Makeover * autumn nesting delights

You might remember Jenn from back in July when she shared her gorgeous mane.  Well, my energetic youngest daughter called one afternoon a few weeks back, all kinds of breathless and excited.  She had decided to pull off 'a little living room makeover' to surprise her husband when he returned home from a business trip.

 

AFTER

A YEAR BEFORE

An oval rug with the softest melange {love that word!} of braided greens and blues sets the tone
 for what's to come!  Look past the big green sofa to sneak a peak at one of the old wooden IKEA chairs with the well-used white canvas slipcovers.  The vanilla covered walls.  The not-all-that-decorated mantle.  Random collectibles on the shelves.  And those oppressive bamboo blinds.

 

*

 

Now ... back to the phone call!

 

I quickly checked my email to see the results ... and ooh-ed and aah-ed as I scooped up every detail. The gorgeous blue / green / gray tones highlighting the fireplace and shelves {my absolute favorite shade - especially with white trim!} Sunlight streaming bright through those huge windows, now unhindered by the heavy old roll-down bamboo blinds! 

 

And those chairs. Were they new?

 

*

Her game plan? 

 

Jenn ...

 

*  Took down those big old bamboo blinds and did a bit of touch up with spackle and paint.  {And then sold those cumbersome babies at a garage sale!}.

 

*  Painted the area behind the built-in bookcases and TV to match the color she had already used on the walls in the adjoining kitchen to the left.  She used BEHR Winter's Day.  {I think she might be musing about painting the rest of that fireplace wall the same subtly gorgeous shade.}  The basket on the bottom left shelf holds diapers and wipes for a someday addition to the family, and the baskets on the right corral the kids' library books.

 

*  De-cluttered the bookshelves and focused the attention on the fireplace where she displays the large white mum, fun random pumpkins, and a handful of autumn twigs gathered from the woods behind the house. 

 

*  Spray painted the black IKEA chairs white with 6 cans of RUST-OLEUM Painter's Touch Ultra Cover Semi-Gloss white (bought with a Home Depot gift card!}  She figured that with the endless sanding and re-spraying, this was the hardest part of the re-do.

 

*  Found 2 matching shower curtains for those chairs {yes, shower curtains!} at Marshalls for $18 each.  And did some smart bartering with a dear friend - babysitting in exchange for the new handcrafted slipcovers that brought together the room's shades of blues and greens.

*  Hauled up the big old wicker toy box from the playroom, where it now holds center stage in front of the sofa for pretties, snacks, and whatever. 

Jenn said that the makeover took about a week, mostly in the evenings after the 4 kids went to bed.  And the best part?  The whole project cost less than $100.  She told me that her inspiration was her birthday gift of THE NESTING PLACE ... and that she 'loves how the room looks in the evening, when the toys are picked up and the lights are dim ... very relaxing.'

Have you created a little adjustment or a makeover to your living space recently? 

Do tell!

 

 

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 Our autumn nesting delights giveaway could be
a wonderful housewarming, birthday, bridal shower, or Christmas gift!

 

 

Leave a comment and you'll be in the the running for one of the two copies

of Myquillyn Smith's book, THE NESTING PLACE! 

The details about the giveaway and links to all the posts in the series are here.

 

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sharing the makeover with Kristen