I have the best dad in the entire world.
When Derrick and I moved into our new home this past July, we were most excited to put personalized touches on the living room. We tend to spend the most time in here, so we wanted to transform the boring, builder grade space into a room that was cozy yet airy and welcoming, and functional above all else. In this space, we envisioned custom built ins to allow for storage, a fireplace, and a way to incorporate Teddy’s crate, since there isn’t a good space to tuck a freestanding one.
My father graciously took time out of his busy schedule to fly down to us and brought our custom concept to life in THREE DAYS (with Derrick’s help). We are so happy with how they turned out! This added a ton of storage to the existing space and allowed a seamless way to integrate Teddy’s crate (lower left) into the design, maximizing function. For his crate, we created custom shaker-style doors with metal filigree for airflow and added latches, and lined the crate with a WeatherTech mat to protect the wood from any accidents.
Following the built-ins installation, Derrick and I transformed the room together (well, mostly him!) by adding custom millwork, a fresh coat of paint, and framing out the plain drywall arch to add character.
We purchased a custom sectional made from Sunbrella fabric, which is durable, stain-resistant, and holds up well with children and pets. Sunbrella is a tougher fabric as it is used both indoor and outdoors, but we are really pleased with the look and how it’s been holding up. It’s also comfortable, which is important in a lived-in space. We kept our existing mahogany wood coffee table for now (we’ll upgrade this later), and since we have an open-concept space (combined living and dining rooms), we used a neutral rug and soft lighting to anchor the living space. I’ll share the updating dining room with you soon!
Before
Nothing wrong with it, but it was boring and builder grade. We knew we wanted to customize the space and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted a full wall of built ins and a fireplace to cozy up in front of.
After
A fresh coat of paint does wonders! We were concerned the built ins would make the space feel smaller, but it did the opposite. The space feels cozy and welcoming, and is designed for both function and style. There are still a couple changes we’d like to make, but overall, we’re pleased with the way the space has come together!
PS – we love how much character the archway casing adds! Derrick and I built this from 1x8x12 ft pine boards and trim pieces. Overall, the casing project cost us approximately $300 in materials between the wood, primer, paint, caulking, and nails.
Here’s a little sneak peek of the kitchen + Teddy
Paint Colors Used
Lower walls and millwork: Pure White by Sherwin Williams
Upper walls: Drift of Mist by Sherwin Williams, a warm, neutral toned light greige color.
We’re so happy with the way the space is coming together, and can’t wait to share more changes with you! Following along here for updates or check out my Instagram.
I can't wait to hear from you!