Well, here it is folks: my new living room with the new pillows, blue accessories, board & batten, gallery wall and gray paint. It’s still my living room, strewn with toys most days. The pillows are usually being used as a launch pad on the floor, and there’s typically little bitty popcorn pieces in every nook and cranny. (I’ll share a glimpse of real life at the end.) But the vision I had when I walked into this house is finally coming together.
Before we go any further, let’s take a look at how the living room looked when we first moved in…
It was your basic builder’s beige living room. Nothing wrong with it, just needed some personalization.
And then after I’d decorated for Christmas …
And now that I look at this picture with the beige walls, I can’t believe how much paint can make a difference. (And maybe a little board & batten.)
Here is what it looks like now…
I am calling this a “reveal” in the title, but it truly is still a room in progress. I don’t know if I’ll ever call a room completely done, but this is a good stopping place. I hope you like the changes I’ve made!
Sit back and enjoy some eye candy. 🙂
Thanks for taking a tour around my living room. I really do love it! My husband told me this morning that our house is “fancy” now. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I’ll take it as a compliment. 🙂
And just to keep things in perspective. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, my living room is usually strewn with popcorn, toys, shoes and all sorts of other fun things. I even took a picture before I cleaned to show you what I mean. (And this was a pretty good day. It can get much worse.)
And yes, I put my watermark on that picture. Makes me laugh. Ha!
I was planning on giving the board and batten tutorial today as well, but I think that would be a little too long of a post. So, I’ll share the details probably next week sometime. Until then, enjoy your weekend!
Are you doing any sprucing up around the house this Spring?
What do you think of my living room?
Sources …
Stenciled IKEA Curtains
Board and Batten Tutorial
Neid Trellis Rug in Charcoal from RugsUsa.com
Sofa: PB Comfort Grand Slipcovered Sofa
Basket by Fireplace: Target’s Wooden Basket with Chalkboard
Cozy Coupe – from Target – haha … I know you wanted one of those!
Part 1: Paint
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Wanda says
Your living room is beautiful. It is soothing and cozy. I must say my favorite pic is the last one. Thanks for adding that one in. Makes it real. Stoppin by from Feathered Nest Friday. Have a lovely weekend. ~ Wanda
Jenny Eanes says
What a fun living room! I really like the curtains, I’ve been thinking about stenciling some in a similar pattern. I also really like the rug and the board and batten, I’ve been trying to talk my husband into the board and batten in the bathroom, hehe.
Jenny
Laura says
The bathroom sounds like a perfect place to start … a nice small project. 🙂 Good luck!
Pamela says
Your living room is just perfect. I love your rug and curtains!
Christina @ Floridays Mom says
WOW, the painted walls really do make all the difference. Not that the room was anything but great before, but that paint is PERFECT. I love everything about your space, did you make the curtains? If so, where did you get the fabric or where they purchased? New follower.
Laura says
Hi Christina … I stenciled the curtains myself using IKEA curtains. It’s a great way to get long curtains with a bang for little price. 🙂 I wrote about it here: http://www.theturquoisehome.com/2012/11/how-to-stencil-curtains.html
Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says
Laura, What a beautiful room! The paint and board and batten look fabulous and I love the rug and curtains. Thanks for sharing your pretty room at the Open House Party.
xx,
Sherry
MONICA LIVAS says
Beautiful!!! Every detail is wonderful! I’m your newest follower!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
This is gorgeous! I’m so glad to have seen your post. I’ve been considering buying that rug and it’s so nice to see it in a real room! What are your thoughts on it? The reviews said the charcoal has a bluish tint, but yours looks nice and gray. I love it. Your tv credenza is also a showstopper! You have pulled everything together beautifully and it’s nice to see that it’s “lived in!”.
Laura says
Hi Jennifer, thank you so much!! 🙂 I love, love, love the rug. It’s super comfy! It did shed quite a bit at first, but it’s toned down a LOT after much vacuuming. But that really didn’t bother me. I do think the rug reads blue-ish sometimes, but that was fine with me since I love navy. And I plan to incorporate navy in my adjoining entry way.
Thanks again for stopping by!!
Kate Griffin says
Beautiful! You did a great job. I love the colors, the rug, the curtains. It looks wonderful. Found you at Coastal Charm,
Kate
Tina C says
It looks wonderful.
Carissa Rasmussen says
firstly, board and batten belongs in every room in the house:) secondly, that tv console is Amaaaaazing. thirdly, looove the curtains! what a fabulous space.
Melissa says
What a beautiful room! I love the wall color, board and batten and rug – they all work so well together. What is the color you used one the walls? LOVE!
Laura says
Hi Melissa … it’s Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. You can read more about the selection process here: http://theturquoisehome.blogspot.com/2013/02/picking-perfect-gray-paint.html
Thanks for stopping by!
Tanya Runkle says
I absolutely LOVE your tour Laura! I would be tickled pink if you added Pretty Things at twelveOeight to your weekly party list (live now) hope you can make it!
xo, Tanya
Laura says
Hi Tanya, I just linked up. thanks for stopping by!
Krista thehappyhousie says
Love it! The board and batten made a huge difference. We have it in our ensuite and just finished installing it in our hallway… still to be painted. I love turquoise too, will have to explore the rest of your blog. Hopped over from Craft-o-maniac.
Krista @thehappyhousie
Shelly says
I love the whole room! Where did you get the carpet?
Laura says
Hi Shelly, the rug is from rugsusa.com. I snagged it at their black Friday 75% off sale. It’s the Neid Trellis rug in charcoal.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Kathy Olson says
I loved that rug, too! You did a beautiful job!
Carol says
The room looks lovely. I really like the board and batten — wainscoting always makes such a big difference. I adore the pops of turquoise — my very serious “color-crush!”
the cape on the corner says
that looks fabulous! the wall color isn’t so drastic, but it’s a definite change! i wish my boyfriend didn’t think once it’s done, it’s done, b/c i’d love to get rid of our beige. and it makes your rug look totaly different, too. great job!
Laura says
Thank you! My hubby liked the beige, so it took some extra coaxing for him to let me change it. 🙂 But now he likes the gray just fine. (at least that’s what he tells me… ha!)
Lori Schmid says
So beautiful! I love everything – especially all the pops of aqua. You did an amazing job! My family room is beige just like your before picture and now I want to paint it gray. Thanks for sharing all your great ideas.
Lori
Thrifty Decor Mom
Laura says
Thank you Lori! You know, I love my turquoise! 🙂
Julie Fagundes says
Laura, it is BEAUTIFUL!!! I LOVE it…and I LOVE the last picture. I can TOTALLY relate!!
Great job…have a great weekend!
Julie
Laura says
Thanks so much Julie!!
Spatulas On Parade - Dawn says
Nice, very nice. Right out of a magazine. You did a lovely job.
Laura says
Thank you so much!!
Kelli Morton says
Beautiful!! Where are your curtains from??
Laura says
Hi Kelli, thanks so much! I stenciled the IKEA curtains myself. You can out more about it here: http://theturquoisehome.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-stencil-curtains.html
Kelli Morton says
They are awesome! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Meg Sluyter says
I was going to ask the same question, those curtains are amazing. You did a great job on them and the rest of the room too. The grey paint really does brighten it up.:)