Happy Labor Day! Sit back and enjoy a little trip to the coast today in this living room makeover.
The Decorologist
I showed you the make-over of this Brentwood client’s entry last week, and it made it into the Style section of The Tennessean over the weekend! This is where this living room started: it was a large, light-filled room filled with treasures my client had collected over the years from the flea market. The problems we identified were: the orangey-brown fireplace from the 1980’s did not work with the beachy vibe she really wanted, the room felt unbalanced, the furnishings lacked cohesion, and it all just felt a bit cluttered.
Living Room Before
Over the next several months, we worked towards creating an oasis of calm for this busy family. The fireplace needed an update, but I didn’t think it was necessary to rip it out or cover it over – instead, we used the power of paint to transform it.
Fireplace Before
Let’s start with another “before” of this living room:
This is the “after” of the space from the same angle:
Living Room Makeover by The Decorologist
Here’s a “before” from the other side of the room:
Living Room Before
And the “after: “
Living Room Design by The Decorologist, Photo by Melanie G. Photography
Before:
Before
Isn’t the fireplace GORGEOUS now? The new wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Iced Green, which plays into the coastal palette throughout the home.
Living Room by The Decorologist, Photo by Melanie G. Photography
The Decorologist
Design by The Decorologist, Photo by Melanie G. Photography
Vintage globe I picked up at an antique mall
Photo by Melanie G. Photography
So many little makeover projects went into making this beachy living room come together – I’ll share the details and how-to’s of those, including the fireplace and furniture makeovers, later this week. Stay tuned!
Holy cow, this is amazing! It looks so much brighter and more cheerful in the “after” photos. I love the wall color!
Thank you, Kelley! I want to go on vacation there 🙂
it’s a small world – literally – I picked up that very same globe a week ago when our church was throwing out old classroom paraphernalia to make way for remodeling.
Question: your room transformation is amazing, but part of the transformation includes moving stuff around and giving things a home somewhere else. What became of the guitars stored in the corner by the fireplace? In other words – how do you convince someone to move their stuff so you can have a pretty room?
Lee,
Nothing in the house was really gotten rid of – it was moved around, painted, repurposed, etc. I will be posting more of this house over the next couple of weeks – there’s too much to show in one or two posts! To answer your specific question, the guitars moved into what we are now calling “the music room” which also holds a baby grand piano. Now the family has a specific place to practice their instruments – in a room that was previously underutilized and more of a “walk-thru” kind of space. Stay tuned!
Once again, my jaw literally dropped as I scrolled down to the first ‘after’ pic. You have amazing talent! Bravo on another fab room! Your client must be ecstatic with the results!
Thank you, MarySue! Everytime I had a suggestion or an idea, this client said “whatever you think – I trust you.” I’m not sure many people would have been so trusting with that fireplace, but what a huge difference that made 🙂
from my email:
“Hi Kristie,
I’ve been following your blog for a while now and love it. A friend of mine in the Memphis area (I’m in Michigan, by way of Ohio) told me about your blog. I too have a blog that I started back in May, as I also am an interior designer and do a lot of re-design as well.
Anyway, LOVE this post. But wanted to ask what you put on that stone, how it was done etc. I can see being a very valuable too for me in the future, as these ugly 80’s fireplaces are everywhere… LOL
Thanks, Scott Sammons
http://www.AnotherFineNest.com“
Scott,
Stay tuned – I’ll give more details about that fireplace later this week!
Wonderful transformation! That fireplace makeover is the best I’ve seen and your how-to post on how you did it will help so many people turn their dark and heavy looking fireplace into a beauty. I know quite a few people who have the same fireplace and their room is no wider than 10 feet -the dark fireplace towers over you. I will show them your post to see if they can be convinced to do a makeover.
Absolutely GORGEOUS after!Bravo Kristie
Enjoy labor day weekend
Sonia xo
Beautiful Kristie! That fireplace POPS now – I can’t wait to read about the technique you used to update it. Nice work!
from my email:
“Love the last setee pictured! And the fireplace makeover was perfect!
Have a Blessed Day!
Aletta”
Oh my goodness, I hope you will tell us what paint color you used! After years of the tans and browns, which are still nice, all these cool colors are making me yearn to transform at least one room. I see so many re-dos with what looks like a Tiffany-blue. Lovin’ it!
What a great transformation Kristie! Amazing how much better the fireplace looks. Paint helped in the room but you did the wonderful redesign. Your client must be so happy!
Wow — this is an amazing transformation! 🙂 I love everything — but I think that chandelier is my favorite part!
ooh, i found that baby in a local consignment store – fell in love with it!
I have this identical fireplace and when I showed my husband, he started asking questions. I think he might go for it. Waiting with great anticipation for the instructions on how to transform my bossy fireplace.
Oh Kristi, this whole transformation is so well designed and well executed. I love the settee, just so fun and flirty. Great job on this one!
Thank you so much, Stephanie!
I love, love, love the color in the living room! I want it for mine, can you tell me what color you used? I've been trying to match it on my own to no avail!
Can you please tell me the name of the paint you used on the walls? It’s beautiful. We are painting a nursery & need a gender neutral color. Thank you.
Jennifer
Jennifer, the wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Iced Green.
Thank you! Excited to paint the room!
What a beautiful room. I think I will paint my guest room in Ice Green. What trim color did you use?
I think I’d do Chantilly Lace with Iced Green – good luck!
Hello I’ve just been searching for a way to possibly paint the fireplace. I came across your makeover there and it’s great!
But I didn’t see the how to. Is there still a link or a quick explanation of what was used?
Thank you
Eric
Hi, I also an wanting to know how you painted the fireplace. I can not figure out how to get to your blog to find your Larry post explaining how you did it. It looks amazing! 🙂
I need the info on what you used and how you transformed the fireplace. I would love to do it to my fireplace and i have an entryway that is gray rock with lack grout. I am anxiously awaiting a reply
We hired a faux artist to do the work on the fireplace, Christie.
Hi Kristie! I love this fireplace makeover, and I would like to ask permission to use a photo with a link back to this post, in a favorites post I am currently writing. Would that be OK with you?
Sure, Nicki, that would be lovely!!! 🙂