Family Room Reveal: Before and After

I was perfectly happy with my family room.

I loved the red check curtains,
the cottag-y slipcovers, and my dad's pine trunk.

I loved it even more when I got a new grey couch!
And it looked great with everything that was already in the room.
No need to change anything!

But one day, just for fun, I hung up some grey fabric
to see what it would look like instead of the red checks.

Then I just happened to find this great rug when
I was shopping on vacation.
I wasn't looking for it, it was just there!

Well, one thing always leads to something else,
so I made new slipcovers in a navy ticking
and new pillows to keep a pop of red.
(Plus, I wanted to keep the little red dresser in the corner)


I also brought in an old over-stuffed chair and painted it grey,


traded the heavy, dark trunk for an airy, white table,


and made new pillows for the couch,
including some red-checked ones!

Repurposed: Fun Chalkboards from a Vintage Dresser Top

This was once the top of a dresser, circa 1980. You know, a big mirror in the center with frosted flowers decorating it, sconces on the two side pieces.

 The dresser got a nice white paint job and went on to a better place, but this sat in my garage for 2 years, totally in my way, because I just didn't know what to do with it.

I finally removed the sconces and had Husband cut it in three pieces. The mirror broke, but everything else stayed in good shape. He then added luan to the backs and I set to work:

a large chalkboard with shelf

turquoise chalkboard with cubby

navy chalkboard with cubby.

This is why I never throw anything away!