6.18.2010

Living Room Redo...er, Repurpose.

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!
You can now find me at

-----------------------------------------------------------------


So I've taken lots of pictures of my front room.  It's technically the living room, but we've used it as a reading/library room.  It's been painted a greyish-no-color.....

Then a deep taupe.  And the book shelves went from this:

...to this:

Here's another recent deep taupe shot:



In the last few months I've decided to homeschool again.  And I decided my front room would make a perfect school room.  Though I loved the deep taupe, I felt the boys and I would need a happier, brighter color scheme.  I chose green.  Seaweed by Martha Stewart, to be exact.  It's an old Kmart chip I had color matched.

Here we go...Reading area:


I switched the dropcloth drapes with the white linen drapes in the dining room.  Painted the rod and rings. Spray painted the antique light in the corner too.  And the small bookshelves peeking out down there.

Here's the kids area.  This is the big wall where the couch used to sit.  I repainted the corkboards and to match the chalkboard...which was also a cabinet door I picked up at the ReStore.  We'd given the drop leaf table to my son and his wife several years ago, but they just got a new dining set and returned it to us.  Yep, I painted it.  Same color at the couch.

Here's my desk area...still messing around with it.  Might paint it white. Or green!  Antique chair from Craigslist.

The boxes are from Walmart.  The green is the original color, and I spray painted the others deep aqua.

Our printer is a beast....hubs cut the legs off an old wooden sewing table so it fits perfectly below it.  I will be spending lots of time printing off curricula.....Might paint it green....or white like the desk....or?????


I used scrapbook paper to make labels....


I kinda like how the green and aqua mix, but I may end up making them all the same color.  Here's the boy's binders that I used scrapbook paper to decorate.  This is there shelf for storing books and supplies.
 

Here's my supply shelf:

I LOVEEEEE the green color.  The room faces south and feels happy and bright.  I can't wait to start schooling.

So now you know what I've been busy with lately.  Painting walls, furniture, organizing supplies.....I still have lots more I want to do in here, but wanted to show you the 'so far'.  OH, and I also designed a new blog for my homeschooling journey...which would explain the missing 'cottage instincts' mark at the bottom of the pictures.


Click the button to go visit.  Not a whole lot there yet, but I'm workin' on it!



So there ya go ladies.  A new repurposed room.  The dining room is next.....it will become my hubby's office, a place for a kiddo to work on school alone without distractions, and overflow dining.  Have you been repurposing rooms?  Would love to see.  Post a link in your comments.

Miss you guys, but hoping to get back into the swing of things again now that school is over.  We're headed to Mackinac Island on Father's Day, and will return Thursday.  We're staying at the Grand Hotel, so I'll take lots of pictures.   Love that place!  Once we're home, I'll post more regularly.  I have lots of projects in the wings that I'll be recording for posterity.  'Cause I like to hear myself type. 

33 comments:

Debbie in MS said...

I just found your blog. I think I found it on www.tootsieme.com. I have 7 kids and homeschool. I love my square foot garden, sewing, quilting, and finding ways to be frugal. I look forward to reading your blog. After looking at your pictures, I think I need to give our schoolroom a face lift this summer with some fresh paint!

Funky Junk Interiors said...

That was one fun tour! What a happy place to hang in! I love the wall with the bookcases, that's one sharp looking layout. And that teal shutter over your desk... oy! I'd so eagerly take that off your hands.

I've had garden fever lately attempting to get stuff nice and junked up around some flowers for summer, so not much indoor DIY at the moment. But I am currently working on a total kitchen office redo. My livingroom is strewn all over mass mayhem right now. Not pretty. But it will be. :) No show off posts to link up to yet.

I look forward to seeing what else you're up to! I'm off to go check out the new blog digs. Wonderful idea!

Good to see you back. :)

Donna

COTTAG3 said...

Great changes and love the green. Good luck on your new homeschooling blog.

Claudia said...

Love the changes to your room. Looks like a great room in which to learn and study!

xo
Claudia

nell ann said...

LOVE the colors! That fun green and turquoise are actually my two favorites ... mixed with white and tan and touches of black in our house. That room fits right in over here! We recently gave our "living room" that we never lived in a new life as a dining area instead of having the table crammed by the kitchen where it's "supposed" to be. It is now awesome and I can't believe it took me four years to come up with that. Sheesh! Looking forward to more!

