2 Room Makeover in Just 2 Days

If you've got a weekend, a few willing friends, and a bit of gumption, you can transform two rooms. But keep moving -- the clock is ticking.



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living room before
1/21
Before: Boring and Blah

    Cold and gray, this uninspired living room wasn't remotely inviting.

2/21
After: A Warm & Cozy Space

    Now, a rich terra-cotta hue drenches the walls and slipper chairs with warmth, while a dose of white accessories and furnishings keeps the space fresh.

3/21
Step 1: The Walls

    After clearing out the furniture, the team started by wallpapering a modern damask pattern on one wall, and painted the other walls in a warm terra-cotta hue.

4/21
Step 2: Furniture Makeover

    The chairs were given a punch of personality with a coral-inspired print. Simple upholstery techniques made this makeover super easy.

5/21
Retro Chic

    Without spending big bucks, the chairs give the room a fresh modern feel with a nod to the past.

6/21
Step 3: Move In the Furniture

    After the walls were dry, it was time to bring in some new furniture to add life to this space. The bold zebra-print rug added drama to the new space.

7/21
After: New Life

    To breathe life into this once dull space, we used vibrant color, bold patterns, and contemporary accessories such as artwork, a DIY lamp, and a bold zebra-print rug.

8/21
Savvy Storage

    This family room is packed with storage, including a coffee table that features slots perfect for stashing magazines and books.

9/21
Even More Storage

    A row of storage-packed cabinets keeps this room neat and tidy. These low-profile consoles sport modern style and tuck neatly underneath the windows to mimic a window bench. Plus, they keep toys low where kids can reach -- and put them away.

10/21
Before: Dismal Dining

    Drab and neglected, this dining room was anything but inviting. Eager to entertain, the homeowners set out to boost visual appeal here as well. They used boldly-patterned wallpaper to make a style statement and define the color scheme.

11/21
After: Chic Dining

    The first big decision was whether to paint the circa-1970 dining table and chairs. The garage-sale finds had great lines, but the finish was worn and dull. Oil-base white paint was a quick, affordable fix. An inexpensive sideboard and shelving bring the room to life.

12/21
Step 1: Prep the Chairs

    Before the chairs received a new coat of paint, they were quickly sanded to prepare the surface.

13/21
Step 2: Fresh Paint

    A fresh coat of paint took these chairs from drab to fab.

14/21
Step 3: Recover the Cushions

    What You Need: Screwdriver or drill, fabric, fabrics pencil, scissors, staple gun, and staples

    1. Remove existing seats using a screwdriver. Remove the original fabric, leaving the foam in place. If the fabric is clean and intact, you can cover right over it.
    2. Lay new fabric facedown. If you removed the original fabric, use it as a pattern to trace onto the new fabric. If you didn't remove the fabric, use the seat as a pattern. As you trace the seat, allow enough extra fabric all around to fold to the bottom of the seat.
    3. Cut fabric and place right side down. Place seat with right side down on top of the fabric.
    4. Pull fabric around to the bottom of the seat, starting at the center of one side and securing with a staple. Repeat at the center of the opposite side, pulling fabric taut but not stretching it too much. Repeat on the last two sides, trimming the fabric at the corners. Then peek at the front to make sure the fabric looks appropriate, especially if your fabric has a pattern to center on the seat.
    5. Continue stapling on the seat back at 1-inch intervals, and then replace the seat on the chair.

15/21
Brand New Chairs

    With a few simple steps these chairs were given a new life!

16/21
Step 4: A Dash of Wallpaper

    This bold, modern wallpaper adds a dash of color to the dining room along with a little retro flair.

17/21
Step 5: Add Chair Rail

    Add architecture by capping trellis-style wallpaper with wood molding. Look for pre-primed molding to save time and attach it using a nail gun. If power tools aren't your thing, ask about appropriate adhesives.

18/21
Step 6: Dress the Windows

    To add texture to the space, woven roman shades were added to the window bank in the dining room.

19/21
Storage Savvy

    This modern version of a china hutch is a prime place to store dishes but also adds a pop of orange to tie in the tones from the adjacent living room.

20/21
Stack It Up

    Use open shelving when a top-heavy hutch would be too cumbersome. If space is tight, look for a shallow sideboard with a lot of interior shelves.

21/21
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Comments (15)
4709984229
highdesertwolf wrote:

Is there a way to find out what brand & exact color number the living room "terra cotta" paint is?

4/15/2011 05:23:35 PM Report Abuse
pakuhn1021 wrote:

This series of a room-remodel I found extremely helpful in renovation planning. I'm redoing a bedroom that was just storage and it's amazing with a little planning, it will go from fine to fabulous. I'm inspired.

3/10/2011 08:18:55 AM Report Abuse
shawnasanford1 wrote:

Where did you find the pendant lighting fixture in the dining room makeover picture?

2/16/2011 07:44:11 PM Report Abuse
mpike4 wrote:

I think I would paint AND THEN wallpaper, OMG I could just imagine a slip of the wrist and a nice terra-cotta swipe across my new wallpaper.

2/16/2011 03:39:44 PM Report Abuse
jeff_rice20 wrote:

I agree, I'd really like to know where they got the low cabinets and don't understand why they don't include a shopping list.

12/16/2010 02:24:34 PM Report Abuse
barnwoodurbani wrote:

Love the modern china hutch, the fabric on the slipper chairs, and the damask wallpaper. Can BHG PLEASE provide sources?

10/8/2010 02:23:24 PM Report Abuse
hlub34a wrote:

Where can one buy these low cabinets? Why does bhg show things like this and not provide shopping/buying info???

10/6/2010 12:31:25 PM Report Abuse
suzanna.bishop wrote:

this is the same room that was displayed a while back. i wish they would get some new rooms to show instead of recyling the old stuff around again.

9/1/2010 01:33:02 PM Report Abuse
djsattelberg wrote:

I think the zebra rug looks alot like this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Studio-J-Zebra-Rug-Brown-Ivory/10756251

9/1/2010 10:43:56 AM Report Abuse
decoratingdiva37 wrote:

Love the zebra rug! Would like to know where purchased.

7/20/2010 08:39:11 AM Report Abuse
carolmarie.chamberlin wrote:

There is a coffee table similar to this at http://www.gettington.com/product.aspx?groupxid=76225.

3/31/2010 04:31:22 PM Report Abuse
kj_royce7 wrote:

The shelves in the dining room, what kind of brackets are those, and where do you get them?? They are amazing!

3/31/2010 03:54:34 PM Report Abuse
pascale.leblanc wrote:

I have the same retro chair in pink velvet. I need to match it with my modern living room. I would like to get the how-to to reproduce the orange chair, please.

3/31/2010 12:14:16 PM Report Abuse
kvictory1 wrote:

where do you get this coffee table it is great and on wheels

3/31/2010 10:45:45 AM Report Abuse
feckken wrote:

Pic 2: I am loving that terra-cotta color!

2/3/2010 11:26:18 AM Report Abuse
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