I had the opportunity to photograph a project that I recently finished. I enjoyed working on this project because so many of us can relate. You know the story. . . Wife moves into husband’s bachelor pad and attempts to make it “their” home. For a new bride, the task can seem daunting. Just look at where we started:
This is what the room looked like the first time I saw it. It was a far cry from the young, stylish couple who lives here.
However, this is how the room looks now:
Since this is technically the formal living room, we decided to go with more of a reading room vibe. We used everyone’s favorite settee with a big upholstered ottoman and brought in lots of cozy texture with a shag rug.
Since they didn’t require a ton of seating in this room, we removed the existing sofas and used this wall to incorporate a row of Billy bookcases from IKEA.
We personalized them by painting the backs a dark, taupe color and displaying some of their favorite wedding gifts. Using wall-to-wall bookcases is a great–and less expensive–alternative to custom built-ins.
Since they plan on using this space, along with the dining room, for entertaining, we used a smaller accent chair in the corner to create a conversation area:
A large black and white photo gallery gave the couple a chance to display some of their beautiful engagement and wedding shots:
Hope you enjoyed! I’ll share the dining room makeover with you soon, in another post.
Emily I love this room, as always you inspire me with your vision to totally recreate a space. I must tell you how much I love the light fixture also, it makes me weak in the knees. Thanks for the Monday morning cup of inspiration.
Cha Cha
Very, very pretty, young and fresh! I love seeing real spaces like these- It’s styled but still looks warm, friendly and livable. Great job!
What an update, so inviting.
Well done!the grey wall make the room modern and very appealing
That is absolutely gorgeous! What a transformation!
Such a cute room…they must be thrilled with the transformation.
Really Really great space! I love the vibe and everything!
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Oh gosh, I hated to see those floral sofas and fake ficus go… kidding, of course! You did a wonderful job with the space, and I’m sure they’re glad to have had your help. I love how you incorporated their wedding photos and gifts into the design.
Love the bookcases – but that WALL COLOR is simply stunning!
What a wonderful budget friendly transformation! The pieces are all great investments and will work in their home for years to come, great job!
Cathy
Wow now that was a make over, great job.They must be so happy.
Emily, a beautiful transformation! I have to say I really like the shag rug in this space – it adds texture and comfort! I love it!! Wonderful job!!
… really liking the tall floor lamps flanking each side. It feels original… it’s nice to see something different! Looks really warm and inviting- those “extra” rooms sometimes feel like wasted space- you did a great job with it!
Looks great Emily! Definitely young and stylish!
Gosh, this room just shows how good an interior decorator/designer can be! Very well done indeed!x
gorgeous!!
I LOVE this room! So happy you helped them out … the space was screaming for a makeover! Great job!
Cara
http://www.anurbancottageblog.blogspot.com
LOVE the makeover! Any chance you will share where you found the chair? Thanks!
wonderful – what a transformation…
I’m sure they are quite happy! Great before and after!
I love the light fixture. I would love to do something like that in my living room instead of the flush mount “boob” light (you know the ones they sell at HD and Lowes, big round with a metal nipple in the center) my husband made me get, lol.
Those curtains are to do for!
That is an impressive before and after if I’ve ever seen one. Love the bookcases!
what an awesome transformation!!!
This looks great! I love the combination of patterns!
Absolutely fabulous!! Love what you did here and I’m certain the clients do as well, a very fresh and inviting space! Janell
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What an improvement! The colors are wonderful and the styling is perfect. And I do love how you use readily-available resources – great job, Emily!
I am blown away by that before and after, WOW! You did an amazing job.
I love this room. This is the kind of look I think I am going for in my own home, but it is so hard to get started. You did an amazing job!
aaahhh, so much better. The light fixture and draperies look so great in the room, I know they love it.
Perfection as usual! I’ve been crushing on those panels for a while now and it’s fun to see them used in a room. I love every piece of the space and I’m sure they do as well!! She is a smart bride to get your help!!
xo,
abby
After seeing the transformation, I bet they want you back to do the rest of the house. It looks fabulous!
i LOVE the curtains – where did you all pick them up at?
Fantastic job Emily!! I bet he is really happy!!I just posted your daughter’s bedroom on my blog this morning as part of Think Outside the Box series. xx,Jill
Utterly gorgeous, Emily. I love the textures and the combination of fabrics. You are brilliant on this one, I mean that sincerely. That has got to be the happiest couple going!
So beautiful Emily! I love the rug and the bookcases.. actually I love it all! You have such great vision!
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!! I love everything you did in this room! The color, the ottoman, the rug, the photo wall gallery, that cute accent chair! Its so glam!
Love it! I heart the idea of painting the back of bookcases. It makes them look custom and built in!
LOVE!!! IT looks amazing, Emily!
