Before and After: Living Room Makeover Country Living

Before and After: Living Room Makeover
Country Living

What a difference color can make. From Country Living, this living room makeover started with a dated, golden wall color and ended with a white breath of fresh air...

The room already had lots going for it: the built-in shelving and large picture window are enviable in themselves. But this update makes them just that much better. We're especially fond of the light blue painted shelf backs. Also look at how the mirror over the fireplace is opposite that nice, big window. That will serve to add more light and "space" to the room.

See more images of the room at Country Living.

Image: Bjorn Wallander

Comments (18)

Blue and white always works. It may not be edgy design, but it's failproof.

posted by Lisa (Montreal) on July 17th 2009 at 4:50pm
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I also love the light blue shelfbacks! Lovely!

posted by Limeliteshines on July 17th 2009 at 4:59pm
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the after is beautiful but OMG
do I love the chartreuse paint in the
before pic!

posted by baba yaga on July 17th 2009 at 5:09pm
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Frickin' A- that yellow was heinous. Anything would be better than that.

posted by shockthebourgeois on July 17th 2009 at 5:15pm
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PS- Mostly, I just want that dog. So cute!

posted by shockthebourgeois on July 17th 2009 at 5:15pm
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Uh, WOW. I had to match up the architectural detail to convince myself it was the same place. Behold the impact of color (positive & negative!). I'm not a blue and white person but I'd definitely live in the after room... and it gives me hope for my own icky bookshelves.

posted by Rucy on July 17th 2009 at 5:20pm
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what happened to all the books??!?

posted by pugluv on July 17th 2009 at 5:32pm
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If only I could "edit" my library that easily...

posted by KatherineD on July 17th 2009 at 5:57pm
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Well done. But I dislike all the tchockies in the library now. It'd be WAY better if they left it replete with books, which are, in my opinion, a fantastic room accessory.

posted by medusa12120 on July 17th 2009 at 8:15pm
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I'm also missing the books. Some objects mixed in is nice but I love having my books where I can see them and remember why I liked them enough to keep them.

posted by Slim on July 17th 2009 at 8:23pm
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I've always hated the stuff-mixed in with books thing. It just comes off as cheesy and cluttered. If you simply must do it, I feel like it's better when kept simple with a minimum of objects.

Lovely changes to the room otherwise, though!

posted by Kaete on July 17th 2009 at 8:44pm
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"what happened to all the books??!?"

They obviously went the way of the heinous pre-existing decor...

"I've always hated the stuff-mixed in with books thing."

I find the alternative to have all the aesthetic beauty of a law office or the local used booksellers...

And where else would folks propose that one display souvenirs and decorative items that have been collected during one's travels? IMO, they are far more interesting to gaze upon and more conducive to spark conversations with visiting friends and family than a bunch of once-read books.

posted by bepsf on July 17th 2009 at 9:15pm
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Looks to me like the books have left with the owners of the "before" room.
No way the 1960's furnishings and old-folk accessories (notice the walking cane?) belong to the same people who live in the "after" room.

posted by teeze on July 17th 2009 at 9:26pm
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uhm>??? it went from awesome to a linens and things catalog.

posted by yourmomma on July 18th 2009 at 12:05am
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I love the ikat fabric couch in the the corner of the picture....

any ideas where that is from???

posted by mduby on July 18th 2009 at 7:45am
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The yellow paint in the "before" wasn't bad, it was just the upholstery that made the whole thing an assault on the senses. The new room is really nice and understated. And I agree that shelves are not just for books. This is not a lending library.

posted by sally305 on July 18th 2009 at 9:28am
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i prefer books to kick-knack, but to each their own (some people actually have books they read more than once …) -
the new colour scheme is lovely.

posted by maike on July 18th 2009 at 1:21pm
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sorry

my eyes are still bleeding from the green in the "before". i like the color but, the color, the furniture the books all at once.. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

posted by bellaknollie on July 20th 2009 at 2:41pm
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