When Ashley excitedly sent along her living room photos after our big mood board makeover we couldn’t wait to share them. Here’s her letter:
Well here they are… our AFTER pictures! We love the mood board that you put together for us. It completely helped us in getting the look we wanted. We’re so happy that we replaced most of our hand-me-down furniture with more modern (yet inexpensive) pieces. We (and when I say “we” I really mean my hard-working husband!) repainted, installed new baseboards, had new floors put in, and used your help to bring our 1968 ranch up-to-date! We are excited to share the pictures with you and your readers! Hope you enjoy. – Ashley
But perhaps we should refresh your memory with the before pictures first:
And here’s the mood board we whipped up after Ashley came to us for some help bringing her room up to date with some crisp and current furnishings and accessories (check out more mood board details here):
Now for the big reveal. Here’s what Ashley’s living room looks like after her big mood board makeover:
Isn’t that amazing? It looks like a totally different house, right? Of course the new hardwood floor paired with those freshly painted cream walls make all the difference in the world. But bringing in rich leather and dark wood furnishings along some lighter upholstered pieces, a large textured rug, and some pops of color in the lamps, art, and glass vases on the mantel really added a ton of definition and vibrance.
And it’s funny to note that the fireplace was already painted white in the before photos but it formerly felt anything but crisp. Yet somehow with the new updates in place it fits right in and feels oh so fresh. And even though the room has a large dark entertainment center and two deep toned leather sofas it still feels open and airy thanks to the lighter walls, ottoman, rug, and accent chair. We’re loving the balance of light and dark paired with some nice splashes of color. Oh and getting back to that awesome ottoman, we can totally picture it full of trays of treats while entertaining- or even just occupied by a big Monopoly board for the family to gather around. The whole space really is super inviting.
So now we’ll take a moment to toss out a huge THANK YOU to Ashley for sending us her gorgeous mood board after pics. We totally do the happy dance any time they pop up in our inbox. Didn’t she and her husband do an amazing job bringing the mood board to life? What’s your favorite part? We’re loving the colorful table lamps and art that add interest and a splash of happy to their newly transformed space. So let’s all shower them with praise for being so wonderful and sending us their pretty after pics. And here’s hoping that more Design Dilemma after photos will be landing in our inbox very soon…
Update: We sadly can no longer find the time to take on client commissioned mood boards (and just whip up general inspiration boards instead) but if we ever reinstate them we’ll make a big announcement on the blog!
anna see says
Great job, Ashley! You really took YHL ideas and ran with them. Your room is so up-to-date and inviting. You are inspriring me to make some changes of my own.
Sheryl J says
I absolutely love after pics. I loved your color palette and the way the room turned out makes me love it even more. So simple and chic!
Paula S. says
The portfolio link works for me.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Paula! It appears to have ironed itself out. Love when that happens!
xo,
s
Melly says
Ashley, your room looks incredible! It’s so crisp and clean looking and inviting at the same time. My favorite piece is that entertainment center. I’m a sucker for those X’s on the sides.
Melly says
And Sherry, I just have to add that I completely support your statement that “we believe in supporting people’s right to choose what they want to surround themselves with so their home feels perfect and beautiful to them”. We all have a right to choose without being bullied by others.
shanna says
Love this! It looks so crisp and beautiful, yet homey & inviting at the same time. You and the homeowners made a great team! I, too, had to go back and look at the white fireplace. I thought you had them paint it. Such a lovely transformation.
To the poster Katie above – you could frame fabric for the same effect as those great C&B prints. And then use any extra fabric to make pillow covers to bring the print into the room even more. :)
Stephanie says
Someone asked about a DIY version for that art and I was pondering the same thing…I think that I am going to make it a habit to check the scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby-there is so many different papers now and some with very graphic designs so we might find something similar and then just pop it in a frame! Just an idea!
TheCarolinaHousewife says
Absolutely gorgeous!!! Ashley, what a great job! :-)
NikKidd says
I love the room, and not only because they bought the same entertainment center I did! :)
Can’t wait until I’m closer to finished with my rooms so I can share the look!
Jennifer Savin says
Where did you find that entertainment center?? I love it!
Laura@JourneyChic says
Fantastic transformation! I love the new lamps – they add so much character to the room.
