I am only showing you my living room, because I know you have imaginations and you can forgive the imperfections. Sadly these photos stink. One day I’ll learn how to take great pictures, but right now I’m too busy painting and doing laundry. Since I’m not getting featured in a ‘Home’ magazine, these pictures will have to be good enough.
In my mind I’m formulating a DIY survival post and ‘good enough’ is a recurring theme; however, the gears of mind are working about as quickly as my coffee pot drips. It will be a while.
Before the big reveal, I’ve got some splanin’ to do.
I still need a rug.
Would you believe that I actually found one on clearance in Lowe’s that incorporates all my colors. Truth. However, it’s not in the budget right now. I am confident rugs will continue to be sold for years to come and my floor will be here for a little while, so no problemo. Gives me something to dream about.
I also want to get those little ring thingies to hang my curtains from, but that’s also out of the current budget.
Now before you ask, I am not ready to commit to color on the fireplace until after we flank it in bookshelves. I just don’t want to paint twice. I’m getting painter’s wrist.
The television is absolutely temporary. For me, temporary can last up to five years, but eventually a flat screen will hang on the wall opposite the couch and all the ‘equipment’ that goes along with the TV will live in an inset cabinet beneath the flat screen.
That was a lot of splanin’!
I’m sure you didn’t read a word of it, so I’ll shut up and get to the picts.
Living Room As Purchased
Yes, I’m starting at the beginning, because it makes the end product look better. I need all the help I can get!
scraping layers of wallpaper off the walls and ceiling
FringeMan removed the paneling and drop ceiling. Then I scraped a hundred years worth of wallpaper off the walls and ceiling. I vowed to spare future generations and never hang wallpaper.
The Sterile Stage
For a brief moment during this sterile stage, I considered setting up a table in the middle of the room and performing experimental surgeries. FringeMan did not approve.
With Furniture
This is my living room with furniture. I showed you this photo and asked for suggestions. You did not disappoint! Your detailed comments and emails really caused me to think outside my box. This furniture is mine for better or worse, but you gave me the push I needed to inject life, personality, and character.
I spent a minimal amount of money to revitalize the living room. I purchased 1 can of black spray paint, two cans of red spray paint, and a quart of the aqua/turquoise color (don’t know the difference between aqua/turquoise). I also purchased $30 worth of fabric and pillow stuffing. Add one $9.99 poster frame with an additional 25% off and I was done shopping. Everything else I had. So all in all, it was a low-budget make-over. The rug will be the budget buster.
current living room
I brought the curtains higher and it immediately made the room look huge. You were all absolutely right on that one. I couldn’t bring them wider, because we have some major plaster problems in the room. After we took down all that wallpaper, we had giant chunks of plaster missing and falling out. FringeMan spent a long time patching the walls so they wouldn’t all crumble. The entire room has a textured plaster finish. Keeping the walls white cuts down on glaring imperfections in the plaster. Everytime I hang something, I need to make sure it’s in a good position, so we don’t have a nightmare on our hands.
The futon doesn’t have a cover yet. I just removed the old cover and exposed the mattress.
This is a full-page newspaper article written by Amelia Earhart in 1929. The title is “What Does the Airplane Offer the Modern Girl”.
Upstairs in our bedroom we had carpeting. Under the carpeting was linoleum and under that was a thick layer of newspapers from 1929. I saved the best pages. It’s angled in the frame, because I didn’t have the extra money to buy a proper size matt. I just used the black printed paper that came with the frame and I had to cover all the white lettering.
Cheesy?
Yes. Sometimes you’ve just gotta do the unlovely.
I should have turned off the light before snapping this photo. Then there wouldn’t be a glaring shade in the picture and my reflection would disappear. Live and learn.
I love the idea of putting a metal grate in front of the fireplace with some logs in it. I’m going to look for one at a yard sale this summer.
Am I the only one who has a kitchen in her living room? My daughter has a tiny bedroom and she needed some floorspace, so her kitchen is now in the living room.
You’d be surprised at how many boys come into my house and start playing with it. I hope they cook as much when they are older and married!
So what do you think?
Improvement??
Do you know of any ‘before and after’ carnivals going on in blogland that I can join?
Thank you all for your help and encouragement. I’m sure my livingroom will continue to change and hopefully improve. If I stop blabbing and go wash my windows, it will be immediately better.
