Design Diaries: The Renovation Because Apparently, We Couldn’t Just Hang Drapes
Remember when this project started because I wanted drapery?
Yeah.
About that. 😂
In Part One of Design Diaries, I shared how our two-story family room wasn't bad, it just didn't feel finished.
My collaboration with TWOPAGES finally gave me the push to address those nearly 17-foot windows. But once I could envision beautiful linen drapery framing them, I started noticing everything else the room needed.
And apparently, the room had been keeping a list.
Before one panel could go up, we had molding to install, walls to paint, a fireplace to transform, lighting to add, a rug to replace…
Oh, and a television that suddenly didn't fit anymore.
Welcome to The Renovation.
One Design Decision Has a Funny Way of Finding Friends
I tell clients this all the time, change one major element in a room, and don't be surprised when everything around it starts asking for attention.
Once we committed to nearly 17 feet of drapery, scale became even more important.
Our large back wall wasn't doing anything to celebrate the height of the room. Without architectural detail, it was going to be one very large…painted wall.
And that's a lot of wall.
So we created a 5-by-4 grid of molding across it.
The molding gave the wall structure and dimension while drawing your eye upward.
Andreco had watched some of it going up, but when he came home and saw the completed wall, he couldn't believe the difference.
And this was before we painted it.
When your husband notices architectural molding before you've even finished the project?
You've done something. 😂
Finding the Brown that Didn't Feel Too Brown…
Next came paint.
I wanted something warm and rich without making the room feel dark or heavy.
The winner was Benjamin Moore Beachcomber 993.
It had the warmth and depth I wanted and since Andreco and I love the beach, the name felt pretty appropriate too.
But getting there wasn't a quick pick-a-color-and-go decision.
How I Test Paint Colors
I start with paint chips, placing them on different walls and watching how they change in morning, afternoon and evening light with the lights on and off.
And I don't rush it. I'll live with those chips for several days or even a week.
Too dark.
Too gray.
Where did THAT undertone come from?
Goodbye. 😂
Once I've narrowed everything down to my two favorites, then I buy sample pots.
Instead of painting samples directly on the wall, I paint the matte side of white poster board and move those larger samples around the room.
Why?
Because paint changes dramatically with light. You're not choosing a color for the five minutes you're standing in the paint store, you're choosing one you'll live with morning, noon and night.
There's also a practical reason: painted test patches can leave texture and buildup on your walls that may require sanding later.
And renovation already comes with enough dust.
Trust me. 😂
And Then There Was The Fireplace
Our original fireplace brick matched the exterior of our home, but inside the newly evolving room, it had started competing with everything else.
We already had the molding, tall windows and dramatic drapery coming.
The fireplace didn't need to yell,
“Don't forget about me!”
So we painted it Beachcomber too.
That allowed the fireplace to remain an architectural feature without becoming another visual distraction.
It's a good reminder that not every element in a room needs to be the star.
Sometimes good design is deciding what should speak and what should quietly support the conversation.
Of Course, We Couldn't Stop There
Once the architecture and color changed, a few more things joined the party.
We added remote-controlled wall sconces along the stairs and rechargeable up-lights beneath the fiddle-leaf tree for another layer of ambient lighting.
Then I looked at the rug.
You know where this is going. 😂
Our existing 8' × 10' rug was simply too small for the scale of the room, so it moved to the dining room and we replaced it with a 9' × 12' rug.
Sometimes the answer isn't getting rid of something.
It's realizing it belongs somewhere else.
My Designer Resource Shelf
Shop my TWOPAGES drapery selection →
Two additions from this renovation turned out to be great finds.
Rechargeable Up-lights — I used these beneath the fiddle-leaf tree, and in my use they lasted more than 12 hours on a charge.
Remote Wall Sconces — These gave us another layer of lighting along the stairs without adding another major fixture.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I share products and resources that I use, specify or believe are worth considering for your home.
And Then the TV Said, “Not So Fast.”
Because every renovation needs at least one Oh Lord moment. 😂
Once the molding was installed, its added profile changed the clearance between the wall and our existing TV bracket.
Translation?
The TV wouldn't fit back on the wall.
The wall ultimately had to be furred out to give us the clearance we needed.
Was that on the vision board?
Absolutely not.
But beautiful rooms still require problem-solving and sometimes the solution happens where nobody will ever see it.
One Little Renovation Tip
If you're renovating a room you're actively living in, be patient with the chaos.
And here's something Future You will appreciate:
When removing artwork you plan to rehang, put the hooks, screws and hardware into a small clear plastic bag and tape it somewhere you won't forget like the side of the refrigerator.
Because three weeks later, when you're holding a picture asking,
“Where did I put that little hook?”
Past You already handled it.
You're welcome. 😂
Now The Room Was Ready…
By the end of the renovation, the room had completely changed.
The molding gave that enormous wall architecture.
The paint color Beachcomber brought warmth and richness.
The fireplace became part of the composition instead of competing with it.
The lighting added atmosphere.
And the larger rug finally matched the scale of the room.
What started as a project to dress two very tall, very naked windows had transformed the entire personality of our family room.
The room was finally ready.
Well…
almost.
Because now there was nothing left between us and nearly 17 feet of linen…
except actually getting it up there. 😳
Next in Design Diaries: The Installation.
Watch Design Diaries Ep. 1 : The Vision → https://youtu.be/RiGAz6LHfo0
Southern Girl Interiors
Designing a beautiful home isn't simply about making it look good. It's about creating a home that works for the life you're actually living.
Stay Style Savvy & thanks for stopping by. 😘
Hugs & Love
The Southern Girl
Chantée Lavette
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