It’s no secret that we’re suckers for a dark room turned light and bright. And during the summer months, we’re especially keen on the beach-y, coastal vibe that Jessica achieved with the help of our pal Rhoda. So check out her letter below:
We finally finished our family room makeover. I feel like I’ve been working on this room forever. The colors in the room before were traditional and on the darker side. The old furniture was a set we bought many years ago and was in a much smaller room (so it looked a bit lost). I decided to change the look from traditional to a cottage-y pottery barn style. This was a joint project with Rhoda, from Southern Hospitality. I enlisted her expertise and boy was she helpful! Here’s the before shot for you:
After the dark paint went away and I started to add planks to the walls, things looked like this:
In order to achieve the look I was going after, I got busy nailing planks to the wall. I used 1×8 tongue and groove knotty pine. It seemed like it took forever to complete that part of the project. My dad showed me how to use the nail gun and then disappeared for two months while I worked on the room. It was winter time and he likes to hibernate in front of the television. He wanted NO part of this project.
The planks on the wall are painted Benjamin Moore White Diamond and the top of the wall is Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue. I also added a two inch shelf on top of the planks to define the separation between the planks and the wall. It turned out great for leaning pictures.
The drapes are burlap. I loved the deep pocket pottery barn burlap drapes but for $75 a panel, it would have been very expensive. I bought 55 yards of burlap at $1.99 a yard on sale and with my 40% coupon, I was able to make ten “no sew” burlap panels for under $130. That’s pretty good in my book considering there are five large windows!
Yes, we invested in a new sectional sofa. I found it on sale at a local furniture shop and it was a deal let me tell ya! I also ordered all the fabric for the pillows and window seat / now bench from fabric.com. My favorite is the Thomas Paul fabric (gray) Dalia print.
There you have it! A gigantic hug to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for helping me throughout this entire process. We love hanging out in this room watching TV as a family or just surfing the net. – Jessica
You can read the full version of Jessica’s reveal (with more photos!) right here on her blog. Be prepared to drool even more over the awesome plank-work detail that she added to her previously dull room. That’s definitely my favorite part – and Sherry is loving the geometric rug and those homemade burlap curtains. We’d love to hear your favorite part. Maybe it’s the lighter furnishings, that soft blue wall color, or those ceramic birds flying over the TV…
Michelle W. says
It’s so bright and cheery, very nice!
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
*Major* improvement. So bright and sunny, great job!
Katy
Brady says
Amazing colors! The rug. The walls. Touches of yellow. So peaceful.
Lindsey says
WoW! There isnt much else to say! just WOW!!!
Nancy says
I actually thought the before looked pretty good. But the after? FANTASTIC! I love everything about it!
Maureen says
This room belongs in a magazine. Seriously.Gorgeous.
Emma says
Wow! Love this transformation. I love that she did all of the curtains and pillows herself. Way to save on those burlap curtains. Way to go Jessica!
Colleen says
Wow, that is quite the transformation, love it!
Kirstin says
Love the striped yellow pillows! So cheery!
Katharine says
Night and day! The plank walls are so unique, and the added ledge is so cute. The room looks awesome!
tinaehb3 says
That’s amazing!!!
Rita says
I Love the room. The most favorite thing for me are the pillows and I would like to know whre you gor the You Are My sunshine pillow. Thank you.
Jen M says
This doesn’t look anything like the same room! Very well done. I have that rug. I got mine from overstock this Christmas on the CHEAP! I highly recommend
Betsy says
Hey, I’m considering that rug. When you say on the cheap, how much did you pay for it?
Marissa@ohhhsolovely says
those burlap drapes are dreamy! love them! actually, the entire room is beautiful. job well done!
Melissa Lyons says
wow! this is so beautiful! I love all the tones and textures!
Sammy says
Amazing transformation! I LOVE the colour of the walls, it gives the room a really calm feeling.
Barb says
One word…
F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.
B.
Shirley says
Love the transformation! Esp jealous over the curtains!!! I’m trying to do curtains for the office and having a hard time finding inexpensive fabric (need lots of yards) that will look good :( tear
Bethany says
Love, love, love it!!
