Change the Mood

No matter how much you love your living room; or how long you have loved your living room, there will come a time when you look around and say to yourself, “I am ready for a change!” Some homeowners want sweeping and dramatic change, and some homeowners want a little change here and a little change there. It does not matter the amount of change, but it does matter that we change because at this point in life we all know that the only constant we can depend on, like the rising of the sun, is change. In the world of decorating, I embrace change and I help others create change. Let’s peek into the living room of a Gardenia model to see how sweeping change can reset the mood somewhere in the Heart of The Villages.

• Goal
When the homeowners first moved to Florida, they wanted color! They filled the house with bright vibrant colors using vibrant reddish pinks and browns. After enjoying that look for many years, the homeowners decided that they would like a more calming and soothing space using different colors and different furniture.

• Focal wall treatment
The homeowners had been watching the application of board and batten in the paper and wanted to do the same treatment in their space, but they were wondering where to install the treatment. We decided that since the layout of the room really worked for the way they lived that the furniture would stay in the same position. The board and batten would be installed on the large wall opposite the opening to the back room and the wall with the one window.
Typically, a Gardenia model will have two windows on the largest wall in the living room. This model had one window and we needed to integrate the window into the board and batten. The board and batten was installed right around the window and the window blended nicely. With the blending it is not that noticeable that the room only has one window. The board and batten application was painted all white, from top to bottom and side to side. The white looked fresh and bright and made the focal wall stand out in a fresh modern way.

• Re-paint
The original color was a golden color that made the space feel very warm.
The homeowners still like color and warmth so the decided they would have the house repainted in Patience 7555. This color is the perfect crème with a touch of warm gold that can appear tannish in different light. This color guarantees success if you are unsure of what neutral to use in a space. Remember to always choose an eggshell or satin finish when you repaint. A finish with just a bit of sheen will help light bounce around the space and make the color appear very rich and saturated.

• New TV console and bigger TV
The previous TV console was a large credenza that allowed the TV to raise and lower, however that mechanism had been broken so the homeowner wanted something new and not as big. A smaller console for TV would allow the TV to be mounted on the wall and expose more of the board and batten. Also, the homeowners were able to purchase a new larger TV which looks great on the wall.

• New Sofa
The sofa is new, and it was purchased to fit the homeowner’s body. This sofa is manufactured by Temple and allows the buyer to customize the sofa a bit. They chose the seat depth, the density of the foam, arm, and leg styles, as well as cushion styles. These sofas fit the human body so well that often I have customers say, “this is the first time I don’t have to tuck a pillow behind my back.”

• New Recliners
The homeowners wanted to sit on individual recliners in this space rather than a sofa. When purchasing recliners, it is very important to find one that fits your body. Don’t be afraid to sit in the recliner that you are considering for at least 20 minutes to see if the comfort level is right. Remember, you will be sitting in the chair for long periods of time, and it takes the human body about 20 minutes to adjust and settle into a resting place.

• New Swivel
We needed a chair to round out the seating in the space, so the homeowners purchased a new swivel barrel chair. The chair is so comfortable that guests will be fighting over it.

• New area rug
The homeowners needed a new and larger area rug. We found a rug that is made with smart strand, so it is very cleanable and very soft.
A larger area rug makes the space look larger so don’t be afraid to go big.

• New Art
The room needed new artwork that reflected the new tones of the space.
The homeowners chose a piece by Alan Maltz titled, “Aqua Marine Dream 1”. When you look at this picture taken from the shoreline of Sunset Key, you can feel the wind and see hear the swish of the palm fronds. It is just a joy to look at!

• Lamps
The old lamps looked new again surrounded by the soft blues and teals in the space. We were able to re-use them, which was really good because they were expensive years ago and now, they are out of production. If you have good lamps don’t be too quick to let them go.
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Before and After Pics Below