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Young House Love » Reader Redesigns » Lee’s Design Dilemma: Solved

| By Sherry Petersik | March 8, 2010 | 79 Comments

Lee’s Design Dilemma: Solved

When Lee sent over her Design Dilemma after pictures we couldn’t wait to share them. We know that many of you are chomping at the bit to see how our mood boards turn out (believe me, we are too) so we’re always thrilled to see how those spaces transform after some pretty major room makeover-ing. You may remember that we whipped up this custom mood board for Lee a while back when she came to us for help turning her hodge-podge of a room into a space to sort mail, do homework, and store a few things in a more appealing way. Since the room’s visible from a plethora of other adjoined spaces, it serves as a pass-through but also needs to bring a lot more function and style to the table. Here’s the before picture to refresh your memory:

Ilya DD Pic2

And here’s the mood board that we created to inject order, balance and tons of eye-pleasing function to a formerly undefined and unfinished looking room (see more mood board details here).

Lees Design Board

And now for Lee’s big after pic. Here’s her newly spiffed homework and mail zone right off of the front room and the kitchen:

Lees Office Dining Makeover

Isn’t it endlessly more inviting and useful? We love everything from the big round pendant to the woven baskets that mimic the texture in the round jute rug under that great desk that stems from that fantastically functional wall of bookcases from Ikea. And here’s what Lee had to say about her big room makeover:

This overhaul was so exciting! We got nearly everything you suggested and as soon as we built all of the Ikea stuff it immediately started to look great in there. Your ideas really did make for a big change. We love it. The bowl on the desk is always changing (sometimes it’s full of fruit but I also love your crayon idea – we’ve got boatloads of those!). Brilliant work! Thanks so much! -Lee

No thank YOU Lee, for sending us your room update. You don’t even know how excited we get when they turn up in our inbox. Didn’t Lee do a fantastic job? We love that she added as many boxes and bins as she needed to meet her storage goals and that she’s having fun switching out the desktop bowl depending on her mood. This is one of those great transformations that shows how just a few quick and easy changes (like Ikea bookcases that mimic the look of built-ins, and a simple pendant light along with a textured jute rug and some affordable Ikea art) can really pull a formerly mismatched room together and add lots of form and function in a snap.

Plus Lee’s big presto change-o proves that you don’t have to break the bank for a big room makeover either. The entire bookcase and desk system was just $317 while the pendant light was only $49 and the rug was a mere $84 (so all those major pieces only set her back a total of $450). Not bad for starting over practically from scratch, right? So let’s all shower Lee with praise for being so wonderful and sending us her eye-pleasing pictures. And here’s hoping 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!

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Comments

  1. Avatar for ChristinChristin says

    March 8, 2010 at 9:59 am

    Really love it. What a fantstic idea for that kind of space. Great job!! And thanks for sharing the after photos! :)

    Reply
  2. Avatar for bethanybethany says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:00 am

    Hey! Semi-oddball question here…is that desk large enough to use as a kitchen table? I am thinking that this would work great in my small kitchen and house for this purpose!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 10:01 am

      If your goal was to seat two people (like a small cafe table) it could totally work! Plus you’d get all that built-in storage. We actually have the same desk/bookcase contraption in our basement so you can check it out here as well: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/12/tackling-the-basement-done/

      xo,
      s

  3. Avatar for MikiMiki says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:01 am

    It looks GREAT Lee! What an amazing, eye pleasing transformation.

    Reply
  4. Avatar for AmandaAmanda says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:03 am

    How exciting! It stores things functionally without being busy. I really like the pear art too!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for GinnyGinny says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Looks great!

    Reply
  6. Avatar for Jenny @ Words On WendhurstJenny @ Words On Wendhurst says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:10 am

    Green is my new favorite accent color. Everything looks awesome. :-) Love all the texture going on there too!

    Reply
  7. Avatar for Jessica @ How SweetJessica @ How Sweet says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:10 am

    LOVE that room now! So organized and efficient!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for Ashley @ Mutschler Family, Dallas EditionAshley @ Mutschler Family, Dallas Edition says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:13 am

    The after shot looks awesome! I love those IKEA bookcases :) This space just makes me want to do homework.

    Reply
  9. Avatar for Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise[email protected] Paradise says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:14 am

    What a great way to hide embarassing juke and make it look stylish!

    Reply
  10. Avatar for ShanaShana says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:18 am

    is the pendant light from IKEA? I would love to know the product name or where it’s from if not IKEA – we just bought our first house (moving in April 17th and I am now on this website EVERY day!) and it comes with a really terrible brass/stained glass light over the dining room table that I’d like to replace with a drum.