Cheryl says
I wrote earlier but must have forgotten to click the ‘submit’ button. Wanted to say that I love those lamps and wish they came in white. And since this moodboard was done in Sept., I can see why the round mirror is no longer in stock. Really like how you pulled together the light and dark in this room’s furnishings.
not sure if you’ve seen the West Elm bell jar lamp yet or not but it seems like a good one to lighten up a space. I may try it on my new white parsons desk. This post helps me see how I might combine the light and dark in this den/study I’m now decorating.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cheryl,
Your comment actually came through the first time and we answered your question as well, so feel free to scroll back through the comments to see those two entries. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sarah S says
Fabulous! What an improvement? Ashley, would you mind sharing where you got the entertainment center? Love it!
Jill Stigs says
FANTASTIC job! Loved this moodboard when it first hit and they did great making it a reality. Love it all and thanks to Ashley and her hubs for sending in after pics! We love after pics!!
Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise says
Great job Sherry and John! Those lamps are to die for! And the color on the walls with the fireplace is perfect!
Amy King says
I was wondering how I could find out where they got their entertainment center. I love the dark wood look. I have been in the market for one myself and theirs is exactly what I have been wanting.
Thanks,
Amy
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We’ve emailed Ashley to let her know that there are lots of questions for her over here, so here’s hoping she drops in soon with that info!
xo,
s
Beth says
The bottom link is working for me now – just checked again.
Katrina says
Great transformation, I love the cube ottomans very clever and nice. I’m also loving those LAMPS, its the perfect pop of color
Kristina says
This is just beautiful! The colors pop and it looks so fresh. I love it and so wish it were my room!
Erin says
Gorgeous makeover, and so inspiring! I hope Ashley does check in I would LOVE to know what color paint she used on the walls. I was thinking of doing something similar to brighten up our living room. Thanks!
Janny A. says
What a beautiful transformation!!! I love everything!!!
Jen says
I’m curious to know where she got that chair?
Yolanda says
What I love about the mood board, and the finished room we see here, is that they are both great examples of how small pops of repeated color can carry do mileage in a what is otherwise a neutral room. Just imagine that room with black and white art, typical white lamps, and no cushions on the couch. It would still have great bones, but would look completely blah. But this room has energy and life to it. It’s beautiful.
Hannah says
I think it looks great! Fresh and clean–the floors and paint make such a difference. I love those prints.
It’s also a great base for a timeless room. If they get tired of the pictures or pillows in a few years, they can just switch them up and have a totally different look. The foundation pieces will last a long time and be versatile. Two thumbs up!
Ashley says
WOW! Thanks everyone for your kind words~
we had such a fun time taking the awesome mood board we got from Sherry & John and implementing their ideas to our home. I will try to answer the questions y’all asked. If there are any more please let me know!
The ottoman’s were a STEAL. I found them at Marshall’s on clearance. They were originally $50 and I got them for $20 each!
The media center is from Rooms to Go. We had never bought anything from there before however, after searching for just the right piece we decided this was the one we wanted! Here is a link:
http://www.roomstogo.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=showItem&ipac_id=15813
The floors are actually a 12mm laminate from Lumbar Liquidators. Initially we were just going to do new flooring in the den and install hardwoods. We wanted to stain the parquet that was in the living/dining and hallway to match. However, after a unexpected foundation issue, we had to cut costs as much as possible. We found this laminate that seemed to be a great quality and still within our budget. So, we ended up ripping out the parquet and redoing the living/dining/den/hall with it. We have been very happy so far. We love the look of it and how easy it is to keep. It does not click like some laminate does. Most people think it is hardwood even after walking on it! Here is a link to the kind we bought:
http://www.lumberliquidators.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=3297&categoryId=418§ionId=4&subCategoryId=274
It we actually caught a sale price on that too! We hired someone to install it so it probably depends on where to are located to determine the costs. In our area, quotes we got were anywhere from $1.40 to $2.75 per square foot.
We also love the lamps! The fireplace was one of the things that started this whole ball rolling. We knew we wanted to paint it and when I Googled images of painted fireplaces, up popped YHL and I have been hooked ever since!
The sofas are actually from Ikea. They are sold in the store only (the name of them is Jappling) We have been very happy with them. They seem to be pretty well made and are holding up nicely to our 3 young kiddos!
The end tables are the Manhattan side tables from Target (they were suggested on our mood board) we love them! They were easy for my husband to put together and it is a great place to hide remote controls.
