Today is the day linking participants can join in Calling It Home’s One Room Challenge, where 20 amazing designers make over a room top to bottom in 6 weeks.

I’m more along the lines of a DIY/home improvement blogger, so I’m joining the ORC this time around with a carpentry project for our living room that I’ve been dying to tackle.
Since we have a family room and a finished basement, the living room has been a low (low) priority.
In our last house we had a formal living room that I was so OVER. We want to really USE all our rooms, not go in them a few times a year, so when we moved, I parted ways with a lot of our traditional furnishings that didn’t suit our lifestyle. A lifestyle that includes tweens and teens hanging around the house, a furry dog, lazy weekend mornings reading the paper, impromptu drinks with friends, and music always on Pandora. I love sophisticated and elegant interiors, but at this time in our life, I want to create a relaxed vibe in our home where friends and family feel comfortable coming in and staying awhile.
The living room has been a land of castoffs ever since we moved 3.5 years ago, neglected whilst we spent our fun money on things like new windows, an oil burner, toilets and such. This is where the room started……











And now imagine bookcases on both sides of the doors – can you see it?
Check out all the other linking participants to the ORC here! Thanks for hosting the ORC, Linda!
Stacey {steward of design} says
Super ideas! I love those chairs. Very excited to see it all done.
NanaDiana says
Love your inspirations. It will be fun to see what you come up with- xo Diana
Kimberly Lemmon says
You're officially my hero! Built-in bookcases will be amazing!!
Elisa of Fancy Free Me says
Love this! the bookcases will be fabulous, and I love your black doors.
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
oh that will be just amazing, lisa!!!!!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
You can do this! Not only can you do it but you are going to knock it out of the park because you're pretty much the handiest gal I know. Can't wait to see it come together week by week!
Denise Greenwood says
Yay!! I think built-ins will be fabulous on that wall!! Excited to follow along. I am tackling our master bedroom during ORC! Let the nail biting begin!
Traci Hutton says
Oh, it's going to look fabulous!! Can't wait to watch the transformation!
[email protected] says
How exciting!
aquahaus says
I LOVE built ins. So substantial and timeless.
Kim says
Oh boy, I cannot wait to see how you do this … I know you will make it look easy and it won't be!! I love floor to ceiling bookcases, they give such warmth to a space!!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Kristin's shelves are SO, SO good! That is going to be a fabulous addition to your living room! You can do it!
Calypso In The Country says
Great inspiration Lisa! It's a big project but you can do it!! I almost jumped into the ORC again with a bathroom makeover but I knew I would be ready to shoot myself if I committed to that right now with all I have going on. Your room is going to look great! Can't wait to see it!
-Shelley
Vel Criste says
That built in will truly be a huge project lisa but I know you can do it!!!!! Did you know we built the built-in bookcases in our library/office? check out how we built it if you have time (links are thru the tour our home)!!!! Good luck! for sure I'll be following along!
Ron says
I love your inspirations. I cannot wait to follow along.
Sherry Calamia says
I love your design plan! I can't wait to see the progress!
Dana Frieling says
Lisa, this is going to be a game changer! You're so going to wish you had tackled this project sooner. Can't wait to follow along!
Tiffany says
I'm so happy you're doing this. We plan on having a floor to ceiling bookcase in our sunroom and I'm trying to get my husband to make it. I love your inspiration pics. I want mine to have a library ladder since our ceilings are 12 ft. I can't wait to see how you do this. Ps you can totally do this!
Cathy Wall says
Yup, I can see it! If anyone can make it happen, you can Lisa, go get 'em. Love the casual vibe you plan to bring to the room once those bookcases are done!
Krista @ Goodwill Glam says
This is going to be FABULOUS! I love all your inspiration photos. Can't wait to see it all come together!
XO,
Krista
http://www.goodwillglam.com
Krystine @ www.KrystineEdwards.com says
This looks SO exciting, I cannot wait to follow0 I love meeting & following fellow ORC bloggers! So fun!
Linda {Calling it Home} says
YAY! Standing and clapping on my chair….I know you have talked about this for some time, and I really want to see this because I will be taking notes for my future home. I have always loved Kristin's bookcases…who hasn't? The dark gray one from Houzz is calling my name. Good luck and thanks for joining in.
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says
Wahoo!!! I'm so glad you are doing this and you know I love a good built-in! This room is going to look amazing. Can't wait to follow along!!
[email protected] says
This is going to be so awesome!! I LOVE your ideas and inspiration and can't wait to see it take shape! Good luck!