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If you’ve been following along over the past couple of weeks, you’ve seen what my living room looks like currently. Let’s now take a look at the progression, shall we?
Oh my. This was a photo taken when we first looked at the house. This room was a mess. The carpet covering the hard wood floors was stained and stinky. The walls hadn’t been painted in years…maybe since the house was built in the 1940’s. The dark pine trim and dusty curtains only added to the gloominess.
We ripped out the carpet, refinished the floors, painted the walls a peacock blue, painted the trim white and threw a bunch of furniture in there. The desk, curio and piano are still in the room, but I have sold the rest of the pieces. I made valances out of clearance fabric, which totaled $10 for the whole room, but I knew I eventually wanted full length drapes.
This is what the living room looked like a few weeks ago. I finally got my full length drapes, I painted the walls ivory and the trim a bright white. I also started collecting new furniture for the room. It was on the right track, but it was feeling too cluttered and heavy.
I painted the mirror and reupholstered the chairs, made the last curtain panels and slimmed down the accessories.
I really love this room.
And it’s even better with a beautiful, live Christmas tree in it.
More to come…
15. Melissa said… My little monkey would totally love being able to color on her cookies! Oh, and the cake bites look so yummy, I remember you talking about them at the junk swap. Yum!
Definitely sign me up! Thanks Brittanie for doing this giveaway!
24. Cheryl @ Bingle Bears said… YUMMMM! I checked out her website and, OH MY, it looks like heaven! I hope I’m very lucky!
50. Vicki said… Brittanie… Wow, beautiful treats! I am also a baker but haven’t perfected my decorating like you. Good job. Wish I had more time to do this. Hope I win, would love to taste them. I bet they are delicious!!
65. Ali Richardson said… YUM YUM YUM! My fingers and toes are crossed 🙂
71. Kelli@Restore Interiors said… Okay, I am totally impressed. I just posted about making Christmas cookies and mine are SAD compared to these beauties! Mine ALWAYS taste great but look terrible:) I would TOTALLY pay for these as well. She is very talented! A pastry artist for sure! Yummy!!
kellihwright@gmail.com
106. Tonya said… My daughter just saw the basketball cake bites and just about died!!! Those cookies and other goodies are making me hungry!
134. Tales From My Empty Nest said… I love sugar cookies and am always amazed when folks make such gorgeous cookies. They are so much harder to make than they look. Thanks for hosting a wonderful giveaway! Thanks for introducing us to Snickety Snacks! She does a beautiful job. QuiltMom180@aol.com Love & blessings from NC!
131. Debb said… Even with all the Christmas Cookies out there… these look so good and yummy… thanks. If I were to be so lucky to win this awesome prize… my son and daughter-in-law live in Baltimore, MD and this would be such a treat for them… thanks so much…
There were only supposed to be two winners, but Brittanie was so encouraged by all of your comments, that she picked a few more! She will get in touch with you about your prize.
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Wow amazing!!!! What a transformation!
~The Mama Monster
Truly an amazing transformation!
You inspire me.
it definitely looks at its best now- lighter, brighter, and i am so glad you painted the mirror, even if there were people urging you not to. it's so much better painted!
♪♪♫♪ ♪♪♫♪ :II ♫ Start spreading ♫ the NEWS ♫♪♪♫♪ ♪♪♫♪ It's going to be a GREAT year in 2011!! ♪♪♫♪ ♪♪♫♪
All the best to you in the upcoming NEW year!
xo Lynda
It looks so nice with the lighter decor! By the way….I LOVE your Christmas tree skirt!! Where in the world did you find that? Did you make it? Have a happy new year!
Yes we need instructions on the tree skirt that you made. I love, love, love it! Pretty please??
How about a tutorial on your fabulous tree skirt??????
gorgeous living room!!
Love the changes!! Great job!
What a great transformation. I love seeing the progression and how you edited even more towards the end. It turned out perfect!
Stunning!
What a wonderful transformation of your living room!
I love seeing it all come together.
Oh, it's really lovely, Marian. What a wonderful transformation!
: )
Julie M.