I am linking this post to:
The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday, It’s a Hodgepodge Life
Simply Sweet Home, Remodelaholic, Beneath My Heart
Finding Fabulous – Frugalicious Friday, Keeping it Simple – Motivate Me Monday
Fingerprints on The Fridge, Between Naps on the Porch – Metamorphasis Monday
Go visit for more great frugal makeover’s!
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Tags: Decorating, home decor, home improvement, home renovation, houses, redecorating, remodeling
It’s truly amazing!!!! I am so impressed with you. And how cute is it that the little kitchen matches?
Great job.
Oh my goodness. I liked it before, but you’ve really brought it together! I love the turquoise color you’ve brought in, and the way your white floor paint is already scratching up. You’re so good!
Good job! Love how you painted the old coffee table red and are now using it as a bench with the cushions. The fabrics on your pillows are great, as are the pops of color in the tables. I definitely think the “new” white cover for the futon looks much better than the old one. Your hard work definitely improved the room!
Nice job! For some reason I feel like you live in Maine. Do you live in Maine? That living room sure looks like it belongs up here!
Looks great, love the color you added, the curtains really do open it up that way. And one of the things I like about decorating is that you can do it over time, when you see something you fall in love with…so someday the moment will be just right and you will find your dream rug!
OH MY GOODNESS!!! You are now hired as my decorator! Your transformation is A-MAZ-ING!
I am so impressed with how much you’ve accomplished in such little time and with such a Lilliputian budget. You amaze me every day. I adore your tables and picture frames, and I just love the turquoise kitchen in your living room! It adds just the right touch of whimsy. Keep it there. The raising of the curtain rods is sheer genius! The end result is jaw-dropping. I still hope you’ll paint the fireplace in a deep fire engine red once you get the shelving done. Touché!
I am so impressed with your ingenuity! It looks beautiful, and I love the blue. (I mean the aqua/turquoise.) I don’t know the difference either.
i love it! so beautiful!
What a cool difference! A pop of amazing color really does the trick! You are an inspiration to me now!
In the words of Emeril….BAM! Talk about a Wow factor! The curtains are marvelous. The color pops are fantastic. The preservation of the newspaper is so very Earth Day. And you know how I feel about the collection of old bottles on the mantle. It is so you! Great job! I really, really like it. ~Mindy
The transformation of your living room is incredible and I’m glad you included the before pic in all it’s drop ceiling and paneled glory.
I think my favorite part of the transformation is the floor. Great job!
I love it!
the windows look fabulous and the all over look is very cheerful! I think it’s great when just looking at a room makes one happy. All your toils have been well worth it.
Wow – what a makeover! Love it, and I love the splashes of turquoise!
Hugs,
genny
FringeGirl, Your living room is wonderful!! I love it, so bright and cheery. Your little kitchen goes with the room beautifully. You did a wonderful job.
Love, love, love it! And the sneak preview of the kitchen is awesome!!! Can’ t wait to come up and see it when you are done.
Oh my gosh, what a difference the paint made! It’s like you went from the 70′s to the 2000′s in an instant! I love that aqua/turquoise!!! It really brightens up the room!! Great job!!
And I love your daughter’s little kitchen!
Looks great! Thanks for the inspiration!
YOU da WOMAN!!!!!!!!!
Wow, girl!! I am sooo impressed! knowing all the work you have put in.. you must have so much satisfaction and sigh of relief going on! I know I would just camp out on that futon and chill a while! It looks so welcoming, clean, and cozy!
Three thumbs up … if I had an extra one. jeje
I have revamped my blog with inspiration from your blog. jeje. I love how you blog. I will be adding you to my sidebar again too. I lost ya somewhere along the line. But I am getting back at it the blogging thing.
Thanks for being a faithful encourager.
Dani Joy
oh btw, I just love your Amelia Earnhart newspaper!! what a find!!!
wow – you’ve obviously spent a lot of time and effort in this room! Good job and kudos for being finished!
Love it. Love it. It is amazing what a little fabric and paint can do. The bright colors fit your personality….and you are ready for summer too! I’m inspired and need to get moving on my projects too!
WOW! I love when you house says, “It’s mine.”
This seems to…
Blessings on a great job!
