Six weeks for a makeover seems long enough until you start the project. If you had someone working around the clock in the room, 6 weeks is easily a good estimate. For some of us, that's only a handful of Sundays to truly makeover a room. The great thing about setting a date and a timeline for a makeover is the planning. Not to mention the One Room Challenge by Linda and House Beautiful and all the participants always encouraging you to succeed! Planning out the room and the materials allows for lots of research for the right piece. Then executing in steps, gives you time to reflect on your next move, and the need to change it;) Here is the room before and the plan.

First step was rearranging the furniture, which was so much better. The ugly chairs were not the center of attention! Next was painting. Then we realized crown molding would be great. Insert of the new sliding glass door (which pretty much got this project rolling) and the installer who does crown molding also, we now have crown molding! Not in the original plan, and I had to paint the crown molding, 3 coats, but still a good addition.

Moving the chairs to the wall, and the sofa by the sliding glass door gave me space to add my much needed corner office. The only way to tackle this long room was to divide it into functional spaces. With the office being in the main living room I will have to be diligent in keeping it tidy. Keeping the color scheme throughout the room still allows a cohesive look. 

We decided to wait on the new furniture and rug due to our new puppy! Yes cute but he is definitely in the toddler stage and can't wear a diaper! So to avoid having new furniture with teeth marks we will wait. Meantime we are in full puppy-training mode! I did find some awesome ottomans at Home Goods and my rug went on clearance so had to get it p;aced for photos! Found some great accessories and wall decor from Kirklands to add texture and personality to the space. I tackled those DIY projects that consumed 2 weeks of my free time to execute, the curtain rod and the wood mantle.  You can see my ORC Week 4/5 post to see instructions on these DIY projects. My feature wall with my handmade mantle is my favorite makeover. I have been doodling my plans on paper for that wall for months! Collecting just the right color (SW Indigo Baltik) and wallpaper (removable wallpaper from Walls Need Love) accessories (Home Goods, Peir One, and Kirklands) and pillows (JoAnns Fabrics and Pier One). And of course my first wood build! Now my beautiful navy settee has a great back drop. Ok, Here are the before and after shots of the room below!

The art of Redesign.  Color scheme: Dark blue, teal and gold. Use what you have in new ways. Define your space and style, identify 3 colors, repeat colors throughout room with accessories and art work. Your room becomes a work of art.

Thank you to everyone's support and encouragement through these 6 weeks. Can't wait to get the professional photos back for this room! The puppy training has gone well, and my rug went on clearance, so waiting was a blessing in disguise. The pop of teal is the icing on the cake.

Finding what I needed and someone to cut the pipe was not as easy as I thought. I would call ahead to your store and make sure their pipe cutter and threader are working and someone knows how to use it. The attachments were gray iron and the pipe I got cut was black with white writing on it.  So I had to spray paint all the parts. Unfortunately even though I got matte black spray paint it was still too shiny. So, I had left over black chalk paint. Took longer to apply but was very satisfied with the outcome. ​

​ Attaching it to the wall is what is time consuming and a 3 person job!  Two to hold each side and one to make sure it is level before tracing the holes for drilling. Luckily my kids can take a bribe;) I didn't opt for the curtain rings, but in hindsight it would be easier to open and close. Now my wall looks bigger.

​My second DIY project was way more intimidating. Making my own mantle! A floating mantle that looks like a big chunk of solid wood. This was my first attempt at wood making and I am thrilled with the finish product!. I used information from Addicted to Decorating tutorial found on Pinterest to execute my plan with the tools I had.

