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My Living Room Before & After

Here is my living room when I first moved it. I don’t even know where to start with this room, except to say it was a mess. It is packed with all of the leftover furniture that I didn’t know what to do with. The floors are unfinished (we pulled up some horrible carpeting right after we closed), the pine trim is dark and heavy, no curtains, no blinds…just a mess. I did choose the wall colors, but that’s about all that was intentional about this room.

 And here’s how it looks now. Ahhh, much better. There’s still a lot I want to do, but I really like the direction I’m going. I’ll break down how much this room cost me… The french provincial sofa on the left (with a down cushion) was $50 at a yard sale. I slip covered it in a white cotton twill fabric and it’s topped with a blue & white postage stamp quilt that I purchased at Goodwill for $6. The coffee table was a free attic find at my Aunt’s house. The chair in the far right of the picture was $8 at a thrift store, which I slip covered. I painted the pine trim creamy white throughout the house and my parents bought us wood slat blinds. I made the curtains out of a blue & white botanical print I found on clearance for $5.00 a yard. I lined them with white bed sheets and hung them with L brackets and 1x2s.

 This french style caned rocker was $10 at the Old Luckett’s Store. The lamp was from Goodwill and the dress was from my husband’s family. I made the pillow out of a needlepoint chair cover that I bought for $8.

 The desk was my great grandfathers and the caned bench was purchased for $5 from my neighbors. I think I paid about $20 for the lacework hanging above the desk. That’s a lot for me, but it was perfect for my house. I refinished the floor myself…when I was 5 months pregnant. Those floors are a whole other story, but they look gorgeous now and it only cost me about $300 for 4 rooms and a hallway.

 Here’s the $50 sofa. I think it was used as a dog bed, so it needed some serious Febreeze, airing out, and steam cleaning. I love the shape and I never could have afforded one that was in pristine condition. Pet smells will come out of upholstery, smoke will not (I learned that from the first sofa I bought for this room.)

 This chair was FREE at a yard sale. I love the lines of this chair, but I still need to slipcover it. I”ll probably end up selling it and replacing it with something else.

 I inherited this curio from my Great Aunt. I used to have it filled with dolls and knick-knacks from all over the world, but it was so busy. I cleaned it out and now just display ironstone and silver (two of my favorites.) Most pieces were only a few dollars and the beautiful piece in the top center was a free attic find.

 And this 100 year old piano…FREE. Yes, free. I have wanted a piano for years and I saw this one in a yard sale notice for $300 and knew we couldn’t afford it. So, I put it out of my mind. A few weeks later my husband had some “things to do” and wouldn’t be home for dinner. He came home about 9:00, made me stay in the back of the house, and made a bunch of noise in the living room. When he unveiled the mystery of what he’d been doing…there was the piano. No one bought the piano at the yard sale, so she gave it away. My husband didn’t even know I had seen it, but when someone asked him if he knew anyone who would want a piano, he knew I would. Awww…what a guy. The mirror was $6 at an auction and I painted it white.

 So, to recap…Before…

 …and after. Stayed tuned as I continue to work on it. I’d love your comments, suggestions, questions, and thoughts!

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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12 Responses

  1. Love the make over! It looks clean and crisp yet cozy, ahh the magic of white, huh? I am also loving the piano, I am looking to buy one for my daughter who just started taking lessons. Thank you for becoming a follower, I have also joined your blog. Have a wonderful Friday!

  3. Your room is so inviting now… makes me want to go grab a tea and settle right in… love all your finds and that piano, gorgeous… what a sweet hubby to do that for you… he is a keeper for sure…

    My DBF is always on the look out for stuff for me… sometimes I wish he would just keep a blind eye

  4. I know you're probably sick of me by now, but I just can't help myself. Your blog is awesome and I can't get enough! Those heirloom pieces of furniture are to die for – I want your relatives! And did I read correctly? You refinished the floors yourself? how?

  5. Great transformation–love the blue and white! (my hubby surprised me with a piano too–I had been gone for about 5 weeks helping my daughter who was struggling with a new baby and a terrible staff infection in her breast and she was trying to finish up her doctorate!! ANyways it was the longest I had been away from home. When I came back it was Christmas time and he had a piano (second hand) waiting for me—it was a shock–I had given mine to my daughter when she married (I can't play well AT ALL..but I do like playing hymns ). After my daughter finished her degree she settled in to be a stay at home mom. She had done lots of interesting research and got payed to do her degree!

  8. Wow! The difference of how I felt from the before picture to the after was significant. The results make the room much more inviting and calming. Love what you have done.

  9. What a beautiful room! Love the serenity of the blue and white. I especially love the lace on the wall above the desk and the piano! Great job!

  11. Pingback: My dining room before and dreaming of the after. «

  12. Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.

    The text in your content seem
    to be running off the screen in Firefox.

    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser
    compatibility but I thought I’d post to
    let you know.
    The layout look great though!
    Hope you get the problem solved soon.

    Many thanks

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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