Patti
Okay, first I want to thank you for visiting my blog and leaving me such kind comments. Second, girl you are rockin this room now!! Oh ya, I love, love, love the turquoise and your new pillows! It looks like a completely different room. Great job!
xo
LeAnn
You have done a fantastic job with just some paint and fabric. Great choices with the colours. And those chairs are fantastic.
I love it!! I mean a lot! So cute. I don’t have a kitchen in my livingroom, but I have a dollhouse in my livingroom and my kids are 15 & 18, so I can’t blame it on them anymore. lol I just happen to like it and my dad made it so I have it there just for me. So, yes, I like your kitchen too.
LOVE IT. Great job girlie!
-thumbs up!-
I love all the fun colors! Great job!
It looks much, much better. You found some nice coordinating fabrics and I like that you made the old coffee table a bench.
You did good, grasshopper! Trish…it looks just wonderful. I love it…do you? Your fabric choices were spot on…placement of the furniture perfect…love, love, triple love the Amelia article. You are so on the right track and following your heart. Believe me…it shows!
Debbie
I went back to look again at the living room make over and noticed the new ceiling light. I really like it!
I can’t believe how frugal your makeover was and how fabulous it looks! You’re amazing!
Great job! I love the pops of color. The tiny matching kitchen is adorable. The Gs on the wall are a nice touch too.
Your vintage furniture is awesome. Great makeover.
Oh my, you did it! I read the original plea for help a couple of weeks ago. I love the red and aqua. I know my husband wishes I had your patience. You are very wise about the rug. When you have the funds, you’ll find what you need.
What a lot of work! My husband and I have been renovating our older home (yep – plaster & lath!) so I totally understand your challenges and successes!! The colours you’ve chosen for your living room are terrific, and look great together. The whole look will be even better when you’re able to get that area rug.
Victoria
Wow! This is an amazing transformation.
You did a great job using what you had on hand, and really made it look fantastic with a few purchases.
Great job!
Alyssa
Lifeoflyssie.com
You know, I was just looking at some interiors designed by Washington DC’s Mary Douglas Drysdale and she uses white walls, white floors, no rugs. In the Gilliam Gawlak residence, she accents with pops of color through artwork, painted furniture and occasionally fabric.Thought you might to check out this link from her Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=148622&id=187571899577
Thanks for your reply, Trish! Glad you liked the link. You could come close to the same look very easily and inexpensively. If you want to go all white with your furniture, you could paint the futon frame white. Ditto for the two yellow chair frames. Could even craft “shabby chic” slipcovers for those two chairs out of a white sheet. Just drap creatively and tie it in the back. That large abstract artwork in the link was great, wasn’t it? You could get the same look with that, too. Just have your husband build a frame, then stretch material over it and staple it onto the frame (pull it really tight), and have at it with different colors of paint. Even let the kids join in. Family art at its best.
Wow!! What a transformation! It looks so much better and so bright!
Thank you for joining my hodgepodge party! I love it! I hope you will join again.
~Gay~
itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com
Great looking room! Thanks for sharing your post for Friday Favorites!
What a fabulous job you have done. I love it!
Love the newspaper clippings! Oh my, that is the neatest find I have ever heard when it comes to tearing up floor (we’ve done plenty of that over here, too…). Love the white washed floor as well! Maybe just a little area rug under the coffee table is all it needs to balance out the walls/floor. GREAT job!
I love the color, even in the kitchen (which looks so cheery). In fact, I’m thinking about using those colors in my living room, since I added a red accent wall last year. Of course, by the time I get around to it, I’ll probably be into other colors.
Looove your makeover, it’s perfect!!! I saw an idea a few days ago that I might try this summer in my family room, ( I have old rose carpeting) I may pull it up and paint big squares to look like faux tile in either black and white or maybe something else! It looked awesome (there are how-to directions…just google it) so, if you have some of that turquoise paint left you could always paint an area rug!?!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and your kind comment! Debbie @ Cottage Hann~Me~Downs
Amazing job! The white looks fabulous! I love all your neat and unique accessories. The Ameila newspaper article is super cool! Thanks so much for stopping by and joining the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly appreciate it. Hope you have a wonderful week. Hope to see you again next Sunday! ~ Stephanie Lynn
It looks fantastic!! And I LOVE that you are willing to wait and stick to your budget. What fun is there in having it all “done” (which we know we never are) and then having to pay the bills!?!
Great job!