Do you have a space that you tolerate but don’t love? For me, it was my living room. There wasn’t anything wrong with it; I just wasn’t in love with it.
The dark mantel and floors didn’t suit my style or needs anymore; it was time to brighten it up. The remedy? A makeover, of course!
The floors really drove the direction of this room. I was shopping for new hardwood with Neue Floors (neuefloors.com) and found light bleached-out looking engineered hardwood flooring. I loved the idea of going with engineered hardwood – it’s durable, the colour is amazing, and it’s easy to clean. On these new floors, I can wear my high heels, and my dogs can run and play without worrying about scratching and dinging these floors – they don’t show wear and tear.
I carried the flooring up the wall on the fireplace and installed a Dimplex electric fireplace (dimplex.ca). Because this unit is electric, it offers the best options – I can have the heat on, off, or set to any temperature I want. The best part? I don’t need to have a mantel between the fireplace and the TV, so I was able to create this stunning focal point where the hardwood is carried up the wall. I ordered an affordable TV mount that swivels from Wayfair Canada (wayfair.ca), so I can watch TV even from my kitchen – now that’s a bonus!
I love to entertain, so I kept my beautiful velvet sectional from my Jo Alcorn Home collection (alcornhome.com). This sofa is textured, lighter in tone and offers lots of seating for guests. It’s the perfect piece to play up the Scandinavian look in this room.
I love pillows! The ones I used are from my line as well. They are not only stylish but fully washable – as in, pop the entire pillow into the washer. They’re perfect, so my pups can curl right up and enjoy this room as much as I do.
Finally, the privacy aspect. Because I’m a bit off the street level, I didn’t want to cover up my windows to get privacy, yet it was essential to keep as much natural light flowing in as possible. I turned to Budget Blinds (budgetblinds.com) and chose its Top Down / Bottom Up Cellular Shade that is cordless (yay, no messy strings). This allows me all the privacy I want without sacrificing any style or light. It’s the perfect option for this room.
This room is beautiful, modern, inviting and super comfortable. It’s the perfect place to relax and to entertain. I always love it when I’ve completed a design job for a client, and you see their happiness. That’s the happiness I feel right now!