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Design 101
Robyn’s Living Room Update: New Paint And Next Steps
It’s been a while and yet things are happening behind the scenes, I promise. This is one of my best friend’s homes that they moved into last year (we did her basement/family room, mudroom, guest bath, and tween bedroom of their old home before they moved). She lives nearby and I knew I could help so I took it on, thinking that it could be fast and fun. While it has been fun, nothing is fast anymore (design takes time y’all) but today I’ll show you where we are at (and if all goes as planned, we’ll be shooting in less than a month). There is still 25- 30% left to do, mostly all the stuff that I love (i.e. styling). I’ll walk you all through it now.
As a reminder, this is what it looked like when they moved in – great bones, but needed a point of view that reflected their style. They had mostly starter furniture that they had had for over a decade. They were ready for more high-quality pieces. At the time I had a few pieces of furniture from Rejuvenation leftover from my house that I couldn’t make work in my home so I pitched them this partnership in hopes of making it a win/win for all. Here is where we are at:
Chandelier | Leather Sofa | Swivel Chairs
We replaced the lighting which was a HUGE change in the room. The chandelier in the dining room made that room so much better (and it comes in dark red shades, too). We painted the built-ins this dark color, Mount Etna, and it’s absolute perfection (thank god). It was a bit of an investment – $3k to paint so I was so relieved to come over and see that it was PERFECT (we got multiple quotes, some as much as $4,200- WILD).
Facing the fireplace (which is also their TV room) we have the pretty leather tufted sofa which feels so classic and cool. Above it I want to put a gallery wall with an articulating sconce. The rug is perfect – so big, cozy, and forgiving (they have two sons and dogs, so we wanted a busier rug and we ordered it before our first rug line came out).
While the paint color is perfect, the shutters are still my biggest problem. Functionally they love them, but I don’t think they are right for the house. So I finally ordered some readymade ones that we’ll try to turn into curtains – either cafe curtains or a DIY Roman shade. Wish us luck!
We tried out this Article chair and ottoman that we had from another project and sadly it doesn’t work.
This chair and ottoman is so big and comfy but I think it’s a bit low and long for the space. Plus now that the fireplace is painted dark it’s not working. It was never intended for this project, I just had it from another project and it wasn’t being used so I brought it over to try out. It’s a GREAT chair, btw.
We are letting the paint cure for a bit to make sure it doesn’t get pulled up with books and frames, and then we’ll style it all out.
The Dining Room
This room has just come alive – it was pretty darn boring before – just neutral walls and white built-in. We wallpapered it in this William Morris Snakeshead and it’s just so good.
Wallpaper (Indigo/Cumin) | Pulls | Knobs | Rug
The wallpaper with the paint color and the new hardware. The dining table is a family heirloom and the chairs are a nice contrast (in both shape, color and style). I’m debating getting cushions for them…
We have a lot of styling to do, but that’s all easy for me. The rug in here looks SO GOOD and that chandelier could not be more perfect. I want to get pretty accessories (photo frames, a mirror, some lamps, better pillows, etc) and then figure out this curtain instead of the shutter situation.
We have it on the calendar to shoot in a month so coming at you really really soon :)
The first thing that struck me was–are the living room walls now “too white” given the dark built ins, dark couch, and wallpapered dining room? Would you consider a coordinating wallpaper in the living room, or better yet, a lighter version of the bookcase color on the walls/tonal look? Might be cozier and more put together?
Oh, and I think if you go with a darker wall color, the shutters will be completely fine. They look great now and are super practical.
Shutters block a lot of the window, and the finishes in here are pretty hard, so I think window treatments will add some necessary softness.
Pretty color on the mantle and built-ins, but it’s so dark and doesn’t match the style of the house. Would have loved to see if the mantle could be stripped to its original wood and stained. Otherwise, the white is appropriate for what looks like a charming Colonial Revival house.
The built in paint color reminds me of a Victorian color
I love Victorian dark cast iron fireplaces though so maybe that’s why.
Ooo, so true, Kristi. I think that’s why I like it, too.
This post makes me so happy! I know ya’ll started this project pre-survey, but this is what (my vote!) was to see more of – real houses with items that are high quality but aren’t outrageously priced. Can’t wait for the final reveal!
PS- I’d love a post on how to pick wallpaper that’s right for your house and room (small scale v large scale, traditional or modern, what to do if you have wood trim (I live in an old craftsman)). I’m finding it brutal to land on one- there are millions out there, and it’s an EXPENSIVE choice!
Great point. Love real house content.
Love nothing more than wallpaper with unpainted wood trim! If you’re stuck on color palette issues, I suggest checking out Arlyn’s wood kitchen cabinet series and find something similar to the tones of your trim for color ideas.
It looks great! I am wondering where that coffee table came from?
The Woodson from Rejuvenation
Looking great! I have been working to pick a color for our fireplace to downplay the dated gas insert (not in the budget to replace anytime soon) and I am taking note of this color! Love it! Looking forward to seeing the final styling and what you do with the windows.
