I went to Calico Corners this morning to get a little help from my new BFF’s (the fabric EXPERTS who work there). I’m so excited about about the fabrics they helped me choose and my upcoming sewing projects. To celebrate, here’s an older post from February, highlighting the fabrics they helped me choose for my living room makeover. Oh, how I love and appreciate these ladies at Calico! They really know their stuff!
In February I wrote about the chair that started my OCD in decorating. The ladies at Calico Corners, brilliantly helped me choose fabrics that coordinate. I love the look of several different patterns of fabrics in one room, but just don’t know how to pull it together so it looks cohesive. Thank goodness for the experts.
After recovering the old chair, we moved onto toss pillows and drapes. I didn’t need the drapes to be functional. Candice Olson suggests dummy panels, so that’s what I did. I saw the idea for a print on top and linen on the bottom on the Thrifty Decor Chick blog as well as the Calico Corners catalog. The linen panels were from Lowes. The fabric on top is a small check that I fell in love with. I really love the way they turned out. They don’t block any of the light but they add the texture and warmth that I really wanted. I had never painted a room a light color. But I think the linen color walls and the dark accent wall work well in the room.
More pillows… made with scraps of fabric, left over from other living room projects and buttons from Grandma’s collection. I also reused old pillows, so I wouldn’t have to buy new pillow forms.
Finally, this is not my finished focal point of the room. But, it will do for now. I bought the window frame at a garage sale for $5.00. I saw the idea for backing it with fabric and hanging a wreath on the Happy Homebody blog. It was just what I was looking for. This area is lacking color, but it’s a work in progress. The bird cage was a Ross find that I spray painted.
Grandma’s old rocking chair got a facelift too, with more fabric from Calico Corners.
So, here’s the run down on the living room makeover:
*Design consultation from the experts at Calico Corner – free!
*Purchased three new fabrics; large plaid, black floral, small black and cream check.
*Used the fabric to recover chair rescued from friend’s garage, recover grandma’s rocker, recover lots and lots of pillows.
*Painted one dark accent wall and chair the same color dark mossy green.
*Painted the rest of the room linen.
*Made custom drapes out of Lowes panels.
*Spray painted old picture frames black, so they would all be cohesive.
*Painted all mix-match hand-me-down furniture with black semi-gloss.
*Sold all of the fancy, “NO YOU CAN’T PLAY IN THAT ROOM!” stuff on Craigslist and used the money to buy lamps and a cheap ottoman at Target.
*The result… a cozy room, that looks purposeful and cohesive, in which my children are allowed to play, that cost next to nothing.
Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in.
Also playing at http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/2010/04/parade-of-homes-linky-party.html.
The Comments
Ann
Look great. I confess, I too have decorating add. I like too much stuff! Right now my living rooms between country chic and glam…. and those 2 really aren't meant to coexist!Maybe I need to visit CC!
Jan Jessup
Dear Becca, so glad that you found out how talented the sales associates are at the Calico Corners stores! We put a premium on education and building long-term relationships with our customers.
And for your friend with Decorating ADD, we can help her focus on the style that will work best in her living room and how to achieve it. Calico allows customers to take fabrics home and live with them for a couple of days to see how they feel in the actual room. That can really help make a decision as to what will work best. Happy decorating!
Jan
Katie
I love all the fabrics and your screen/wreath combination!
Kim
It came together so well. You CANNOT beat the warmth of fabric.
Kaysi
It looks great!!
Allison Shops
I absolutely love the window frame and the rocking chair. I have my great grandmother's oak rocker. Dropping by from BNOTP.
Blondie's Journal
Becca~~~~
You did a wonderful job. I love all of the details! The window frame is awesome…a real work of art!
Happy Met Monday! 🙂
xoxo
Janie
Mary Beth @ Live. Laugh. Make Something
Bee-You-Tee-Full! so charming! I hopped over from "A Soft Place to Land" and I am so happy that I did! Please accept my invitation to drop in at my place one day this week when you get a moment. I have become a follower and would be honored if you choose to do the same!
Room to Inspire
I just love that window frame! Great idea covering the back in fabric. I am so glad Heather sent you my blog – I can't wait to cruise around and check out your other posts! Thanks for linking to Be Inspired today. I will be back on Friday.
Chelsea
Jill from Women Who Do It All
Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing, I love getting decorating inspiration from everyone because I am a much better crafter than decorator!!!
-Jill
Fawnda
It looks great! And isn't it wonderful to have a room your whole family can live in and feel comfortable? I love it! Great style! 🙂
Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden
Beautiful fabrics! Everything looks great together!
Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours day! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Andy Porter
What a beautiful room! Thanks so much for linking to the parade! The window are turned out really wonderful! The wreath looks great on top! Your curtains are very pretty as well! It all looks so GOOD!!!
XOXO,
Andy
Carol
The result is a great room! Fabric really works wonders & you got very good advice on your choices! Love those drapes, too!
nouveaustitch
I am so missing my neighborhood Calico Corners outlet store! It was the BEST! Now I have to drive over an hour and there doesn't seem to be stock on hand to walk out with! Not good for this OCD sewist that needs instant gratification!
Your home is looking fabulous!
Ellen
Erin
Gorgeous room!!
Gail @ Faithfulness Farm
Becca…this got my attention on your sidebar! I HAVE this chair.
http://faithfulnessfarm.blogspot.com/2009/07/heirloom-party.html
Okay, my chair is the rocker that matches this chair but I've recovered it twice over the years (it was orginally my g-grandma's and then my grandma's and now mine). I LOVE it and yours is gorgeous too. I also like yours grandma's rocker. I have 2 similar. I am a little off my rocker, lol!
LOVE your blog and am following along! Come for a visit 🙂
Blessings!
Gail
Karie's Chic Creations
Very very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Pat
Beautiful room.
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style
Great fabrics and your home is so pretty and warm and cozy. I love it.
marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
Your room is gorgeous. I love lots of fabrics and to mix a ton of patterns. Yours looks wonderful. Great colors. Hugs, Marty
ButterYum
Hi there. Your home is so inviting. Love the way you have it decorated!!
🙂
ButterYum
Jill @ Blessings of Lifetime
Okaaaay… Just found your blog and I've decided that if I could just pop over from Houston and plop myself into the most comfortable and true LIVING room I've ever seen, I'd be there in a heartbeat! This room looks so warm, inviting, functional, and livable. LOVELY! Thank you for sharing the photo and your talents! Blessings!
Kymberly Foster Seabolt
Love this room!
Love your blog!
Thinking of kidnapping a few of those Calico Cornians and making them re-do my whole house!