• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Partner
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Southern Hospitality

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking, Fashion & Gardening

  • My Home
  • Categories
    • A+ Blogs
    • My Blog Story
    • Decorating
    • DIY/How-To
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • In the Kitchen
    • My Home Tours
    • Thrifting
    • Travel
  • DIY Gallery
  • Fashion
  • Feature Friday
  • Shop My Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Living Room Transformation

November 26, 2012 By Rhoda 91 Comments

69 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

I know you are all dying for another peek at the house progress, so we’ll start with the living room today.

Putting the living room together was a bit challenging at first, but I’m really happy with it now.  I was passing through there day after day, trying to figure out what I wanted to do in there as far as placing this and that.  I got my new drapes in and was eager to put them up, but really need another set of eyes to get them hung just right.  You know how that goes.  My friend, Debbie, came over for a few hours and we got the drapes hung and started moving things around.  And before I knew it, I was really liking the room.

Let’s look back again at the Before pics.  You have to know where we started in this house to really appreciate where I am now.

Remember this shot?

Amazing the difference, I can hardly believe it’s the same house either.

I look around in amazement every single day and say, “thank you, Lord” when I wake up every morning.  So, let’s look around.

Foyer table

This painted chest fit so well at the top of the stairs and I had this spot in mind for it all along.  I was happy to see it in place and how great it looks coming up the stairs.  My big antique mirror that I’ve had over 25 years works so well above it on this vaulted ceiling.  I am so happy with how all my furniture fits in here, like it was meant to be and it was!

LR After

The full view of the living room.  I’ll tell you a bit about my thought process on how I decided on fabrics in here and a rug.  I already knew that I was going to keep my walls really neutral this time around. I love the white on white paint look and thought it would really show off my antique dark wood pieces and my upholstered pieces too.

Ikat Drapes

When I chose the Ikat turquoise fabric (Tilbury from Calico Corners), I chose it because of its colors, bringing in the turquoise that I love, along with the gold and a bit of green in the fabric.  I knew that this would bridge all of my fabrics together and work well with those gold leather chairs, that are a strong bold gold.  I made the decision to only frame the windows with 2 panels and not try to put panels next to the fireplace since the windows butt up against it.  I love how they turned out with just a panel on each end of the windows.

The room is really cozy now with the rock fireplace, which also picks up the tones from my furniture.  I’ll be adding some gas logs to the fireplace soon, I hope.

The zebra rug from Shaw Floors (Zybra inTeal)  is the icing on the cake and just adding the drapes and the rug makes a lot of changes in my room, I think.

Chairs artwork

I had already begun to add some turquoise colors to my space before I moved and I made an even more concerted effort in this one.

table lamp and plant

You’ll recognize all my same accessories, I have so many things that I’ve collected over the years, so have plenty to choose from.

Chair vignette

Debbie and I brainstormed and brought this black desk that I found at a yardsale and painted black, upstairs to the living room and flanked it with 2 chairs that were in my old breakfast space.  Many of these things were found at yardsales, including the print on the wall, the iron sconces, and all those white pieces.  I still love my yardsale finds!

Chairs with Ikat

I had enough fabric to recover the chair seats and love how they look.  These chairs that I painted black many years ago have served me well over the years.

Fireplace

The fireplace was a good place to put my $5 firescreen, also a yardsale find and those 2 urns are from Willow House.  My new aqua glass floats work on top.  Eventually, I’ll get a rustic mantel for this fireplace as I do dearly love to have a mantel to decorate too. That preserved boxwood wreath came from Lowes.

Table Vignette

My round drum table holds some books and other pretties.  I brought a bit of Alabama cotton back to Georgia with me.

looking to dining room

Behind the sofa,which is an Ethan Allen sofa that I bought when I used to work there, I added my demilune little table that I painted aqua a couple of years ago.  The mirror above is from Kirklands and a recent find.  Those 2 columns were in my old dining room.

china cabinet

Another look behind the sofa, my china cabinet is a good backdrop on this wall.

So, that’s a look at how the living room is looking now and I couldn’t wait to share with all of you.  I love layers and that’s how it all came together.  Having something on that focal wall with the desk and 2 chairs was important to do, I think, to add more dimension to the room.

I’m getting out all my Christmas stuff this week and getting ready to add some Christmas cheer around this place.  I still have lots of organizing to do to get completely finished in my bedroom and office and all the extras are still in the den.

My roommate, Rhonda, will be here next week, so I’ve got to get moving.  Rhoda and Rhonda, say that really fast!  The funny thing is, I get called Rhonda ALL the time.  Ever since I started grade school, I have to correct people on my name constantly.  I told my mom she should  have just named me Rhonda.

Wait until you see what I’ve been up to in the laundry room/storage area.  I painted the concrete floor with stripes.  Couldn’t stand the thought of doing laundry in that dingy room, so we are fixing it up to make it at least presentable until I can give it an overhaul in the spring.  It’s looking so much better already.  Dad is coming over today to help me with that space.  Can’t wait to show you soon!

Hope you are having a great week and starting to get in the Christmas mood.  Don’t forget, our linky parties start next week!  Eeeek, I’ve got to get busy.

Related


Don't Miss a Post, join my list!

