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Living Room/Office Before and After

December 3, 2012 By Erin Spain 22 Comments

I’m finally back! I know I’ve been missing in action for a while. Between traveling for a week over the Thanksgiving holiday, and being knocked out with an almost month-long respiratory illness, I wasn’t able to work on many projects over the past few weeks. I’m finally slowly getting back into a routine, and I have something fun to share with you today! Even though I was sick, I managed to somehow work on our Living Room/Office Makeover and I want to share the before and after with you.

Living Room/Office Makeover

Today I will mainly show some before/after and in-progress photos, along with a source list for stuff in this room. I still need to add curtains and some little odds and ends, and do something about the filing cabinet, but this room is close enough to be called “done” as far as I’m concerned. As I’ve mentioned before, we are going for a somewhat mid-century modern/contemporary-ish style in here since my husband loves “Mad Men” style stuff and he spends a lot of time working in here. You’ve seen some photos along the way as projects have been completed, but I wanted to show as much of the “beginning to end” process as I could this time.

Just to refresh your memory, here is the room “Before.” It was hard to get a picture that showed the true color of the walls, but it was a yellowy off-white color. This picture probably shows it the most accurately, although you can’t see all of the nicks and scuffs. (There were plenty.) I also couldn’t find any photos taken earlier than this one, before we added the rug and dresser. But you can imagine – it was pretty bare.

Living Room/Office "Before"
That’s our sweet dog Polly, who now lives at my in-laws’ house.

Here we are in-progress. Just being honest here, folks. It’s not always pretty behind the scenes. (P.S. Can you spot the munchkins?)

Living Room/Office "In-Progress"
Living Room/Office "In-Progress"

And here we are After!

Living Room/Office "After"
Living Room/Office Makeover
Living Room/Office Makeover
Living Room/Office Makeover
Living Room/Office Makeover

I painted the walls with Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter in a matte finish. I had more than a gallon left over from our dining room makeover, so I needed to put it to good use. I love the color. It’s a good neutral, and it’s not too light, not too dark. Just right. Aside from not loving the original yellowy/off-white color, the walls had tons of scuffs, nicks, scratches, holes, etc., that needed to be patched and painted over.

I also painted the never-before-seen-on-the-blog-before cabinet and bookcase pictured above, which is going to be another blog post altogether. (Update: Here is the furniture makeover post!)

Just to recap, here are the projects/posts I’ve done for this room:

  • I used a sweet photo of my boys to create this Quatrefoil Photo Wall Art.
  • I painted this Bold, Modern Dresser which was an inexpensive Craigslist find.
  • I refinished this vintage Library Card-Catalog Cabinet which was rescued (for free!) by my grandparents.
  • We scored this Mid-Century Modern style desk off of Craigslist for el-cheapo.
  • I found this antique fan while shopping with some of my fellow Atlanta bloggers.
  • I made these easy gilded pine cones to use as vase filler.
  • I painted this monogrammed hurricane candle holder which now sits on top of the dresser.

Here is a quick source list for some of the other things in this room:

  • Small pull-out sofa: Target
  • Rug: Overstock.com
  • Silver Floor Lamp: Craigslist
  • Leaning Bookcase: Target
  • Yellow Chevron Pillows: idari Etsy shop
  • Throw pillows on Sofa: Target
  • Dining Chairs (They go with our dining set): Z Gallerie 
  • Desk Chair: IKEA
  • Artwork above desk: Target
  • Framed picture on top of Library Cabinet: Michaels

I’ve really enjoyed working on this room, but now it’s onto some other items on my never-ending “to do” list.

Do your rooms ever look like my “in-progress” photos above? Please tell me yes… please? Also, do your children wait until a room looks like a tsunami hit it and then decide to play right in the middle of it? (Mine are usually the cause of the tsunami – but I have to take the blame on this one!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

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Filed Under: Decorating, Living Room, Office, Room Makeovers

« 3M Filtrete Drinking Water System {Review}
The Piece That Started it All: {Furniture Makeover} »

Comments

  1. Tidy-Up Gal says

    December 3, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    Looks bright and cozy! I love the natural light in the room. Also love the leaning shelf and the dresser. You did an awesome job transforming it!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 3, 2012 at 4:40 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  2. Tracie MiddleClassModern says

    December 3, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    WOW!!! I’m so glad I found your blog, because I’m completely in love with every single thing in your living room.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 3, 2012 at 4:41 pm

      Thank you Tracie! Hopping over to check out your blog now.

      Reply
  3. Erica @ Spoonful of Imagination says

    December 3, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    ERin!! You did a great job and I’ve missed your words and pictures on here! Welcome back!! So glad you are feeling better!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 10, 2012 at 2:11 am

      Thank you, my friend!

      Reply
  4. Megan says

    December 3, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    Very, very jealous of that card catalog. Looking good 🙂

    Reply
  5. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    December 4, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    Glad to know I’m not the only one, Erin! Your office is looking marvelous now ~ hope you’re on the mend soon.
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  6. Whitney says

    December 10, 2012 at 1:11 am

    It is fabulous! I love the quatrefoil print and the blue dresser!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 10, 2012 at 2:12 am

      Thank you, Whitney! I appreciate that!

      Reply
  7. Bonnie @ Uncommon says

    December 10, 2012 at 1:54 am

    oh..looks so good !!!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 10, 2012 at 2:12 am

      Thanks Bonnie!

      Reply
  8. malia says

    December 12, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    Wow what an elegant space. Just lovely!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 25, 2012 at 1:40 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  9. Miss Charming says

    December 23, 2012 at 10:26 pm

    It was fun seeing the evolution of this room. I think the colors you chose are perfect and I love your styling. (My fave is the blue dresser.)

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      December 25, 2012 at 1:40 am

      Thank you! I appreciate that.

      Reply
  10. alaya says

    December 27, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    Love your Living Room/Office Space! Im working on my Office space now!

    Reply
  11. Virtual Office Space Provider says

    February 21, 2013 at 8:47 am

    What a transformation! The space is so inviting. The light is perfect for your workspace. Good job on that! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Allyson O'Rourke says

    June 3, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    Stunning! The bold dresser looks like a million bucks… I want it!!

    Reply
  13. Bradley Whitehouse says

    October 14, 2013 at 5:55 am

    Somehow, blue and brown seemed to create a beaming atmosphere in this part of the house. The blue cabinet surely adds drama to the whole space. The filing cabinet looks awesomely vintage, by the way. Great job!

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      October 14, 2013 at 10:19 pm

      Thank you Bradley!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. New Office Chair: Flea Market Furniture Find - DIY on the Cheap says:
    August 12, 2013 at 11:52 am

    […] I will probably be re-covering the fuzzy blue retro fabric eventually. For now it fits in nicely in my husband’s office and the walnut wood matches his desk […]

    Reply

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