Thursday, January 5, 2012

A gradual transformation

This post is a reminder how you can achieve your dream look, but it doesnt always happen overnight. We all dont have the budget to go out and buy everything we want all the time for every room. So this post demonstrates how I played with this room until it felt right. Until I could buy the right thing. And then once I had a baby, things that naturally I had to add for storage and livability.

This is our living room when we first moved in. Sort of a mess right? But I saw the potential.

We painted the trim, ceiling, walls and bookcases. We refinished the floors to a darker stain.


And filled it with our stuff. I was going for a nautical thing. I really wanted white couches but couldn't quite figure out if it would be practical for every day living. The off white couch was a hand me down. The coffee table was from Ikea and I painted it a couple times a few different colors.

I also made the cushion for the window seat. It was one of the first fabrics I had really tried out. No wonder I ended up not loving it.


We bought white slipcovers and finally a new off white couch from JCP.com. We removed the rug, and waited until I found something that I loved, was really big, and not very expensive. We put baskets under the window seat filled with kids toys as well as the "coffee table" which is filled with toys. And the window seat is covered with some good old drop cloths. I actually washed it the other day and it comes out so soft, I should have done that ages ago.


And here we are today.


I really love this room now. Its kind of my favorite place to be.


I love layering different thrifted items


I'm more brave now, and I know what I like to look at.


Its not done, but it wont ever really stop changing and growing, because that's the fun part I think.  We have lived here for 2 years on Jan 15th, so this is a little reminder that progress happens slowly, takes time, and sometimes assembling a room over time is the perfect way to get the look you are really going for.

I am getting new pillow covers on the 7th...so I can 100% say that it will look different by then. And I feel like I'm going to hang more stuff on the walls.

Stay tuned 














17 comments:

  1. I LOVE what you did! Wow, great job. Yes, things take time but that is the fun of it. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
    bj

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  2. You are SO right - it is an ongoing process, and I like it that way, too. Sometimes even one new "find" can incite you to do a whole new room arrangement! I love your look, and am going for a textural white environment with great junk accents and natural items in it as well.

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  3. I really like the changes that you made.....I just ordered a new slip covered sofa from PB. Can't wait....Your lamps are nice too! Yes it takes time to complete each room that you want to work on....I just need somee patience sometimes.!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Again, beautiful! I love your style. So clean and simple, but still pretty. Glad you put about it taking time and showing the process. It can sometimes seem disheartening when you only see the 'after' pictures. Thanks for keeping it real.

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  5. I SO love everything in that room. I need ALL of the stuff on the shelves. My vignettes would be great then !!!
    I have passed an award onto you Jen - I hope you will accept.
    Fiona xxx

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  6. Oops sorry - you just need to go to my blog to check it out !

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  7. jennifer - this room looks awesome!!!! i love it!

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  8. Hi, I'm Bj and I wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the bloggers Liebster award. You can check it out at my blog. http://joy2journey.com If you accept it, please link back to my site and go on to nominate five more up and coming bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.
    Hugs,
    bj

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  9. That room looks amazing!! You are so talented and have great taste! It has been a pleasure meeting you thanks to Fiona from Paint it white. Congratulaciones for the Blog on Fire Award!
    I'll be around!!


    Www.tatianadoria.blogspot.com

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  10. Thank you so much for your visit and sweet notes! I love this room, it is so fun to watch a room transform and see it in pictures, you have done a fabulous job!
    Enjoy your weekend!
    XO
    Kristin

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  11. I love the small pops of yellow in your room! Great job! i'm your newest follower!
    Dee Dee

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  12. Thanks so much for your visit and for your kind comments.
    What a pretty room! I love the built ins and especially the layered frames and items on the top of the shelves. Wishing you a great year in 2012!

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  13. It looks amazing! I love seeing the transformation. You did a great job with the styling on the built-ins!

    Sarah

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  14. I love what you did--it is so beautifully done!

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  15. The white seems much more 'you'.. it's very clean and simple. I really like it!

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  16. Your living room is so pretty! I love your changes! I would like to slipcover my couch but I'm just not sure I am brave enough to live with the white!!

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  17. hi jen! i just love your living room and i was wondering if you could share the wall color? i tried 13 samples on my walls before giving up and going antique white 2 years ago. now im getting ready to repaint and id like to give your color a try!! im a new follower from p&p. thanks for sharing your house today : )

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