Living Room Reinvented

Do any of these items look familar?

This is a Living Room BEFORE that I have shown you.

Here is the AFTER.


The same AFTER just a little closer up.

This client moved to a new home. We took her same things and reinvented another cozy Living Room! I thought it would be fun to show how you can take what you have --move it to a new space and see what you come up with.


Here is the NEW Living Room.

What do you see that we used in both rooms?


Here is the BEFORE.




AFTER
I showed you this room last week when we were talking about arranging art in a group.


There is no fireplace in this room, but there was a large wall that we could use to display all of the wonderful art that she had collected.


The lamps sure to cozy up the space---

Have I told you all how much I love LAMPS!!

Love the iron container on the ottoman, we were able to fill it with pinecones and a nice piece of pottery.

The two oriental art pieces that were in the other house go so well here in the corner and as an addition we added an oriental chest that she loved.

BEFORE

AFTER

What do you see that is new?

What do you see that is old?

She found the lamp for $25.00 at a consignment store. Great find!



Isn't that fun!
Go and check out some other Transformations at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

I am also linking up today with Finding Fabulous and the
Inspired Room.

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Redesign A Boy's Room

This little boy's room needed an update.

BEFORE

It had been this way since he was about 2 --- and he was now 6.

AFTER
We pulled the bed out from the window and replaced it with a desk that was down in the basement. It was a perfect fit!

Notice how the rug really adds to the room.



BEFORE
The dresser had a variety of items and the picture was hung rather high.



AFTER
We decided to create more of a sports theme
using what he already had.

The magnet board works great hung above the dresser so he can put photos from his soccer games. Notice how it is hung closer to the dresser and makes more of a grouping.


Also we are tying in the color red --- rug, magnet board, bedding.



BEFORE



AFTER

The desk was a great fit in that corner --- and more suited to a school boy.

The colors of the books under the lamp and the cars makes for a fun element on the desk.

It pulls more of the red around the room as well.

BEFORE

AFTER

He was thrilled with the new room!

See more BEFORE and AFTERS at Between Naps on the Porch.

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How to Hang Art in a Grouping

I often get asked how to hang groups of art on a large wall and make it look good.

Here is one solution---

Here is the space BEFORE


AFTER
See how this group fills the space nicely.



This is how we did it:

1. First we laid out the art on the floor and experimented with what we liked and then decided to hang the group more random than lined up.

2. We started with the largest piece in the middle, and moved the others around it.

3. We kept the distance between each piece about the same.

See how it feels like a "Unit" rather than a number of framed pieces on the wall.

It creates a nice focal point and you are able to use a few smaller pieces to fill a large space rather than having just one larger scale piece.

Give this a try at your house, it will help to make a cozy room!

I am participating in Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Chic Cottage---go on over and take a look.

Also go and see Melissa's Beautiful Life

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Redesign Your Book Shelves

How do you make your book shelves look good?

BEFORE

It is one of those places that seems to collect all kinds of items:

books, dvds, videos, knick knacks.

AFTER

When you edit out a few things and determine what you really want to be there, if feels much better.

Take out a few of the books so that you have some negative space.

Lay some of your books on thier side, and add a few selected items:

vase, candlesticks, bookends

You can even stand up a book or two and have the cover facing out.

A few books standing up and a few laying down.



You can also add a picture frame or two, a statue and some kind of a natural element.


And tadaa!!
Your book shelf is transformed.



I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for some great before and afters.

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Decorate for the Season with Nature

Fall is my favorite time of year--- maybe because I was born in October!

I wanted to show you a few fun ways to decorate and cozy up your house with natural elements.

Here are a few beautiful ideas from Better Homes and Gardens.

Have a wonderful Fall Halloween day!

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Redesign with Old Sewing Tables

I have noticed recently that many of my clients have

"old sewing tables"

around thier homes that are not being used.

So I decided to post a few before and afters of rooms

with and without the sewing tables.

These first two photos are in my own house in the entry.

I was given this sewing table by my mother-in-law and it has been in my entry for years!

Here is a BEFORE of a living room. As we went through the house we discovered an old sewing table in the basement storage room. It had been passed on to the homeowner and she was never sure what to do with it.

While doing the room we realized that we could use this sewing table behind the couch as a sofa table.

So in this AFTER you really do not even see the table but it plays a very important part of the room redesign.


It worked perfectly as a place to hold plants, a lamp and some candles.

Love it . . . when you can shop the house and find something unexpected!



BEFORE


AFTER
We used this sewing table in the entry and it created such a nice welcoming feel.


It was originally in the family room holding the TV.
Nice improvement, don't you think?


BEFORE


AFTER
We were wanting to create a nice reading area and needed a table.
In the backyard storage shed we found the old sewing table and it worked great as an accessory table between the two chairs.



BEFORE


AFTER
This area became a comfortable reading nook.
We pulled the chair from the bedroom and the sewing table was in the basement covered with old videos.


Look around your house . . . maybe there is an old sewing table that you can put to use!!


I am participating in Works for me Wednesday,
go and take a look at what others ar working on!

Also check out Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Chic Cottage.

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Inspiration-Looks That I Love

Sometimes don't you just need some inspiration!

These photos are from the shop . . . Gatehouse No. 1

I love this look and feel.


They have gorgous lamps . . . and I do love lamps.

I love these textures and colors.

The artichoke is so great!

I love the overall look and feel of these colors.

It is so COZY to me!

Love these upolstered chairs and pillows.

Just thought I would share a little of a look that I LOVE!

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