The time frame for the completion of our project was MUCH longer than we had anticipated. We ripped up the tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, got rid of the carpet in the den, took up the parquet in the living/dining/hall and then found out that we had some serious foundation troubles. We actually had to live on concrete for three months! (waiting for people, weather, etc) it seemed like it took forever. During this time, my husband repainted everything, installed all new baseboards and new doors, etc. whew! After the floors were complete, the process was not too bad (mostly my issues……for example it took me EIGHT mirrors to find one that looked “right” above the fireplace) I really wanted to one that was on my mood board, but before we installed the new mantle, it would not fit above the old spot (I did order it, but returned it because of that) I learned a lesson though b/c I should have kept it! After moving the new mantle down, it would have been perfect. Oh well~
As for the paint color, we used Benjamin Moore Palace White on the walls (after testing many, many colors it was the one we agreed on!)
The chair is from Overstock. It is from the Angelo Surmelis collection. I was a bit nervous about ordering it without seeing it in person, but it really turned out to be a fun chair! http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/angelo-HOME-Hepburn-Arm-Chair-Clay-Mango/4417939/product.html?rcmndsrc=2
Anyway, I think I answered most of your questions! Oh, also just a fyi, the armoire that was in the den is now in my boy’s room holding all of their playstation & wii stuff~so it is still getting a lot of use!
Many, many thanks again to Sherry & John. I have mentioned it to them before, but I want to say again what a wonderful job they are doing! They truly help change peoples lives for the better with their inspiration. I am so thankful that we were able to have their help in our redesign of our home!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ashley,
Thanks so much for stopping in with all that info! We’re so glad that you shared you after photos with us and we hope that you enjoy that room for years- no, decades- to come!
xoxo,
s (& J)
Cheryl says
sorry. I’ve gone through the responses twice and don’t see my first comment and your response. NOT a biggie, whatsoever. I’d rather you rest and do no more replying! enjoy your evening . . .
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cheryl,
That’s so weird! We actually could scroll back and see your comment and our response this morning but now it’s gone. Anyway you asked something along the lines of “do you think that mirror would look good over my parson’s desk with a glass based lamp?” and we totally think it would look amazing. We basically encouraged you to go for it and admitted that we loved the West Elm glass lamp that you linked to but also suggested checking out places like Target, TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and Marshall’s for a similar glass lamp on the cheap (and mentioned that you can also probably find a similar round mirror at one of those places as well). Happy hunting!
xo,
s
Lauren McCormick says
Sherry – you guys are amazing. Not only do you provide exquisite advice for complete strangers, but you take criticism with class, and you answer EVERY question. It’s amazing to me. :) But I guess that’s why you have so many fans! Good luck to you both in your new adventure in parenthood – you live in a wonderful place to raise her, as I grew up in good ol’ Midlo and can attest ;) I sure hope you’ve got posts stocked up for when the baby-ette arrives, as we’ll all be clammering to hear from you when your sleepless nights are no where near ending. Cheers!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lauren. You’re making us blush over here. And as for those stockpiled posts that you’re hoping we have… check. We started “saving” some great stuff a few months back and already have a slew of posts that are banked just for when the beanette arrives (we’re talking about some killer House Crashing tours along with a few great DIY projects, many Look & Learn features, a bunch of home improvement tutorials, and more). So as we say so often around these parts, stay tuned!
xo,
s
Danielle says
I’m honestly not digging the generic, bought-it-all-the-same-day-same-store look. I Loved the old armoire in the old picture though.
Katie says
This looks great! I love the pop of color from the lamps and how the new wall color makes the fireplace look so crisp.
BTW- I think I saw Cheryl’s other comment on Ashley’s original mood board post.
YoungHouseLove says
Mystery solved! That’s where those comments are Cheryl- on the original post! Here’s the link for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/09/ashleys-design-dilemma/
Thanks for the tip Katie!
xo,
s
Holly says
This transformation looks great! Honestly, it doesn’t hardly look like the same room. Love the media cabinet, the “open” sides look awesome!
Angela says
I LOVE it!!!! I would love more posts on furniture arranging. I just can’t get over how good this looks. I understand the idea of “floating” the furniture, grouping it around a rug and not just lining the walls, but I just can’t seem to see how that rule can apply to me and my house. Your blog is gorgeous, a daily read for me. I also admire your positive and upbeat outlook on life. You are two rays of sunshine! Thanks!
Molly says
Incredible transformation!!! It doesn’t even look close to the same space! :) I love the look of the art on the walls. Great job on both ends!!!
