Our Living Room: Home Style Before and After
I think I could have called this post “the ghosts of living rooms past”.
Looking back through our living room through the past five years, even I have to admit that it’s a little crazy how many times it has changed.
It’s kind of a joke around here that when we first looked at this house, I promised my husband that we didn’t even have to paint. I loved it that much. It was absolutely perfect.
And truth be told, I meant it at the time.
But once you live in a place for a while you want to make it your own. Change the colours. Move your art around. Switch up the furniture.
It’s all part of that journey that really is my mantra for decorating. Home truly isn’t built in a day. It is a journey.
And today, I’ve hopped on board with a super fun group of ladies for an awesome blog hop hosted by Stephanie from Casa Watkins Living, about their Home Style: Before and After – and how they’ve gotten “there” in one room in their homes.
As part of this series we were asked to define our home style in three words. This was a bit tricky for me. I feel like our home style is a bit of a mixed bag… but I think we’ve definitely transitioned from bright, cheery and eclectic cottage to more a more refined and mature “Hamptons”-esque Lakehouse Cottage feel.
Our living room has definitely been through some serious transitions on this journey…
Last spring I took on the makeover of our living room as part of the One Room Challenge and I couldn’t be happier with how it all came out…
Except, maybe, that one day we would love to add a gas fireplace with a mantel and built in half bookshelves on each side. One day…
Here is how she is looking right now – though I’ve been busy adding fall touches that I can’t wait to share with you soon!
Quite the transformation right?
But isn’t that what makes decorating fun?
Taking the time to collect things; changing things over time; and letting your style grow and evolve with you.
Are you interested in seeing how some other fabulous DIY and Decor bloggers have transitioned their style over time? Check out their “Home Style: Before & After posts” – all being shared this week!
And sharing tomorrow it will be:
You house is so beautiful! I love the pops of colors, and I really love seeing the journey of your living room. It is so easy to assume these spaces just come together. But it really takes time, the outcome is always worth the wait! Thank you for sharing at Dream. Create. Inspire. Link!
Thank you Cat! Things do certainly evolve and can take a lot of time to get to where you want it:) I guess that’s part of the fun! Thanks for hosting and for popping by!
How lovely can it be!! I always love looking at your house because it’s so bright and colorful. Those blues are very welcoming.
Thanks Stacey! I think I love blue so much because it reminds me of the blue sky… we live with a lot of cloudy and foggy days and I love that reminder!
This transformation is positively stunning! It looks like a magazine spread! Wow! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday! Pinned!
Thank you so much! And thanks for hosting!!
Oh my gosh this is GORGEOUS! I love how bright and fun it is! Our To grandma’s house we go link party just opened this morning, we would love to have you!
Thank you so much!!
Love this room–so bright and airy and cheerful! And it’s always fun watching how it’s changed over time 🙂
Thank you Gretchen – it definitely has had some serious changes over the past few years!
I love it, it reminds me of the beach my favourite place. Can’t wait to see the fall décor!
Thanks Anji! It’s always fun to make the transition between the seasons!
Love this transformation! It’s the perfect combination of bright and cozy 🙂 I’m so glad I’m not the only one who go through a couple versions of a room before getting it just right 🙂
Haha Jen! It’s definitely been through a few versions:) I think it will stay this way for a while… but I guess you never quite know when inspiration might hit!
What a beautiful space Krista! It was gorgeous before the ORC but now, wow! Love the couch and the round rug. Your furniture layout is perfect.
Thank you Kathy! I love how the round rug draws the furniture together in a nice seating group – the room shape is quite square so a rectangular rug just always felt awkward!
Your home is just so bright and beautiful, Krista! And I love seeing how it’s evolved over the years. I totally tell my husband every time that we paint that we won’t have to do it again for a long time, and pretty much change my mind a year later every single time! 😉
Thank you Laura!! Isn’t that funny… I wonder if they even believe us anymore?
“Hamptons-esque” is perfect! it’s not too nautical, or “too” anything, it’s all so well balanced. It looks like a great place to come too.
Thank you so much Ariel! We love it, and it definitely gets lots of love and use from the whole family!
I love the stripes and your style is so comfy, stylish, and inviting!
Thank you so much Amy! We live in it a lot, so it needs to be comfy:)
Krista, I adore your style, girl!! Your living space has undergone an incredible transformation. Hamptons style is my decorating love language, and you have a way of injecting a sense of fun and colour into every space you touch. Truly talented! (And your photos are beautiful!) xo
Thank you so much Karen!! Such a sweet comment:) I definitely can’t seem to help adding colour…
Krista, you speak my design language girl! I love your home!
Thank you Iris!!
First, your photography is amazing. I would love to know your secret. Second, great transformation!!!
EEEK! The photography has been a long journey and more often then not I don’t like my pictures… but they have evolved over time:) The best change I’ve made is shooting in manual instead of autofocus and keeping my ISO low. Thanks for your sweet comments!
It’s undergone an incredible transformation. I ADORE your living room! Can’t wait to see it with Fall decor!
Thank you Christina- it’s decorated for fall now, but I never quite feel finished. Do you know what I mean?!?
It was so fun to watch the space get brighter over time. And those striped curtains totally make the room!
Thanks Melissa! I’m glad you think so… sometimes I start to question them, but I love how graphic and beachy they are:)
Your space has evolved quite nicely and I like the direction that you are going with the branding of your style. It is definitely Hamptons material.
Aw, thanks Jessica! Such a sweet comment!
it is so fun to look back and see how far we have come! i loved every version, but i think it feels so much more calming now ans i love it!
Isn’t it crazy? The evolution? I agree – much more calming but still with hits of my favourite colours and patterns. I think the constant exposure to other super talented bloggers homes has helped me to define my own style better then ever before!