It’s very refreshing to see this process. I have used online design services for a few rooms in my house and they still aren’t finished – I slowly make changes as I get inspired. It’s so nice to see these rooms come together as a work in progress – I can identify things I like, don’t like, come up with ideas for what could work. And it looks like a real home that someone is putting together (which they are!) as opposed to a stunningly perfect before-and-after with filters. This is great! I love the wallpaper in the room. Im sure everything will be wildly different and cohesive with styling, too. Also think cushions on the dining chairs would bring a lot of texture and warmth to the dining table.
also, maybe I’m missing the point, but I just don’t think I’d comment that I don’t like the paint color when a) it’s done b) it’s a real home and c) it was wildly expensive
I think it would be beneficial for everyone to remember that there is a real family that lives in this house, that likely had input into the colors, that will see these comments too. If you wouldn’t say it to someone directly in person, it shouldn’t be typed on the internet.
I also love seeing the styling of real homes and the process in a more real-time manner. Houses take time to come together! It’s not an hour long HGTV show. Love these posts so much and looking forward to the final room reveals!
I love the colors in the dining room – the blue built ins, the rug and the wall paper are quite wonderful together.
I love the colours too! Question: online, the colours of that dining room Rejuvenation rug look a lot more bright/primary vs. the photos here, where the colours look more grey-ed out. Would you say the pictures from Robyn’s room capturing the colours accurate to real life?
YES. its more bright and saturated in person and then i think over time more grayed out. we were happy about this but one of the reasons we moved it into the dining room.
Thank you, Emily! You’re amazing to make time to respond!
It’s coming along beautifully, I can’t wait to see it styled out! I really am happy with my current home decor styling, but every time I see one of these “ before-afters”, I get the itch to try something new, ha!
This may be a silly question (because I’ve always just painted everything myself) but why is painting the built-ins so expensive? What am I missing? Is there something about built-ins or the style of paint that makes DIYing the painting a no-go? Genuinely curious as I have built-ins I’ve been wanting to paint but maybe I shouldn’t. Although, if outsourcing the painting is $3k they’ll never get painted! ha! Love the direction this is all going. I kinda like the shutters myself but I’m sure you’ll find something else that’s workable. They seem nice and functional?
My thought would be it’s better quality if you hire the painting out. But my budget doesn’t allow for that so I’ve always painted everything myself and touched up along the way as things get dinged and such!
I’m assuming the high cost was to have them properly prepped for the new paint, and for protecting everything in both rooms to then spray the woodwork for a more even/smooth finish free of the brushstrokes. We are looking at having our kitchen cabinets professionally painted and the quotes are coming in around $6k-$7k (not a ton of cabinetry). Quality work from outside sources to support people’s livelihoods is expensive, but in certain cases well worth the investment.
I think using a roller is just not practicable on built-ins, which means it takes longer and is more finicky, so it primarily reflects painters’ increased time and effort.
I think it is the prep time, the high end sprayers, high quality paint, expertise, and the region. I had my whole kitchen/bar/laundry closet cabinets, and living room paneling done in a large metropolitan area and it was like $8,000 in 2018. Could I have done it (less well absolutely) sure, but the materials/time/experience and durability are definitely what you are paying for. I feel like diy’ers make everything look easy/fast but in reality good work takes expertise and time. My two cents why a lot of people hire it out when they can.
As someone who has painted LOTS of things myself and also hired people to paint my house: my suspicion is these were high-quality painters charging near the top of the range (as they should), which included allowing plenty of time between coats, appropriate sanding between coats, etc. From these pics it looks like they may have used a high-gloss paint, which shows mistakes more easily, so that may have been another reason to hire the top end.
You absolutely can paint built-ins yourself. Expect it to take a bit of time, especially if you want a really professional result: you’ll want to clean them, sand, then allow as much time as is listed on the paint can for each coat to dry before putting the next coat on. It’s not a one-afternoon or even a one-day project. Benjamin Moore Advance paint is a good one for any kind of shelving; it has a formula that cures hard instead of the stickiness that a lot of regular latex paint has. Good luck!
We had our computer furniture from Thomasville painted and that new paint is impervious to nicks, scratches, and is easily cleaned. It was expensive but worth every penny. If you can find a meticulous, professional painter like ours, you will not regret the investment.
I think that price is absolutely absurd. Conservative estimate: 3 hrs to sand everything down, 1 hr to vacuum, dry wipe, and damp wipe; 3 hrs to prime; 3 hrs for 1st coat; 1 hr for light sand and wipe down; 3 hrs for 2nd coat. Depending on paint, you could be done at this point, after <15 hrs. Shouldn't be more than $1100.
My point is next time Emily, hire me! I'll charge $75/hr plus the cost of an economy+ ticket from Hartford to Portland. I'm mostly kidding, and this is a crazy idea, but wouldn't it be fun if you actually did this? Hire out jobs from your audience?! Kinda risky I suppose. I swear I'd do a good job! ha.
haha. listen. i thought that the first quote opf $4100 was obsurd, but as the second quote came in I was like ‘well maybe this is the rate now’. if this were my home i might have taken the chance on a super cheap painter or DIY but if you are doing someone else’s home the risk is just not worth the emotional stress. I also think its regional.
