Fresh Family Living Space

Old home. Young family. How to make the two work together? Team DIY designer Pamela S. Porter helped these homeowners create a kid-friendly living room that doesn't scrimp on style.



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Light pastel living room
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Livin' Large

    Can you teach an old home new decorating tricks? You bet. Welcome to the nearly century-old home. It took a few gallons of paint, an inspired floor plan, and lots of stylish storage, but this living room makeover proves you can have it all: kiddos and killer style. Click to the next slide to see just how far this living room has come.

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Stylish and Serene

    Talk about a head-to-toe overhaul! Midway through the room's transformation, the family's personality began to emerge. Dark woodwork was primed then painted white. Cozy new furniture is perfect for family hangout time but grown-up enough to welcome guests. Still, the space lacked the storage the couple's two children needed for toys, books, and games.

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Storage Solutions

    Smart idea! To bring extra seating and tons of well-hidden storage to the living room, Team DIY designer Pamela Porter recommended building a window seat under the bay windows. Built-in drawers were painted white to match the trim, and a smattering of colorful pillows adds a pattern punch to the area.

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Snuggle Spot

    It's impossible to resist the allure of a sunny window seat. In the made-over living room, the new window seat is prime real estate for a snuggle with a soft stuffed animal or quiet time with a good book

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Convert a Basket

    This cottage-cute coffee table was one of several budget-friendly projects Team DIY designer Pamela Porter dreamed up. It offers a quick place to stash stuff when company comes to call.

    Want to make your own? It's simple. First, search the Web for a wicker pigeon basket in a size and shape that fits your space. You can spray-paint the basket (as shown here), or leave it natural.

    To create a base, cut a piece of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) that matches the size of the basket. If you spray-paint the wicker basket, spray-paint the MDF and furniture feet the same color. After the paint is dry, attach the furniture feet at the corners of the MDF sheet. Or use casters if you want a mobile coffee table. Use bolts and nuts to secure the basket to the base.

    Here, the table is topped with a piece of 1/4-inch-thick tempered glass inside a painted wood frame. This creates a sturdy and stable base on which to set trays, vases, or other items. Have a hardware store cut your glass to size. Then simply set the framed glass atop the basket.

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Duly Noted

    A slim desk in a corner of the living room gives the homeowners a place to work while the kids play. Crisp white paint and modern lines on the desk and chair bring the area into style alignment with the rest of the rehabbed room.

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Awesome Ottoman

    An ottoman with hidden storage is a brilliant way for the homeowners and their tots to tuck away toys. Bonus: The ottoman sits at kid-height, so it's easy for the kids to play and then put away.

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Getting Warmer

    Even though the fireplace surround is painted dark black, the homeowners didn't need to repaint it. Team DIY designer Pamela Porter crafted a three-panel screen from windowpanes backed with pretty paper to break up the deep hue.

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Mod Mantel

    A modern mirror above the fireplace pulls light into the corner, and a decluttered mantel tidies up the overall look.

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Wiry Storage

    Storage needn't be expensive. This wire-frame storage system is unobtrusive, easily movable, and perfectly fitted to the available space.

    DIY Tip: To instill a visually pleasing look, buy a few matching totes, baskets, or bins to corral clutter. Your shelves will instantly appear more organized.

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Comments (8)
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DebbieB12 wrote:

Have to agree...why not give more info on how the look is acheived, paint color, furniture sources, etc???

9/7/2011 10:07:48 AM Report Abuse
sherise1 wrote:

i agree - BHG needs to include buying sources and more details - I often would love to purchase a furniture piece or accent but have no idea where to source it!

8/24/2011 11:49:14 AM Report Abuse
dogcatkidmom wrote:

I love the paint color as well. I also love the window seat; we've got a bay window & I've always wanted a window seat! I just wish I could afford to have a carpenter build one for me!

8/20/2011 11:41:15 AM Report Abuse
vickicotie wrote:

paint colors are easy. take a picture to a good paint store (not a big box store) and they can match it!

8/19/2011 05:29:58 AM Report Abuse
ma2ky1991 wrote:

Ditto about paint colors?

8/18/2011 04:02:29 PM Report Abuse
whimsygirl1 wrote:

Would love to know paint colors - otherwise what's the point?!?

8/18/2011 01:45:55 PM Report Abuse
bnagel63 wrote:

I just love everhing about this room

8/18/2011 09:48:25 AM Report Abuse
nicolesmere wrote:

Why show us these beautiful slide shows, if you can not include paint information or buying resources? So tired of this!

8/17/2011 06:31:45 PM Report Abuse
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