Success and Failure, or Living Room Redo Reveal

Well, my month is up! It's time for the big reveal in Shortmama's Living Room Redo Challenge. Did I get everything done that I wanted to? Nope. Did I accomplish anything? Actually I did. And my procrastination isn't really what's to blame for what I didn't get finished. I just ran out of budget!

So I'll share what I've done so far, and hope to come back with more updates at the end of June! "Before" pictures on the left, "afters" on the right. Some are labeled, but I got lazy!

First was the west wall, where our piano is. It was cluttered up with boutique supplies, and I wanted to replace the end tables with different ones from our bedroom that I wanted to make over. I also wanted to add to the wall display.

Successes: Got all the Ribbon Blossoms clutter out of there! I finished my end tables. Please visit Mod Podge Mania to see what I did, and also see some great projects from other bloggers!

Failures: Was not able to add to my wall display. I know exactly what I want though, and plan to have it done soon!

Next was my treadmill corner. I need to have my treadmill in this room, but even folded up it was not pleasing to the eye! Several of you suggested a room divider screen. I scored this baby for $20 from our local online classifieds. I wanted to paint it brown, and replace the fabric. I never found the perfect fabric, so decided I would tea stain the fabric. We don't drink tea, but I had some tea bags left over from another craft, so I filled the tub with hot water, tea bags and the fabric!

I painted the wood dark brown. Can you see the difference the tea staining made on the fabric? Me neither. All I got for my effort was a stinky bathroom, a stained bathtub and an irritated husband.

Success: The treadmill is nicely hidden...do you think the screen looks okay? Or just like I'm trying to hide something?

For the wall that has my video rack, I wanted to paint the rack black. I also replaced the pictures a little befor the challenge started with a plaque that Tanielle made for me that has our family's last name (I've blotted it out...that's why it looks weird!) with "Established 1995" running through the middle. Beneath our name plaque is a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World that I mod podged into an old frame that matched my living room.

Success: I love how the rack looks painted black. I would love it better if I had an "out of sight" place to store the c.d.'s and videos! You can also see that I still need to accessorize the other "new" end table!

For our South wall I was planning to paint the entertainment center black. I also wanted to complete a project to hang on the wall to the left of the shelves. Failure all around.

I did replace the picture to the right with this project that I completed a while back:

For the corner that has the rocker, I needed to get the clutter put away, and I wanted to replace the rocker.

Success: Clutter's gone!

Failure: Rocker's not gone!

I moved a little wicker chest to the spot between the rocker and entertainment center that hides all the cords for our modem, TV, and VCR. I also hid the modem inside! I'll keep my laptop in here as well, when not in use.

Overall, I'm happy with my lack of clutter and the look of some of my changes. However I will never be completely satisfied as long as I have pink carpet!

Go visit Shortmama to see the other reveals!