Here’s how we created a New Traditional Living Room with some existing pieces. Warning: These before photos are worse than normal as the homeowners had water damage in another room and had to move things into the living and dining rooms.
Living Room Before
Are you thinking what I was thinking? As in, YIKES! I took a deep breath and said to Kim “Would you consider replacing the window treatments and putting in wood floors instead of the white carpet??” She said “Yes!”
Well, alrighty then! The next steps…deciding what to use that was existing and what to buy.
Living Room After
Here’s the view of the room now (the Christmas tree is yet to be decorated). It’s costly to replace everything so we kept the leather sofa, chair, coffee table, and accessories. And…
added medium stained wide plank Monarch flooring, a pretty indigo rug from Pottery Barn on-sale and custom and PB blue diamond pillows (also on sale).
I also re-hung Kim’s photos after the room was painted and styled things up with existing accessories.
Our seamstress, Laurie did a great job making custom Kravet linen curtains. They can completely close so Kim was ok with removing the blinds (they were starting to fall apart anyway.
We made a nice reading spot by the fire with this WS Home modern wing chair on special (in one of their durable fabrics – Beach Club Linen), PB brass floor lamp and her antique little table. We also recovered her grandmother’s rocking chair in a coordinated Brunschwig and Fils stripe. I love the RH cashmere throw.
The before one more time…
We also spruced up the adjacent dining room which I will show you soon.
Howard and I are in New, Delhi, India right now. You are waking up and it’s already 14 hours ahead here. It’s wonderful– love the colors and textiles and friendly people…and food! Hope you are following along on Instagram (especially my stories)!
OK….that was magic! Even keeping the existing furniture it looks like a totally different room! Brilliant!
Hi! Was the room painted? What color? You do such a fabulous job with updating and I love that you keep some of the homeowners decor. Love the blue rug and pillows. Thanks for sharing, Barbara
india?!?! someday…….
great before & after! it is a greater challenge to work with what a client has, well done
xo
debra
Yes. You will love India, Debra.
What an amazing makeover! I loved how you rearranged things and kept so much, although I have to say it’s the antiques that really make this room sing. So glad to see them remain! I have a question regarding window treatments. I actually USE mine to filter light and hide less that perfect views. Does noone use under sheers anymore? I could see them in this situation as a blind replacement that also adds a bit of softness. With the drapes closed, all the light is shut out which is fine at night, but a bit depressing during the day.
Wow! That’s one of the best make overs. The fresh, bright up to date look is wonderful. Great job Mary Ann.
Hope you’ll share a bit of your trip with us when you get home.
Karen
Another excellent update! I was interested in how you would add the wood flooring and how you would stop it into hallway and you did a good job. The new curtains are wonderful. This is a great example of how you can save some interesting elements so that the room looks real. Also, it looks like children still live in the home —-the couch and furniture as you have saved/updated is much more useable and child-friendly than just another white sofa. Thank you for sharing!
What color did you paint the living room? It looks great with the blue.
Mary Ann I am so happy to see your work. It’s been awhile since I followed you and even longer since I posted on my blog, Patty’s Epiphanies MC and I recently moved back into Sun City in Georgia . We purchased one of the smaller homes . At our ages it’s time to live in homes we can manage.
What caught my eye this morning was the ability to transform spaces with existing pieces. This has been my only way to change or remodel. Simply can’t discard and buy new.
Love the living room changes and can’t wait to see the dining room
Patty
Terrific remodel. I know she must be happy.
Did you also add molding around the windows. I can’t tell for sure but it looks like it. If so, that is a great addition too as the windows now stand out more with the new drapes. Great job.
Beautiful Mary Ann! You are the queen of “updating” rooms and bringing life back to furniture that one might think needed to go! The new window treatments make one of the biggest differences but it is truly a wonderful job!
Hi!
Hope to see lots of photos from your India trip.
Curious about the color scheme. There is a lot of blue and cream but not really a third complimentary color. Was there a reason for this?
Thanks!
Karen, there are different shades of blue and we added green in the adjoining dining room (coming up)…this keeps the palette soothing and other colors can be added with flowers or table linens (or Christmas decorations).
Love the rug….and the price. It’s good you could use some of her things with new pillows and that wing chair is perfect.
I agree with Taste of France, the window treatments were dated and it is so great to see design work that includes the existing furniture Have a great time.
The window treatments were indeed the most dated part of the room. So glad you kept the furniture–it shows that you can get a new look without buying everything new. The after is so much brighter and more cheerful.
Fantastic work!
Have fun in India! How exciting!
Yes, I was glad that you made a point to keep the furniture too. It sometimes takes a bit of effort to come up with a completely new look while keeping the furniture, but worth it in the end! It definitely helps you be creative!