When we moved into our home in 2007, the room on the lowest level of the house struck me as really strange. It was long and narrow, with an extremely large brick fireplace/hearth.  {When we viewed the house before we purchased it, the previous owner had one single arm chair in the middle of the room.  Not helpful.}  With really only one useable wall, it was nearly impossible to have a sofa or any furniture for adults.  I had no idea what to do with it, so it became a play room.   At that time we had VERY young children {ages 5 months and 3 years} so it served to be an extremely important space.  Over time the kids had fewer and fewer toys and we decided it was time to create a space that we could all use and love.  Today I am sharing the before shots and a quick description of our project.

FAMILY ROOM: BEFORE

Oh, look at all that brick!  The project started out simple: remove the brick fire place, hearth, and insert and create a useable wall.  Like any project it grew over  2+ years of thinking and planning.  In the end the list also included: new lighting, removal of wood paneling {which I had painted}, new flooring, new paint, new molding and base boards.  I also became obsessed with a rolling door to the laundry room.  {Plenty more on that side project later!}  We had not originally planned on updating the laundry room and powder room, but eventually decided it was worth doing all three rooms at once.

LAUNDRY/POWDER ROOM:  BEFORE

Our laundry room and powder room are essentially caves.  No natural light at all.  Why I thought it was a great idea to paint them eggplant purple, I will never know!  The number one wish for this space was to move or remove the eye sores above the washer/dryer.  Who doesn’t want an old security system control box front and center?  Also on the list for the laundry room: new washer/dryer, new cabinets, and counter top.  The bathroom: new light, new sink/vanity, new toilet.

I spent months collecting images that served as inspiration for these three rooms. Below are a few of the images/ideas that served as guide posts to decisions I made throughout the process.

More on the outcome and finished looks are coming soon.  The construction is complete and we could not be happier.  Unlike a HGTV design show, the room did not magically come furnished and beautifully styled.  That is a work in progress.

See all my inspiration for this project at A Room for a Family, Sink or Swim, and Loads of Laundry {my Pinterest boards}.

PS: In case you missed these earlier posts, Family Room Inspiration and Remodel- During.

I recently had lunch at Stateside in Seattle.  Yes, the food was delicious but I could not get over the design elements.  Color choice, brass detailing, lighting, a mix of old and new, and that wall paper.  THAT wall paper.  The unexpected pop of green palm fronds and it was oh, so perfect!  I am still thinking about it two weeks later.  A dramatic wall paper can really pack a punch!

So, I did a little searching:

Which is your favorite?  I could find a way to use any of them in my home!  However, if you have ever had to remove wall paper, you know it isn’t a decision to take lightly.  Do you have wall paper in your home?

{All image sources and other dramatic wall papers can be found here.}

Over a year and half ago, I posted about a possible remodel of our boys’ play room.  They had outgrown the need for a dedicated space just for toys.  When they have friends over, they love to watch movies and play video games.  The time had come to invest in making this space something to love.  A little over three weeks ago, the process began!  While the end vision is coming together, the first stages were a little unsettling.  Massive amounts of demolition and sheet rock dust, made it hard to see how it could all go back together.   I guess surviving and thriving during a remodel is a skill.

Here is what I know so far:

1.  Have a clear vision and budget. 

While others can give input and advice, you need to have your own vision for the space, whether it be a family room, a kitchen, or a bathroom. While I am no designer, but I was clear how I wanted the room to function and the short list of needs.  The least sexiest part of a remodel is the budget.  You have to have a budget.  Decide which details are the most important, so that when you have to make compromises, due to budget constraints, you are still guaranteed a final product you will be happy with.

2.  Learn to love Pinterest.

It has literally helped me make almost every decision.  Paint color, tile, trim work, switches.  You name it, I put it in the search box of Pinterest and found what I wanted.  Visually I could narrow down my choices.  I could then find it just by searching or asking for help from my contractor or a friend.

3.  Appoint a project manager.

I was appointed the project manager.  If my husband and I had to decide every little detail together, we would probably end every evening in an argument.  To save our sanity and keep the project moving along, I have made most of the choices and decisions. He is more interested in the final outcome.  Your project manager should be the person who is most interested in the process and the details.  That’s me and I love it!

4.  Embrace the mess.

You cannot control it, so just go with it.  Hey, how often do you have an excuse for your house to be a disaster?

I can not wait until we are cuddled up on the couch watching a movie in our new room. I promise to post again about this project!

Would you like a peek @ the inspiration for the room and all its details?  Follow along here!