We love a dark room transformed into a bright, airy space, and in summer we especially appreciate the beachy, coastal style Jessica created with help from our friend Rhoda. Read Jessica’s note about the makeover below:
We finally finished our family room makeover. It felt like this project took forever. The previous palette and furniture were darker and more traditional, and the old sofa set looked small and lost in the space. I decided to shift the room toward a cottage-inspired, Pottery Barn-style look. This was a joint effort with Rhoda from Southern Hospitality—her guidance was invaluable. Here’s the “before” snapshot:
Once the dark paint was gone and I began adding planks to the walls, the room started to come alive:
To get the look I wanted, I installed 1×8 tongue-and-groove knotty pine planks on the walls. That portion felt like it took forever. My dad taught me how to use the nail gun, then promptly disappeared for two months while I finished the work. It was winter, and he preferred hibernating in front of the TV—he didn’t want any part of the project.
I painted the planks Benjamin Moore White Diamond and the upper wall Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue. I added a two-inch shelf along the top of the planked area to define the transition between the planks and the painted wall—perfect for leaning framed photos and artwork.
The drapes are burlap. I loved Pottery Barn’s deep-pocket burlap panels, but at $75 per panel that would have been costly. Instead I bought burlap on sale—55 yards at $1.99 per yard—and used a 40% off coupon to create ten no-sew burlap panels for under $130. Considering there are five large windows, that was a great saving.
We also invested in a new sectional sofa, which I found on sale at a local furniture shop—what a deal. I ordered the fabric for the pillows and the window seat (now a bench) from fabric.com. My favorite pattern is the Thomas Paul Dalia print in gray.
That’s the reveal! A huge thank-you to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for her help throughout the whole process. We love spending time in this room—watching TV together as a family or just browsing the web. – Jessica
Read Jessica’s full reveal with additional photos on her blog to see more of the impressive plank work and other details. The lighter furnishings, soft blue wall, geometric rug, handmade burlap curtains, and the ceramic birds above the TV each add to the refreshed, coastal-inspired atmosphere. What’s your favorite element of the makeover?