I needed a custom sized shelf that went the length of my wall, which was just shy of 5 feet in length. I decided I wanted 4 inch depth shelf. So I purchased 3 4x 8 and cut them all the same length. Of course, the stores cut them for me. I also purchased a good sanding tool to help with the edges and the distressing of the shelf once assembled. ​

I purchased two different colored stains, driftwood and walnut. Driftwood was too light but combining it with the walnut made it the perfect color I wanted. Love that the wood had some great knots and natural distressing. After staining it I used the wood glue and wood screws to attach all three pieces together. Since one side of the shelf would be exposed I needed to cover the opening. ​

That's when this pin came in handy. I couldn't find wood veneer but I found a really thin piece of wood backing that I cut with  a trimming tool that I had from a previous craft project. (you can find the kit at Micheal's) Once I cut and sanded down the edge I attached it with wood glue. I then sanded the edges until they were rounded and part of the mantle. After staining the side piece it now looks like a thick piece of wood. ​

The reason I never attempted a project like this before was because I had no idea how to hang it on the wall. It seems all the DIY shows and tutorials miss that crucial step. I know I need to make sure my mantle was attached to studs. I found the only two studs in the wall section I was using. I took 2 1/2 in. screws and adhered the 1x1 block to the two studs. I was so excited it worked on the first try! I laid the open end over the wall mounting wood and anchored the shelf to the stud block from the top of the shelf. Lots of elbow grease needed for this step! 

​When I pass the shelf I always think, I can't believe I made that;) And its level and sturdy and awesome. Always wanted a mantle! I can't wait for Fall and Christmas to decorate it-insert giddy smile! Final reveal of the One Room Challenge in the next post.

We have arrived to Week 3 of the One Room Challenge with Calling it Home and House Beautiful. Halfway there!  The holiday weekend took precedent over my DIY projects, so I will have busy weekends in my future. To catch you up on the previous weeks and the plan for the space here is Week 1 and Week 2 blog post for your review. 
As an athletic trainer, I knew there was a time in an athlete's recovery from injury they would plateau in their rehab. I was prepared to encourage an athlete to keep them moving forward. We would focus on evaluating the progress made and then reaching the goals. The same can be said about design makeovers. There is a plateau during the project, the hump day of the process, that can steal your momentum. I think the other One Room Challenge participants would agree we are there! So I am tackling the small things and focusing on the goals to gain momentum. 

The 'small things' I focused on this week were the plant shelves and my corner office. Plant shelves or 'spaces cut out of the wall near the ceiling' was a trend in building homes over 10 years ago. It's like the space above the kitchen cabinets, what do you do with it? DON'T PUT PLANTS! Some chose to leave this area empty. Not me. Its like leaving a shelf empty, can't do it. The possibilities for more cool accessories is irresistible! As a Mom, plant shelves can be where you put your pretty breakable things you can enjoy but not worry about little hands or flying balls. 

So after the painting, and more painting. I gathered my accessories by style and color and worked on accenting my shelves with my theme. I also went searching for a couple of new items--of course! Using styling shelves rule of odd number items and varying heights, I conquered the awkward space. My new little addition will match the removable wallpaper perfectly!

Next was the corner office, the main reason for starting this redesign. Found a table I liked, but it was too small. Fell in love with some great wood and metal desks that were perfect but outrageously priced! So pinterest helped with finding a DIY desk that looked similar but still a daunting task right now. So garage diving I went. I have an old sewing machine table that I haven't been able to part with and a new love of chalk paint. Transformation to match my style and suddenly I have a trendy table with a little hidden storage. 

Also couldn't pass up office accessories from Target. Hexagon love continues in the office nook with these great bulletin boards. With some rose gold spray paint, blue acrylic paint on hand, and some painters tape, I transformed my hexagon shapes into colorful accents.  

Now to reaching the goals of the room. 
To do list:   DIY curtain rod assembled and attached to wall.
Custom mantle shelf and apply wallpaper to feature wall. 
Textured wood treatment for the island (maybe shiplap;)
Custom shelving unit for another awkward cutout in the room. 
New Furniture and rug.  (The new puppy may dictate this goal!)
That's a tall order for a halfway point. I guess that's why they call it a challenge!

