Yesterday we told you about our plans to make over our old house before we put it on the market, and today I’m back to walk you through our design process. As far as I’m concerned, the design process is the stuff dreams are made of – you get to go wild with dreams and possibility. In fact, you have an obligation to do so.
While I always have to scale back (hello, budget), and redefine my dreams, I think examining the process is worthwhile. Have a look at the ideas we considered in bringing this room into all its glory.
We are happy to partner with Shaw Floors on this makeover project. They have a beautiful line of carpet called Life Happens, which has a LifeGuard waterproof backing that keeps all liquids above the surface so you have time to clean them completely. It also features Shaw’s R2X Stain & Soil Protection System which prevents stains and soils. It keeps the carpet fresh and clean, which is tremendously important in a vacation home that’s designed to have people moving through it.
My first step in designing is always searching for inspiration. I love Pinterest for this process because I can save all my favorites in one place. In the case of this living room I knew I wanted to go for a mid-century look, with lots of neutrals: warm whites, gray, natural wood tones, and black and blue (Is blue a neutral? I say yes!).
Here’s a closer look at some of the images I saved:
And here are some of the mood boards I put together based on the color palettes, pieces, and looks we were going for:
Do you see those carpet and paint swatches? We’ll let you know all about the specific colors we chose tomorrow, but those are real live swatches for you to feast your eyes on. They are a perfect pair, creating a neutral canvas for a relaxed, mid-century vibe.
I like to start out my design process from the floor up. In most cases, the floor is a design element you won’t be able to change easily, so it’s important to get it right. This living room was already carpeted (with no hardwood underneath), so we knew we’d be doing a wall-to-wall carpet. New hardwood just wasn’t in our budget, and with this room having so many exposed windows, it needed something to keep it warm and cozy in the winter months.
I can picture the future owners relaxing in this room, enjoying the soft carpet, and feeling right at home! And since the Shaw LifeHappens carpet is super durable and stain resistant, they won’t have to worry too much about tipping over the odd glass of wine or sippy-cup now and again.
After selecting a carpet pattern and color we liked, we realized we had to re-paint. Although we liked the existing color, it was just too close to the new carpet color, and we wanted something brighter.
The next big design decision centered around the sofa. We knew we wanted a sectional for cozy seating. The current orientation of the room wasn’t functional, with the sofa so far away from the television. Our sofa selection ended up influencing the entire orientation of the room, which was a huge (and happy) surprise.
Let me wax poetic about the sofa we ended up choosing, because I am in love with it. The color is so rich, bold, and beautiful. It has enviable lines and tufting. The shape will work beautifully in the room and help give it an intentional orientation (that has been a real struggle with the competition between the wall of windows and fireplace focal points).
Now we’re down to the nitty-gritty; wall art, styling items, and a few little tweaks (like moving the curtains up four inches). As with any room makeover, there’s always more to do than you first plan for. But I believe that once potential buyers see the new living room photos in the listing, the extra effort will be worth it.
Check back tomorrow to see the final reveal … it’s not going to disappoint!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shaw Floors. The opinions and text are all mine.
