Tuesday, November 27, 2007

AFTER:





I LOVE not having a wall here! For big gatherings, we put the couch in the bay window and have lots of room to set up a second table or extra seating. The photo on the wall in the living room was from a Fossil display in an optical shop--they were throwing it out, so my hubby--knowing how much I love vintage artwork--brought it home for me.

Only my sofa is new (Room and Board). Everything else was either slipcovered or painted. My big tweed covered ottoman was once my coffee table--for $15 in fabric,$4.00 in silver upholstery tacks, and $40 in upholstery fees, I now have a place to put up your feet or enough room for 3-4 people to sit around. The hutch houses my computer and office supplies. My mom, who had passed away 8 months earlier, use to pull my boys around in the wagon on top of the hutch--it's a nice reminder of her each time I look at it.

The dining room brick got a sandblasted look--I really wanted a Manhattan loft look. I got the large table to seat eight for a steal at Cost Plus World Market--a floor model marked down to $200. The end chairs are "Oh" from Karim Rashid for Umbra, and the x-back chairs are from an unfinished wood warehouse ($50 each--I painted them white. The bench was free from my sister-in-law, also painted by me. Total cost for my dining room furniture $420). The Dick and Jane artwork is from a calendar I had. Aaron Brothers cut the mats for me, and then I bought the frames. Great practice for my little ones learning to read! My "prize find" in this room is the chandelir. Bombay Company wanted something like $499 for it, and I stalked it until it was on clearance for $75. I love to put leaves in it for fall and garland in it for Christmas.

View into the whole area. My kids love to chase eachother around the pillar--an added bonus to the fact it's still supporting my dropped kitchen ceiling.

11 comments:

Elena said...

I need to know how you specifically did your brick. My sister wants to do it on her wall.

Jennifer P. said...

I don't know if Lowe's carries it any more,but it's just a brick veneer that comes in big sheets. If you're going to do it on a vaulted ceiling like we did, you'll need a good meiter saw.

Owens-Corning also sells a brick tile (like brick but thinner)that I wanted, but it's a little pricier. Cost for my brick walls: $160, brick tile walls: $1200

kam said...

You did such a great job!!! Wow! This needs to be featured on a home-remodeling show! I love the red wagon and your choice of color too! What a great place to live! ;)

Autumn said...

But how did you get the brick white and black?? That wall is so awesome!!!!

Jennifer P. said...

Autumn,
I wanted it to look like an old wall that had been painted, then had the paint sandblasted off---and that was my original plan (to actually sandblast the stuff off!)--and then I came to my senses.

Luckily, when I started rolling the white paint over the brick the uneven texture just naturally caught the paint in some places and not in others. I just kind of went along picking places to run my roller. Occasionaly, I would stop and take and old rag and just wipe a little off to give it a more mottled look. The grout was naturally black, but I made sure I painted some of it white too.

Hope that helped--let me know if you have any more questions!

The Nester said...

Your design style is so um... what's the word, chic? modern? eclectic, fun, quirky yet classy, welcoming, family feeling, perfect! I need a dash of you in my house!

Laura said...

I love it. It's so fresh and springish... Clean and crisp. It makes me want to have a picnic. Good job.

ugagirl30 said...

Love that green armoire. Very nice changes.

Blogger said...

I love your family room, it is so kid-friendly...such a smart design!!!

Megan said...

oh, you are amazing! you have got IT, and you're using IT, and thanks for flaunting IT, because it's completely inspiring!

Megan

WheresMyAngels said...

The color theme are something I would of never thought would have gone together but you sure knew what you were doing.

Although I miss the purple!! ha ha Purple front room, that is a new one on me.