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Making an InDENtation

OUR 1st HOUSE

Let me introduce you to our den. I call it the den because it has our fireplace.

Here is my boyfriend making a move on this here wall. Jeremy was eager to rip a hole in it. Also, the den was previously walled with paneling…yup, good ole 70’s paneling with one coat of antique white over it. The paint probably came off on his hand after he took this photo.

For you map people – here is a not-even-close-to-scale layout of our first floor. As you can see, the den was separated from our living room by ‘the wall’. Jer’s hole would open it up and create some flow in the first floor. Note that the dark line between the kitchen and the den was also a wall which made the already too-small kitchen feel closed and cramped. And the doors were everywhere -it was a confusing maze.

Not one to be shy with a sawzall – the hole was soon formed. And see those little wires running through the studs? Those get the credit for being the sole reason why Jeremy learned electrical work. A thousand million points goes to the wires.
While you are at it – please look through the hole to the other side – see the fireplace – yea, the bricks were crumbling, the mortar was cracked, the previous owners had done a shotty job of painting it white and the whole thing lacked a mantle. Jeremy complained about it constantly. Something had to be done.
So we ripped out the paneling and the insulation and replaced it with better/newer insulation and drywall. Also, my hubbie built around the crumbling brick with furring strips, drywall was installed and he scored our new mantle and surround at a custom wood mantle manufacturers for $50. I mudded and tiled the slate hearth and fireplace to finish up our project. Not bad, right? Well, it certainly looks better than broken bricks.

So the after snapshot includes a better fireplace, the kitchen wall was torn out (that’s for another day though), the hole was formed, and a bunch of the doors were removed. WHEW!

Now on to the decor…I love some of the ideas in this picture – it is my inspiration of sorts. I love the fireplace flanking chairs, the large coffee table, the huge number of seating available, and the laidback feeling that flows. I am not big into rooms that I can’t throw my feet up with a glass of sweet tea and just feel easy-breazy-covergirly.

and our room was a hodge-podge of different items and a bunch of clutter.
Jeremy bought these chairs for me at (this if for you Emily) IKEA! And they were a steal for leather chairs at only $200 a pop.
A little light rearranging gave me my fireplace flanking chairs. Plus I got some more sticks to balance out the other side of the fireplace.
Last week, I got this lovely octogonal coffee table for $10. I think if I add some feet to the little sucker – instant growth spurt – and some white paint – it can really add an open airy feeling to the room. What do you think?
And then last night – I bought me a big box….full of chair.
And here she is in the corner working her magic. What do you think? I think I love her. I also think if we paint the room an almond color, switch out the drapes (which are actually sheets right now…I know, the horror), hoist & paint the coffee table, and get some real side tables or console tables to flank the window (and provide storage), and maybe score an area rug…we should be good to go.
Next time I will try to clean up the clutter before the photo is actually taken…sorry folks. Oh – but if you have any suggestions for any of the delimmas that I have listed above – please help. Except if your tip is de-clutter…that one has been heard loud and clear. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words 🙂
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Comments

  1. It looks so nice.

    I really like it, although not as much as my extreme lust after your dining room.

    The chairs are fab and what a steal on the coffee table.

    I kinda like the curtains – but perhaps I am a nut-job.

  2. It looks so nice.

    I really like it, although not as much as my extreme lust after your dining room.

    The chairs are fab and what a steal on the coffee table.

    I kinda like the curtains – but perhaps I am a nut-job.

  3. I think my parents have the same octagon table. Hmmm, I wonder if I can convince them to paint it.

    Those Ikea chairs are incredible. Are they comfy?

  4. You surely did make an identation! 🙂 Love the change. In all honesty, at first I thought I was looking at a showroom instead of your den!

  5. When I saw your inspiration picture I immediately thought, YOu’ve got to be kidding me! Does she live in a showhome? Then I realized it was the inspiration, scrolled down to see the real thing and thought, You’ve got to be kidding me! Does she live in a showhome? So in other words, good job.

    And I’m just going to pretend your chairs are from Target. I have one of those out here in the middle of nowhere.

  6. do you have any rooms in your house that aren’t perfect? i feel like such a slacker looking at all of your fabulous re-do’s! also, i’m sure we aren’t that far away from each other – can your husband come cut holes in our walls and fix our awful stone fireplace??? 🙂

  9. katie, looks awesome! way to go! i love the ikea chairs…aren’t they comfy? we’ve had our eye on those suckers but have not committed, yet!

    i love the chairs by the fireplace. i read somewhere that whenever you have a room with multiple pairs of items, take one away to make it look less cluttered. i know you just got those sticks, but i’m wondering how it would look without them and instead some photos on the wall?

    as always, nice redo girl!

  10. Wow! It looks so cozy! Love the buttery yellow color and that fireplace tile is a serious stunner.

  12. I’m in love with your fireplace. I can’t believe you scored that mantle for only $50!

    Where is the new chair from? It looks super cozy.

    Great job!

  13. Hey Katie! I was just checking out your redone den and you know what struck me? Above the mantel looks…like a combover, ya know? There’s not enough there to quite get the job done. Maybe some bigger pieces on the mantel?? Hmmm…but realize that mine is NOT a voice of experience. I love that rearranged IKEA chairs flanking the fireplace – well done!

  14. I LOVE what you did with the fireplace and I am so going to try to do that with our old icky brick one!

  15. OH…and did I mention that I LOVE your new chair? It is definitely le pièce de résistance! You are really doing beautifully on your house, you know! Just wait…when you finish you’re going to have to move just so that you can keep designing!

  16. *looking around confused*
    I’m sorry, I thought I stumbled into a show home. Isn’t this one of those model home tours?

    Abso-freaking-lutely stunning! Love everything but esp. love the fireplace and the French doors.

    OK,now I’ve soiled MYSELF from excitement =)

  19. I don’t know how I missed this post, but better late than never! Your home looks amazing…you and the boyfriend have done a fab job!!!!

  20. Hi Ya’ll –

    The room is still a work in process but I promise to update you as things get a-movin. Right now, we have many MANY things that will change…eventually.

    Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement…you are the bubbles in my diet DP 🙂

    Heidi – the leather chairs are not as comfy as the microfiber chair. I call them sitting chairs – good for card playing and talking but not for reading or lounging (where you really need the plush-take-me-in-and-cuddle-me kinda chair).

    Michael – I love how you refer to him as ‘the boyfriend’ – totally made me smile…

    XO – Katie

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