Mamaw says
Mamaw Like!
Sarah says
Wow! I liked the before picture (cozy den-ish, good to curl up in wintertime!) But the after pics are AMAZING! So light and cheery and summery! Very nice!
Gabriella @ Our Life In Action says
Wow – I love everything about this room. Just absolutely beautiful!
Shelley @ Green Eggs and Hamlet says
Wow, great job, Jessica! My favorite part is definitely the plank walls.
Nupur says
What a cheerful room! The burlap drapes are my favorite.
Kate says
I love all of it, BUT what specifically tugs at my heart is the use of the rug over the wall-to-wall carpet. I keep wanting to do that, but so far I’ve chickened out!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- doesn’t that look awesome?!
xo,
s
how2home says
What a beautiful makeover! A new coat of paint made a huge difference…the room looks very fresh and welcoming! Great post guys :) Hope you had a nice 4th of July.
Maria @ All Things Luxurious says
Wow — an amazing re-do! I love how bright and fresh the room is now. Just beautiful. :-)
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Fun to see Jessica’s room over here! It was so exciting to watch it come to life as we went back and forth on emails and pics. She worked it and really got everything happening, based on our emails and ideas back and forth. I love to see a great before & after and this one hits all the high notes for sure. Yay!!
YoungHouseLove says
You did an awesome job helping her gussy things up Rhoda! I love the yellow fabrics and that awesome wood wall detail!
xo,
s
jessica@fourgenerationsoneroof says
OH My word you guys seriously just made my day! I just got home to an inbox full of sweet messages! Thank you thank you thank you so much much for featuring our family room and your kind words:) You guys rock! Hope you have a great rest of the holiday week :)
YoungHouseLove says
But of course! Your room is an inspiration and I love a chick who can work a nail gun!!
xo,
s
braelin says
LOVE this– one of my favorites yet!
Krystle @ Color Transformed Family says
Wow! This room has a major jaw-dropping factor. It’s hard to believe it’s even the same room. Who wouldn’t love hanging out in that living room. She did an amazing job. I love everything about it.
Juliane says
LOVE the pine planks. They add such a great texture. :) All the little extras you added really pull it all together–especially those great yellow cushions and sitting nooks. I’m always looking for the right additions for my own spaces, whether it’s wall art, the piece of furniture, or some project I can build myself. Now I have all these ideas for my giant, five-sided bay window in my living room!
Christine Witt (Brush Dance) says
Terrific improvement.
I really dig the bright pops of yellow.
Keri Beth says
Beautiful! Also, I just bought that rug for my bedroom–it’s so nice and plush!
heather says
Best reader redesign to date. There isn’t one part of this room I don’t think is so cute.
Chrissie says
I love the use of panelling and all the bright, happy colours that bounce off the white. It’s such an amazing transformation!
Kate says
I love everything about this room! The colors are so great!
Nora says
This makeover really exemplifies the phrase “from drab to fab!”
Meaningful Nest says
I love the whole room! Beautiful job!
Qaseh Gifts says
what a teriffic job!
Jenn @therebelchick says
WOW What a transformation! This really gives me hope as we begin remodeling our family room!
J'Ann says
Wow this is just gorgeous!
Kari says
Why didn’t any of those Design Stars go for open shelving and some awesome acessorizing this week? Sheesh, talk about a missed opportunity!!
carol jane says
Love the beachy room!! I want it! Love the burlap panels. Do you have a post on how to make them? Would love to know. Thanks.
Koby Rennie says
Wowwwwwwweeeeeee
Fantastic work ….
Loved the title “Life’s A Beach”
J says
I’m normally not a lover of the beach look but this room looks so cozy. I love it. Now if only I could get my living room to look like it’s out of a magazine.
Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says
I really like the table behind the couch and the lanterns. Nice touches all the way around.
My best, Lynn
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
Holy cow, the room looks SO much bigger. And this is one of the more versatile beach-y styles I’ve seen. You can tell what it is, but it’s not too theme-y, which I appreciate. :-)
Natalie says
They did a REALLY nice job!
Those plank walls are genius, and that rug is to-die-for! :)
Emily says
Love the hanging lamps and the bench pillows!