Family Room After

This is the view from the eating area...

If you step in and look left you see my dedicated crafiness area...

Take a seat on our new comfy couches! 

The fireplace surround that Greg and I put together. 

And looking back into the (messy) kitchen from the fireplace...


Here's the SHORT story:

• Wall Color: Benjamin Moore -- Polar Ice
• The Fireplace: built shelves and surround
• New blinds
• New couches
• Craft Corner: it has grown a little
• Toys: all toys are located in the family room now--no more toys in the living room
• Rug: brought the rug in from the living room to save cash
• Popcorn Ceiling: I tore it down! 
• Elliptical: We use that elliptical almost everyday
• Ceiling Fan: Updated the fan a few years ago
• TV: oh, yeah and a new tv
• New flooring--goodbye old dusty carpet! 

We could use more art on the walls, that will come someday...


Family Room Before, way before...

 

Back in 2010 -- See that baby Yoda? 

 

 Inspiration photos on the wall

Here's the LONG story...

• Wall Color: I like blue walls, they are soothing and remind me of a clear sky.  I LOVE Buxton Blue from Benjamin Moore, but wanted something a little different in this room.  

• The Fireplace: When we moved in there was a mantle that we didn't think much about.  Then one day we realized it wasn't attached to anything.  I screwed in some 'L' brackets and waited for inspiration.  Some years later I found I couldn't stand to look at the holes that a previous owner had drilled into the brick.  I tried to fill them in with caulking, but it still bugged me.  Then one day I told Greg I was going to paint the brick to hide the ridiculous holes.  He has very few opinions when it comes to what I want to do in the house, and this was one.  He did not want to paint the brick.  Although I don't agree, I can respect that, so I compromised and said we must figure out how to hide the holes in the brick somehow.  We came up with a solution that didn't involve drilling anymore holes in the bricks and I got book shelves in the family room as a bonus!   

• New Blinds: There were curtains when we moved in, I put up huge blue ones to change things up, but ultimately decided that I didn't want curtains anymore.  We hired a guy to put up these blinds and we've liked them mostly, but I think I may change them to some of those encased blinds that don't collect dust.  

• New Couches: If you know me, you know I move slowly with big purchases.  It has to be the right thing.  We looked for years for something just right.  On a whim and a little desperation, we walked into a store that I thought I'd never see anything I like and these felt just right.  Not too pricey -- if we trash them in a few years I won't feel too bad.  But not so cheap -- we won't totally trash them before their time (not sure if that makes sense to anyone but me)

• The Craft Corner: I need this space.  Some things I could probably do without, but I find peace in this space.  Somehow the kiddos leave my stuff alone if it's here, it's like a miracle.  We did a bunch of changes in the computer area, so we had the old computer cabinet up for grabs.  I almost thought about giving it away, but decided it would be perfect for the craft area.  I can hide most of the clutter and stay mostly organized.  I still love my sewing table, it was a victory purchase from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  I don't always find success there, but this was a win!  

• Toys: it's a family room, it needs toys, but they needed a better location.  We got that cool red cabinet from IKEA.  I think it's called a linen cupboard, but I've seen it used as a tv stand.  We use it for games and toys.  I love having games ready at a moment's notice.  And it fits most of the Legos and toys.  We also have the 9-cube-bin-shelf thing in the back corner.  That's more for messy toys like play dough, paints, crafts and toys with lots of pieces.  I like to have it on hand and easy to put away without it being a drag either way.  

• Rug: Buying a new rug was giving me a headache, then I thought to put off the decision and just bring the rug in from the family room.  It's not perfect, it kinda just blends in with the couches, but it's soft and the right size and it will do for now.  

• Popcorn Ceiling: After tearing out the carpet and while waiting for the new flooring to be installed I realized that I had time to take down the popcorn.  I've learned a lot since I've tried it in other rooms and this room was a success.  I don't regret the sore muscles at all!  

• Elliptical:  Perhaps it's an eyesore, but we use it all the time.  I looked for a while to find something that would fit our budget and the space we had, success.  

• Ceiling Fan: Perhaps it is also an eyesore, but we're so happy to have it on warm days.  I'm also glad I updated it a while back.  

• TV: We've entered the 00's a little late.  The best was when Parker brought a friend home and he immediately said, "uh, your TV is like, so old".  Again, a purchase as big as a TV was tough for me.  I don't like the look of HD and it often makes me motion sick--no joke.  Plus we have crazy kids and I fear they will knock that TV over any moment they are awake.  The TV stand is from our favorite unfinished wood store that was going out of business, I was sad to see it go.  

• New Flooring:  This is the longest story of the room.  I'm slowing pulling up carpet in the house.  The family room has been the hardest to decide what to put down since it's on a concrete slab. It's either laminate or carpet.  Since I don't like either, I couldn't buy something I didn't like.  --Some people dress up the concrete and it looks nice, but I'm not that bold.  Then one day I was at a store and they had laminate that looked almost like the hardwood floor in our living room, although the rooms don't connect I thought it would be nice have a little continuity between flooring the house.  (I still like the vinyl floor in the kitchen and front hallway.)  I ended up buying some at a store after months of indecisively looking at several stores, then some would be out of stock and I had to rethink everything again....  One day I took the plunge, bought the materials and went home thinking, "I can do this!"   Then I started looking at how-to videos and decided I could not do this.  I hired a guy and waited my turn for when he could come and do the install.  I had a dream that he would tell me that the flooring wouldn't work--it came true.  He asked me quietly from the other room why I had bought this particular flooring.  "because I liked the way it looked", his response was to look again.  The pieces wouldn't stay connected no matter what he did to them.  He helped me return that bad stuff and I went back to several stores to find a better flooring.  A job I thought would cost under $800 ended up costing way more.  Since then I have seen our flooring on many blogs and people love it.  I don't love it, but it's a quality flooring that work just fine.