Is there really ever an after?

Not around here. My home decor is on a continuum- no real before and afters, just how it was yesterday and how it is today.

The biggest change with the living room was completing the sectional. I think I talked about it here before, but in case you missed that fascinating bit of info, I bought part of a sectional off craigslist. The seller wanted to keep the sofa portion, so I bought a love seat and corner section with the plan of buying the sofa as soon as I could make the trip to IKEA. One problem, the sofa was out of stock. For weeks. Last Saturday I noticed the website had stock listed at the closest store to us, three hours away in Charlotte. Sunday night I had my sofa and was able to complete the sectional. Wohoo!!

It is incredibly comfortable. I originally wanted the Ektorp sectional, until I sat on this one. I changed out the legs with some I found on Ebay.

This bad blurry picture shows the IKEA legs. The one in the foreground is the standard, the other is an upgrade that came on the Craigslist portion of the sectional. I didn't care for either.

I found the coffee table at Hope Harbor, my favorite thrift store, last week. It was one of those rare thrifting trips where you go in and find exactly what you are looking for. At $35 it was a little more than I wanted to pay, but really, it was exactly what I wanted. Of course, it wasn't white and the veneer top had bubbled up in a couple of places, but that didn't scare me. What did scare me was the five-minute torrential downpour that occurred while I was in Home Depot buying paint, the coffee table in the back of the truck. Needless to say, the veneer top had more than a few bubbles after that. I tried ironing them down after google told me that was the best way to repair veneer. It may have helped a little. Ultimately, a good sanding did the trick. Then I gave it two coats of primer, two coats of Behr paint + primer and a top coat of paste wax.  Not my typical method of painting furniture, but I may be a convert. I usually prefer spraying and spraying does give a beautiful finish and has some definite advantages, but it also has its disadvantages. Anyway, a few things came together that resulted in me painting a lot of stuff, by hand- and loving it. I'll go into more detail about the painting process in another post, for now I'll just share how things are looking for now.

This piece was white and pretty heavily distressed. I just calmed things down a bit with some soft pale gray. The back ended up being a little more blue than I wanted, but I'm letting it slide.

A closer look at those knobs (Hobby Lobby)

The paint is yummy. It's a Martha Stewart color in Behr Premium paint + primer. It is a true pale gray. Not blue or green and not like a battleship. Just a soft gray. If I were naming it, I would call it Quiet Winter Day. I don't remember what Martha calls it, but I'll find out if you're interested. And though I'm still mad at Martha about the pasteless wallpaper, I have to give her credit, she has the best paint colors in her line.

I used the same color for this dresser and what a transformation it made. I was just about to get rid of this piece, I'm so glad I painted it instead.

It also got new hardware, thanks again to the HobLob (half off, of course)

This is how the old girl looked wearing black with silver jewelry (last fall)

 

For the Goodwill buffet turned media console, I mixed some of the Martha gray with some oops paints (turquoise and dark gray). I wanted a duck egg-ish color. It needed to be a little more on the green side because of the wall color. I'm pleased with the results.

That blur is Bayleigh, by the way.

I have the rug that was in here outside getting a good cleaning. We still have to trim out the top of the beadboard (wallpaper) and I'm going to replace the ceiling fan with a chandelier. Don't tell Mitch. The look I'm going for with paint is something like this

or this

Sorry, I don't remember where I found these photos. I think the first is from Pottery Barn, the second was found on Life in the Fun Lane.

Here's how things look for now. Just imagine a rug, and a chalky iron...zinc? whatever that is chandelier and some trim above that beadboard, and that's how it will look... until it changes again. 

Comments

[Kelli]

I love the media case! The color is amazing! You have done a great job, I'm looking forward to more wonderful make overs!

Kelli
xoxo
loveoursimplelife.blogspot.com

[Jenny Limb]

You are making me want to redo my kitchen table really bad. It is one of those stupid farm tables and I really don't like it. I am going to have to start searching blogs to figure out what to do i guess. I needs a makeover badly.

[sabine]

I like your sofa story :) ... EKTORP is still my favorite sofa - just optically.... after sitting on it I had to leave it at that. Thanks for sharing your journey !

[Autum]

Hi Jenny,
I am intrigued! A stupid farm table? What does it look like. I love farm tables. Im sure you can find lots of inspiration, Ive seen lots of farm tables redone lately. I did  a lot of looking when I was working on my table. I put several coats of polyurethane on mine and I am not happy with the way the finish is wearing. Im probably going to sand it down off the poly and wax it. I have to convince my husband to drag it back out into the garage first though ; )

Let me know what you decide to do with yours.

xo Autum

[Autum]

Hello Sabine,
I love the look of the EKTORP too, but Ive had a down filled, cushy sofa before and it drove me crazy trying to keep the cushions fluffed and not looking like a bear had been sleeping on them.  Also, as much as I like the idea of having a white sofa and being able to just bleach the cover, I know in my house, with a toddler grandchild and a black dog, I would need to wash them every couple of days. I dont enjoy doing laundry enough for that.
Have a great evening!

xo Autum

[Elaine]

Love everything you painted the last few weeks! Looks wonderful!

[Autum]

Thank you Elaine! Hope you are having a nice week!

Happy Wednesday
xo Autum

[Marty]

That table looks breathtaking! I love the look. I know what you mean by redecorating all the time. We just had carpet laid in two of our bedrooms and I'm already thinking about the "what-nexts" like the bathrooms, or that room in the basement.........

[Michele]

So YOU'RE the one who stole my perfect coffee table! ;) I love your room, it relaxes me just looking at the pictures of it.

[Denise Fahr]

After seeing all of your projects I am now getting the urge to paint my sunroom. The walls are like dark brown glossy pine wood. I've been bouncing back and forth of if I should paint it or not. I started the process and then go too nervous to do it and the hubby got progressively sick. Now that he is kicking butt, I'll have some extra time on my hands. I'm going to email pictures of the room for you. Mind giving me some of your thoughts? :)

[Autum]

It was me. I thought youd never find out though! 

Thank you! It is pretty relaxing, when one sweet two year old is sleeping ; )

Have a great weekend!

Autum

[ChristinaD]

Good Job. I love everything! I believe the last light picture is from the blog lifeinthefunlane.com
I was also lusting after the fixtures she scored from homesense for cheap. Is that the black ung drill picture frame from Ikea behind your couch? And did you put a mirror in it?

[Autum]

Hi Christina,

Thanks for the info. I remember reading about what good deals she got. I saved the photo for the finish on the metal.
Yes, that is the ung frame. It is empty right now. I just stuck it up there until I could decide what to do with it.
Any suggestions??

[Holly @ posypocket.blogspot]

it all looks great! so inspiring? the second lantern looks like it is from- in the fun lane, maybe?