Thursday, June 13, 2013

Taking my home from warm to cool!


OK folks. This is a BIG one! I took a huge plunge and decided to transform my house from warm tones
to cool tones. Crazy. I really don't know what got into me (Pinterest). I wasn't even really planning a big
re-decoratng project, just some tweaking here and there. It all started with new couches and just
snowballed into a life of its own - isn't that always the way?!
So this was a two-fold issue because first I had to explain to the hubs that we were re-decorating. For no reason.
Every other time new decor has appeared it was because we moved. So I had to tell explain to him that you don't
just move in, decorate and then live with that decor for the next 40 years. Yes. I know. I laughed too!
The second issue - which relates to the first - was how to do this affordably! I mean, the man can only take so much!
All my our homes have been warm colors. So this was new for me AND for him. I ended up pretty much
re-painting the whole main level - the family room, hallways and dining room.
Today I am going to show you the family room though. So, (drumrolls) without further ado,
lets peek at the before again - nice cozy gold tones...
And now. The after!
Wow, right?! I am loving it. Mindbogglingly different! Those are the new Pottery Barn Comfort couches
I agonized over investing in. And the curtains are new (paid for with the rewards I got back for using a
Pottery Barn credit card to buy the couches!). Everything else is pretty much the same. So the wall color
was the big change. I love the black trim with the blue. Everything really pops so nicely.
The color I used is Ben Moore Palladian Blue (xoxo). Let me take you the rest of the way around the room...
Sorry about the photos - it is so hard to get a good shot with those big windows. The mantle is going to get tweaked
soon. I am adding some shells and beachy touches for summer! And yes. I left those dog beds in these shots.
I am not sugar-coating this room by cleaning up everything before I take pictures! Don't take it personally!
I also left that big floor pillow in that burgundy chair to disguise it.
There is usually a small armchair in this corner. If you follow me on FaceBook you know that I took the two chairs
from this room to be recovered. I LOVE the fabric I picked and can't wait to see them when they are done!
It is hard to see but that is grasscloth wallpaper on the ceiling. I love that it works even better in the room now
than it did before! And you get a glimpse of the painted hallway (that was a darker shade of gold before too) and the
dining room that had the black wallpaper before! I'll post on that separately.
And back around to the couches (and another dog bed!)
I still need to figure out what I am doing about that burgundy chair. It is throwing the whole mojo of the room off.
But that is my son's favorite spot. I may slipcover it. I'm just not sure yet. I'm sure it will come to me soon though!

So that is the tour. I hope you love it as much as I do. The hubs is coming around. At first he wasn't loving it but now
he says it is growing on him. I think it just felt "different" for a few days. I know it did for me. I still need to do some fine tuning and change some accessories but all in all I am ecstatic! Feels like a whole new house!

Thanks for visiting! I will show you the dining room soon!

Linking up at:
Coastal Charm
Cedarhill Ranch
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
City Farmhouse
DIY By Design
From My Front Porch To Yours
The Shabby Creek Cottage
No Minimalist Here
Jennifer Rizzo
French Country Cottage

13 comments:

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Beautiful, Lisa! I love that wall color!

Anonymous said...
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Houzstyle said...

Your home is beautiful and thanks for sharing.

The Joyful Thrifter said...

that room is night and day!!! I have been thinking of doing the exact same thing in one of my rooms, and this really got me inspired!!

Smiles,
Rachael
The Joyful Thrifter

Lisa @ HouseOfFabForLess said...

Thanks. This was a huge change for me but I am so glad I did it! The kitchen is still a bit warm but that Revere Pewter is the prefect transition color!

chateau chic said...

What a beautiful transformation!!! It looks so pretty and bright. Love the color you chose for the walls.
I'm a new follower and fellow Virginian. I hope you'll stop by.
Mary Alice

Christy James said...

Hi Lisa! I came to visit you back after you left a sweet comment about my garden! I'm always happy when I'm led to a great blog! First, I love the cool tones in your living room and I love the pillows! The wall color is similar to what I have in my bedroom, love it! I also visited your outdoor space post and I love it, too! I'd love to come over for a nap under that pergola anytime ha ha! And I went to Lucketts, too! I live in Va Beach, it was a little less than 4 hours for me. I dragged my mom and my son and we made a weekend out of it. Next year we need to organize a picnic or something so we have more time to meet and mingle! That's as far as I read, I have to go watch Real Houswives of Orange County I have DVR'd now! (That'll be our little secret mkay?) Take care!
Christy

Patty Rumaker said...

Wow! What a change, isn't it amazing what some paint and some slipcovers can do. It is as if they whole room received some sunlight. It is lovely and I really like the grass cloth on the ceiling. I just found your blog through Savvy Southern Style and I will be following you on bloglovin. Would love for you to stop by my blog sometime.
Thanks, Patty

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Love the new cool tones!! The room looks wonderful!!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Lisa, I love the new look and the paint color is wonderful. Check out this week's Open House party to see your room featured. Thanks for linking!
xx,
Sherry

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Looks beautiful! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!

Unknown said...

Love it all! New follower here!

Red X Transport said...

Transforming a home from warm to cool is quite a huge challenge—but you were able to pull that off. Three thumbs up to you, Lisa. The interiors are even cosier and vibrant than usual. Good job! Will certainly look forward to your posts in the future.

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Thank you for your comments! ~ Lisa