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You are here: Home / Featured Posts / Living Room Design Ideas – Pick My Presto

Living Room Design Ideas – Pick My Presto

Feb 2, 2011 By Layla

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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Filed Under: Featured Posts, Pick My Presto, Reader Design Dilemma Tagged With: before and after, cottage, inspiration, living room, makeover, redo, traditional

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katherine C

    Feb 2, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    I just love these “Pick My Presto” features! You always do a beautiful job and I seem to draw inspiration from each and every one you do!

  2. Megan {Honey We're Home}

    Feb 2, 2011 at 10:59 pm

    What a great change! It’s so cool to get to SEE the room all made over virtually!

  3. Yanet

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    Oh wow! How very cool. I’m so sending you a pick of my place(s) I need help with! Would you do a kitchen?

    • Layla

      Feb 2, 2011 at 11:04 pm

      Absolutely! 🙂

  4. a paige in history

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    I love your inspiration room! It makes me want to add window treatments that look just like that to our living room. So pretty!

  5. MotherShip

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    What fun! I always love your ideas.

  6. Jeannie Smith

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    This looks so cozy!

  7. Amanda @ willful/joyful

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    Love this series! Now if only you could make renovating, painting, shopping, and staging go that quick too 🙂

    • Kevin

      Feb 2, 2011 at 11:17 pm

      Amen sister! I’m with ya on that one! 🙂

      Kev

  8. Linda

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:12 pm

    Love the presto chango photo!!!! and your new look is fresh !!!!

  9. Cynthia

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    Wow, that is amazing!

    The color scheme is great and I would love that wicker chair! Great job pulling that look together 🙂

    I will definitely be sending in a picture soon 🙂

  10. Sandra

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    You did a fabulous job. Love it. I need to send pictures of my rooms your way!

  11. [email protected]

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    What a great idea!! I will have to send you a pic of my family room! If I include a picture of myself can you make me over too???

  12. Tracey

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Oh yes, yes, yes, love, love, love! The colors are us, and I love the flooring and the idea for the walls and banisters. Can’t wait for my man to see this so we can get to work. I’ll send you photos once we make some changes.

    Thank you for picking my presto!

    • Layla

      Feb 2, 2011 at 11:46 pm

      You’re welcome Tracey! I can’t wait to see what you guys do!

      Lay

  13. Kimberly

    Feb 2, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    What a neat and unique feature! Love the idea of it, and I really am impressed with the changes you made to the room. Its a great room made much better with your input.

    Best,

    Kimberly

  14. Cindy K.

    Feb 3, 2011 at 12:02 am

    You clever girl. She could arrange the current furniture to the chango design and get a feel for it right away.

    The rug is a good anchor. I’m big on mirrors. The one thing that makes a difference is raising the height of the curtains. It might even work to use the current set for now and add a stripe at the bottom to make up the new length.

    I like that cool shaped recliner in the corner of the original photo. I have a feeling you’d have a hard time talking me out of that one. And isn’t it a shame you can’t just spray paint fabric furniture?

    Still wish you’d come live with me and chango my place from top to bottom, Layla. *Sigh*

  15. Tonya

    Feb 3, 2011 at 12:03 am

    It looks great! Love this presto chango thing…can’t wait to see the next one!

  16. DJ Conger

    Feb 3, 2011 at 1:42 am

    The board and batten look is great. Any recomendations on tutorials or how-to’s on that?

    • Layla

      Feb 3, 2011 at 10:24 am

      There are lots of great tutorials all over blogland, one that immediately springs to mind is the one that Kimba did over at asoftplace.net here’s a link:

      http://asoftplace.net/2009/09/board-and-batten-a-tutorial/

  17. Rene@bargainhoot

    Feb 3, 2011 at 2:13 am

    That is so cool! Love the presto!

  18. Ann

    Feb 3, 2011 at 2:53 am

    I love the changes you’ve suggested especially on the wall change and window. It made the space look fresh and cozy.

  19. Kathy

    Feb 3, 2011 at 4:06 am

    Layla, you are toooooo clever. Love your style girl and that big smile of yours. A beautiful idea to do that for people. Love your blog and work all the way from Australia. Kathy

  20. Marty Trout

    Feb 3, 2011 at 5:28 am

    LOVE this! thank you. i’ll go take some pics now to send into you 😉 can’t wait to see what you’d do with a closet, turned office, which is now being made into a small laundry room!

