My family room is the biggest room in our house…and to be totally honest it’s all about the TV.
It’s where my husband hangs out so I’ve tried to make it reflect him more than me.
Last year I was able to combine 2 focal points into one.
To do this we had to put the really, really BIG television over the fireplace.
Here is a before picture of the room just after installing the TV.
This was taken by my painter but you can certainly get the idea of how things looked.
Lovely isn’t it?
It’s where my husband hangs out so I’ve tried to make it reflect him more than me.
Last year I was able to combine 2 focal points into one.
To do this we had to put the really, really BIG television over the fireplace.
Here is a before picture of the room just after installing the TV.
This was taken by my painter but you can certainly get the idea of how things looked.
Lovely isn’t it?
Here is how it looks today.
Bloggers all over the world have commented on the power of paint.
Transformations can happen just by picking up a paint brush.
Other than new window treatments, nothing else was done to this room.
Just paint.
Here’s the wall opposite the fireplace.
When we hung the TV over the fireplace I was able to
re-position the furniture to make more floor space.
The previous position of the TV was where the brown chair is now.
re-position the furniture to make more floor space.
The previous position of the TV was where the brown chair is now.
I got the fabric for the curtain panels at JoAnn last summer (half price of course.) I made all the pillows too. I ordered several different fabrics from Calico Corners…just a yard of each.
This is the other end going out to our deck. Honestly, I’ve never really figured out a good furniture arrangement for this space. It’s so chopped up by doors.
It’s not really a usable seating space so we have basically used it as a hallway.
It’s the entry to the deck, the back porch and the garage.
All sort of muddled together…
I know many people hesitate to paint paneling because they think it won’t hold up.
We primed and painted 2 coats. It’s been over a year and it’s still in near perfect condition.
There are a few scratches along the baseboards where we have hit it with the vacuum.
I really need to get those touched up…
Painting the fireplace was a big decision as well but I don’t regret it one bit.
Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith.
I had no idea how this room was going to turn out but it ended up being a huge improvement.
After all, it’s just paint.
Gloria says
Friday, September 20, 2013 at 12:25 amLOVE your home! It is just what I would love to live in. To tell the truth I have got so sidetracked from what I wanted by reading all the blogs out there that I think I will start over. Where did you get the rug in your family room? Thanks
Rene says
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 2:52 pmBrilliant! Painting the paneling was absolutely the thing to do. Your room looks like a completely different room now. Painting the brick was also a great choice. So many pretty details here and I really like the area by the door as well.
Thanks so much for sharing your space in the "Room to Room" series!
-Rene
White Whimsy says
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 10:34 amWhat a great redo. I love the white fireplace. I also painted my fireplace white. It makes such a difference. Love your room.
Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 8:45 pmI was going to comment on how pretty your room was. And then I noticed that I had commented when you first put up the post! I linked up our living room-a post I did about 6 months ago.
Suzy says
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7:57 pmBeautiful room, Ann. I'm a huge fan of painted brick and paneling. You did such a great job. The drapery and pillows look so pretty.
Amy says
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 2:40 pmI'm always amazed at the transformation power of paint! It looks great!
Janet says
Friday, July 8, 2011 at 3:14 pmI painted my fireplace which was really ugly brick a couple of years ago after hating it for many years. It was one of the best "improvements" I have ever done. Makes you wonder why you waited so long, right?
very merry vintage style says
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 9:46 pmI love it! I really like the look of the painted brick and the paneling looks great too. Great transformation! Thanks for linking this post to Share the Love Wednesday; hope you'll be back this week–
Mary
JudyBug says
Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 10:35 pmEverything is so pretty! Love the pillows!
Trese says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 10:59 pmWOW!! That is quite a transformation! The before photos showed a sad and dark room. The after photos show a bright and cheerful room. You did an excellent job. Enjoy!
classic • casual • home says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 10:25 pmSooo, fab, Ann. I cannot WAIT to paint the cheap brick and reddish wood trim in our ski condo. So inspired.
