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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

{Mom's Living Room Makeover}

Yesterday, I posted the before photos of my mom's living room.  (You'll appreciate the makeover more if you check out the before photos before reading this post.)  I also wrote about what I wanted to accomplish in the room and how it was going to be difficult since the wall color and furniture was going to stay the same.  Today, I'm going to show you what the room looks like now, and you can decide if I accomplished my goals or not.  :)


If you saw my craft room redo, you know that I DIM (Do It Myself) everything I possibly can to keep costs low on a makeover.  This room was no exception.  Since it was for my mom, she and dad helped out A LOT on many projects.


We rewired lamps and spray painted TONS of stuff!



We made a piece out of shutters to go over the fireplace, made photo ledges and a table out of wood, and mom ironed drop cloths for HOURS to create curtains for the room.  Let's start the reveal with some "split screens."


The view when you enter from the kitchen is A LOT different now, even though we didn't paint and kept the same furniture.


All of the walls in the room look totally different with new curtains, art, and accessories.  Let's look at the room more closely now.


The rug--the only MAJOR purchase for the room--adds so much color and life to what was once a bland space.  And moving the furniture around the rug and off of the wall makes the room seem fuller, even though we really only added one extra piece of furniture.


The curtains are simple drop cloths (9x6) hung with clip rings on new black rods from Big Lots.  (Here is a link to the post by The Lettered Cottage that gave me the idea.)  We hung the drapes higher on the wall than the original valances were so that we could add more height to the room.  Hanging drapery higher accentuates high ceilings.


My mom loves her family photos, so I decided that a photo ledge would be nice.  The photos can easily be changed.  These frames were a mix of wood and black frames my mom already had.  She sprayed them white.  My dad and I used this tutorial from Little Bit Funky to create the photo ledges ourselves.


Many of the accessories are items my mom already had or they came from my grandmother's house.  These candle sticks were gaudy and gold, but with a coat of white spray paint, they look fabulous!


The pillows and blanket all came from discount stores: T.J. Maxx, Ross, and Stein Mart.  They bring colors from the rug onto the couch and love seat.


Since we moved the couch off the wall, there was empty space there.  My dad and I made a table, much like my $20 table.  This one is a combination of that table and this table made by Country Girl Home.


We got to use the router dad and mom got me for my birthday on this project! We used it to create the faux drawers.  I have to say that it was pretty exciting!


I used the same painting and aging technique as I did with my $20 table.


My mom and I found the art at Ross.  We flipped out when we saw it because it was the perfect piece to go with our pillows, rug, and accessories.  The lamps were made by my grandmother in the 70's after her oldest son died.  (When we were cleaning them up, we found an inscription on the bottom of each lamp in memory or her son!)  We rewired them and sprayed them white.  I found the new shades at Target.


The sconces, art, and pictures above the TV are gone.  And all the small frames on the fireplace are gone.  I created a small grouping of frames around the TV.  We purchased frames from Michaels that were on sale, and I framed fabric that I bought from JoAnn's.  The frames around the TV make it blend in a little more.


The fireplace needed something on top of it to add height.  We sprayed the shutters in the picture at the beginning of the post.  I made a pool noodle wreath.  I Mod Podged fabric to a large G and accessorized the mantel with vases and a potted plant.  (The green vase and the planter came from Ross.)  And, yes, that's a fish bowl.  I had to make room for the fish.  He's probably the oldest living goldfish on the planet, so I couldn't kick him out.  (My sister bought the fish to decorate for her high school graduation party.  That was like five years ago, and he's still kickin'!)


My mom LOVES her living room now!  There are still a few things I'd like to add to the room, but I'm really happy with it myself.  It was a huge challenge for me to decorate a room without paint or new furniture, but I think I succeeded.  What do you think?
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43 comments:

  1. awesome!!!!! you absolutely should have gone into home decor instead of teaching, LOL. you have MAJOR talent!!!

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  2. Hi, Bethany

    How beautiful your mom's living room turned out. It looks great and I love all the colors you used. Great eye! Happy 4th.

    Vanessa

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  3. WOW! So much brighter and airier! You did a fabulous job!

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  4. Awesome!! I love it what a great improvement without doing major work! I LOVE the rug it's a perfect size and color, great job!!

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  5. Awesome job! Looks great!!!

    --Katie
    @ Creatively Living

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  6. I think you did fabulous! I'm loving the table you and your dad built...especially with your grandmother's lamps spray painted white! What a beautiful display! I love the rug, photo ledges and the drapes too! How fun to makeover your parent's room!

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  7. You absolutely accomplished what you set out to do, and more! Everyone talks about the power of paint, but you've demonstrated the power of a rug! Such a great purchase to infuse colour and fun into a space. The table that you built with your Dad looks fantastic (and I would have thought there really was a drawer if you hadn't said faux) and all the freshened up accents just finish the space.

