It’s no secret we love when a dark, closed-in room is transformed into a bright, airy space. In summer we especially appreciate a beachy, coastal feel — which Jessica achieved beautifully with help from our friend Rhoda. Read Jessica’s note about the makeover below.
We finally finished our family room makeover. It felt like this project went on forever. The room’s previous colors were traditional and quite dark, and the old furniture — a set we’d bought years earlier for a much smaller space — looked lost. I wanted to move from a traditional look to a cottage-style, Pottery Barn–inspired aesthetic. This was a collaborative effort with Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, and her guidance was incredibly helpful. Here’s the before picture:
After removing the dark paint and adding planks to the walls, the room began to take shape:
To get the look I wanted, I installed 1×8 tongue-and-groove knotty pine planks on the walls. That part felt like it took forever. My dad showed me how to use the nail gun, then conveniently disappeared for a couple of months while I completed the work — it was winter and he prefers hibernating in front of the TV, so he avoided the project.
The planks are painted Benjamin Moore White Diamond, while the top portion of the wall is Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue. I added a two-inch shelf along the top of the planks to define the separation between the plank area and the painted wall — it turned out to be a great spot for leaning framed photos and artwork.
The drapes are burlap. I loved the deep-pocket burlap panels from Pottery Barn, but at about $75 per panel that would have been expensive. Instead I bought 55 yards of burlap on sale for $1.99 per yard and used a 40% off coupon, which let me make ten no-sew burlap panels for under $130 — a great savings given there are five large windows.
We also invested in a new sectional sofa that I found on sale at a local furniture store — it was a fantastic deal. I ordered fabric for the pillows and for the window seat (now a bench) from fabric.com; my favorite is the gray Dalia print by Thomas Paul.
There you have it — a huge hug to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for helping throughout this process. We love spending time in this room as a family, whether watching TV or browsing the web. — Jessica
Read Jessica’s full reveal on her blog for more photos and details about the plank work and other updates. Which element stands out to you most — the lighter furnishings, the soft blue wall color, the geometric rug, or the handmade burlap curtains? We’d love to hear your favorite.