Family Room

So I realized when putting together the "5 years later" post that I never really showed you the room we spend most of our time in - the family room.  I showed you the fireplace transformation and how we built our console table but never really got into how that room went from the picture below into the space it is today.  

I wish we had a better before shot.  Salmon colored wood paneling and wall to wall brick.  You can see in the picture below that there was a big picture window next to the fireplace and a door next to the ovens.  We swapped the window and door placement during our kitchen reno because why do anything the easy way?

The window 'before':

The 'window' (now a door) after:  The decision to put this in was our very first decision when we bought the house.  The ink wasn't even dry and we were salivating over creating a view.

Then we painted the walls using the Ralph Lauren linen technique (sort of a very faint, imperfect striped look).  It took 3 people and was really, really difficult.  I like the look but you cannot touch up any scuffs.  I don't think I'd do it again.  

We ripped out the brick on the sides of the fireplace (in hindsight maybe we could have just drywalled over it?) and installed stone directly over the fireplace in the center.  A year later we added the bookshelves and a painting done by my dad. 

The look I was going for in the room was a natural, organic, easy on the eyes look.  Basically the furniture had to be the color of dirt because in a house full of boys it was going to eventually be that color regardless.  It is a good thing blogs aren't scratch and sniff.  That couch has seen years of leaky sippy cups but thankfully machine washes very well.  We got the little boy diving board ottoman from Crate and Barrel when we got married and has held up really well.  A good investment.  I love the rug.  Probably not something I initially would have chosen (Moms are always right - mine is anyway) but adds some nice color to the room.

Some new throw pillows added recently (hand me downs from my mom pillow addiction).



A lamp from Kohls.  $50 including the shade.  Can't beat it.  Who knew Kohls carried such awesome, inexpensive lamps?

Tripod lamp from  HomeGoods.

Our DIY reclaimed wood console table using wood from a old paper mill and legs from Ikea.  1.5 years later and it still looks great.  Wishbone chair from overstock.com and end tables used as toy storage from Ikea.

So there you have it.  A room transformation that came together so slowly over 5 years that I didn't even consider it a renovation but is the space we love and use more than any other room.

Pssssst...guess what?!  We found the elusive crown molding!  Working on finishing it now and I'll get back to you with a *finally* finished living room!