What a beautiful job you did, Marian! That room is so clean, airy, and chic looking now. Incredible transformation! I've learned – through gals like you – that less is more when it comes to small rooms. Declutter and focus on only the things that you really love… 🙂
xoxo laurie
How AMAZING!!! It looks so regal and elegant but cozy, too! I LOVE it!! It's really hard to believe it's the same room as the first picture!! Makes me want to ad long panel drapes like that to mine, and reupholster everything. So very nice!!! You are so encouraging!! Thank you!
O wow! That is a place I could easily spend a huge amount of time in! LOL VERY nice!
Positively beautiful! Thank you especially for showing the progression of the room. Too often people show the before and the after, like it all happened overnight, when in reality it's all a process.
Absolutely stunning. I'm shocked at the transformation. This is the first time that I've been to your blog – and I'm just … wow! Gorgeous. GORGEOUS! I'm definitely taking inspiration from this!
Yippppeeeeeee! I was thrilled to see my name revealed as one of the winners! This is only the second time I have won a blog-giveaway and I enter them ALL the time. I'm so so excited!! Oh – and I am absolutely IN LOVE with your finished living room. It is light and airy and beautiful. If it had a name, it would be called – Peace.
Gosh, that is one beautiful room. You do such an amazing job. I love the tree and the tree skirt! Gorgeous.
This is soo beautiful!!! I love all the details…amazing job!!! Enjoy every minute in your new beautiful room!
Hugs and love friend!
Victoria
It is spec.tac.u.lar! I love it… Now it looks like it should grace the cover of a magazine…
Warm blessings,
Spencer
It certainly was worth the years of hardwork. Such a dramatic & cozy after.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
I could never have seen what it looks like today by looking at the before. What an amazing transformation. It's a beautiful room.
I enjoyed your pics that showed the progression. Your room is so light, bright and cheery now! I love the way you talk about just whipping up drapes and reupholstering furniture, like it's something we all do every day! Ha ha! I wish I had your talents.
Your new look is just beautiful!!! I love how you slip covered the sofa. Was the ruffle at the bottom difficult? I'm thinking of trying out an ottoman.
Thanks ~
Jo
I ADORE your transformation!!
Thank you for showing us and
letting us know that you did
it all with awesome finds!!
xoxo,
Lori
Magnificent!!!!! You have given me hope for a transformation of my own dark livingroom. Do you have any evening-time pics of the livingroom after? I'm curious how you light the room – I need big help in that area.
I'm still trying to track down two of my winners who didn't have email address info. If you're Tonya(#106 comment) or Debb (#131 comment) please email me at snicketysnacks@ hotmail.com as soon as possible! Thank you!
Your room is beautiful! It's really an inspiration!
I love your living room, bright and beautiful. May I ask how you made the slip cover for your sofa? I just got a new sewing machine and that is a project on my list.
I adore your living room, it is so beautiful!
All the best in 2011!!!
Hugs, Cindy
Your room is really coming along. I really like the new ivory paint. Brings some real elegance to the room.
Debbie
I adore your beautiful living room and the photo of it I love best…the one with your little boy in it. :)))
Oh and I wanted to ask the color of your walls, please. I love the ivory but there's 19 million different shades and ….I need YOURS. :))
I love seeing the transformation stages! Now I know there is HOPE for me!!! LOL!
xo
~Kolein
Beautiful Makeover! I love to see before and afters!
Looks so bright and charming!
Your living room is now gorgeous! I love all the changes you have made. How did you like having a live tree? Don't they smell great!?
Happy New Year!
~ Julie
It's truly unbelieveable that it's the same room. It looks so much smaller in the before pictures. I really like it with the lighter color on the wall. It's amazing what you've done, esp in such a small space.
Amazing B&A;! I adore everything… especially those made over chairs.
Oh and your tree looks gorgeous! I had my first 'real' tree this year and will be looking forward to you sharing how you made the tree skirt. I'd love to make one for next year:)
Alison
http://welcomesunshinehome.blogspot.com/
I just cannot stop looking at this room. It is simply perfect! I am new to reading your blog and am enjoying it so much. I wish you could come to Florida and help me with my house. If you ever hire out, please let me know!
Thank You for Sharing, As im struggling in a direction to go with my own living room-this helps tremendously…
LOVE It JUST beautiful
Karryann
I was wondering where you got your hanging lights and what the name /style might be?
Thank you!!
This room is gorgeous! Could you please share the wall color? Thanks!
What is the name of your fabric for your living room drapes? Thank you.