I was wondering the same thing as I, too, paint everything in my home myself and am curious as to why this job would cost thousands of dollars. It seems like it would have been a manageable DIY to save some $, but maybe I’m missing some details about the prep and labor involved.
I always paint everything myself – even when paying for remodel jobs I save money by doing the painting. I’ve painted kitchen cabinets, bookcases, dressers, tables, beds, floors, stairs, even kitchen and bathroom counters. I do hate the prep time, but have learned it is well worth it. I usually use Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel for furniture.
One of my favourite types of posts and I personally enjoy you sharing the process of trying different things and how they sometimes don’t work, even if a lovely piece.
I’m definitely in the camp that loves the shutters. Curious to know why you don’t think they work.
Like other commenters, I’m really enjoying seeing this progress shot. The solid foundation is set but that EHD ‘magic’ isn’t there yet. Which makes me really excited to see how much of a difference styling makes! Thanks for sharing the ‘process,’ love it and would enjoy more like this.
I love the wallpaper in the dining room – but the ceiling is crying out to be painted! The white is too much contrast with the moodier feel of the room.
Yes I was wondering if this would be an option. Match the built-ins?
I am Team Shutters or Team Shades, or really, Team Any Option Before Curtains. I know designers are in love with curtains (“they finish a room” yada yada) but I think that a lot of nondesigners — aka, people who just living in an average homes on modest means — curtains are just dust collectors and expensive mistakes. To me, they make a room look formal and cold, not cozy and welcoming. Probably makes me very un-chic, but there it is. :)
I generally agree with you, but I’d just say (to the owners)… I hope you decide to keep the shutters in storage, just in case! Keep them in case you or a future owner ever wants to go back! Custom shutters are not cheap, and I’ve heard that they are the one window treatment that can actually add to your home’s resale value. They’re great for light and temperature insulation as well. But if you don’t like the look, of course put up something you like better. (Just save them haha)
I like curtains because they add softness, color, and pattern. Things I like to see in a room. I don’t hate shutters, but I grew up with them, and talk about attracting dirt and being difficult to clean! One of my chores as a kid, and I HATED it. I agree with JJPP, below, to keep the shutters in storage. Custom shutters ARE expensive, and it’s nice to have a future alternative.
Dusting shutters is a wicked task for sure
I wonder are you thinking of blinds and mini-blinds not wood shutters? I find drapery panels hard to clean. Most people don’t clean their curtains properly, and they are covered in dust and grime.
Heh, I have a fabric attachment for my vacuum cleaner, so it’s easy for me to keep them clean. I just really hated the piece-work nature of cleaning blinds OR shutters — each slat has to be cleaned individually, and I found it a pain. Other people I’m sure feel differently!
I love the softness of curtains. I like the function of shades. if i were living in the bahamas i’d love these shutters :P)
Ahhh, I love the dining room so much, good job friends! I, too, was wondering about the $3K cost for painting that millwork. WOOF. I understand that’s just the cost these days if you want it done the super duper best way… but like someone else said, I’d rather do it myself for the cost of paint and expect to have to touch it up down the line. Guess that’s why I don’t run a design blog and Emily does!
maybe this is me being envious and wishing i had such an option, but the shutters are gorgeous and look to be high quality. would definitely keep them!
Beautiful progress. I’d love a link for the dining chairs!
They look like the Byers Arm Chair from Rejuvenation?
It really is so fun to see a real house project that takes time to complete. Can’t wait to see it finished next month. I like the color of the built ins and that you all did something different by going dark. Did you ever consider using the same dark color on the inside and shelves of the arched built in bookcase on the opposite wall? Could be so cool and nice to repeat that color elsewhere.
The dining room rug is perfect with the wallpaper and the color of the buffet. The room is gorgeous now. I couldn’t see the blue in the Mount Etna paint in the first picture, so I didn’t care for it at first. Now, I love it.
Love this project! I’m interested in a roundup of swivel chairs.
Love the couch in there! Wondering if the coffee table needs to be a different material and different color for sure – too much brown
I LOVE the leather sofa from Rejuvenation, but sadly can’t afford it. Can anyone recommend something similar at a lower price point? Thanks in advance :)
Thank you, Faya!
Yes fun cushions with piping! Also can you share all the articulating sconce options being considered? Wanting to get a plug-in sconce for ages for the living room and haven’t committed to anything
Love it – the dining room is so close! Agree that the shuttles are too much hardness in the space, a mix of curtains and Roman’s would be ideal. Would you consider beefing up the shelves in the built in? They look a little spindly (maybe 3/4” thick?). Or replace with a mid tone thick wood – that would be dreamy. Can’t wait to see the gallery wall – I’m doing one in a similar space above a sofa and also though of adding a sconce :)
This is looking so warm and cozy and absolutely gorgeous!