Gorge!!!!!!
Love the drapes! Are those custom or did you buy them?
Great work! The room looks great! I love the wall of bookcases. Great to use the formal living for a reading area. So often those spaces are not used.
http://www.imperfectnest.com
it’s gorgeous! i’m sure they are more than happy!
Gorgeous!
WHAT an improvement!! They must love spending time in here now.
Love that you painted the back of the shelves.
Do they love the settee? I’ve been scared off by all the bad reviews on HSN….
wowzers, i am sure the client SO happy :)
LOVE.
LOVE.
LOVE.
<3
This is a great transformations! You really have a knack for making it look “easy”…! We have no excuse for not upping our game :>)
Beautiful!
LOVE! Great colors, the bookshelves look awesome, and I really like the photo gallery.
Fabulous…what a transformation! And thank you so much for helping me with my chairs, so sweet for you to stop by and to follow :)! xx Danielle
Love this room to pieces! I like that you approached it as a “reading room”, instead of trying to fill it with furniture. Everything looks perfectly scaled and balanced, and I would love to spend time here. Well done!
What a difference!!! Love it!!! Can you please share the color on the walls. Is it a tru gray or does it have undertones?
I love this space Emily!! Absolutely stunning!!!
Gorgeous! I love the ceiling fixture and how you incorporated their favorite wedding gifts in the book cases.
WOW!!! I adore everything, you created such an amazing room :)
Ahhhhh-mazing girl!!!
I must have those curtains, like yesterday. =) Where did you find them???
Wow!!!!
I knew you’re GREAT, but this is just an amazing transformation! It’s young and stylish. Love it every inch of it! Truly!
By the way, would you please drop by my blog today to see my interview with the adorable Paloma Contreras of High Gloss? It would be great to have you there! :-)
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Looks great Emily. I like the twin floor lamps, they really create a destination spot! What a transformation.
Emily I love your work. I can’t believe that is even the same room. If I didn’t live a couple thousand miles away, I’d hire you to decorate/design my house!!
WOW!!!! You are one fabulously talented woman!!!! Where did you get those curtains? They are fantastic!
This is so beautiful!! May I ask where the floor lamps came from? It is so hard finding nice looking floor lamps. Great job!
This is beautiful. Could you share the source for the light fixture? It’s gorgeous.
Thank you for sharing.
http://www.houseofclark.blogspot.com
Gorgeous! Would you mind sharing the info for the ceiling fixture and wall color?
Emily, this room looks awesome! I so enjoy your post’s of before and after!
Susan
Love it!! That ottoman is fantastic. Love the fabric and colors.
I really like all the book storage that you put into this room. Just love libraries or all kinds.
love this room! you did a great job!
Love this room! You did such a great job! I’m getting married in June so combining his and my things will be an interesting task.
Those curtains are ROCKIN’
What is the paint color? And were did you find the drapes? I love this space!
This is beyond belief! It’s insane how amazing this makeover is. WOW!
Cindy
Emily, what a wonderful transformation. It is all so co-hesive. I can only imagine how happy the homewoner’s are!!! Great job and I love love the colors you chose to use!! Perfection, Kathysue
As always, love the room. Your designs are always so inspiring!
What a transformation! Gorgeous, gorgeous!
I love this room and love how you put the wedding pictures into the gallery wall – a great way to display them without all those pictures taking over the house, the way I see with a lot of my newlywed friends.
Only thing I’d wish for is a second chair. Or perhaps a second settee in front of the window with the chair in front of the bookcase?
But it IS quite lovely!
The room looks great! Can you tell me where you got the white shag rug I have been looking for one and thats exactly what I wanted?
Thanks,
Stacy
It looks fabulous, Emily! Love the color and all the shelving and storage you gave them. Where is that rug from?? It’s great!
LOVE IT. :)
You are so inspiring. What an incredible change!
I love everything about this post! You did an amazing job! Thanks for posting!
I’m pretty sure the panels are the Firenze ones from Ballard Designs, which I love but just cant justify the $$.
Emily – if they are something else, read less expensive :), could you share where you got them?
such a great update!! but you have to give the bachelor props for trying…that little duck print in the dead center of that big, empty, white wall made me smile.
you’ve got to share where to find the fab light fixture–it is perfect.
nanne in indiana by way of alabama
I’m about to pass out from looking at all of the prettiness in this room! Well done!
You’ve inspired me to redecorate my Billy Bookcases. And those curtains! I love it all!
turnuptherad.blogspot.com
As always, fantastic, Emily! Questions which you may or may not be able to answer (!): would love to know about the little accent chair– custom? source? :). And would love to know where we could find the light fixture, too. Overhead lights are sooo hard to make beautiful but you did it here. Love it all!
