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[Oznell]

Sherry of "Canterbury Cottage" was asked by her friend Shelley to take on Shelley's nondescript family room in her walk-out basement.  It's sort of a great room, with a bar and dining area.

It was large and light-filled, but filled with bulky couches and seemed a bit random and cold.

BEFORE:

Not only that, but Sherry's challenge was to do a makeover without buying anything new!  Shelley told Canterbury Cottage Sherry she wanted a traditional feeling, but using some of their modern art, and she wanted it to be warmer and have more texture.

BEFORE:

Really nice pieces had not been used effectively, like the grandfather clock stuck at the end of the hall.

BEFORE:

To bring in some color, Sherry banished the pale rug and took her cue from a rich blue one the family owned.

DURING--

DURING--

  Blue pillows and other accessories followed.  A big improvement was removing the large leather love seat that matched the couch, and substituting smaller scale seating.

DURING-- 

The lucky thing is, Shelley's family has a store room with a lifetime of "extras" that Sherry could draw on.  She didn't want to use a "matching" coffee table and side table, but they were the only ones in storage with a small enough scale to work in the space.  The bar stools stick out far enough in the living area that furniture placement was tricky.

Sherry had a concern about all the awkward niches in the architecture of the room, like this one below the TV, so she set about putting some of Shelley's trunks to good use.

DURING--

I've long thought that builders in the 1990's especially, went for these rather clumsy built-in looks, creating a busy landscape of too-deep shelving and competing shapes and arches-- 

See what I mean?  The different levels and shapes of the niches and shelving are less than harmonious.  

BEFORE--

Also, having two big eye-grabbers, the fireplace and massive TV,  kitty-corner to each other is awkward.  So Sherry had a lot to contend with in her makeover.

Things seemed to fall into place when Sherry found this pretty Monet print in storage--

AFTER--

She strategically employed the family's heirloom trunks to "dress up" the more utilitarian alcoves:

AFTER

Now, the room still has its architectural challenges, but there is warmth, color, lamplight, and plants and flowers bringing in freshness:

AFTER--

Love how Sherry dressed the window seat, and that serene green view!

Homeowner Shelley had this antique tall, skinny post office box thing in storage, and now it gives such character to the window seat area--

AFTER

Imagine Shelley not having this magnificent antique sideboard out before!!  To me, it is one of the best parts of the makeover--

Sherry loved combining Shelley's modern lamps with the more vintage elements in the dining room.  The whole thing looks like it could be in an English country house...

AFTER--

And remember the grandfather clock that was stuck away in the hallway at the beginning?  Now it's in this dining room, for everyone to enjoy.

AFTER--

That same sterile hallway got its own makeover.  The small slim buffet that was in the dining room before the glorious antique one, now brings storage here.  And Sherry found a small scaled chair and some art to go where the massive clock was before.

AFTER--

By now, Shelley the homeowner had only slim pickings in her storage after all of Sherry's raids.  So Sherry donated her own thrifted barware to spruce up the bar area:

Very nice.  Were I the homeowner, I'd consider the next time I painted, going a little less dark on the cabinets.

AFTER

AFTER

Everything has been freshened here and made less clinical--

AFTER

Homeowner Shelley, below, and her husband were ecstatic with the changes. 

Not being a master thrifter and maximalist like C.C.'s Sherry, I would have been a little more sparing with accessories, like in the niches by the fireplace.  I love decor, but need somewhat less visual stimulation at once. 

Along those lines, one thing I'd consider long-term if I were homeowner Shelley, would be to have a really good carpenter make doors for maybe the two bottom niches flanking the fireplace.  Offering closed storage, streamlining the view a bit.  But maximalist Sherry would probably demur at that!

What do you think of the built-ins having more closed storage?

But overall, I think the brief to bring more warmth and texture was so nicely achieved.  The livability of this space was really amped, in my view. 

[piperbay]

Very nice transformation and it made a difference to put the grandfather clock in the dining room.

[We rescue cats]

What a lovely change! The artwork of the bridge over the pond is serene, I'd love to be on that bridge. The beautiful side board is one that I wish I had-though it would not go well with anything in my home! My ex and I had bought one quite similar, it needed a lot of work. I believe he refinished it after we split up, I wonder what became of it.

[shoekitty]

quite a difference. I love the side board and small details she added. I agree about toning cabinets down...next time.  Also, I do think a plant or two and that whit ething on mantle could be removed. I am more of a minimalist myself. Just a few too many Pillows, lamps and plants for me. Just a little!  I see dusting, and clutter at times when I have to sit and look at filled book shelves, cubbies and niches. But great transformation, with what you have. I think most of us can do that!  I know I can 

[just bee]

I can, but I wonder why it wasn't used.  Great piece! 

[CANDLEQUEEN]

Very nice warmup with just the right amount of color and accessories. Not too overdone either....Love the Grandfather clock...

[AuntG]

She worked wonders, but few of us would have a store room of things to pull out and use down there. Buying new would have been costly. If I had a Monet, it would have been on a wall somewhere in my house.

[CarolinaGirl88]

I agree that there's a lot of "stuff" in the niches, but overall, I LOVE this transformation! Amazing that the designer used things that they had in other locations to do this. I've done that from time to time, but on a much smaller scale. This redesign inspires me to do it more. Thanks for sharing!

[shoptilyadropagain]

It's a very nice transformation.  I'd have to change a few things here and there but, overall, it was well done.  I like that the deisgner filled those niches with a little more decor items but it is probably a bit too much.  I also really like your idea of adding cabinet doors to the bottom niches (and I'd do the one above also) to add storage rather than have the open shelving for knick knacks.

[Terrywu]

What a beautiful and inviting renovation.