We are on week 2 of our journey to a redesigned living room. I am a guest participant in the One Room Challenge presented by Calling It Home and House Beautiful. It happens twice a year once, Fall and Spring.  There are 20 featured designers and bloggers who present their room makeovers over a 6 week period. You are able to see the progress every Wednesday and on Thursday the guest participants join in for the fun! You can view the progress on all the rooms by visiting the link, and following the hashtag, #oneroomchallenge. 

​Here is the room we started with on this challenge. The space is more appropriately referred to as a family room, it’s is where we spend most of our time. It also holds guitars and amps, my corner office and the puppy toys. The space has been defined. What stays? Blue denim sleeper sofa, TV placement, and corner office space. Next question: What I don’t like about the space? Layout is off balance. Curtains are too low, and curtain rod is sagging. Two oversized bulky chairs, a large TV cabinet that no longer holds the large TV. (It actually holds my fax/printer machine and lots of old paperwork. Yeah, more de-cluttering!) The ottoman has leather that is falling off and I temporarily (3 years later) fixed the eye sore by covering it with fabric. The green paint on wall is 15 years old, it needed a fresh and new color. 

​How I decided on wall color? Sample swatches! I really wanted to avoid buying sample paints and putting paint colors all over the wall. Sherwin Williams for Pros, allows us to get 8x10 samples of all of their colors. So I narrowed my color selections to neutral gray-blues, and bold dark blue options, and ordered the large paint samples. I proceeded to tape them to each wall and observe it day and night to see how it worked in the space.  I never pick out paint color in the store; you have to see the color in your home. I really like the Sea Salt SW color and also Silvermist. I would have liked to use Sea Salt for most of the walls, but I was out voted in the family huddle;/ Silvermist was used on most of the walls, with Sea Salt on the sliding door wall and inside the arch ways, my husband’s idea. Compromise always!

​While painting the walls, I noticed that the previous painter covered portion of the ceiling with the green. Knowing we wanted to add crown molding at some point we figured adding it now would fix that issue;) So after painting all the walls, the crown molding was installed with primer and caulk, thus requiring me to paint again. Also the installation did not include the semi-gloss coats. A must when you’re having crown molding installed, they must paint it also! Painting crown molding is a daunting 2-coat, neck aching task! Up, down, move ladder, repeat, 20 times! Recommended highly, that crown molding installation includes painting. It does make a significant difference in the space though.

The new slidong door was installed. The previous door lost the screen years ago and was very difficult to open. The installation team who installed our door, also installed the crown molding. While installing the door, he sold his other services to us. Happy to use local small businesses;)

​Sneak peak: I have a feature wall that I am working on in the space. I can do whatever I want to the wall as long as I keep the mirror. So after many pins on pinterest for options, I decided on a dark blue for top half wall and removable wallpaper on the bottom. Eventually I would like to do cement tile and an electric fireplace, in the future. I found a great pattern that seems to go well in the space and the white background of the wall paper will lighten the area. I have always wanted a mantel so I am attempting to float a wood mantel in the middle. Using my wall samples this is the intended outcome. Progressing to a lovable space!

​The living room/family room is the last of the main rooms to get an update in our home. The only thing that has changed in the room in 15 years is the constant moving around of furniture! It is long and narrow and opens into the kitchen, the back yard, and the entry hallway. If you’re standing at the front door you can see all the way to the back door. The layout of the space has been a consistent struggle from day one, I think we change the layout every year. 

​I guess the biggest challenge is the placement of the TV, it is the only room that can house a large one that accommodates the sporting events properly. (I finally got the bulky recliner out of the space, I will pick my battles on the TV placement.) As a home stager and designer, I have worked with several clients that have certain demands. I can convince them into most design improvements that would benefit their home, but there are some I can’t, so I am in the business of ‘making it work.’  If I can make a coral room with taupe trim into a stylish girl’s bedroom, I can tackle this makeover and love my space. 

​I would say my husband and I combined style is Transitional. (I am always trying to transition him into my style;) ha! We both seem to lean toward rustic classic, so we have that going for us! The entry way and kitchen are painted a light gray with hints of blue in the kithcen and light teal in the entry. So the great room will try to pull those colors together. The blue denim couch is a sleeper and heavy, it will stay in the room. I would love to take away the arches and just have the big island but I was outnumbered on that, and the lighter wall color! So again making it work! So here is the plan.

