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Living Room Design Ideas – Pick My Presto

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Hey there, and welcome to our very first Pick My Presto post!

I had an absolute ball putting this presto chango together, and I look forward to posting lots more of them (on a somewhat regular basis) throughout the year. (So keep those photos comin’!)

I received a lot of pictures of living rooms, and this week I chose to work on one sent in by a gal named Tracey who writes a blog called Make Room For. Move your cursor on and off of the photo below to see the photo she sent me switch to the inspiration drawing I created…

(Note: My drawing is for inspirational purposes only, and the ideas suggested are just that. Spontaneous, flexible, just-for-fun, ideas. And since this is a just-for-fun-photo-consultation and not an actual-and-perfectly-to-scale-virtual-consultation, I have no idea if the furniture and accessories I used would actually fit or look right in this room. Boom.)

I was feelin’ the idea of a textured wall to break up some of that drywall, so I clad the one on the left in white-painted board and batten. I love the freshness it brings into the room, and taking it up to the ceiling (and adding crown molding) makes the room feel a little taller too. Bonus!

I also used a big, wood mirror to open up that end of the room a little more.

I spread colors like sand, sage, smoke, russet, ivory, and espresso all around the room for an earthy-meets-electic vibe.


 A variety of textures and finishes give the room a cozy feel, while raising the window treatments up and out will continue that feeling of added height and expansiveness.

If you weren’t able to view the presto chango in action above, here are the still images…

Tracey’s photo:

My inspiration drawing:

Thank you for the opportunity Tracey! And thank you to everyone who submitted photos this week. I look forward to randomly selecting another one soon!

Wanna submit a photo for our Pick My Presto series?

Send an email to PickMyPresto [at] aol [dot] com titled, “PICK MY PRESTO”. Make sure to include your name, your blog name (if you have one) your design likes & dislikes, and one photo of the space in question. (No links please.) It should be clear, and measure at least 400 pixels high x 600 pixels wide. (In other words: 4″x6″) Make sure it’s a photo you’re comfortable with me showing and writing about on our blog. Then, whenever I’m feelin’ the urge, I’ll randomly select someone’s email and have a little fun creating some presto-chango/cottage-style inspiration. Oh, and since I love surprises, I probably won’t email you to let you know I’ve “picked your presto” unless I have a specific question for ya about your space.


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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Karen

    Hi Layla –

    I just wanted to let you know that your cottage look has totally inspired a girl who lives in the desert. I mentioned you on my blog today. Thanks for showing me your part of the world!

  3. Alima

    Wow! Great transformation! I love the window treatments and the wood floors! Just those two things make such a big difference.
    I want to send pictures of my bedroom so bad, but I’m almost embarrassed. It might be beyond help.

  7. GinaE

    This makeover is just great! I really love your style and so glad PW posted about you and your site. I’m now a follower.

  11. Holly

    ooh, looks awesome! Can’t wait to see the changes that Tracey and her man implement!

    P.S. I just sent my presto change in 🙂

  12. Kim H

    I didn’t realize you did this for fun… I just can’t rationalize spending a few hundred dollars to get my room decorated in a nice way.. although your talent is worth that and more! I’ll definitely be taking a photo to send in! Beautiful redo of this room btw 🙂

  13. geri

    Hi layla.
    beautiful “chango”.
    You make it look so simple.
    We all know though it’s not so easy breezy seeing
    our own rooms.
    I loved that I learned crown molding on a not so high ceiling would
    make it look taller.
    I only have 8 ft ceilings downstairs and even lower by a ft. upstairs.
    Will it still give the same look on ceilings that low.
    I can definaltely see the curtains adding height and really polishing the look.
    Are the shades/blinds hung above the window too to hide the space between.
    I am off getting by 4×6 out ASAP for some a layla magic. Happy wishes, geri.

  14. geri

    ooppss…sorry I forgot to ask where
    did you find that fab rug.
    it is speaking to me. hehe

  16. Angela Cortis

    I have been looking for curtains that color for EVER! Did you have a fabric in mind?

  19. Jenny B.

    Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!!! I love the wall treatment and the painted stair railing! It all looks SO good! LOVE the presto chango! ♥

  22. Shaunna

    absolutely incredible, lay!!! So, probably going to be submitting a room…or you can tell me which one you’d like to get your hands on. 😉 Hope you have a good one, friend!

  24. Wendy

    Layla, this is beautiful! I’ve been intending to paint my banister from it’s current (I kid you not) pickled oak but I am paralyzed by paint color choices. Can’t seem to find the right paint color. I’ve been looking at blacks, then browns along the lines of espresso…can you recommend a color to get the effect you provided in this presto? Thanks for motivating me out of analysis paralysis…
    Wendy

  25. krystal

    You always post the neatest stuff…

    I just awarded you with the Stylish Blogger Award!

    I listed you as one of 13 of the coolest blogs I follow!

    You can go to my blog for details!
    http://mymobilehomelife.blogspot.com

    Thanks for having such a cool blog!

    Krystal

    To Accept The Award you must:
    1.)Thank and Link Back to the Blogger Who Awarded You With
    2.)Share 7 Things About Yourself
    3.)Award 12 Recently Discovered Great Bloggers
    4.)Contact The Bloggers Inform Them of The Award

  26. Kim in MD

    Wow…the transformation is amazing! I love the addition of the mirror and raising the curtains higher! It really does expand the room! Great job!

  27. destiny perkins

    Love this change!! I’ve been wanting to change the railing on our stairs. It’s an orangey-colored wood like in the before picture. My jaw dropped when I saw the new one in your after picture! What would you do to change that? Paint? Stain? I was thinking about a distressed black.
    Thanks!

  28. Suzanne

    I love the idea for this series.

    And you did a great job with this room. The color palatte is so soothing that it makes me want to walk right in and gab with the homeowner over a hot cup o’ joe.

  29. BOSSY

    You’re brilliant. Amazing work on the after-drawing — and Bossy should know, she used to be an interior designer and often tried to render these unknowns. Just, wow.

  30. Tricia Embley

    I have continually stalked your blog for sometime now.. I love all your ideas! And I love this new presto changes you have started. I love the wicker chair you put in this room.. any suggestions where I could get one similar?

  31. Tricia Embley

    Thanks so much Layla!! I love PB..but I haven’t seen that chair before.. hmm off to search PB now!!

    PS I can’t wait to see what you will do in a child’s room and I am so excited for you to be adopting. I am adopted, I have two nieces who are adopted and my aunt just adopted from Ethopia so I am big supporter of adoption!

  32. Jazmin

    WOW! this is super cute!
    Can you tell me where the rug is from? I would love that in my home!