I've been in my current apartment for almost two years. Very shortly after moving in, I met my neighbors directly across the street, Gina and Gary.
Gary grew up in the home; it's been his home his whole life. Unfortunately, I'm not sure exactly how many years ago, there was a fire at their neighbors' that did damage to their property as well.
Following the fire, carpet was installed throughout the home.
Since I've known Gina, she's expressed the desire to tear up the carpet. I expected that the hardwood floor beneath would look better than the very tired carpet. After much debate and arguing, it was finally agreed that the carpet could come up....which sparked an array of small upgrades.
Beginning of the carpet removal process-we finished in one night.
Gina and Gary working together! First time I had ever witnessed this! It's a miracle!
Following carpet removal, I just wanted to paint this fireplace. I knew giving it a fresh coat would make a huge difference in the room and create a beautiful focal point.
So-I ran over to my place and grabbed all my painting supplies. In the midst of painting the overall improvement was evident.
Bam! So. Much. Better. I mixed some white (with a seafoam color I had from stenciling my living room) to paint the mantle and crown molding. I also used it to paint the light fixtures on the wall.
Light fixture and mantle painted to compliment the room's color scheme.
And being a person who has difficulty stopping when more improvements are obvious, I figured, "We have all the paint supplies out now, why not freshen up the baseboards, crown molding, and window frames while we're at it?"
I mixed a lighter grey for the crown moldings to create an illusion of higher ceilings.
Threw a new rug down, rearranged, and hung some things on the wall that I gathered from my place. Vast improvement!
Did I coordinate this outfit to the room or design the room to match my getup?
Scroll back up and look at that view from before....a picture is worth a thousand words.
And.....we ripped down the old, very hard to remove drapes that were circa 1980. Hanging the drapes above the windows heightens the room. Dressing up windows is a must. It also allows you to manipulate the light to meet your needs.
And there you have it. The only purchase for this transformation was the window decor. The remainder evolved from what we already had. Use your imagination. Consider what you have before you go out and shop. Last but not least, know you are capable of doing more than you may think. I'd never ripped up carpet before, but now I can say I did and I am damn proud of it! You can do anything you set your mind to:)