Projects

The Reveal: Family Room Before and Afters.

November 14, 2012

We believe we should all love where we live.

We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

Portfolio

Projects

Design

We're Chris + Julia

read more

What we're                   right now

Loving

browse the shop

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here. 

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen. 

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.

browse all

browse all

browse all

02

01

03

Popular Posts

1.

2.

3.

Top Categories

This post has been a long time coming.  It was February, nine months ago (!), when we decided that we wanted/needed to completely renovate our family room.  We installed new carpet, baseboards, built-ins, bought new furniture, installed recessed lighting and even a new window!  This has really been the room of the year, and while I’m sure we’ll continue to tweak things like throw pillows and art, we’re sticking a fork in this room and ready to look back to see how far we’ve come. Get ready for lots of photos and a few words. (I know that’s how you prefer it anyway *wink)
 
Looking waaayyyyy back, on move in day the room looked like this.  Less blurry, but generally a poop color with lots of junk in it:

However, our starting point 9 months ago, looked more like this:

 

At that time, the family room was our least favorite room in the whole house, mostly because we imagined it should be the most comfortable, cozy, play-inducing room and it felt so opposite that.  So we put on our work gloves, gutted the room of carpet, old tile, the ceiling fan, the wall on the left side to get rid of that weird ledge that housed the home’s foundation in it and rebuilt it around it how we envisioned. Here’s how she’s looking today:

Here’s a peak at the other side of the room before:
 
 
And now:
 
 

I even snapped a couple shots of the family room last night, since that is when we really enjoy the room–in the evenings when things are the MOST cozy.

We’ll call this the official “Before and After” shot:

It’s cozy, and family-friendly and there’s no place we would rather be as a family in the evenings.  So, our place for movie night?
 
 
 
(^that just took me 45 minutes.)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What do you think?

  1. I love the whole freaking room, but I SUPER love the built-in fake out idea! Also, I want to roll around on that carpet. In the most uncreepy way possible (too late?)

  2. Your family room looks beautiful – you’ve done a fabulous job!! I’ve got this linked to my family rooms post too today, for DIY family room reveals!

  3. Rachael says:

    Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor… WOW. LOVE IT!! Awesome job!

  4. Catie @ Get Carey'd Away says:

    Hi Julia! I just had a chance to really check this post out and I just have to say…I LOVE LOVE LOVE the window! Completely changes the room. Looks awesome :)

  5. anna says:

    What a fantastic makeover! The new wall colours and built-ins are stunning – love them. Looks gorgeous with the yellow National Geographics too :) xx

  6. Dacia @ Lemon Drop Life says:

    What a transformation! It looks awesome!!

  7. It seriously looks so amazing! Turning that weird ledge into built-ins was an excellent idea!

  8. kate says:

    Room looks great and very cozy! Just out of curiosity, where did you move the piano to?

  9. Tracie says:

    I am COMPLETELY in love with your ottoman/coffee table. I’ve enjoyed reading the progress of your room, and really like that you shared the ups and the downs of renovating a space.

  10. angie mcghee says:

    girl i cant believe this is even the same room!!! Absolutely amazing!!!!

  11. Aw thanks Kelly. We are definitely about trial and error around here. Thanks for tagging along and seeing us through it all.

  12. Hahaha. I can’t believe I typed that.

  13. I broke out the measuring tape. It is definitely long and narrow. 10 ft 8 inches wide and 18 and a half feet long. We sprung for a bigger couch because we are so tall and we wanted something super deep–so this was the perfect couch for us. Long and narrow is a challenge but doable. Good luck, Kathy!

  14. Kelly @ A Swell Place to Dwell says:

    Julia, it looks so fantastic! I have loved seeing how you have worked away it…and fixed things that didn’t work. It’s always nice to see bloggers that admit things don’t always work. I bet it’s a super comfy place to watch tv now.

  15. It looks great! So cozy for sure. I can imagine lots of snuggles and dozing on that couch…!! :)

  16. Love, love, love it! It looks so comfy and cozy :)

  17. Patty says:

    generally a poop color with lots of junk in it. That’s my favorite line.

  18. Dawn says:

    Amazing!!! It looks awesome!!!

  19. Oh Meagan, I fall asleep on it at least 3 nights a week on it! Anytime we watch television, I’m out within 20 minutes.

  20. Kathy says:

    Julia, how wide is this room from the sofa wall to the TV built-in wall?
    I’m asking because it looks a bit on the narrow side, like our den, which we are having the hardest time deciding on the renovations (let alone actually doing it) because of its funky shape (super long and ridiculously narrow for a den). I love the couch you guys selected, but was hesitant about putting anything hefty in there; however, it works so well in your space!

  21. meaganbriggs3 says:

    It IS cozy at night!! I kept saying in my head “that couuuuuuch!!!” That baby was worth the wait for sure!!!! Have you counted how many times you’ve fallen asleep on it because I have a feeling it is a LOT! The before and after shots are incredible!! You guys are gooooood!! (Yep I’m flying you out to help me when I’m in our house ready to decorate!!

  22. Ari says:

    I love this room! The couch is amazingly comfortable! Gorgeous and comfy room.

all the latest

We believe we should all love where we live.

We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

HI! We're Chris + Julia

read more

Load More

Reader Faves

SHop all

What We're                     Right Now

What We're                 Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop. 

Loving

looking for inspiration? 

A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

Follow Along on Instagram

Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations

@chrislovesjulia