I told you that I would share some old before photos with you.
Now brace yourself, ok? I almost couldn’t believe it myself. Was I really ever that much into brown and beige? The photos remind me of cat vomit now. Yuck!
Before I show you these old pictures I have to tell you that I didn’t like the sofa on those photos to begin with. I was forced into getting them. Yes, totally forced. I had bought a different sofa from a local furniture store and right after they arrived we went to Germany for two weeks, when I came back, one of the metal rods in the sofa had started to poke through the fabric and created a hole. WITHOUT ANYBODY EVER REALLY SITTING ON IT. So I told the store I wanted a new one and I was told that they wouldn’t give me the same Rowe sofa again because there was a chance it might happen again. How pathetic is that? The only way I would get a new couch was if I picked one from a different brand. I didn’t like any of the other brands but had to pick one, so I picked this one and I cried when it came. To top it all off my mom confirmed it and told me she didn’t like it either. Needless to say that this store went out of business by now.
Well enough said, here are some before and afters:
Before
Didn’t I say a lot of beige and brown? CAT VOMIT!?
After
I guess I really like round mirror’s over the couch.
And I’m working on replacing those four pieces of artwork in the corner.
Before
Cringe!
After
The only thing remaining are the chairs (I’d love to change out the fabric) and the end tables. A lot of people tell me to lay the rug the other direction but there is an air vent which makes it impossible
Before
These pictures are all pretty old. This is my son’s highchair and he is 10 years old now. So outdated!
After
I still have the same table, chairs, and painting. I’d love to get new chairs or paint these but they are just so durable with 2 kids, 4 cats and 1 husband!
Before
Oh my!
After
I just noticed that this isn‘t the latest picture either, my Strandmon chair isn’t in the picture yet and I must have just been working on my Fornasetti plates, because they are stuck on the kitchen wall. I’m so itching to replace those countertops. Let’s see if we move or not!
I don’t even know what else to say after this, do you?
I guess “Have a great weekend” is enough.
Oh wait! Maybe you have a blog post where you show your old photos. Just post it into your comment. I’d love to check it out!
Talk to you on Monday.
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18 Comments
I ‘WISH’ I had lot’s of ‘after’ photo’s, but alas, no money for makeovers yet.
I really don’t think your before photo’s are bad, I just really love your after much more…. and the fact that you used turquoise for your accent color. Your house is just beautiful the way you have redone it all.
it’s so fun to see how our tastes change. my first house, when i “did” the living room, i painted two walls a light brown/beige and two walls (opposite from each other) chocolate brown. i painted the brick fireplace white (it was on the chocolate wall, so it was a nice contrast). i had a beige sectional i bought for that room, matching espresso stained tables from storehouse, and pillows i made in beige, brown, and aqua. the only thing that has survived is my love for aqua… HA HA!!! i thought it all looked so good, too.
I am currently trying to “debrown” my home on basically no money. I loved seeing your before pictures. It is just the inspiration I need to keep me motivated!
I think that since I discovered all the decorating blogs, my style has evolved too. I don’t think your before pics were horrible, they probably just were not a good representation of you. I love what you’ve done and I am totally lusting over your new brass shelves you showed us the other day.
Thanks on the shelving 😉 You know what? The funny thing is that they were totally a representation of me at that time and for whatever reason I was happy with it (well except for the sofa). That redish wall in the kitchen was over 10 years ago, so it’s pretty long time ago.
These kinds of posts have always been my favorite because I love to see how things have changed over time!! I really like how you kept some of your furniture, even though overall, the style of your rooms totally changed. I think that a lot of people are too quick to just go out and replace something because they don’t see how it *could* actually work for them later on.
I totally agree with you Sara! You don’t have to get rid of everything because you think it might not match your new decor. To be honest, there are several things that have sentimental value to me and I won’t get rid of them ever. They’ll always have a place in my space. I love my family heirlooms.