    Thanks so much!
    Shana

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 10:25 am

      It’s actually from CB2- there’s a link to the exact one that she bought in the second to last paragraph on the bottom of the post (along with links to the bookcase/desk system and rug). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  11. Avatar for KatieKatie says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:28 am

    This looks AWESOME!!! I’ve seen so many great uses for those IKEA bookcases. Many thanks for sharing the “after” picture!

    Reply
  12. Avatar for AmyAmy says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:45 am

    Congrats to Lee on a great new function space! Thanks for posting the after pictures for all to see!

    Reply
  13. Avatar for CaitlinCaitlin says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:54 am

    I love seeing the after photos! Thanks for sending them in, Lee! Looks great!

    Reply
  14. Avatar for heather s.heather s. says

    March 8, 2010 at 10:57 am

    Looks great! Sherry, in your first comment, did you mean $200 (not $20)?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 10:59 am

      Good catch! We actually meant to cut and paste a link to the basement post there but somehow those words pasted instead of the link to that other post. All fixed!

      xo,
      s

  15. Avatar for ShanaShana says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:01 am

    DOH totally missed that – thanks! Need more coffee I guess!

    We just got Crate and Barrel in Canada and I have yet to go – now I have an excuse.

    Reply
  16. Avatar for bethanybethany says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:02 am

    Thanks for the info about the possible use in our kitchen! That’s exactly how I was thinking about using it…as an area to cook and for my husband and I to eat everyday meals together at. Sorry to keep harassing you with questions, but is it sturdy enough for regular kitchen use? If we got this, we would use it all the time as we both like to cook together. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 11:04 am

      We would definitely say it’s very sturdy. We place tons of heavy bins on ours in the basement when we’re sifting through them and it has been great. Why not stop in at the closest Ikea to check it out in person just to be sure?

      xo,
      s

  17. Avatar for LauraCLauraC says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:06 am

    Lee, it looks AWESOME!!! Great job, you and John and Sherry!

    Reply
  18. Avatar for AnnaAnna says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:09 am

    Hi,

    The room looks gorgeous!

    I love the rug! I want something just like it for my dining room…..however….I need a 8X8, 9×9, or 8X9(weird sizes, I know). Do you know any place that might sell these sizes? I am having an awfully hard time finding anything…I feel like I have been looking everywhere!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 11:10 am

      Definitely check overstock.com – they have the widest rug selection and the best prices we’ve found online. Happy hunting!

      xo,
      s

  19. Avatar for BiancaBianca says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:13 am

    I love how the transformation looks! I wonder whether that Ikea desk could be used in a kitchen as a kitchen table? Or would that be just too weird?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 11:13 am

      Definitely! Scroll up for that info!

      xo,
      s

  20. Avatar for MeredithMeredith says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:14 am

    I love that!!! I want my office to look like that!!!

    Reply
  21. Avatar for MellyMelly says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:21 am

    It looks incredible, Lee. Congratulations on your lovely new space.

    Reply
  22. Avatar for AnnAnn says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Looks amazing!

    Reply
  23. Avatar for JoDiJoDi says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:58 am

    That looks fabulous! What a great and simple transformation.

    Reply
  24. Avatar for Christine SchwalmChristine Schwalm says

    March 8, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Love that Expedit bookcase. It really is one of the smartest buys out there. Great transformation. A formerly underused space now looking most useful!

    Reply
  25. Avatar for maliboumalibou says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    Lee – Thank you so much for sharing your afters. It truly turned out lovely. Great ideas for organizing.

    Reply
  26. Avatar for Kasey at Thrifty Little BlogKasey at Thrifty Little Blog says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    It looks fantastic! Lee, thanks for sending this in :).

    Reply
  27. Avatar for AshleyAshley says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    This rocks! Great job guys!

    Reply
  28. Avatar for JessicaJessica says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    Wow! I love, love, love this! I am most definitely going to purchase that bookcase/desk for my basement- I have been dying for a ‘craft’ station!

