apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Before & After: Kristine & Will’s Sitting Room
Melbourne

051409townmouse01.jpgThis before and after was worth the 5 year wait for owners Kristine and Will. The sitting room of this Melbourne home went from dark and dull to bright and glamorous, see how below the jump…

 
 

051409townmouse02.jpg051409townmouse03.jpgLovely! Kristine and Will have used a Porters Paint on the walls with a scumble additive to achieve a silk like finish, the colour highlighting the moldings to maximum effect. The lounge chairs by the amazing bay window were bought for just $20 from a local church fete and were in a horribly faded pink fabric, then reupholstered in grey linen. The large zebra print rug makes a dramatic statement and we think it sets off the room fantastically.

Kristine is best known as the owner of Townmouse Childrens Clothing, you can read her blog here or find out more about Townmouse Clothing here.

Other Before & After Posts:

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AT Australia, living room, melbourne, before & after, townmouse

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Comments (28)

Amazing job. Well worth the five year wait I'm sure.

posted by kjb on May 14th 2009 at 10:19am
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Gorgeous!

posted by ashes88 on May 14th 2009 at 10:38am
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great job!!! house tour :)

posted by ilovenature4ever on May 14th 2009 at 10:41am
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Looks very nice, but I would like to see a little color. It's very beige.

posted by klem on May 14th 2009 at 10:51am
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yeah. its very monotone. It needs a color pop - maybe a couple of bright pillows. something.

posted by uppergeorgetowner on May 14th 2009 at 10:57am
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Beige works here, I love it all. How about a nice reading lamp somewhere?

posted by jacksonlalonde on May 14th 2009 at 10:59am
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Color please.

posted by STYLeyes on May 14th 2009 at 11:18am
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So perhaps I'm just not looking hard enough, but I want a continuous bay window curtain rod just like that and I can't seem to find it! Anyone know where I can get one?

posted by eyelight on May 14th 2009 at 11:43am
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beautiful, peaceful, comfortable. great job, enjoy.

posted by stt64 on May 14th 2009 at 11:59am
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Neutrals are colors. Not everyone is into bright hues.

I think they did a lovely job. The rug is fabulous and prevents their more traditional pieces from looking too stodgy.

posted by slowdown on May 14th 2009 at 12:02pm
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My personal style doesn't mesh super well with a palette devoted solely to neutrals, but WOW! I love this room! It looks so cozy and inviting, whilst still chic. Everything is tied together well, without being too matchy. I too, would like to see a tiny pop of a brighter color (orange, perhaps?), but still, hats off!

posted by beckyjo on May 14th 2009 at 12:33pm
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i like the color palette but i think the rug is way too big. it looks like carpet that didn't fit

posted by TheLiberator on May 14th 2009 at 1:22pm
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Looks great but what is that table/ottoman in the middle? Seems like an awkward shape and placement. Kind of non-functional. Maybe something more square? Or move it closer to the sofa?

posted by Sunnydark on May 14th 2009 at 1:24pm
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love the neutrality. layered and luxurious. A !!

posted by Seaside on May 14th 2009 at 1:45pm
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Gorgeous!!!! And I find the colors incredibly soothing...

posted by LilyC on May 14th 2009 at 1:50pm
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What a makeover! But I think you need a larger coffee table. You should be able to reach it from the sofa without standing up.

posted by gagabrielle on May 14th 2009 at 2:18pm
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It's a lovely room overall - all it needs is some lighting.

"So perhaps I'm just not looking hard enough, but I want a continuous bay window curtain rod just like that and I can't seem to find it! Anyone know where I can get one?"

You need to look at having something custom-made - You're never going to find something off the shelf because all bay windows are different.

"...i think the rug is way too big. it looks like carpet that didn't fit"

Huh?
The rug is perfectly sized for the room - probably custom-sized from the looks of it. Any smaller and it would be a floating island in the middle of the floor.

posted by bepsf on May 14th 2009 at 2:52pm
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Am I the only one sick of seeing zebra stripes on the floor?

posted by mntwmyn on May 14th 2009 at 3:39pm
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Looks great. I was prepared for the worst, because usually you click through and find that the beige room has been transformed into a room full of desperate for attention colors and textures all competing with one another like a visual shouting match. But this looks both interesting and grown up. It's cohesive and calming. I could certainly live in that room.

posted by RichardinLA on May 14th 2009 at 3:53pm
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wow! great job! even though it's not my style I think you did a great job with the space - modern and homey at once.

posted by lovelyrita on May 14th 2009 at 6:54pm
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I love the neutral colors. The room looks very sophisticated and elegant. I'm not a big fan of zebra rugs....but it does serve to give this room a bit of a funky punch.

posted by baileyb on May 14th 2009 at 7:24pm
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The neutral colors with the fun zebra print (sorry mntwmyn not sick of it quite yet) are both comfy and quirky.

posted by Cambra on May 14th 2009 at 10:48pm
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The sculpture makes the room, giving the neutrals just the right amount of edge.

posted by Blandwagon on May 14th 2009 at 11:09pm
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Sorry, way too beige, and in dire need of a focal point (don't think that fishy golem thing is cutting it)

posted by idontdobeige on May 15th 2009 at 6:43am
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I think its a great start. Just needs a bigger coffee table. The trunk looks a little haphazardly put... perhaps find a new spot or edit that out...

posted by Shirlb on May 15th 2009 at 9:48am
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That wood floor should not be covered up by so much rug. Otherwise, nice work.

posted by aardman on May 15th 2009 at 9:42pm
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I think it looks wonderful. Interesting little man on the table.. he adds a personal touch, does he have a story? It seems that you put a lot of thought into your home... I tend to put a lot of beige/white into my home too. That's what makes me comfortable. It's all in the texture.

posted by sfteri on May 17th 2009 at 5:55pm
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IM CRAZY OVER THE RUG!!!! THE NEW GREY FABRIC ON THOSE CHAIRS IS AWSOME, THESE ARE MY FAVORITE COLORS AND THEY WORK SO WELL TOGETHER, YOU REALLY PUT THIS TOGETHER WELL...GREAT JOB!

posted by FINDIT on May 26th 2009 at 7:16pm
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