This living room has been in dire need of an overhaul for years now. To be honest, I wanted to get rid of the leather couch and change the lighting and rug. But when budgets are tight, you get creative with what you have, amirite?! 😅 So, let’s make some magic happen on this Spring 2024 One Room Challenge, shall we?

Will I get it done in the next, fun-filled 8 weeks? Well, if there’s anything I learned from previous ORCs it’s this: crazy, beyond-your-control shizzle can throw a wrench in the works at any given moment, so just roll with it. Otherwise, you drive yourself nuts.

But first… What is THE ONE ROOM CHALLENGE, you ask?

As a widely anticipated biannual event–every April and October–ORC is only THE BEST place for interiors-related inspiration, ideas, and encouragement!

Anyone with a blog, Instagram, or TikTok account can join the challenge as a Guest Participant by linking their own roo m transformations up during the next 8 weeks. Starting Wednesday of each week, we report back to the powers that be, flooding the internet and social media with the latest and greatest news, updates, and trials and tribulations of our room transformations.

So, thank you to Linda Weinstein, the creator/owner of the ORC who started all of this fabulousness, and Apartment Therapy ORC’s official media partner, for the support and holding us accountable!

You can get more info about the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE and how to join, click here.

So, here are the BEFORE photos when we moved into this new build….

So, here’s the transformation plan:

Paint ceiling

Paint wall mural (kelly green)l

Paint TV cabinet (lacquer orange; B&W checkerboard)

Find solution to hide cables behind TV cabinet

DIY Ettore Sottsass-inspired Memphis Milano shelves using old Ikea shelves I already have

Upholster chair (Christian Lacroix fabric)

Sew new pillow covers (tiger velvet fabric)

Shop my house for different artwork

Switch dining room rug with living room rug

new ceiling light (?)

Dining Room Makeover – Fixing My Faux Pas

Well, this turned out to be a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, on top of a train wreck…

You may think this looks pretty good, and it does, to be honest.

Only thing is, this damned heap of kindling is too tall for the dining table.

Yes, you read that correctly. I built this sucker originally of the mind that I didn’t really need a bottom or an extra lid for the top.

Since this was the first time undertaking a furniture build from scratch, I didn’t want to do what I usually do, which is bite off more than I can chew.

Well, things escalated pretty quickly after I got to thinking that I could take it up a notch. Why not put some storage in there while I’m at it? Yeah, I’m feelin’ pretty handy. Why not put in an extra lid and bottom piece?

And that’s where this project careened off track like a 100-car, runaway freight train carrying 12,000 tons of manure.

Turns out that if you add an extra lid an a bottom piece, one should add that extra height onto the project and trim the frame accordingly.

Here’s the finished piece and fabric samples I’m playing around with

Cut out the opening for the storage areas

Anyway, fRusTratiNgly, head-bangingly long story short, guess what I’ll be doing Week 3.

Need some interiors-related inspiration, ideas, networking, and encouragement?

Look no further than THE ONE ROOM CHALLENGE, a widely anticipated biannual event — every April and October — the ORC #oneroomchallenge #ORC — where any interiors enthusiast with a blog, Instagram, or TikTok account can join the challenge and link their own room transformations up every week (we’re on WEEK 2now). Starting Wednesday of each week, we report back and flood the interweb and social media with the latest and greatest news, updates, trials, and tribulations of our room transformations.

So, thank you to Linda Weinstein, the creator/owner of the ORC who started all of this fabulousness, and Apartment Therapy ORC’s official media partner, for the support and holding us accountable!

You can get more info about the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE and how to join, click here.

Tag: MDF

One Room Challenge | SP 2024 | Week 1

HERE WE GO!!!

One Room Challenge | FA 2023 | Week 2

Well, this turned out to be a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, on top of a train wreck…

Anyway, fRusTratiNgly, head-bangingly long story short, guess what I’ll be doing Week 3.