All posts tagged: living room

Living Room Update – Pt 2 #styleitdark

Published by Karen Knox

Ok, if you didn’t read Part I, then this post might not make that much sense. So you might want to pop back a couple of posts and catch up so you know what the heck i’m going on about today. Or just keep reading… you’re in charge. I think it’s fair to say I wasted spent a week painting various sections of this room. This bit that colour, that bit this colour. There are some sections of wall that have been painted four times over the space of a fortnight, I swear the room is smaller. https://www.instagram.com/p/BTRQx3RA0GD/?taken-by=makingspacesnet As much as I loved the tone of Dulux’s Rich Praline 3, it just did not work with our oak furniture or pine door. It was also a perfect match for the carpet (which I don’t like) making the room feel a bit “blah”. Not exactly the look I was going for when I started this room update. So after, repeatedly telling my hubster how the room would’t work unless I painted the door in with the …

A living room update – Pt 1 #styleitdark

Published by Karen Knox

Ok. First off. Massive thanks for the ace feedback from my last post. It seems like I have unleashed some design demons, which makes me smile very much indeed. So pleased to hear some of you guys have been trying out my online tutorial on how to create your own mood boards, had a few PM’s and DM’s since last week letting me know how helpful it’s been, including this message: “Just thought i’d let you know, i spent the afternoon at work doing your step by step mood board! For work purposes obvs, but found it really useful!! Im defo guna become a bit addicted. Just need to get myself a Mac book for home now. Cheers!! X” And that’s what I like to hear. People sacking off work to design room sets on a work computer. My work here is done ladies and gentlemen. (**disclaimer – Making Spaces does not condone idle mood board-ery at a place of work or during work hours. Proceed with caution**) Ok, onto today’s topic. Our living room. I’m not going …

The Mood Board. One Room, Two Ways

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve been working remotely with a client for a while now. She’s completely overhauling several rooms of her home but needed to sort some pretty boring stuff first, like running a new damp proof course and plasterwork. Which is now all done. Phew! Back room now damp proofed and re-plastered The front room, which is the secondary living space in this 1930’s three bed semi has finally been stripped of its years of textured wallpaper. The unwanted pieces of furniture have been eBayed and the room is sitting empty, barring the white painted floorboards, a 1950’s school desk and a black upright piano (which may or may not stay.) It’s literally a blank canvas waiting for its new look. Here’s what the room needs in terms of function: Open and closed storage A focal point. The room has a chimney breast but no fire or fireplace Two seater sofa and an armchair Room for the desk Possibly a space for the piano Room for record player and perhaps TV But how the room looks has been a real …

The Drawing Room – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

Am so excited to share the final reveal of this project with you. I’ve been working closely with the homeowners for the last five months and i’m kind of wow-ed with the final design. If you’d like to read all about the beginnings then, jump over here for a catch up. Today’s post is all about the final photos and a shopping list for any of you out there that fancy any of these pieces for yourself. Let’s go. Before Here is their large Edwardian front room at the beginning of July this year. These guys had just moved in and were wanting a formal, but statement front room fit for drinks, music and entertaining. After And here it is now. It’s just so cosy isn’t it? In fact, after doing my final hour of faffing and half way through me taking photos, I was desperate for a quick cat nap on the sofa in front of that roaring fire. So nice. Before Everything in the room was going. Apart from the two made.com Ritchie sofas and …

The Drawing Room

Published by Karen Knox

I have news. News of the exciting variety. It’s about this room: I introduced this Edwardian property earlier this month. You can have a wee catch up here. Since then we have made massive progress with the renovation and re-design of this room. Huge in fact. The first bit of news is the wallpaper has been agreed. The feedback from the last blog post was fantastic. Everyone loved the wallpaper (how couldn’t they?) but there were some of you with reservations about it being on every wall. And I get that, it’s certainly a bold move. After a few days letting it sink in and letting them mull over it, they’ve decided. They’re going all out and have agreed to Ferm Living’s Lines wallpaper around the whole room. I am so excited, it’s going to look amazeballs. Pics courtesy of the homeowners Secondly, the homeowners have been super busy since moving in having already knocked a wall down upstairs (loving their attitude) and ripped the carpets up downstairs to reveal these glorious floorboards in their front …

