I’ve misplaced depend of what number of little tweaks we’ve made to our front room over time. It’s been a sluggish and regular course of, form of like adorning on a dimmer swap as an alternative of flipping the lights on abruptly.
Eight years in the past, actually the day we moved in, we began with portray the yellow partitions a creamy white. We went with Benjamin Moore Swiss Espresso on the partitions, Merely White on the trim, and Wrought Iron on the doorways.
It immediately brightened every little thing up and gave our 1960 colonial a cleaner, more energizing really feel.
Then final 12 months, we lastly gave our plain hearth mantel some much-needed love with some ornate molding. A refined however basic improve that made the entire room really feel just a bit extra intentional.
However one challenge has been on my “sometime” listing for years:
An architectural function on the ceiling.
Tongue & Groove Ceiling Desires
After lately protecting the ceiling with tongue and groove planks in our upstairs hallway makeover, one thing clicked. As we stood again to admire the transformation, Robert and I checked out one another and virtually mentioned in unison:
“We must always do that in the lounge.”
There’s one thing a couple of wooden ceiling that simply provides heat and dimension. And with the 8 foot ceilings in our front room, I believe the refined traces of tongue & groove will truly make it really feel taller, to not point out extra customized and cohesive with the remainder of the home.
Daring Mantel Plans
And whereas we had been dreaming… I threw out the thought:
“What if we painted the fireside mantel a refined navy blue?”
Hear me out. The remainder of our home’s colour palette leans right into a palette of soppy blues, greens, and heat neutrals. The lounge at all times felt just a bit… disconnected. However after seeing a drop-dead-gorgeous front room by W Design Collective with a daring navy hearth, confirming what I’d imagined as a risk in right here, I couldn’t get the thought out of my head.
All of a sudden the entire design course got here into focus.
Residing Room Mockup
I used my ChatGPT room visualizer to assist me get a clearer thought of our course: the ceiling thought, the navy mantel, retaining our Pottery Barn couch and classic marble-top espresso desk, and including a number of recent items.
The outcome made me audibly gasp. Like screenshot-it-immediately ranges of pleasure.
Seeing the total imaginative and prescient laid out made me really feel extra assured than ever about shifting ahead with this front room plan. So I pulled collectively a temper board with the entire key items that may deliver it to life.
Residing Room Temper Board
DIY Plan
- Ceiling: Tongue & groove planks, painted a creamy white colour (not fairly positive what that shall be till I pattern paint colours ’til my eyes bug out of my head)
- Partitions: Nonetheless deciding, however leaning hotter, one thing within the creamy greige household to cozy issues up
- Doorways: After 8 years of our household being tough on them, our doorways are in main want of a touch-up anyway, so now I’m considering it might be a possibility for a colour change. Possibly one thing a tad hotter like Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze?
- Hearth Mantel: Painted a daring navy (presumably considered one of my favourite navy blue paint colours like Hale Navy or Naval)
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Decor / Furnishings:
- Wardrobe: We’re retaining the vintage wardrobe we discovered on Fb Market to function a makeshift mudroom. I haven’t determined if I’ll tone down the colour of the wooden just a bit bit (however I promise I gained’t paint it). I linked the same one, however sadly it’s not almost as cheap as mine was on FBMP.
- Fandelier: I like the modern simplicity of this drum bladeless ceiling fan.
- Curtains: I can’t determine if I desire a refined sample on the curtains or easy linen look, however both method, I’m considering pinch pleats (as regular).
- Ceramic Lamp: Whole basic form in a impartial that goes with something.
- Nesting Tables: Our thrifted nesting finish tables are so versatile, there’s no method I’m eliminating them. I linked comparable ones to ours.
- Blue Couch: Whereas I like the look of two white sofas, they’re a complete ache to maintain clear, even when they’re washable slipcovers. And I’m craving some distinction. So we’re changing the white with a dusty blue chenille one.
- Slipcovered Couch: Preserving our basic Pottery Barn slipcovered couch; it’s comfortable, timeless, and holds as much as children and pets.
- Stick Lamps: Ever since we added a console desk behind our couch, I’ve cherished having the additional gentle for studying. These lamps say basic Ralph Lauren to me (with out the $).
- Marble Espresso Desk: Our thrifted classic marble-top magnificence stays. Sadly, I can’t hyperlink our precise one, however I discovered one as comparable as I may discover (I like this marble desk much more).
- Jute Rug: I like the look of a layered patterned rug over a jute rug for texture.
- Impartial Patterned Rug: This rug with hints of blue has simply sufficient sample so as to add curiosity whereas nonetheless making the area really feel calming.
- Spindle Chairs: We’ll swap our giant armchairs for a pair of smaller modern-traditional spindle chairs in a heat impartial. I like our recliners, however they’ve at all times been a little bit too huge making our format really feel cramped.
Why We’re Taking Our Time
If there’s one factor I’ve realized over time of adorning this home, it’s that you just don’t must do it abruptly.
A few of our greatest design selections got here from letting issues marinate some time. And this front room makeover isn’t any totally different.
We’re embracing the method, beginning with the ceiling set up, tackling the mantel paint, and slowly layering in the remaining.
I’ll be sharing every step as we go, and I’ll circle again quickly with our last paint colour choice for the partitions.
Within the meantime, I’ll be over right here swooning over that navy mantel mockup for some time.
Keep tuned!
