May 15, 2013

blue and orange library - before and after

There once was a girl who wanted to switch her living room and dining room. She worked hard and made herself a swanky new dining room, but the living room needed a pick me up. So, she asked her friend for some help. Luckily this girl can DIY with the best of them, and also luckily her friend is me.

My very great friend and her family wanted a cozy space where they could read, do homework, practice the violen and spend hours on Pinterest. And although she knew she wanted to invest in grasscloth, the goal was to work with what she already had, just adding a few things here and there to spruce up the room.

You might remember this little board I did awhile back to get the juices flowing.

Here is the space before. (cute children not included)


And here is the after.

My girl is hardcore. She put up the grasscloth all on her own. Right after she painted that mirror orange and before she put together those IKEA shelves. Unstoppable I tell you.


I love that we talk about the gallery wall and play with some pictures one day, and the next time I talk to her she says, "oh yeah I hung the gallery wall". All I do is plant the seed and she runs with it and makes it look great.


All of the artwork was created by her, in addition to a few pieces by her dad and her kids. They are basically the Partridge family of art.


I love a new tray on an old coffee table. It's almost totally better than a pair of new shoes. That's right, I will always pick a tray over a pair of shoes.


That grasscloth makes all the difference. It makes all of the moldings pop (which she put in during a previous project) and it makes the room so warm. It's like a big huge hug.


The lamp was originally orange but she gave it the gold touch with a can of spray paint.


A collection of gold animals has begun and the gold K looks great against the wallpaper.


The milk glass acquired by the two of us at the single most uncomfortable and slightly bigoted garage sale ever. I'll have to share that story one day.


Yes, this book is upside down. I'm quirky.




And because I hate it when magazines talk about a space and don't show a picture of it, here is her wonderful dining room. Good, right?

So that is the story of the girl who switched her living room and dining room and ended up with a great family space.

How about you? Have you switched rooms in your house before? Made some changes to a room that wasn't working for you?

35 comments:

  1. Awesome! I have the same shelves and they are hard to style... almost a bit too small. She did a fantastic job of them though!

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  2. E - you are so good! The design you did was executed perfectly. I can't believe your friend can hang grass-cloth by herself. She needs to start a blog. Isn't that your former Greek Key tray? :)

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  3. Beautiful! She followed your plan to a T! So nice that she trusted your design so thoroughly. I agree with Linda, she should blog!

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  4. I love the combo of the oranges, blues and golds. Girl done good. REAL good. Love that she ran with your suggestions, it's come out really fabulous! If I see another navy blue dining room, I'm going to have to hold myself back from repainting my own grey dining room navy blue. Seriously considering it. And that would be bad considering I just finished this room. Right? RIGHT? Sigh. Gorgeous. xxx

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  5. Such a great room. Love the JA pillow and those reading lamps are amazing! That's the vibe we are going for in our living room too with this library wall install. Love it! xo Kristin

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  6. That grasscloth is to die! Sets the whole mood. I am obsessed with the space. You knocked it out of the park love!

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  7. WOW! it looks amazing! i love that mirror!!!

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  8. Great room! Can you provide source for floor lamps?

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  9. Love it! That is so fun! All that color! I have to admit that I called you cray cray because I thought it was another project in your house. You crack me up!

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  10. It's gorgeous!! I love the gallery wall so jealous... And the home pillow...I want one!! Can't wait to hear the garage sale story, sounds extremely fun!!

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  11. You are right about the grasscloth! It makes all the difference. Gorgeous rooms!! Great job, as always!

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  12. Gorgeously executed!! She gets the Star of the Day! And so do you ... so fun to see the transformation!! And you know I am a sucker for blue and orange!! xo

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  13. Wow. What a cool room!!! I think my favorite part is the eclectic mixture of all the elements and how well it all works together. Totally dig it!

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  14. WOW! You and your friend did a phenomenal job on this!!!!! You should be toasting your margaritas , martinis with this! Love it!!!!

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  15. Amazing! Your friend knows what's up for sure. She shares your vision! What a team! Love the idea of switching the use of rooms. Proves you don't need to be "locked" in!
    (I would buy a tray instead of shoes too!)

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  16. Wow! You girls are a force to be reckoned with! What a phenomenal space!
    I want to hang out with you two!! :)

    Susan

    http://simplymodernhome.com/

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  17. Looks awesome!! I am dying to do grass cloth on some walls!!

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  18. Oh my GOSH I love all the color and that big hug of the grasscloth wallpaper (excellent description, makes me want to run right out and get myself some!!!) The pops of color are so fun, lively, and the room is so full of personality! Fabulous job to both of you ladies!

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  19. such an amazing magazine worthy living room! Wow! :)

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  20. It looks awesome! Now that's a client anyone can get used to...get it done!!

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  21. WHat a lucky girl your friend is!! I love it! I loooove the grasscloth and all the color. It is now a super fun living room. ANd the color combinations are perfect!

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  22. You and your friend are super talented!! Will she come hang some grasscloth for me?!

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  23. Love the makeover, one of my favorites I've seen in a very long time! Super happy and cozy and you can instantly tell their is meaning to the design (if that makes sense!) Beautiful!!

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  24. A beautiful makeover! The grasscloth is fantastic and I am especially loving the gallery wall. Kudos to the both of you :)

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  25. Girlie, I need you to come to my house... And please bring your friend too! I just love what you did with her space! I really love that you can make it cozy and fun at the same time!
    xoxo Elizabeth

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  26. Ah mazing! Wow! I can't believe it's the same space. The grasscloth makes all the difference and I love that mirror so much better now that it's orange! You two DIY sisters rock! :)

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  27. Awesome overload of fabulous diys! Kudos to both of you for creating and executing such a unique space!

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  28. Oh, I love the color you have added ot this room. So happy and confortable at the same time. I love it!
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  29. Another one knocked out of the park!

    -Lane

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  30. Oh my gosh. Love. Orange and navy are so sophisticated together!

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  31. Love the grasscloth wall coverings! The room is a straight-up stunner! I love when people truck though projects-end results are the best. Great job to the both of you!

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  32. It looks so great! I think it wouldn't have been the same without the grass cloth though, that adds so much.

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  33. Holy Moly that is awesome!!!! I BIG TIME HEART grasscloth!!! This is a wonderful transformation.....I want to learn more about this garage sale! :-)

    thedesigndaredevil.com

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