We have light

Published by Karen Knox

Remember a few posts ago, I introduced you to some of the lighting options for the living room at my new project? The very first time I walked into this room, I visualised a particular ceiling light. After showing the homeowner what had popped into my head (a deconstructed chandelier), it was love at first sight all round. A couple of days later, I found “the one” for this room, and before I knew it, the homeowner had placed an order and it was on its way. Yesterday on my second visit, upon walking back into the living room, the light had arrived and was already being fitted by the electrician. And it looks as gorgeous as I had imagined. The Molecular Pendant by House Doctor was the hands down winner for this room. The clean, minimal lines with the brass accents will work perfectly with the plans for this room. I’ve got serious light envy. A new moody blue, velvet sofa will replace this one. And a larger rug. The homeowner has loads more artwork that’s never …

A Victorian Corker

Published by Karen Knox

I had a consultation yesterday. I’m a little giddy. The homeowner and I have very similar tastes, she loves monochrome, art, industrial, hunting furniture from skips and junk yards and mid-century touches. Her home, quite frankly, is amazing already. But she believes there is room for some creativity, some problem solving and bit of oomph. Let me at ’em. I’ll show you around…. (permission already granted if you were wondering). The living room. Currently in F&B Bone and is calm and neutral. But needs a little kick. The floorboards, picture rail, coving, windows, skirting boards… all original and all amazingly beautiful. Needless to say, they will all be staying put. As will the mid century haberdashery drawers with brass drawer pulls. Yum. Full height windows on two aspects, the second of which I forgot to take a bloomin photo of. Which is kind of a bummer as it’s where some joinery magic may just occur. More on that to follow. Just look at that door! With almost 3m high ceilings, this room can take some serious colour. …

Sherwood Forest – Progress Report

Published by Karen Knox

So where were we? That’s right. We were here. Room all emptied and ready for the walls to get their green on. Ta-Da! The decorator is doing a sterling job. The ceiling has had its two coats of Valspar’s “Gentle Shadows” which is warm off white. It actually has a smidge of green in, so it contrast beautifully. It’s a huge space, about 5m by 12m long, so there is a lot of work to do here. Especially with the amount of woodwork that needs sanding, caulking, priming and painting. The dining room walls are now fully initiated into their new role in “Sherwood Forest.” The creams and magnolias of before actually made the space feel cold and a little soul-less. The colour’s added so much warmth and depth to the room. The wood and metal work have been primed ready for their dark green gloss finish. I decided on gloss to add a textural contrast to the room and traditionally, a gentleman’s club would have been soaked in gloss (and nicotine stains, but we’ll be …

An empty space. Full of green possibilities…

Published by Karen Knox

The Sherwood Forest project is coming along nicely and now we’ve got to the fun bit. You can catch up on its intro here. The room is empty! (ish) Curtain poles down. Skirting ripped out (where it needed to be) and doors being sent off for a good ole stripping. The old fireplace has already been removed and remodelled. You can read all about how that went here. Carpets ripped up and out. Floorboards booked to be repaired, replaced where needed, sanded and stained. Such a large space to redesign on a budget, so it’s all about the colour. Using a bold colour is the best and most cost effective way of getting a high end design look for a price that doesn’t bust the bank. Valspar’s Sherwood Forest and Storybook Sundown made the cut. And a sample of the gold velvet which is being used to make the enormous full length curtains for the bay window. My clients have already got some key pieces of furniture. Like this oak Art Deco cabinet which is …

Adios Fireplace

Published by Karen Knox

Want to see what happens when a fireplace is ripped out? Do I!!?! Well you’ve come to the right place as that’s what i’m going to show you today. What a coincidence. Fireplaces are ALWAYS the thing that stops a project dead in its tracks. When I hear the words, “I’d like a new fireplace” it fills me with dread. It’s not an easy one to sort. It takes a lot of time. And money. Most people give up and then they don’t move forward at all. Project = stopped. Sherwood Forest Project – Operation “Get that Fireplace Out!” This fireplace was outta here. And the best thing was, there wasn’t anything going back in its place. Apart from a cunning design that comes from inside my head. Project = GO! Day 1. Wooden mantle removed by yours truly. I’m very handy with a screwdriver you know. **Warning** The following poor quality phone camera photos include a shot of builder’s pants.** The surround was loosened away from the wall with a mallet, crowbar and brute …