Family Room Remodel: Before & During

This is our family room when we bought the house (this shot is taken from the kitchen, it’s one big combined space).  Honestly, had the knotty pine been salvageable, I so would have kept them since I do love them painted.  The ceiling was obnoxiously textured, and even more obnoxiously low.  The built-in gun cabinet that you can see to the right was my favorite… especially with all that hunting I do…
So, here’s the room in demo (and for those who saw yesterday’s post, I actually do still have this mantel… so paint it black and keep it?  And too, what’s your thoughts on that hearth?  It butts up to the wall on the left and curves short of the wall on the right.  Hmmm.)  Note the pocket door on the right - that oddly served as a second entry into one of the bedrooms down the hall.  That had to go; I wanted the wall space on both sides of that crazy door. 
… and here she is now!  So, we raised things up a bit…. and lightened things up a bit (there’s a set of pretty new windows behind those vintage drapes of mine - perhaps they’ll make an appearance in the “after” shots someday… and the door’s gone!  Viola!  as someone I know would say!  (please excuse the dust, the dirty highchair, and my horrible mix of furniture… and no, the TV was not my idea and yes, it stays…) 

I’d say it’s progress!  Wouldn’t you?  Ahhh… I love it.  *LOVE* it!  We’ve got SO far to go, but this comparison reminds me just how far we’ve come and just how much I’ve got to be grateful for.  YES, I’m SICK of remodeling sometimes and YES, I’m so tired of looking at stamped floors but, you know?  Thank GOD there are hardwoods stacked in my closets just waiting for us to find the time to install them… (and building materials to finish other projects over there on the right).  I know I’m probably making that whole “thou shalt not covet” thing real easy for you right now, but I am loving this house!  I’m counting my blessings.  I don’t deserve any of them!