Gail says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 7:53 pm3 words – A Ma Zing
Chari at Happy To Design says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 4:29 pmHi Ann…
Ohhh my gosh…I stand in awe of the power of paint! Seriously! This room and fireplace makeover is one of the most awesome transformations that I have seen! It doesn't even look like the same place…of course, I realize that IS the point! Hehe! I have never been a fan of wood paneling. Painting it white makes a HUGE difference! I love how it lightened and brightened everything up! And…I also love the fireplace in white! FABULOUS!!! This is such a pretty room, Ann! Ohhh…and I love, love, LOVE your area rug…it's gorgeous!
Thanks so much for sharing this totally fabulous transformation with us…you have such a beautiful home, my friend!
Warmest summery wishes,
Chari
Joyce says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 8:45 amLove the after photo- looks amazing! I need to go to the fabric shop and get some material to make cushions for here.
Miss Kitty says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 3:31 amI love, love, love painted brick and painted paneling! SUCH a transformation in your room. It is so light and welcoming now.
Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 3:22 amYou have done a fabulous job with your den. It looks so fresh and updated now. We renovated an old house and painted the fireplace. It made such a huge difference in our house as well as yours. You have so many great ideas.
Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 2:13 amWhat a fabulous transformation! In one house we owned the den was paneled with knotty pine straight from 1953! Hubby cringed when I suggested painting it, but when he saw the transformation he was amazed and I got a lot of future decorating decision points with him! I am wondering about the painted brick and think it must be easier to clean than raw brick if the fireplace smokes. Beautiful job! Linda
❀ⒹⒺⒺ❀ says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 1:47 amYour home is stunning! The power of paint and your decorating skills made your home gorgeous.
Dee
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 1:21 amGreat job, Ann! This is such a great example of what paint can do! Amazing how different it looks.
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 1:20 amAnn, what a nice room. Love the paneling painted and the fireplace, too. I wish my son and his wife would paint the paneling in their family room and bathroom. They live in a house built in the 60's and it needs some work, but I don't dare say anything.
Pat says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 1:14 amAfter browsing your before and afters, I knew I had to become a follower! Girl, you go for the whole thing. I am very impressed!
Pat
Liz says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 12:52 amIt is looking so fresh and modern. You guys have done a fantastic job! :)
~Liz
Jodi says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 12:42 amAnn~ It's beautiful, it looks so comfortable and homey! I absolutely love the white color and your pillow accents! SO pretty!
Jodi
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 12:42 amOK Ann came back for a second look now that I can see the before pics. WOW I LOVE this transformation and I love how light and bright the room looks after you painted the paneling and the bricks!! Martina
Lynn says
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 12:33 amAnn, thanks for the comment you left me today over at Kirkwood Cottage. I love this room and I too love fabric and paint – they are awesome decorating tools.
Question: have you ever thought about putting the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace with the chairs across from the sofa, like a conversation area? It might give you a different look for summer. Just a thought.
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 11:48 pmGorgeous makeover Ann!
Grammy Goodwill says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 11:34 pmPaint transformed that room. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen these pictures. It looks great.
Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 11:11 pmWhat a warm and cozy room! The pain made a real change. Love those curtains. Beautiful transformation!
Hope to see you on my blog:)
Haven Conner says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 11:09 pmThat looks so nice!! I'm jealous. Our paneling is distressed which has been very forgiving over the years, but just would not look well painted. We've debated taking it down and putting up drywall, but that's such an expense. Anyhoo…you do inspire me!!!
Lakeshore Cottage Living says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 11:06 pmOH MY GOODNESS!!! What a difference..it looks BEAUTIFUL. I love how the new lighter walls reflect all of the light. It is just incredible! GREAT job.
Honey at 2805 says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 10:48 pmYou are so right. The power of paint is indeed powerful! The change is amazing.