Silvermist and Sea salt from Sherwin Williams on the walls, they are currently sage green. (yes I did the sage green and maroon trend when we first moved in). Green is making a come-back, but for me it’s time to move on. So color palette is gold/yellow, navy and teal. Still looking for that perfect rug that ties in all the colors. Crown Molding is being added and a new sliding glass door. I will be tackling a few DIY projects that will keep me on budget, but not help in my anxiety and lack of time! I am attempting to build a few items with reclaimed wood for the first time. Making the most of unique plant shelves and there is a feature wall that I'm really excited about the final reveal. I have been planning a makeover of this room for months, now time to execute!  Challenge accepted. 

  The chore that everyone dreads doing the most is usually in a room that is just as dreadful. When looking through listings online of homes on the market the one room I see pictured most consistently is the laundry room. So the room that is a prime piece of real estate and where we do our most disliked chore gets no design attention. I am sure you have seen some amazing makeovers on design websites of laundry rooms. If you’re anything like me, spending thousands of dollars on the laundry room makeover is not practical. I mean the washer and dryer costs that much! So the challenge is to get a picture perfect welcoming laundry room with a low budget. Little research and lots a planning, I was able to do this for under $100.

​Before I share the details of the makeover here is some background. The laundry room is between the garage and hallway into the house. So it is the first room we see when we walk in the house. It was anything but welcoming. We got the upgraded front loader washers couple years back, with the pedestal drawers. In hindsight I would not add that upgrade. Extra storage seemed nice at the time, but it doesn’t hold cleaning supplies or anything else taller than 5 inches! No matter what colorful container you put on a builder grade shelf it is still dull. It was time to add the ahh! factor.

Removing the shelf was the first thing to go. Not an easy task I might add! At one point I just started pulling the railing, nail and all, out the wall. It left very large holes; even with caulk it still looked bad. So a textured wall treatment was the best option. There are several options I contemplated, pallet wood, shiplap, Stikwood (self adhesive natural wood planks). These options were good, but expensive or beyond my ability.  Then I thought of laminate, can it stick to walls? I went to Lowes to look at my options and discovered peel and stick laminate that looked like wood. I wanted a distressed look so I used two different shades and alternated them. It looked great on the warehouse floor, but will it work. I bought what I needed (you can buy per panel) because there was only one box of gray distressed left. $20 of material-hello!

I also bought a closet shelf from Lowes, I knew the shelf brackets would have to be fixed to the wall first. After measuring and centering the shelf brackets, I applied the first laminate peice then the rest. It stuck! Well for a while...After putting three layers up, I heard several crashes in the middle of the night. Yep, they all fell down:( I wasn't giving up. I found a glue for rubber vinyl at Lowes and it worked. Easy to apply with a caulk gun. I used most of the panels that fell off and covered my feature wall adding the shelf. 

I painted the rest of the walls Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams, and added functional acessories. I added a curtain to hide the A/C unit, canvas print to hide security panel, and a towel rack that will work great returning from the beach or pool. I also tackled two DIY/repurpose projects. Painted and stenciled the bulletin/chalk board from baby blue color to distressed chalkpaint treatment and upgraded the light. The light fixture upgrade cost $6! I had the pin saved on Pinterest and knew I had to try it. Found a gold mirror on clearence. Removed the mirror easily and nailed it on the ceiling. I also painted the builder grade fixture with gold paint I had on hand to match. Best pinterest pin I ever tried! Click here for the pin from Bloglovin' for the light fixture.

Found great baskets at Home Goods that accented the rustic and modern flare of the makeover. I labelled everything so the family can keep it tidy. I utilized the pedestal drawers for cleaning rags and other laudry supplies. I placed the house-hold cleaning supplies in the garage.  The large containers we use as laundry baskets, no more oversized white plastic bins.