Filed Under: Decorating Ideas, House Renovation, Uncategorized 91 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Guerrina says

    November 26, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    Oh, Rhoda, I want to come sit in your living room! For all the white, it looks so warm and cozy and luxurious!

    Reply
  2. justine says

    November 26, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    It’s looking good! What about trying the big round mirror on the fireplace instead of the wreath. I think it would be gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      November 27, 2012 at 9:59 am

      Hi, Justine, I was going to do that, but haven’t taken the time to drill holes in the mortar of the fireplace. There was a hook up there already, so the wreath went up easily.

  3. Lady Delores LeBoeuf says

    November 26, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    How WONDERFUL – I am so very happy for you, thank you so much for sharing, I have been waiting for pics…love ’em, Love & Blessings

    Reply
  4. Carol Goodwin says

    November 27, 2012 at 4:57 am

    Your living room is absolutely beautiful!! You’re an inspiration!! I wish I had your energy!!

    Reply
  5. Terri says

    November 27, 2012 at 10:22 am

    I spy…… the little “aqua” table!!!! It made me smile… I love that table…. so glad to see that it followed you to Atlanta!!!! 🙂 …. the living room is gorgeous!!! PERFECT!!!! Terri

    Reply
  6. kathy from ct says

    November 27, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    You and your dear old did such a wonderful job. Kudos to your vision, hard work and determination.

    Reply
  7. diane says

    November 27, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    Really coming along and looks great. I am almost there with my remodel.

    I also redid my little laundry room by simply adding a shelf behind the appliances that I did not have and removing the center portion of the cabinet doors and replacing it with used chicken wire from an old storage area in the garage. Looks adorable! Guess I should post some pics on my blog!
    Thanks again for sharing all your hard work

    Reply
  8. Phyllis Haynes says

    November 27, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    It is beautiful! I am so happy for you.

    Reply
  9. kalynbrooke | Creative Savings says

    November 27, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    The one panel curtains look so unique! I’m also loving the fireplace.

    Been working on our living room as well, but it won’t be as nicely decorated since we are planning on moving out and renting the house.

    Reply
  10. [email protected] says

    November 27, 2012 at 10:36 pm

    Wow Rhoda! What a difference! I love your curtains 🙂 I’m sure you are thrilled to have all your own things back and placed in rooms again. Amazing what a year of time will do huh? So happy for you 🙂

    Reply
  11. KC says

    November 28, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Hi Rhoda,

    Not sure if you’ll see this post after a couple of days, but
    I was hoping you could give me some suggestions where to find columns? Yours are beautiful! I need height in my living room and I am getting a little tired of my faux ficus plant! I live in the Pittsburgh area and have no idea where to even start looking. You did answer someone’s other comment how the wreath was hanging from the fireplace. Your living room is gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      November 28, 2012 at 1:05 pm

      Hi, KC, thanks for stopping by! I got those columns years ago at Lakewood Antiques here in ATL, but they are closed down now. Scott Antiques has architectural salvage things too & you will need to find some place in your area that carries salvage pieces, that’s where you are likely to find columns. Do a search in your area and see what you come up with. These type places are really popular now. I’m sure Pittsburgh is no exception.

  12. angela | the painted house says

    November 28, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    And even prettier in person!! The whole space just makes a person feel warm and cozy. Thank you for the tour!

    Reply
  13. Jan says

    November 29, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    A huge transformation! Congrats on all your hard work.

    I think the big fake columns are tacky and don’t fit with your theme, also the room is quite cluttered, I think you will find over time that you don’t have to use every nick nack you own, less is more!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      November 29, 2012 at 10:01 pm

      Hi, Jan, the columns aren’t fake, they are real wood and I don’t have a theme. And believe me, I haven’t come close to using all my accessories. I have tons left on the shelves. I’ll never be a minimalist, that is for sure!

  14. Debra Jones says

    November 29, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Love your blog. I have that same fireplace screen. Bought is at Pier One-I think At least 14 years ago!

    Reply
  15. Ruby says

    November 30, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    Wow! My jaw literally dropped!! It just looks beautiful…I’m so happy for you. You, and your mom and dad, have worked so hard…and it certainly paid off!

    Reply
  16. phyllis says

    November 30, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    Rhoda, what a wonderful job you have done with this room! It is such a warm and inviting space and really sets the tone for the whole house—and is such a reflection of you. I am so glad that you have such a beautiful space to begin each new day.

    Reply
  17. Anne says

    December 2, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    What a beautiful transformation! Love the color on your walls,the curtains and fabric you chose on your chairs.It all looks amazing!
    xx
    Anne

    Reply
  18. Katie, The Design Apprentice says

    December 18, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    Oh my goodness, Rhoda! This is quite the transformation. I absolutely love all that you have done. I can not stop staring at this living room eye candy!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

Click Here

Click Here

Email Series
How to Decorate in
Classic Timeless Style
.....without breaking the bank!

House Renovation Journey!

Our Paint Colors

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header2

Featured here:

Better Homes and Gardens
Atlanta Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Partner

Copyright © 2023 · Southern Hospitality · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy

Get my FREE Email Series How to Decorate in Classic Timeless Style....without breaking the bank!
After years of decorating my own homes, I've learned a few tricks on how to create a classic home on a budget. Hope you'll join me!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.