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The view from the bedroom showed a lackluster space in need of a spruce up. Photo: Allison Lind
My mission? Take $1,500 and give their 800-square-foot space a modern update that both sexes would love -- all before she returned home three days later. Take a look at what I accomplished and let me know what you think!
The living room got a much-needed face-lift. Photo: Allison Lind
The bulk of the budget went to the living room -- the most commonly used space in the home. The biggest drama comes from a horizontal paint line of sunshine yellow wrapping three out of four walls. A horizontal line helps bring the eye down and creates a cozier feel for this super-lofted space. Affordable furnishings and accents update the space, while a few "investment" pieces (the brown and cream Zigzag rug from West Elm, and dramatic arc lamp and Spoke Mirrors from CB2) bring the look to the next level, and the rug helps hide the scuffed-up drab floor. [Other sources: The coffee table, TV unit, drapery and throw pillows are from Ikea; the wall blocks are from Target.]
Entryway
Nothing about this entry said "welcome home." This first impression for guests needed to make a more exciting statement. Now the sunshine yellow (continued in the living room) on one wall turns the entry into an introduction of the rest of the apartment, while another wall in a graphic trellis wallpaper shows guests that these homeowners have some personality.
Living Room Nook
Patricia and Brendan weren't making use of this well-lit corner with a pretty view to a cathedral across the street. Even the shelf filling the space didn't serve a useful storage purpose, holding only frames and knickknacks. Now a once unused spot becomes a reading nook, relaxation spot and extra seating for guests. The shapely rocking chair (from Ikea) also serves a visual purpose of breaking up the monotony of the rectangular sectional. The pretty three-dimensional rose pillow (from Blissliving Home) adds a soft touch to the modern room.
Bedroom
This peach color was making Patricia and Brendan ill. Photo: Allison Lind
This easy makeover only took one hour. Photo: Allison Lind
Reader comments (Page 4 of 4)
The living room is tacky. I wouldnt want Hub caps hanging on my wall. Yellow paint looks like he ran out of one color and had to finish with another.The black and white rug looks like it is from the zoo. Headboard is ugly. New headboard isnt that much to buy.Has no charm
ReplyUgggllyyyy..... are they kiddin or what...... did they actually pay someone to make that hodgepodge mess? OMG.... the wallpaper looks sooo dated.... Black and white rugs with the yellow walls and the brown couches... I think the "designer" (if that's what you want to call her) is totally colorblind.... haven't seen something this bad in a LONG time... And the painted headboard.... Nice idea, but horrible job..... next time try using something with a straight edge....looks like a 3rd grader did the job.... pathetic...
ReplyI am surprised at all of these comments. In my opinion, almost everyone is forgetting that this space was redone for this designer's friend. I doesn't matter if anyone else likes yellow, zebra, etc... She knew her friend's personal style and taste! The most important thing when working on a space - know the client. BTW - not my style, but I think it's great!
ReplyI actually thought it was a nice change, the painted on head board could have been done better but overall I thought it was a good job that the boyfriend did.
Replydo not like it at all. the colors dont match, esp in LR, that rug is ugh.The idea was nice but I hope they didnt charge the couple for the mess.
ReplyO_o Yellow is fine, but not that bright. I realize that an interior decorater did this job, but still. Black, white, brown, yellow and blue leaves the room way to colorful! Tone it down. The zig-zag rug just adds to the mess of busy. A solid, or blockly rug would have been better; in dark rich browns, with black accents. The wall color is so so; try a light beige, or if you must go with yellow, a more golden color, or more pastel. Bright yellow hurts the eyes after a while, and while it may seem cheery, to much yellow can actually cause a person to have heart problems! The new lamps however, go quite nice with the decor. Removing that rug would make a ton of difference, for the better, though. Also, dark furinture looks better, sorry, it just does. White looks like a kid.
ReplyBedroom- NO PURPLE. That makes it look like a childs bedroom. If you are trying to go for an adult bedroom, go with deep reds and golds, or deep blues and silvers, but not purple. In particular soft purple like this. A royal purple would have been fine. I like the headboard effect with the paint though. I see you were trying to match the bed, but that could have been accented by pulling the plant colors from it.
Otherwise, the areas look good. Remember though- keep your patterned stuff minimul. The pillows would have been fine in zigzag, but not a large area like the carpet. Deep or pastel colors only, unless it is for one single accent wall, and then bring the color all the way to the top of the wall. Or perhaps a much smaller stripe around the room, like a banster of sorts.
I know alot of people are being cynical about this, but it is way to busy and cluttered looking to actually please the eye.
I think it is great. The rug looks black and white but it is cream and brown so it matches. The zig zag adds fun to the place. I love the chair in the corner. I love to read and that would be my special reading place with a view. I love the wallpaper in the entry way. And the painted on headboard is just so unique.....lol..... sure a real one is better but for now it would do..... In conclusion, I would love the changes.........
ReplyI like the "before" pics better than the "after", but I'm not really impressed by either... hope I'm not offensive.
ReplySomeone send this "designer" back to school! Whatever happened to a flow to the house? This is so disjointed I think I would get vertigo just from walking through the place. And that yellow wall and carpet....please are you back in a college dorm?? Get your money back and paint the walls that will be something more pleasing to both of you! The before was better!!
ReplyWow...I am totally out of adjectives to describe my opinion of this make-under..Who would have thunk it...a painted on headboard?? The apartment's "before" picture was really not bad..just a few splashes of color and perhaps a pain job in the bedroom...It now looks like the set of an Austin Power's movie..Oh, bless your soul poor girl..You had to stand there and smile and pretend that this is an appreciated upgrade!!!
ReplyOMG those look horrible....the original's though a little uncreative looked way better. The only one that was decent was the new bed. But those rooms look like something a 15 year old girl would do to her bedroom and then regret doing a year later.
ReplyThis is a fun way to rev up an apartment for a young hip couple. A little loud to some, but people look at the ideas not the color! Grey is the new hot color and that awful peach color went out in the 80's. I agree there are too many trends in one room but overall it is a happy place and much more organized than before.
ReplyWow what an awesome makeover! So many great ideas... but I just love the new paint in the living room!
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