    Reply
  29. Avatar for RenaeRenae says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    I LOVE afters! This is spectacular. I would love something like this in my kitchen…too bad we don’t have an Ikea within 400 miles of us!! Good job Lee!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for ErinErin says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Hmmm…i already have the Expedit bookcase from Ikea but would love to attach a table like the one in the photo. Do you all know if you are able to buy the table separately and attach or is the bookcase/desk combo sold as one item?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 12:33 pm

      Yup, you can buy the desk part separately- for $50 I believe. Just head over to Ikea and search “expedit” and scroll through for more info. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  31. Avatar for Mrs. DavisMrs. Davis says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    Wow, that’s seriously a gorgeous after photo! What a better use of a small space!!! :-)

    I too have “white” IKEA furniture and I was wondering if it ever bothers you that it’s not real white and more of a creamy color. I just have an issue with IKEA white not being true white. It seems like it doesn’t match anything. Thoughts on this, Sherry?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 12:58 pm

      Hmm, that’s interesting. We actually have the same white Expedit system in our basement (along with two white Ikea armoires) and they really look like they’re a true white color to us. We also have white lack floating shelves in our dining area and two white Ikea wardrobes in our masted bedroom, and again- they really appear to be a glossy white color that seems to “go” with any and all other white tones in those rooms. On the whole, we’re not very matchy-matchy anyway, so if a painted white bookcase across the room was a bit brighter or whiter than an Ikea item we wouldn’t sweat it. In fact sometimes we like how tones of white and cream can be layered in a room for lots of dimension and texture as opposed to a total “matched set” look when they’re all exactly the same. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  32. Avatar for erikaerika says

    March 8, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    That looks so good, Lee! Great job!

    Reply
  33. Avatar for The Virginia HouseThe Virginia House says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    She did such a great job following your perfect mood board. It’s a great transformation! I just did a post about green, so I love the green touches!

    Reply
  34. Avatar for AnnAnn says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:02 pm

    Lee, Thanks for sending the photos. I love the way the mood boards look but it helps so much to see the after photos.
    It looks great!

    Reply
  35. Avatar for Paula M.Paula M. says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    I love the whole idea of making the asst’d storage bins, with their lovely colors and textures, do double duty as visual accessories, in their tidy but highly visible locations.

    With the new look to that space, it’d be a pleasure now to work there and more of an enticement to stay organized.

    Great job!

    Reply
  36. Avatar for AmyAmy says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    It looks so good! It actually reminds me of your basement makeover you did a little while back. They did a great job!

    Reply
  37. Avatar for Sarah SarniakSarah Sarniak says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Wow, it turned out great!

    Reply
  38. Avatar for Handy Man, Crafty WomanHandy Man, Crafty Woman says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    looks nice, very organized, and I like the colors.

    Reply
  39. Avatar for pattipatti says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    looks awesome! great execution – I love seeing the after photos!

    Reply
  40. Avatar for JLPJLP says

    March 8, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    hey! are you all showing your closets today??

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 2:02 pm

      Good question! After spending every waking hour organizing the heck out of our house’s closets this weekend we just need a bit of time to upload all the pics and write the big reveal post- so stay tuned for that later this week. We promise it’s on the way!

      xo,
      s

  41. Avatar for anna seeanna see says

    March 8, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    This looks outstanding! A picture of serenity and organization, and what house couldn’t use a little of that?

    Reply
  42. Avatar for ChristaChrista says

    March 8, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    YUM!

    Reply
  43. Avatar for Laura@JourneyChic[email protected] says

    March 8, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    This is such a cute and functional makeover. Great job!!

    Reply
  44. Avatar for bethanybethany says

    March 8, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Thanks for the info! I wish I had an IKEA nearby…sigh…I love living in the “middle of nowhere” sometimes, but it definitely has its disadvantages sometimes!

    Reply
  45. Avatar for MellissaMellissa says

    March 8, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Love it! Those woven basket/boxes are beautiful and look great!

    Reply
  46. Avatar for Amy E.Amy E. says

    March 8, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    love it!!! it’s so great to see some after pictures from your mood boards. not that i doubted your vision, but not all of us are as imaginitive as you two! thank you YHL and especially Lee!

    Reply
  47. Avatar for bethanybethany says

    March 8, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    addition…I thought you could order this online from IKEA (like you can a lot of their things), or did I understand incorrectly?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      March 8, 2010 at 4:30 pm

      Some things can be ordered online from Ikea and some things can’t- just follow the links included in this post (and our other mood board post which we linked to) over to each product on ikea.com to see if they’re available for delivery or not. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  48. Avatar for RachelRachel says

    March 8, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    Clean me

    Reply
  49. Avatar for jbhatjbhat says

    March 8, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    OMG, I was just wondering when someone would send in an after picture. This one is just fantastic. Not only is it the perfect stuff in the perfect spot, I am betting it has really changed their lives to have this new station in their home.

    Congratulations to all!

    jbhat

    Reply
  50. Avatar for CeceliaCecelia says

    March 8, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    That was one of my favorite moodboards, and the transformation at Lee’s place is so fresh and modern!

    What a huge bang for the buck!

    Reply
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John and Sherry smiling against pink backgroundHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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