While updating our house’s before & after page and paint color/source page last week, we realized some photos were already out of date. The upstairs family room is a good example — we’ve added a few key pieces since we first shared it in July. Can you spot the changes?
The most noticeable update is the oversized capiz globe light we finally installed — a fixture Sherry has had on mood boards and Pinterest for years. It’s one of Serena & Lily’s signature designs, and with our vaulted ceilings (around 10′ at the peak) it finally fits and feels right in this space.
The light is available in three sizes (10.5″, 22.5″ and 29″ diameters) and we chose the largest one. It’s difficult to convey its scale in photos, so we took a few images before hanging it that show how big it truly is — including one of Sherry reenacting the wrecking ball scene for fun.
Getting the fixture upstairs was its own adventure. The stairway is narrow — it’s the same staircase that made moving the couch a struggle — and the light barely squeezed through on its side. We could have lifted it over the deck, but getting it through the stairwell was far easier once we figured out the right angle.
Once it was up we both breathed a sigh of relief. The room is large and the high ceilings needed a strong visual anchor — this globe provides that focal point and is the only overhead light in the space, so it’s functional as well as decorative. Note: we purchased this light ourselves; it was not sponsored or gifted.
For anyone wondering whether a tall person can walk under it: yes. I’m 6′ tall and have nearly a foot of clearance between my head and the bottom of the fixture.
Sherry also filmed a short walk-through of the family room to show the space in context. If you watch (it’s a silent tour), you’ll notice additional additions clustered around the TV side of the room.
Note: You can view the video on YouTube.
When we moved in the seating on the TV side was just our sofa and the kids’ bean bags. The sofa is long (93″ without arms) so it seats all four of us comfortably for movie nights, but we wanted better long-term seating for guests. Bean bags make terrible coffee tables — you can’t rest your feet on them easily — so we swapped them out for upholstered ottomans that are neater and much better as footrests.
We also added a woven bench found at HomeGoods for overflow seating and a softer “coffee table” alternative that’s easy to move when the kids are building forts, spreading out cards, or watching TV from creative angles. The ottomans double as extra seats when needed, which is a bonus in a smaller house where multifunctional pieces matter.
We plan to upgrade the bench with a padded seat cushion — thick foam wrapped in a removable fabric cover so it can be washed. Adding a cushion will raise the seat height a bit, so we’ll likely shorten the legs slightly so it lines up better with the couch.
We’re also planning a new media cabinet to increase storage along the TV wall. The current console works for now, especially with baskets for board games, but the new cabinetry will dramatically boost storage. The materials are on backorder, so installation will begin next month — we’re excited to finally have more organized storage in this area.
On the opposite corner we added hanging planters and artwork above the kids’ desk. With so much green outside the windows, we still wanted more plants inside to visually connect the interior to the landscape. Sherry has enthusiastically embraced hanging plants, and they add a nice vertical element to that corner.
We hung art behind the kids’ desk and added the two hanging planters Sherry found at a local garden center — another successful plant purchase in our book.
Both Sherry and I use the desktop at the desk depending on project needs, while the other person often works on the deck or on the sofa. The room has been invaluable for at-home learning, crafts, movie nights, fort building, reading, and more. At roughly 25′ long, it’s the largest room in our house and we’re thrilled to be making the most of every inch, including vertical storage like the wall-mounted bookcase.
We’re also working on updates outside those windows, including improvements to the upstairs deck and a privacy solution between us and the neighboring construction. Stay tuned for those updates.
P.S. You can see all of our Florida house progress right here. From bedrooms to the kitchen and bathroom, the project updates are all in one place — this house has just six rooms, so it’s easy to catch up.
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