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[Oznell]

Maria Killam has a busy friend, Brigida, with a small apartment, who tirelessly works to get food for a homeless population and seniors.

Tony and Brigida

 

So she authorized Maria to take her black and white apartment, and warm it up quickly, on a budget!   She had mostly bought model furniture from the first apartment they looked at in the building.

It's a realistic 'refresh', because Maria needed to work with a lot of what was already there, and staying, like Tony's large recliner.

BEFORE:

The living room is small, but has some nice assets like a fireplace and large windows.  But it looks de-personalized, with a too-small rug, devoid of color, and there's no warm or romantic lighting.  Here Maria shows where a lamp should be added:

They decided on green as an accent color to add to the black, and Maria was off to Home Sense to pull together the look. She created a "mood board" of the items right in the store:

Including green 'linen-look' occasional chair to anchor the new scheme-- 

AFTER:

Her addition of lamps makes a big difference to the warmth of the space.  That, plus:

Her green accents in chair, lamp, pillow, and throws;

Adding the large landscape and bird art to the big white-on-white flower on the wall;

Even the pair of small botanical prints over the TV is compatible with the other art, and eases the bleak white boxy-ness of the room--

A much bigger rug;

The simple vignette of flowers, book and candle on the coffee table, and the plants on the brick sill;

And even the cream "ball pillow" to add whimsy to the recliner,  bring more life to the room.

So much more comfy, and more cheerful.

More green, in lamp and new chair on left.

"BEFORE" DINING AREA:

The dining room was OK, with its modern table and cane back chairs.  It just needed some personality.

Botanicals, a lamp, and a fruit bowl keep it from being a random catch-all.

And another lamp dresses up the small buffet.

  

It's almost like working a puzzle, when you have a space that isn't ideal, ( with oddities like a brick window sill), and that you can't really change much, because it's a rental or because of budget constraints.

Most people probably like to slowly decorate their spaces over time -- I know I do.  But for someone like Brigida, who trusted Maria to reflect her taste, the whirlwind "glow-up" was just what she wanted.  She was thrilled!

The overnight changes can be built on in the future, like getting nice curtains perhaps, to go over the shades at the window, something that would amp up the cozy factor even more...

[shoekitty]

How fun!  I would love a friend like that. Send that girl my way. 

[Kachina624]

The "after" is a big improvement but the room still seems very bland.  I think the green pillows are insignificant and need to be a brighter color, perhaps with some pattern or interesting texture.  The room cries for some interest.  Window coverings would help a lot. 

[jlkz]

That wire coffee table takes up a lot of real estate.  There needs to be some space, like a shelf under a glass top to provide needed storage.

Those wires collect dust and are a needless chore that could be done away with.

[Happy2BHere]

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@Oznell wrote:

AFTER:

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I always hate to be picky in commenting on the "afters" - especially considering how much work someone has done - but I agree with @Kachina624 and would like to see a bit more color besides green.

Even the fruit in the dish on the dining room table is green. But I also noticed "Tony" is wearing a green jacket in the first picture, so green might be their very favorite color. I'm glad the owners are thrilled with the results.

Another personal preference would be different artwork (shown behind Maria K above), and different placement on the wall, but that's just me. I know I drive my DH crazy when I have him help me with hanging art here at home ("a little to the right", "no, go more to the left", "go down a little", etc, etc. ) 

[Marsha2003]

I think Maria's work warmed up the rooms and gave them a bit of interest.  It's always interesting to me to see the homes of those who absolutely have no interest in decor.  I have friends like that.  They are passionate about their other interests, but expend no effort to decorate their homes.  I always wish I could have a reasonable budget and permission to give their rooms some joy, but of course, since they are friends, I instead stay quiet and accept them (and their houses) as they are.

[Desert Lily]

The "After" living room is too crowded, way overdone. The wall art looks like it's been thrown up to cover every space possible. The room no longer feels relaxing.

That new green chair is something else, & there's not enough space for the end table next to the lounge chair.

The "Before" could've added colored pillows on the sofa, a coffee table that fits the size of the room, & a floor lamp.

To me, the change in the dining room is silly.Books no one will read stuck under a lamp, a huge vase, & a big bowl simply replaced the computer where the resident needed to work.

The small buffet/chest is topped with over-sized stuff and again looks crowded & without thought.

It was a kind gesture, but I'm betting the resident would change some things back.

[Mz iMac]

@Oznell  That apartment does not look small to me.  Especially w/that large dining room table.  I have never seen a small apartment w/both a functional living & dining room.

[DSD2]

I always want to be positive but to be honest, I'm struggling a bit here.

To be fair, I think all of the furniture and artwork would need to have been changed to make a difference. It still looks drab; some color in the rug might have made a huge difference.

The windows (not a great view) would definitely benefit from curtains.

The lamps in the living room do look good but I don't care for the large piece of artwork; the wall needed more before now it needs less.

The accents like the flower arrangement and pictures near the TV are nice. I like the lamp and botanical arrangement on the dining room table but not the fruit bowl.

Thank you for the post @Oznell 

[Queen of shop]

@Oznell  Not crazy about the "after". Seems like she took a trip to Home Goods and just bought stuff with not so much great thought. Just my opinion.

The stuff on the dining room table would drive me nuts. If you are entertaining some friends, you have to remove books and a lamp??? Not to even mention that huge vase with silk flowers. Nope. There has to be a better way or only leave the fruit bowl as decor. Easy to remove for company.

The buffet has been rendered useless with the stuff on top. You would have to remove all of it to place dishes with food or glasses, wine bottle and ice bucket. 

The coffee table is way too big for that space too.

I really don't like any of it, but as always thanks for the post. @Oznell  I love your posts. They get me thinking and creative juices flowing.