Evolution of a Living Room
Come along for the evolution of a living room! Ours!! It’s seen many (many!) changes over the years.
Hello friends! Happy Fall! Even though it doesn’t feel like it at all. Boo. 91 here today, no thank you! I really hope some cooler, crisp fall days will show up soon. Are you getting any of those where you are??
I thought it’d be fun to take a look at our living room over the years today. It’s gone through many (many!) changes in the last twenty years. I had a range of styles, that is for sure. I’ve recently made a few more changes, so I thought I’d update a little and share what came before.
Some of you who haven’t been around as long may not remember how our home looked when we moved in, so follow along to see.
Evolution of a Living Room (over 20 years)
Well, here is how it started…
Dark and dreary, huh??
And look at that relic on the table!! A phone book! lol The good ole Yellow Pages that I was actually using to find a few things for our “new” house.
We removed the paneling, finished the drywall underneath, painted, and brightened up this entire space.
Next, we have this.
Brighter, yes, but oh so colorful too, lol!
I toned it down a little with this.
You can find the DIY coffee table turned tufted ottoman here.
Read all about the blue and white DIY curtains here.
Board and batten tutorial is here.
Then this…
You can read about the DIY fall pillows here.
Find the DIY shutters on the wall here.
And then completely changed the look with this.
Which is probably my favorite. However, I got tired of the white and light “spa” look.
You can find the rug here.
Read more about the coffee table makeover here.
Read more about the end tables here.
So, after that, we went with this.
You can find this rug here.
And finally, we are here. I added in some more texture and patterns.
You can find the fabric for these curtains here.
The rug here.
The ottoman here.
For now, anyway, I may make a few other minor changes here and there.
How about this view??
(These “before” shots were right when we moved in, so excuse the boxes and mess)
And a few over the years of that same space…
Look at our Ryder, so sweet and young.
Read all about those curtains here.
Make your own ladder here.
DIY mantel tutorial is here.
Rug is here.
And now…
The back French door area.
It went from this…
…to this…
…and this…
…and so on…
To now…
The kitchen wall (and then no wall) changed a lot!
Here’s a view of it after we had started the remodel. We had previously removed the yellow countertop and painted the kitchen cabinets, among other things. The mini makeover before we began the wall teardown.
Fun times, haha!!
This is an older photo, but the kitchen has remained essentially unchanged since then. It still looks the same today. The one room that hasn’t changed much since we did the big kitchen update in there, in 2018.
And a few more of the new rug, curtains, and our sweet pups, too.
Peek a boo, haha.
Piper’s favorite spot. She loves to look out the window.
PIN it to save it!
I hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of our home and the changes it has undergone. In this room, anyway. Lots more in the others, too. I’m still working on the old “morning room” makeover and also redecorating the kitchen wall (where the big mirror is). The mirror is coming down, and I’m doing a whole new decor situation there. I’ll share it as soon as I complete it.
Hope you all have an amazing “fall” (summer??) weekend!! haha!
xoxo
It reminds me a lot of our own home’s (built in 1975) makeover after we moved in in 1989. Lots of dark paneling, sculptured gold-colored shag carpet, harvest gold and avocado wallpaper…Lol. But at least the kitchen counters were “updated” to royal blue formica! Ha ha! (And frilly pink curtains, to boot.) But we could see the potential. Anyway, it was fun to see your transformation. Thanks for sharing!
Yes! Ours was built in 78. We moved in in ’04. I had seen my share of brown paneling, orangey wood paneling growing up but I had never seen any as dark as this. When we redid floors and cabinets etc, we found small pieces of gold and brown shag carpet, gold and orange kettle/dish design wallpaper in the kitchen. A time capsule, for sure! Gold and avocado bathrooms too. Haha, our dining room was “updated” with pink and blue flowered wallpaper. (the room I recently re-wallpapered, lol)
And yes, we could see potential too, thank goodness!! I remember my sister coming over when we moved in and her saying, “I’m glad YOU can see the potential”, haha!! xo
Love the floors too! I know you posted about them somewhere- are they LVP or hardwood?
Thanks, Michelle! Yes! You can read all about them here.
You have made wonderful changes over the years and updated things which a lot of people just don’t take the time to do.
One thing that kind of sticks with me is all that wainscoting. If you could put a photo with AI and take it out and see how it looks I would really like to see it. It just seems way too tall to me and my brain. At least 2 of your partners in the biz are using A! to stage (Denise & Christy) get one of them to help you stage it.
Hi Mary! Thanks so much!!
Oh, yes, that is board and batten and it is sometimes tall like that. One of the photos shows it before we installed it. Oh, I didn’t realize they were using AI to stage! I’ll have to ask them about that.
Oh WOW Nancy, what fun to see this side by side. You have done so much. Looks so good now.
The power of change can sure be a strong one. Whoo hoo!! Have a fabulous weekend.
Thanks, Michele!! Yes, definitely a strong one here! haha! A labor of love, I guess! Thanks, friend! xoxo
Hi Nancy! Wow, i guess dark and dreary were the thing in the 80’s. What a beautiful home you have made. Can you please tell me what the flooring is?
Hi Cheryl! Yes, it was, boo! Don’t love it but gosh, I don’t think I ever thought twice about it back then. lol The flooring is Select Surfaces (got it at Sam’s), you can read all about it here.
Beautiful changes! The spaces are so nice and bright now. Great work.
Thanks so much, Lizzy! Happy fall weekend to you! xoxo
The thing is… the link in your 9/30/2025 newsletter for the headline feature of making fall decor for the porch comes to this page…
So sorry, I fixed it and resent the email! xo
Got the fixed email! Now about your living room – I love it! And one thing I particularly like it that you have a textured ceiling (like many of us – my 30 yr old house has popcorn ceilings) and have decided it does not take away from your room at all and you have left it. I am so glad… everywhere I look I see exhortations to remove the popcorn and paint or wallpaper the ceiling. I have large/heavy furniture that would be impossible to move and even hired professionals would not be able to get around/over it to remove the popcorn, so it is staying. Seeing your beautiful living room makes me feel so much better, I will never be bothered about my ceilings again.
Oh yes, we have them in several rooms! The morning room I’m making over currently are flatter swirls. The dining room is a circular pattern and this room which is just stamped. I’m so glad seeing them made you feel better! :) xo
That giant computer monitor on the fireplace hearth made me laugh! Your home is lovely and your projects are always so inspiring! Thank you for sharing with us!
Oh my gosh, right?!!! Thank you so much, Gail! I hope you have an amazing weekend! xoxo
MORNING…THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE MAKING A FALL DECOR FOR THE PORCH, BUT IT COMES UP AS THE EVOLUTION OF A LIVINGROOM? WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
I’m so sorry, Julie!! I fixed the link and reshared the email. Thank you so much also!! xoxo