PIVOTING PLANS IN THE LIVING ROOM

Since 2020, I’ve spoken about plans to build a cased opening to separate our 24-foot-long-wall dining and living room and then, install built-ins in our living room. Phase one was be installing a cased opening to separate the living and dining room, phase two would be built-ins.

This original post goes into allll my plans and dreams. Since then, we only accomplished half of the plan, which was building the cased opening (and it’s made such a difference in defining the living and dining room). 

We recently decided that we have other priorities around the house to get to before the baby comes in June, so we’re no longer doing the built-ins with a new fireplace in the living room right now. I didn’t want to accept it at first, but maybe one day we’ll get to it. It’s just not in the cards for us right now.

But now that we have a cased opening, the molding on the wall in our living room needs to be removed (you can see there was a box on the left that had to be removed for the cased opening, and now the boxes aren’t sized right):

If you’re interested in how I remove molding I have a “Molding Removal” story highlight on my IG

I’ve come to accept that this room will always be ever-evolving and to be honest, I like it that way. As I learn and develop an appreciation for slow design, the living room is my favorite place to tweak and refine my style. Here are my ideas to really get this room in a good spot now that we’re not doing built-ins:

• Remove the molding and skim coat the walls like I did in the dining room. Add remaining baseboard and crown molding throughout
• Paint the walls (yes – again) but this time, a mid-tone color outside of my comfort zone. I realized that white walls just don’t do it for me – they’re not visually stimulating (no offense if you like white walls). I’ve also never taken a “risk” in here so I feel like I can do that with a paint color like these two…

Farrow and Ball Hay (left) and Cord (right)

• Art – I’ve been thinking about splurging on an oversized commission with Hilary Howorth for over a year and I feel like the back wall can shine with a massive piece from her, like this one:

• The unicorn chest that’s currently on the left will go on the back wall, with a chair on either side. Ideally, I’d have a longer buffet on that wall because the space allows for it, but for now, the chest will do
• Larger base area rug that will help to better define the room. The current one is a 9×12 but I should be using a 10×14. I’ll order from my favorite eBay shop which sells manufactured damaged rugs at a super discounted price

• We replaced the large window in December which made a HUGE difference in the room, but it needs some shades and the old molding needs a paint job
• Sconces will go on either side of the window behind the curtains (likely with puck lights)
• I painted our railing and front door black a few years ago and it’s held up well, but the black makes the room feel like a jail cell when you walk in the house, so I plan to paint the spindles white to soften the look, and also the front door. I’m hoping this will help visually lighten the space

The updated scheme:

I’m really liking how everything looks with yellow-ish walls!

My to-do list is manageable enough to accomplish before the baby comes in June, right? LOL