Hi, Julia! I am laughing because I suffered the same beige issues a few years back. I am just now getting rid of the last of it in my home! I think a lot of people were stuck in that rut. Now gray or “greige” seems to be the new neutral of choice. I wonder if in 5-7 years we are going to hate that one now too. Well, right now I am loving gray and white 🙂 I am seriously thinking about painting all my walls shades of white in the future and just adding color in accessories, but the bold designer in me doesn’t know for sure! Have a great weekend! xo Kristin
I have to say that the reason why I probably like neutrals so much is because there is so much color in the rest of my house (my kids rooms) and it’s calming. I’m so loving the white walls too and was actually just thinking of doing that if we move to a new house. I love how Mandy from Vintage Revivals changed all her walls to white and has pops of colors in her furniture and accessories.
Before and afters are so much fun! Your befores aren’t really bad it just shows how much your tastes have changed. I love how it is has gotten brighter and by the last kitchen pictures, your house looks really open – I love that! Have a great weekend too!
Thanks Crystal and yes it is definitely brighter and more open. Now if I could only cut down the wall in the kitchen…it would really open things up. I’d love to get a white marble countertop 🙂
I ‘WISH’ I had lot’s of ‘after’ photo’s, but alas, no money for makeovers yet.
I really don’t think your before photo’s are bad, I just really love your after much more…. and the fact that you used turquoise for your accent color. Your house is just beautiful the way you have redone it all.
Thanks Sheryll
it’s so fun to see how our tastes change. my first house, when i “did” the living room, i painted two walls a light brown/beige and two walls (opposite from each other) chocolate brown. i painted the brick fireplace white (it was on the chocolate wall, so it was a nice contrast). i had a beige sectional i bought for that room, matching espresso stained tables from storehouse, and pillows i made in beige, brown, and aqua. the only thing that has survived is my love for aqua… HA HA!!! i thought it all looked so good, too.
Well, thank God I’m not the only one that loved beige and brown at that time.
I can’t even believe that I’m putting these up here!
I am currently trying to “debrown” my home on basically no money. I loved seeing your before pictures. It is just the inspiration I need to keep me motivated!
Good luck on your journey to “debrown” on a budget 😉
You just floor me! Stunning transformations! You really have an eye for decorating…love your new color choices, as well.
Thanks Karen
I think that since I discovered all the decorating blogs, my style has evolved too. I don’t think your before pics were horrible, they probably just were not a good representation of you. I love what you’ve done and I am totally lusting over your new brass shelves you showed us the other day.
Thanks on the shelving 😉 You know what? The funny thing is that they were totally a representation of me at that time and for whatever reason I was happy with it (well except for the sofa). That redish wall in the kitchen was over 10 years ago, so it’s pretty long time ago.
These kinds of posts have always been my favorite because I love to see how things have changed over time!! I really like how you kept some of your furniture, even though overall, the style of your rooms totally changed. I think that a lot of people are too quick to just go out and replace something because they don’t see how it *could* actually work for them later on.
I totally agree with you Sara! You don’t have to get rid of everything because you think it might not match your new decor. To be honest, there are several things that have sentimental value to me and I won’t get rid of them ever. They’ll always have a place in my space. I love my family heirlooms.
These pictures are awesome, look at how much work you’ve done! Your white and gray curtains make such a statement. Love your home. Thanks for sharing.
Well thank you Adrienne!
Hi, Julia! I am laughing because I suffered the same beige issues a few years back. I am just now getting rid of the last of it in my home! I think a lot of people were stuck in that rut. Now gray or “greige” seems to be the new neutral of choice. I wonder if in 5-7 years we are going to hate that one now too. Well, right now I am loving gray and white 🙂 I am seriously thinking about painting all my walls shades of white in the future and just adding color in accessories, but the bold designer in me doesn’t know for sure! Have a great weekend! xo Kristin
I have to say that the reason why I probably like neutrals so much is because there is so much color in the rest of my house (my kids rooms) and it’s calming. I’m so loving the white walls too and was actually just thinking of doing that if we move to a new house. I love how Mandy from Vintage Revivals changed all her walls to white and has pops of colors in her furniture and accessories.
Before and afters are so much fun! Your befores aren’t really bad it just shows how much your tastes have changed. I love how it is has gotten brighter and by the last kitchen pictures, your house looks really open – I love that! Have a great weekend too!
Thanks Crystal and yes it is definitely brighter and more open. Now if I could only cut down the wall in the kitchen…it would really open things up. I’d love to get a white marble countertop 🙂