One Room Challenge: Week One

I have been asked to participate in a 6 week room makeover challenge along with 19 other amazing bloggers from all over.....

I figured this was the good kick in the you-know-what to get something finished around here.

The room that I will attempt to zhush for the next 6 weeks is my living room. When we moved in 3 1/2 years ago and it looked like this:

I painted it and after arranging the furniture the best I could, it looked like this for the past 3 1/2 years.

Unstaged, unstyled, black blah......

But I have always been bothered by the darkness of the space. All the furniture that is in this space was in separate rooms when we lived in Virginia. Both rooms had tall windows with a southern exposure so the dark furniture worked nicely. But here it just felt so blah.

 All the furnishings were purchased pre-blogging days. But I am not about to get rid of anything so my focus is to reused what I have, to re-invent using paint, new hardware, fabric, and a few accessories. As most of you know we are renting so this is NOT our forever home, so I am making changes that I can take with me. 

These photos were sent to Anne-Marie from 10 Rooms for a colour consult and after a few emails back and forth we came up with a plan.

Here were the inspirational photos that I had sent to her as well to get the ball rolling.

I like the drapes, drapery hardware and mirror in this space.

Love the book shelves, ottomans and pops of blue.

Hello striped rug!

I am going for a casual yet classic look. Crisp and clean walls, simple accessories and with a few punches of colour!


I am also excited to partner with Benjamin Moore that has willingly provided some of the paint for this room makeover!

Here is my to-do list:

• Paint sideboard, Caliente Red; add new hardware 
• Paint bookshelves, Dove Wing and Black Beauty
• Sew slipcovers for dining chairs
• Paint large mirror, gold
• Paint walls, Classic Grey {Anne-Marie suggested Wind's Breath but I went down one on the colour strip}
• Re-hang drapery hardware and spray paint it brass
• New drapes?
• Add a few more throw pillows
• New lamps for living room
• Hang artwork/plates
• Source round mirror for above fireplace
• Source two additional dining chairs
• Sew roman blinds for dining room {if there is time}

Hope you come back every Wednesday to see updates to the space. Fingers crossed it all gets done in 6 weeks!

Don't forget to follow along with all these other inspirational bloggers as they join me the challenge to make over a space in six weeks.

Beth - Chinoiserie Chic

Lauren - The Cottage Mix

Sherry - Design Indulgence

Lindsay - Everything LEB

Barbara - Hodge:Podge

Kim - Kim Macumber Interiors

LisA - Lisa Mende Design

Tiffany - Living Savvy

Jessie - Mix & Chic

Linda - My Crafty Home Life 

Alison - My Little Happy Place

Danylle - Nana Moon

Nicole - Nicole Scott Designs

Julia - Pawleys Island Posh

Jennifer - The Pink Pagoda

Nancy - Powell Brower Home

Lindsay - The Pursuit of Style

Emily - Rue de Emily

Lindsay - Sadie + Stella

Lisa - Trapped in North Jersey

Ready, set, GO! 

Hop over to see weeks 2 and week 3 , week 4,  week 5 and week 6!

XO Barbara