Nicole says
Ashley-
Thank you for sharing about the items you purchased for the makeover. I have been hunting for over a month now for a fairly small arm chair similar to the one you bought from Overstock. I am like you in that I am bit skeptical on buying things like chairs and sofas online without being able to test them out first. The chair you purchased seems to be a perfect fit for size and color for our newly made over living room. I wonder though is it comfortable? Obviously its a small and classy chair so comfort level will be different than a nice oversized chair, but for this style would you say it is well made and comfortable?
Any input would be great! Thanks again for posting!
Jac says
So cool to see an “after”!(feels like we rarely get to see the results of the moodboards – send your pics in people!). Very cool indeed!
Shanna says
You go girl! It looks absolutely fantastic! YHL- I love you! Thankyou for the great inspiration!
LW @ Aisle to Aloha says
I love the framed artwork from C&B! I have been wanting to switch out my artwork above our couch and I think I know just what to do now! I’m definitely going to be DIYing with some acrylics and canvases. I need some pattern in my life–now you’ve got my wheels turning!
Sinema says
Great – thx!
Ashley says
Nicole~ the chair is more firm than we were used to. (maybe we are still breaking it in?) However, we wanted something more streamlined than we had before so we thought we would give it a try. It is just the size we had in mind (we actually had another bigger chair there for a bit, but it just seemed too big) The pattern is fun. The material does have to be smoothed out a bit after it has been sat on for a while, but it is my 5 year old’s favorite chair to lounge in. The tricky thing about Overstock is that although you pay a cheap-o shipping price, if you want to return it, you have to cough up the $$. We figured if we did not like it we would just put in someplace else (or in a garage sale!) But, thankfully, it fits the bill!
Hope that helps!
Ashley says
The chair is not the strongest chair we have ever owned, but it has been holding up quite nicely so far. The legs screw on and the back slides on, so at least there are things that can be adjusted if it starts to feel wobbly! :)
Manon says
oh wow this looks amazing. I love the solved posts. Shows me so much that it really matters how to style your home.
Riki Zarris says
Have you seen the latest issue of Better Homes and Garden’s?They have a photo of a living room useing the same artwork in the same way over the couch. Not the same house is it? I guess I need to go back and look again.
Nicole says
Thanks for the feedback Ashley. I am going to look at it again and maybe go for the plunge-considering the price we can’t go wrong. It looks great in your living room btw!
Alexa Hall says
The room looks fabulous!! Love the entertainment center. Where can I find it?
Alexa
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alexa,
Ashley already dropped in with that answer so feel free to scroll back for that info. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mer says
The room looks great. Ashley, if you come back on, can you please let us know where you found the great rug? Thanks!
Ashley says
Hi Mar~we got the basket-weave sea grass rug at Lowe’s. It was a great deal (I think around $169 for an 8×10) You can special order rugs with different border colors, but we went with the taupe they had in the store.
Thanks!!
sue says
hey there! great redo! what color is the cream paint? thanks
YoungHouseLove says
I’m 99% sure it’s Benjamin Moore’s Ashen Tan. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ashley says
Hey Sue~It is actually Benjamin Moore Palace White. I wanted to go with the Ashen Tan, but it was a tad too dark for my husbands taste! We recently painted our bedroom BM Manchester Tan which I wish we had carried out in the living area. (it is great color between the Ashen Tan and Palace White. I don’t think you can go wrong though with any of their colors.
Jennifer B. says
Thanks for these pics.I have brown leather furniture and want to lighten up my room by painting my brick fireplace white. I have a brass insert and I saw on Young House Love that they painted that white too. I wonder if I need to do any special treatment to that before I paint. I want to incorporate turquoise or white with it all, painting wood tables, accessories. Any suggestions
You guys are awesome :)
YoungHouseLove says
You can remove your screen (it’s just held in by a few screws from the back (inside the firebox) and spray paint it white with a few thin and even coats. Just tape off the glass and use a straight razor to remove any paint that gets onto the glass afterwards. Good luck!
xo,
s
Val says
Do you know where the rug is from? Great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Overstock.com maybe? I’ve seen a lot of similar options there!
xo,
s
Brenda says
Oh WOW!!! Amazing makeover!! Can you please, please, please tell me where the entertainment center was purchased? It’s exactly what I’m looking for, and can’t seem to find anywhere! Thanks SO much!
YoungHouseLove says
I think it was JC Penney or Macy’s? Hope it helps!
xo,
s