Since we've finally shown ourselves off at Apartment Therapy, I'm ready to unload the goods. The before...and how and why and do and don't and this and not that...all the things that got us to where we are. And in love with where we live.
Finally.
But before I show, I need to share. Two people who made this all possible. If you are local, I recommend them without hesitation. Contact them. Tell them I sent you.
Kirsten Marshall of Palmerston Design and Nuno Teixeira of Caliber Group.
Still with me? Ready? Me too.
Today, the living room. Here's where we were before.
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| Before |
Your typical box of a living room. Front of the house, sharing width with the entryway. The only thing missing was the faux fireplace/mantel we removed years ago. Not original to the house = not a sin.
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| Demo |
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| Framed |
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| Drywalled |
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| After |
Is it the same? You might think so, but look a little deeper. It's all in the detail.
Like that couch...
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| Investment |
A sectional. I'm in love. And I cannot sing it's praises any more than I already do.
We LOVED our old couch. It was a hand-me-down, but a good one, and it pained me to get rid of it. But that couch had it's day and Craigslist found it a new home. It spoiled us for quality, so we knew we had to get a good replacement.
Cut to us driving down the street from where we purchased our hardwood and noticing a sign in front of a warehouse that said "Barrymore" - we pulled in. Hours later, we walked away knowing we found it. Our forever couch. It was a small fortune, more than we intended to invest, but worth spending most days and every night sitting on it. Easily a top ten decision. Hands down.
Now, the niches.
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| Before |
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| Framed |
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| Taped |
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| Done |
We are a TV family. No apologies. We had the fireplace debate and it lost. My decorative mantel is a niche. And it works.
You know what else works?
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| Wood |
The coffee table. With the niche. I stumbled upon the table with matching wood after all the niche decisions were made. It was meant to be.
But not all our woods are the same. The niche/table is different from the floor is different from the kitchen table. You can have multiple woods in a space. Just make sure they play together nicely.
And use stuff you already have.
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| by Justice Darragh for AT |
Find three things here from the two before pictures. Stumped? Leather chair, lamp and rug. Big pieces. Easily reused and still love.
Ok, there's a fourth. The curtains. I'll always love those curtains.
But my favorite part? I thought you'd never ask.
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| Where's The Cable Box? |
See that cabinet sneaking into the lower left corner?
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| Close Up |
It's our media home base. And I'm pulling the curtain aside. That's an IR extender for an outdated cable box that whispers sweet nothings to our remote. Also mistaken for a tiny spaceship.
If you take anything away from this room reveal, hide your cable box with this IR extender. Do it now. It will change your life for $40.
Lastly, as all good renovations do, putting holes in the walls now scares us.
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| Holes Go Here |
We think we need holes here. We just don't know what artwork the nails in those holes will hang. I'm on the huntdown for a "forever couch" worthy piece. And it might take longer to find than the whole darn renovation did.