Another one knocked out of the park! Great job, E! Love the space. Especially the use of the bookcases!
As always, love it! Are you going to divulge your fabric sources? I love the curtains! :)
This is a really nice room! So small but perfect furniture! Can’t wait to see the next room!
Emily this is stunning! I have to say, I love every thing about it!
Wow, amazing Emily! You are very talented. I love it all. ;-)
Absolutely fantabulous! Don’t you love my word! I bet she is ecstatic with what you did! What color is on the wall? Way to go with making it more of a reading room. I would sure sit there and read a book. Do you think they would mind?
Megan
Amazing!! I absolutely love this room ~ every detail. You’ve done an incredible job of transformation.
Pat
Emily, this is wonderful. I love the Ballard drapes and the color combination. Really well put together.
I love this! So pretty, young and vibrant. Perfect for two newlyweds. Great work!
Gorgeous! What a great transformation!
lovely job. i really like the wall color you chose and the curtains are gorgeous! xoxo jcd :: cornflake dreams
LOVE this!! I love that gallery wall, such a great idea.
Absolutely stunning — LOVE it!
So beautiful ~ what an incredible transformation! Can you please share where you got the curtains {or the fabric for them}? Thanks!
Fantastic..you are so talented and I enjoy seeing your touches! Thanks for sharing!
Maureen
what a beautiful, beautiful room! you are so talented…and so busy!!!
Great transformation. I am sure your clients are thrilled with the results!
Oh it turned out beautifully! I’ve been eying those BD drapes for awhile now and like to see them used in a “real” room! And I love how you accessorized the bookshelves- can be challenging with so many cubbies!!
EMILY, I love this room. How bad do I want to paint my walls this color and go with a more soothing decor. Very inspirational!
Beautiful…just beautiful! You have a magic touch!!
This is a fantastic transformation. I love the fact that you made this space so modern and updated using some economical pieces. You really created a lot of impact. Bravo!
It’s gorgeous! I love the frame wall of engagement/wedding photos! Something I need to do still :)
I recently did a wall of Billy’s too. We customized them by nailing 1 x 2’s on the to cover where the 2 units connect. Then we capped the top with a 1 X 4 and the base with a 1 X 4. They look built in. I love your blog. I’ve been reading for a year but this is my first comment. Thanks for the inspiration.
I just found your blog via Made by Girl and am so glad I did. Stunning transformation. So cozy and glamorous! It is amazing what a difference some Billy’s can make!
~ Julie
i am in LOVE with this room. inspires me!!
Wow, that looks like a completely different room! Well done. I like the elegant simpicity.
Found your blog via madebygirl and I love it! What beautiful interiors. Can’t wait to read more!
Woe! Is this really the same place? Overhaul indeed! Your talents are so inspiring!
Wow…I love it…pure perfection.
Beautiful! Can you post details about the picture frames??
wow! what a transformation, well done! I sure she (they) both love it –
I can’t wait to see the dining room! You are so talented :)
Wow! That is all I have say to say is just WOW!!! Okay, amazing too!
Simply beautiful! I love the light fixture.
The room looks great! I love the colors.
I love this transformation! I just keep looking at it in awe. Where can I find a shag rug like that?
Jill.Broberg@gmail.com
Thanks!
This is so beautiful .. I wanted an alternative design solution for my formal drawing room which I never use and this looks perfect!! I am in love with those drapes and the light fixture!! *swoooon* would love to know where they are from!
Amazing Job!
Amazing before and after!
Wow !!! Truly spectacular – What is the wall color it is so beautiful !!!
WOW !!! Truly spectacular !!! What is the wall color?
I’m in LOVE with this room!!!! Fabulous job Emily! :)
What a beautiful room! My laptop died and I am sooo behind on design blog reading. Such a inspiration on a beautiful spring day.
We bought a similar overhead fixture for our guest bathroom, the Nanti by Minka Lavery if that helps anyone. I am not sure if it is the exact fixture but it looks close!
I love that ottoman! I’m curious where you found it so I can get my hands on one just like it.
Love the room, please share the source for the drapes. I am finding it very hard to get modern, budget friendly drapes. Thanks.
Beautiful! I just love your work. What color was used for the walls?
So beautiful ! I’ve been trying to search and get this color. Please anyone know what color this is. I do not want to buy anymore paint samples, lol
The wall color is Santorini Blue by Benjamin Moore.
Hi! COuld you tell me where these curtains are from please? Ive been looking for something just like them for forever!!
Very pretty. What brand and shade of paint did you use? Where did you find the curtains ?
Thanks
Beautiful! Where can I find those curtains??? and what is the name of the wall color??? I want both in my living room!! :)
The curtains came from Ballard Designs and the wall color is Santorini Blue (BM).