A “Style Solutions” Before & After!
I was SO delighted to receive an email from one of our readers, Laura, whose space we chose for one of my “Style Solutions” posts, showing us how she actually implemented our design in her space! How cool is that? You can read the whole post about our design ideas here, but here’s a refresher too- the before pictures:
Here’s the design we suggested (links in pervious post here)
This was our little sketch for a built in reading nook in the dead space next to the fireplace:
Here’s the note from the reader about how she approached the design we created with her own touches:
Erin’s design was just what we needed to make moves to renovate our living room!
After I submitted the original pictures but before the blog was posted, we had purchased the leather chesterfield. It is amazing, but also enormous! Luckily, it still fit when we rotated it like the layout Erin did. I loved the Serena and Lily side tables, but I thought they wouldn’t get the attention they deserved thanks to the size of this massive couch. So, I selected these (Bexley Nesting Nightstand(s) from PB, but they appear to be no longer available- similar here) because of the height, and because the smaller nesting table slides forward to make it almost the whole depth of the sofa arm. The lamps are much larger in scale that I expected, but I think they are really perfect in that they balance the scale of the sofa as well. The art print is from Minted. I picked this one because my kids love to stand on the couch and put their fingers all over it, and this one is framed behind plexi-glass so I can windex it clean. I’ll have to save the art investment for the next house! I tried to capture the essence of the selected giclee print from OKL with an abstract landscape with a good amount of light grey + green.
The coffee table is from PB, and so are the chairs. I try to diversify from PB…really I do. (Why do I like it so much??) I went with the table because it’s round (no sharp edges), and also bulletproof. I have already cleaned glue, wine, and a sharpie drawing off of this, and someone uses it as a seat/footstool daily. I followed the advice of one reader and opted for swivel chairs. While I do love them because they provide extra seats for viewing the tv and are super comfy, they do cause me to say “Stop spinning the chairs!” at least 3x a day… but we are getting better at listening…I think. The girls do love the ‘reading nook’ and will pile in there with books and toys. My husband built the millwork portion, the cushion was custom from cushionsource.com, and the baskets are from Container Store. The wall-mounted bookcase is from CB2.
Erin, thank you so much! It has been so fun to see the design you put together, and also see the excited comments from readers and friends (and encouragement about painting the walls the dark color!). The wall color really makes the room, IMO. I hope you all like how it turned out!
And here is the renovated space! How much better does this look??? I am SO happy she went for it and painted the walls the color we suggested (Benjamin Moore Rainy Day)– even though it’s a dark color, it managed to actually brighten up the room! I just LOVE how it came out! Great job, Laura!
The dark paint really makes these amazing beams stand out more.
How awesome to have a husband who can build this for you!? Way to go!
Her exisitng rug worked SO well with the new scheme, so there was a nice cost savings there!
This is just such a better use of the space! And I am loving the plaid on these chairs!
I still can’t believe these lamps are only $130 (the blue version is on sale now too for $118 here!)
Thanks so much for sharing the reveal pics with us Laura!
If you want to submit a room that is giving you trouble for our Style Solutions series email us at [email protected]!
And if you have yet to attend a book signing for my new book and are in town next week, I’m doing one at Designer Bath in Watertown on May 15th! Sign up to attend HERE.
Browse:
Put the sofa underneath the couch legs!
*adjust the carpet so the front legs of the couch sit on top
Looks so pretty! I bought the lamps in blue after I saw your post. They are much larger than I expected, too. The blue is a little bit more royal blue than french blue, too. They are really pretty and a great price, but I am not sure if I will keep them. Worth a shot, though!
Love everything about this post!!!!
What a beautiful room! And thank you for sending in the “after” photos — it’s awesome to see the plan implemented!
Fantastic execution of a lovely plan! I truly love the feel of the ‘after’ space. So cozy and current, but timeless. Gorge!
Just looks ( AND works!!) FANTASTIC!! franki
The homeowner did a great job using your suggestions. What a difference- the room looks beautiful and cozy. I’d want to hang out in there all the time. Nicely done!
Amazing transformation! LOVE the paint color and plaid chairs. It’s hard to believe it’s the same room. So glad the after pictures were sent to you.
I spy with my little eye “Elements of Family Style” on your side table. Nice touch.
Looks amazing!!
This looks amazing! Laura, I love how you took Erin’s gorgeous design and stayed true to its spirit while tweaking things to work for your family and budget. Just one question — I can’t find a Benjamin Moor paint color called “rainy day” — so is this “rainy afternoon”?
It is! My bad!!!!!
Great job! And thank you so much for sharing it with us. Fabulous. I wouldn’t have thought the paint would actually brighten up the room and highlight the beams so beautifully.
Love seeing this board come to life. Stunning!
Love this so much! Thank you! I look forward to the next one – this helps so much!
SO lovely to see the follow up on this! Great job!
I love seeing before & afters. What a difference! I would have thought “No!” to the dark paint color but it is perfect in that room. The nesting end tables were a great pick for that extra surface and the lamps are amazing. I love the little reading nook. So cozy for kids to cuddle up on.
There is just one nagging thing. I would pull the chesterfield forward or adjust the placement of the rug so the front feet are on it. But, that’s just moi.
That suggestion about putting the feet of the sofa on the rug was my only comment as well. Otherwise, the room looks fantastic! Love it all.
Me too! What a great room to start with, who knew that the paint color and the wood would look so great together (a designer, I guess), and love all your furniture choices (and the artwork). I’m assuming the kids are why you haven’t pulled the couch and tables forward so they are on the rug, but that is the only thing I would suggest to make it look even better!
Erin & Laura – beauful work by both of you! Laura, I think you did a fantastic job translating Erin’s recommendations into things that worked for you and your family. Bravo!
Love it! So good looking and family friendly. Where did the leather sofa come from?
Restoration Hardware
This looks gorgeous. Great job.
I spent most of my morning writing my own Style Solutions request and only saw this after submitting. Making me even more hopeful that you can address my own dilemma (and that I can execute it off as beautifully)!
This made me so happy on a Monday morning. Awesome, awesome, awesome!
What a transformation. Bravo!
Laura – this looks AMAZING!!!! Thank you so much for circling back with Erin and her readers with the after pictures – that so rarely happens! But, you have a room to brag about now. I can’t believe how big a difference the right color paint on those walls makes and how great it makes the beams look. When the after picture popped up as the first picture on the site I thought “what a great room for a magazine shoot.” Totally didn’t recognize it from the original post, which I remembered as I scrolled down. Again, just a beautiful implementation of a beautiful design by Erin. Kudos to the two of you!