When I think back on my family room I’m so happy that my sweet hubby took a hammer to all the trim. It was over loaded with these trimmed out boxes all over every wall in every space they could fit one. I’m sure there was a purpose to it but for me it had to go. I complained to my husband that I couldn’t hang any pictures or decorate because all of the boxes limited me. One night I was in the bedroom and heard loud hammering coming from what was then called the formal living. It was Greg ripping all the trim off the walls. Yee-Haw, here we go with our first remodel in this house!
We had a mess! There was trim everywhere, all over the floor. When we put it on the curb for the garbage man it was a stack that was 3 foot high and 5 foot wide. Luckily someone came along and took most of it before the garbage man got it. I do love that about our city we have lots of junkers that rescue things from the trash. If you put it out more than likely within 24 hours its gone. After the trim came down we had to fix the walls by filling all the holes and texturing the walls. A coat of primer and then painting the walls followed.
Once you start remodeling its like a snowball you notice that other things in the room and items need to be done as well. Yep carpet had to go and new wood floors were laid in the family room, dining room and poker room. That was one of the biggest things we did in this house cost wise I’m not sure of the cost, Greg kept that from me. He was afraid I would have a heart attack and then we would have medical bills! Haha.
Other than that the only thing we did was add decorative items and furniture and that’s the fun stuff. The sofa’s are a brown leather, dark because if you notice I like dark. The ones in the picture are not the original ones because every time I have a kid move out they seem to take my furniture with them. This is the 3rd set of brown leather I have had in 5 years. Thank goodness I only have 2 kids or I might go broke. Really, it was my pleasure to give my kids things for their homes.
I really don’t believe you have to have everything all matchy matchy. So my family room is made up of all kinds of style and ages of furniture. As you come in my door I have a hall tree that was from sometime in the 1800’s. My TV stand is from World Market and has an middle eastern style. The end table between the chair and the couch is from the 50’s and I paid $10 for it at an estate sale. In one corner is a sweet little desk and metal stool that is just for my grandson to sit at and color. I used an old candle mold to hold his crayons. As I did in my dining room, I used sheer curtains to accent the windows using only 2 short rods on each side of the window. I have a few photos of my kids on the wall next to the sofa and one piece of my art work on the other wall. I don’t like to go heavy and busy on the walls. The 2 ottomans were bought off Craig’s List for an awesome deal.
Okay here is the cost break down. I’m not going to include the flooring because I don’t know the cost and the flooring is something that I call a basic, you have to have it. Paint and texture for walls $120, Furniture: Sofa set $1400, Hall tree $200, Tv stand $180, end table $10, Decorative items $55, Ottomans $50, Little desk for Ethan and stool $35, Photo’s of kids I had for years and my art Free. Grand Total $2050.
I love my family room, it’s big and roomy for my family but when its just Greg and I it’s cozy. It’s easy to clean because I only have things in the room that work with the room. It truly does make me Blue Happy!