    Congratulations on a job well done! A+ :)

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  8. It's beautiful! I really like that you added a few new things but worked with what was already there too!

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  9. It looks amazing...like a whole new room!!

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  10. Great job! I have to admit, I didn't think you'd be able to work with those couches. lol. I barely noticed the couches because I was busy looking at everything else. It looks cozy now!

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  11. Amazing!!!! I never doubted that it would turn out great though. =) I can't wait to see it in person.

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  12. Gorgeous room makeover! Looks like you know what accessories you will use. I can pick paint & furishings with no problem. I never know what to accessorize with, so I end up with what I've had for years. I can paintsome of them!

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  13. I keep telling you you missed your calling. If you ever decide to leave teaching, I see Interior Design in your future!! You did a fantastic job with this room. I have to say I wasn't sure what you could do without changing furniture or wall color, but you proved me wrong. It looks fantastic! I hope you consider doing this as a sideline at least because you really have a talent for it!

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  14. You are AMAZING. This turned out wonderful!! Spray paint is also amazing. :)

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  15. You did an AWESOME job!!!!! Looks great!

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  16. You did a fantastic job!! I got so much inspiration from your post.
    Wonderful ideas and great use of awesome tutorials. You Rock Girl!!

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  17. Awesome! I love the red shutters on the fireplace. The table you all made is so cute. Can't wait to see what you are working on next!

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  18. congrats.. very very great job. the most great is the low cost filosophie.. vicky from greece

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  19. What a wonderful transformation! Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Southern Lovely. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-4.html Wishing you a grand day! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  20. I love the way you have displayed the photos on the wall now. I also love the rug and lamps! Looks fantastic. Megan

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  21. An amaing transformation - love it!
    Especially the rug (where is that from?) and the red shutters!
    I would love if you stopped by my linky party happening now to link your projects up!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

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  22. AMAZING!!!! I really wish we were neighbors and you could come help me with my house :)

    What a great daughter you are and what a blessed Mommy to have you as her daughter!!!!

    Janiene

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  23. Thank you for sharing this at the Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House. Hope to see you again next week. Toodles, Kathryn @ TheDedicatedHouse

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  24. Way to go Bethany!!! The living is totally up to date now and I LOVE IT!!! Every detail is perfect!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!

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  25. What a HUGE difference! You really did a great job, I'm sure your momma is loving it!

    Found this makeover linked up over at The 36th Avenue.

    I'd love for you to link up to my party:

    http://lovingthiscrazylife-melissa.blogspot.com/2012/07/its-piece-o-cake-linky-party-14.html

    Have a great weekend!

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  26. Both rooms turned out beautiful! My favorite part is the red shutter. I'm trying to decorate my entire house DIY, also. Thanks for the wonderful ideas and inspiration.

    I'm hosting my first linky party "One Creative Weekend" at OneCreativeMommy.com. I'd love for you to visit and link up this idea or anything else you'd like to share.

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  27. Absolutely fantastic makeover Bethany! That rug made a huge impact and everything looks so bright and cheerful, proving once again how very little money it takes to transform a space. Well done! Thanks for sharing this at Inspiration Friday!
    Vanessa

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  28. I am in love with that rug, but everything looks amazing!

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  29. Well done! :) I like that you worked with the main pieces you already had. Gives me hope for some of our rooms!

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  30. Where do I start! The wreath on red shutters ...perfect! The sofa pillows and the rug well there arent words...I guess there is PERFECT!!!!

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  31. That is an amazing makeover! Love it! It is awesome that you did all that with no painting or new furniture and it still looks like a whole new room! :)

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  32. Wow Bethany, this after is wonderful, what a great job was done with this living room. It's a total new room in new house, jaja. Lovely change.

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  33. Your Mom's living room turned out lovely! Every touch made it beautiful! I really love the rug and shutters!

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  34. Your blog is so great! I love the after pictures and I love the new rug especially. I'm excited to be a new follower. I would love if you stopped by and followed me back at www.iheartpears.blogspot.com

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  35. Bethany -
    You did a fabulous job! I love all the changes!!!
    Thanks for sharing -
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  36. Featured you! Come and grab a button!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  37. Amazing girl!! I think you might have to go into the table making business!!

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  38. love it all, but my favorite is that darling table with the faux drawers! great way to use a router!

    love it!
    gail

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  39. Thanks for linking up at One Creative Weekend. I'll be featuring you tomorrow. Please come back and link up anything new you'd like to share at OneCreativeMommy.com.

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  40. I'm in love with this room? Where did you find the rug? Everything is amazing.

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Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to leave an awesome comment! :)