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 10:32 pmA.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! And, I have to argue with one point, it is not JUST paint… it is a creative vision and the execution of that vision. You have done a beautiful job of that! Kudos! blessings ~ tanna
Andrea@ourbluefrontdoor says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 10:28 pmOh Ann…..you do such amazing work with your home! Can you come over and help me, PLEASE!! My fireplace is the same color as yours and I often think about painting mine. You have given me inspiration for sure! Paint makes all the difference too. Love how you lightened the paneling, so easy.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home!
CalypsoInTheCountry says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 9:44 pmWow! I kept flipping back and forth to compare and it looks wonderful! What a transformation – so light and bright now!
-Shelley
Cozy Little House says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 8:13 pmAnd it looks tons better! So much lighter and brighter. Boy, was it dark in there.
Brenda
Pamela Gordon says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 8:04 pmWOW! What a beautiful change in that room! It's so much brighter and beautifully decorated. I love it!
Penny @ The Comforts of Home/Lavender Hill Studio says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 8:02 pmWow! I love the transformation. It looks wonderful! Can you tell me where you got your beautiful yellow vases on your mantel?
Penny
BEACH BUNGALOW says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 6:49 pmOMG!!! It looks super beautiful; what an amazing transformation.
S
xo
Terry says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 6:02 pmAnn, this is amazing. I love the fresh, clean white on the walls and the fireplace. Love your accents. You did such a great job – it is so hard to believe this is the same room.
Yvonne@StyleBurb says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 4:16 pmWow, wow, wow, Ann! Talk about the power of paint! Your family room makeover is really outstanding. I love the painted brick fireplace and the paint color on the wall. I love the way you have styled the mantel and your curtains are the perfect touch of softness. What a transformation!
Anonymous says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 4:02 pmHow difficult was it to paint the brick?
How did you hide the cable box, DVD player, wires, etc.?
Katy Apicello says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:59 pmWOW! What an amazing transformation! This just proves the point.. Never judge a book by it's cover! Something may look not so great, but a few coats of paint and it looks like a whole different house! Love this!
Gina says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:31 pmThat is quite a transformation. It looks beautiful! Hard to believe that paint makes that much of a difference.
I had paneling on one wall of my living room & it took me 10 years to finally paint it. I don't know what I was waiting for!
Ceekay- Thinkin of Home says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:27 pmWhat an improvement. We have painted paneling many times and love it. My husband would love that room…it is calm and not girly….beautiful.
Ann@A Sentimental Life says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:23 pmwhat a dramatic difference, it looks beautiful!
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:20 pmBeautiful Ann and I love your fireplace!! All your pillows are fabulous too! Martina
Pattie says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 3:00 pmIt would be nice if I could see all the pictures…. Blogger is messed up on my end But what I can see, It look wonderful…Pattie
Heather says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:39 pmWhat a wonderful room! Looks like a wonderful place to relax and watch tv. Love all your pillows too!
Stacey says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:24 pmYour room looks amazing. Really we should all be honest and admit that it's about the TV. Yours looks fantastic the way you've oriented the furniture. Love your colors and the overall look. :)
I have a question…can you burn the fireplace with the TV up there? I've wondered that for awhile. Will it hurt the TV?
Deb says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:18 pmAgree with Pondside – couldn't open the "before" pics, but the "afters" look great!!
Pondside says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:15 pmIt looks great! I couldn't open all the photos, but the ones that opened showed a really comfortable room.
Cindy says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:13 pmSuch a warm and cozy room Ann! Love the paint and so true…it's all about the TV…GREAT JOB!
Blessings,
Cindy
marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:11 pmLooks wonderful. The paint made a huge difference. Love the curtains also. Hugs, Marty
⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says
Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:01 pmYour fireplace is so pretty. I would totally paint paneling if I had it. Good job Ann, it looks fantastic. Why is all about the TV? LOL I have the same thing, then add stereo and speakers to that mix.