After missing week 2 of the ORC thanks to my laptop going a little kookoo on me, I should have tons of progress to show you this week right?
I think this quote sums up my progress perfectly!!! Would you like a glimpse into the chaos I’ve created around here???
Let me refresh your memory on what I have to work with —
Our basement, newly finished in January 2011, and looking like an insane asylum ever since.
Barely any seating……NO storage……and bare walls. On the plus side…..a great space for my kiddos to hang out with their friends. In addition to utilizing it as a kids’ rec room, we would like to make this into a space that we can entertain adult family and friends in too. Our long term plan is that we eventually have a pool table down here and use it for Patriots/Red Sox watching and movie nights.
Another leather couch, along with two rattan chairs, will eventually make their way down to this space, but not within the six weeks of the One Room Challenge, so for the challenge I’m focusing on that big TV wall, and a few other miscellaneous items.
The TV wall is in the midst of getting painted this deep dark charcoal that borders on black, so you know I LOVE it. (Ben Moore’s Nightfall #1596). Here’s a sneak peek. Oh my word, it’s delicious!!!!
Remember my “Better Before” Pottery Barn rattan chairs? We’ve had them for 13 years and they are showing their wear and tear, so last year I experimented with different paints on them. Let’s just say it didn’t go so well.
However, they actually couldn’t be more perfect for the basement space because 1) they are already “weathered” and 2) they are easy for the kids to move aside for impromptu dance parties and sleepovers.
I bought these huge grey velvet pillow covers from Ikea (26″x26″for only $13!!) for the down back pillows that I already had…….
I’m also in the process of giving a couple tables makeovers for this space, starting with this thrift store coffee table. It doesn’t look bad in the before photo but the finish was very orangey-red and beat up.
The “in progress” photo is not exactly what I envisioned……I’m down with how the whitewash came out, but the gray top and bottom shelf are in need of some tweaking.
In the spirit of using what I already had for this room, I also worked on this end table that was BEGGING to be anything other than honey-colored pine. I stripped the top and then gave it a little whitewash/stain treatment and I love how the top came out.
The most arduous part of this challenge, for me, will be whittling down what photos I am going to use in the gallery wall. I want it to have room to grow, and yet there are SO MANY pictures I just LOVE from our family adventures. I have about 700 pictures like this one below from our trip to Ireland when the kids were small, and just looking at this one makes me want to grab that baby boy through my computer screen and kiss him ten thousand times. He was so sweet and squishy at that age!!
I don’t know how I’m ever going to decide!
Next week hopefully some of this chaos I have shared with you will start taking shape. In the meantime, check out how everyone else is progressing with the ORC at Calling It Home!!
Cathy Wall says
You are a power project girl, so much accomplished! Love the fabrics and tables and that photo of the cute squishy boy! Sounds like going thru the photos could get you distracted… stay the course!
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
Love your ideas and the fabrics, this is going to be so pretty. Love your son's picture too. Hugs, Marty
pam {simple details} says
You are on a roll, girl!! That dark paint is going to be INCREDIBLE, I'm itching to paint something black and you ORC girls aren't helping! Did your family think you were crazy or are they on board? Who could resist squeeeezing those cute little cheeks!! 🙂
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
So I'm totally in love with that quote – I need to blow it up big and put it in my foyer because that is so how I feel 99% of the time. I'm in love with your tables – I'd like to do a similar finish for the armoire in our guest room. What did you use??
Dana Frieling says
I have some honey pine that would love for you to come on over and "treat" it! I can't wait to see your dark and lovely basement. I bet you won't be able to get the kids out of it!
Kim @ Plumberry Pie says
Lisa, oh my goodness, I cannot wait to see this room come together. The black wall has got me beyond giddy! And yeah, I wouldn't be able to decide on those pix. What a cutie. I have those moments w/old pix of my kids too where I wish I could leap into the pic and pick their squishiness up and smoosh them. 😉 Oh and BTW, you have been a great resource for me this week as I've been researching bamboo blind placement on the windows. That post was exactly what I was looking for!
Jenny says
I *love* where you're going with that charcoal colored paint! What a fantastic idea for a tv wall like that! It's really coming together beautifully, Lisa. I think I have those same honey pine side tables – the new look is such an amazing improvement!
Calypso In The Country says
Wow Lisa, I am impressed with those tables – very nice! I had to laugh at the "insane asylum" remark! Too funny! Things are looking great!
-Shelley
Elisa of Fancy Free Me says
You have got mad refinishing skills! Loving the table.
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Man, you are quite the furniture whisperer lately! You have so many irons in the fire for this room…it's going to be fantastic! And that photo of your little guy is precious!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Man, you are quite the furniture whisperer lately! You have so many irons in the fire for this room…it's going to be fantastic! And that photo of your little guy is precious!
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
i agree with jennifer! back off- there is only room for one furniture whisperer in these here parts. 😉 he he.
i love where this is going- the furniture, fabric, colors!!!!!
Lisa - A Room with A View says
Tons of progress, Lisa! I love the color picked for the TV wall. It reminds me of Deep Space (BM) which I used in my dining room. Great work on the furniture and precious pic – it is always tough to decide which ones to display.
Lobster Meets Peach says
I love the curtains! Such great fabric!!
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says
Love the black wall (of course) and all of your fabrics! Narrowing down picture choices is always hard for me too – my kids are just so damn cute. 🙂
NanaDiana says
It is looking really good! Love your choices and those pillow covers are great. That is a wonderful picture of your son-He looks like a little Irish lad for sure! xo Diana
Linda {Calling it Home} says
Oh my goodness, use that picture of your beautiful little boy. I am such a sucker for the younger pictures when they were so wide-eyed and excited for life. Love all your progress. The table is looking like you know what you are doing.
Susan Maclean says
What a lovely huge space to "do over" – I'll keep watching as everything you do keeps me entertained!
Vel Criste says
I agree, that benjamin moore paint is just ooh-la-la! And that grey pillow is perfect! I guess I'm not the only lucky one lately;-) The roman shade looks so chic Lisa, so excited to see your family room! For the gallery wall, one way of dwindling it down is to choose a theme – e.g. running or activity (all the kids in different movin poses), nature ( think, green, beach), etc. I love having a bunch of B&w or sepia and have a few colored ones to pop. No matter, I know you'll come up with fabulous!
Bethany [at] Powell Brower Home says
lisa – that coffee table is looking DIVINE. way to have major skillz!! i cant waiiiit to see the color on the walls too!