~ Regan said...

Looks great! I love the colors you chose. I wonder what that printer will look like after its painted!!

And Mackinac Island? You lucky devil! I have been wanting to go there for a long time! (So close... yet so far away....)

Polly said...

Hey there Miss Cindy! Missed you!!!

Looks like you have been busy redoing your room!! I love that wall with the corkboards, table, and book shelves! I like the symmetry.

And the green is really pretty!!

I am all for turning a not so much used room into a space that is used all the time! We turned our formal loving room into an office, and don't regret it one bit!!!

Have a great weekend!

Polly

Thirkellgirl said...

I have that same Ikea bookcase and have been thinking about painting it white, too! I am in my final year of homeschooling (after 14 years) and most of the textbooks are kept in my daughter's room at this point. I've been slowly taking over the bookcase for my Spode/Willow/silverplate/white ironstone collection, a shelf at a time.

Jayme Goffin, The Coop Keeper said...

I love it all! Seems so you. Can't wait to see it in real life and touch everything and then re-arrange things while you are sleeping. Have a fabulous trip! Be careful, come home soon - I'd like to come by soon - like when you are back, and settled, and ready to talk non-stop for hours. : < >

Pressed Petals said...

LOVE it. We homeschool too! I see some familar books. ;)

LOVE (covet) your shutter, color and all. I have been on the look out for shutters, no luck.

Nori said...

it's amazing what a huge difference a change in color makes. your makeover looks great! i love your side tables in the 2nd photo! i never thought to paint a printer... i'd love to see and know how that goes! thanks for sharing all of those lovely photos!

Rustique Gal said...

Cindy, this is great! I love green too, and have it in my living room. The boys should have no problem studying here!

Yes, I just repurposed my living room too, as I entered "Where Bloggers Create" sponsored by Karen Valentine. Check it out here: http://rustiquegallery.blogspot.com/2010/06/where-this-blogger-creates.html. Now my studio is my living room, and vice versa. I love it and feel more creative already.
Sherry

Brenda Pruitt said...

Your children couldn't have a more conducive environment for learning. I love the table you "got back" and tucked between the bookshelves. Looks very tidy and cozy!
Brenda

Marianne said...

Your room is looking good! I can see there went a lot of work in there. All those little paint jobs, they take forever.
Enjoy your new school room!

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

I'm loving this! The shelves and the desk areas all look great! And what a cute idea for the kid's area!

Terry said...

What a fun place - the shelves, the table, the chairs...love what you've done!

Vanessa said...

Love the remake! It's so fresh and clean!

Anonymous said...

I have the same sewing table!

Allison {A Glimpse Inside} said...

Lovely! Great redo! :)

Melanie said...

I love every inch of it! I have homeschooled our son for 3 yrs. but he is in 11th grade and now goes to public school. Your boys should love being in that room.

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

That looks great, I really like that green color! What a fun room to learn in. Great job!
~Michelle

Unknown said...

Love your living room revamp! I am hoping it will inspire me to get going on my family room which I would like to update!
Thanks!
Kristin
www.katemcrostie.com

KimMalk said...

That does look more cheery for the time you will be spending there. It looks cozy for the kids, too.

mary said...

Wish we could visit each other's bookshelves!

mary said...

Wish we could visit each other's bookshelves!

Carrie said...

What a lovely schoolroom! I love your style!! ;)

Heidi said...

It looks cheery for sure! I'm lovin' that chair you got off Craigslist too!

Prior said...

Love your fun blues and greens~ a great place to learn... I love how you are using your rooms the way your family lives and not sticking to an unused room plan...I would post a link, but my blog is about re purposing... Lezlee

FlyAwayHome said...

Great blog. I love the kids area. Perfect.

Kim said...

I, too, have a green living/main room and LOVE it :D It's a calm but happy color -- should be perfect for homeschooling!

I like the touches of white, too, as well as pops of brighter green and aqua, which I think work well together.

Looks like a comfortable, inviting place. Well done!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Beth said...

Love it! It looks fabulous.

Shannon said...

Aw, I wish I had a 'spare space' to school in! We use the dining room! Looking at all that green makes me want to add some more bright green to make our space 'pop'. Thanks for the tour. Off to check out your homeschool blog.
Shannon
www.akadesign.ca

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails