water looked beautiful! As for the One Room Challenge – go Lisa! I love your plans and I know you will make it beautiful! I was tempted to do the ORC, since I have only done it once before…but I chickened out this time! I was going to attempt my master bedroom using a duvet cover I had ordered as the starting point. Well, the duvet cover just came in and now I am having second thoughts about even using it! I am excited to follow your progress! Have fun!
Shelley
Vicky says
The fireplace is gorgeous! Where did you stay in Mexico- it too is gorgeous!
Lisa says
Hi Vicky! Thank you on the fireplace! We were in Cabo San Lucas, the coast was so beautiful there!
classic•casual•home says
I KNOW this will be beautiful and functional… a happy place for your family.
Lisa says
Thanks Mary Ann…. that’s the goal!
Carol @ CAD INTERIORS says
Happy dance that you’re joining the madness! You help make it fun. 🙂 Your family room is already in great shape, and there’s nothing like the ORC to take it over the finish line.
Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says
Love, love, love the direction you’re taking this room! The styling part is always the hardest for me. I can’t wait to see your finished space. I know you’ll knock it out of the park!
Lisa says
I don’t believe you AT ALL that styling is hard for you – you’re amazing at that!!!!! Give me a saw, a nail gun, some Liquid Nails and I’m a happy girl. Arranging vignettes…..not so much! Thanks for the encouragement my friend!!
Kris {Driven by Decor} says
I can not tell you how excited I am that you are jumping in – I need my fellow procrastinator phone-a-friend!!! I love that you’re finishing off your family room – I’m so guilty of stalling out on that last 20% too and now that you’ve built that killer fireplace, it must be great motivation to make the rest of your room equally beautiful! So excited girl!
Lisa says
I clearly need a deadline to get any room in my house done Kris!
Jenny@EvolutionofStyle says
I’m going to live vicariously through you this round, as I’ve been completely swamped and just don’t have the time to do it right now. And really, it seems like most of the rooms I need to tackle can be classified as “the last 20%” you know? Looking forward to seeing this space at 100%! 🙂
Lisa says
That’s great that you’ve been busy! So happy you’re new biz has taken off. I’m looking forward to the last 20% being done too, finally!
Sarah Sofia Knepp says
Oh Lisa I so thrilled you’ve jumped into ORC again and I absolutely LOVE the fireplace and built in reno! WOW, what a difference that has made in the room, especially the sectional which was something I debated about. You’ll be so glad to have this family room to enjoy! P.S. Looks like a wonderful trip! XOXO, Sarah
Lisa says
Having a deadline is about the only way I can finish any project! Can’t wait to see your room update this week Sarah!
Cristina says
Oh yeah, that 20% is kind of the hardest part! The fireplace and build-ins have already turned things around in this room. Looking forward to see your gorgeous transformation!
Lisa says
Thank you Cristina! I am thinking about making cabinet doors – I will have to channel you for that!