  21. Becca

    Feb 3, 2011 at 6:07 am

    Beautiful, Layla! This transformation is fab! I love everything about it … the colors, the textures … everything(!), and I’m sure the owners will recreate as closely as they can to your design! May I ask what software you use?

    And, continued positive thoughts and prayers with you and Kevin during your adoption process. My hubs and I adopted our son, Jax, now 4 (we were in the delivery room when he was born) … he’s our world! Thanks for taking us along on your adoption journey. xo *Becca* (www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com)

  22. 3ringcottage

    Feb 3, 2011 at 6:24 am

    What a great idea for a regular series of posts and the transformation ideas are amazing! Hmmm, maybe I should send in a picture of our main living area. It’s a bit challenging for us.

  23. Jennifer

    Feb 3, 2011 at 6:31 am

    LOVE it! That gave me some inspiration for my place!

  24. Mom in High Heels

    Feb 3, 2011 at 6:38 am

    Oh, I love it! The board and batten wall is perfect.

  25. Jen

    Feb 3, 2011 at 7:10 am

    A ~ mazing!!!!!!!!!! Love, love, love! Once I stumbled upon your website, I was hooked, and now, I’m going to be LOVING this new presto thing! My hubby and I just put on an addition, and it is a complete blank slate ~ I would sooooooooo love help on that! Of course, I have ideas, but envisioning it is always hard ~ one is a master bedroom (YAY, for us!) and the other is mudroom/bonus family room.

    AGAIN ~ LOVE your website!!!!!!!!

  26. Stephenie

    Feb 3, 2011 at 7:13 am

    Great Job Layla! I love the new look – especially like the black banister (which we did in our house about a year ago). Can’t wait to see more!

  27. Lori

    Feb 3, 2011 at 7:26 am

    I LOVE your presto changos! I need to take a good photo of our family room to submit. 🙂 What kind of software do you use to make these?

    Looking forward to the next one!

    • Layla

      Feb 3, 2011 at 10:32 am

      Hi Lori! I use photoshop to do these. Thanks for the kind words!

  28. laura

    Feb 3, 2011 at 7:31 am

    What an excellent design. I have a corner fireplace and an odd window to the left of it and several feet of bare wall to the right of it. Always looking for inspiration to help me place my furniture. One day I’m going to send you some pics!~

  29. Jenny

    Feb 3, 2011 at 7:54 am

    This looks awesome!:)

  30. Kristin Violi

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:06 am

    I love it! The colors are perfect!!

  31. jennibell

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Fun! I love the idea of hanging the drapes higher. . .

  32. IAMSNWFLAKE

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:16 am

    Excellent job! Anxious to see the “after” pictures and your next “pick my presto” post.

  33. Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:20 am

    I love it!! I sure hope that she implements some of your changes. = )

  34. carolinaheartstrings

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:20 am

    I love this post and your ideas. The colors are great!

  35. Megan D.

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:21 am

    Looks awesome! Question? Since you are picking at random can we send in more than one room for you to possibly presto?

    • Layla

      Feb 3, 2011 at 10:17 am

      Absolutely!

  36. Stacie M.

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:29 am

    I love the way you tied the board and batten into the crown molding. Great idea!

  37. Cheri

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:32 am

    LOVE the change — you did and awesome job! Since you have so many living/family rooms, now I wish I had sent in my kitchen. Can I change?

    • Layla

      Feb 3, 2011 at 10:16 am

      Yes! 🙂

  38. Sarah

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:40 am

    I love the change! There are many things about this room that I would love to incorporate in my home especially the colors!

  39. Amanda

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:43 am

    Love! This also helps to answer a question I had – we have an oak banister that we’d like to paint, and I never can figure out the most visually pleasing way to do the white trim/dark work trim combo. (The rest of our house trim is white).
    Yay!

  40. Jennifer Rizzo

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:49 am

    That looks great Layla. I think just the furniture placement alone will help a ton with the space, even if she doesn’t have the budget to buy anything. She has some nice pieces that space planning can make all of the difference for. I love this idea because I think you are going to give some great fresh ideas to people.

  41. Tiffany

    Feb 3, 2011 at 8:55 am

    I love this. I’m going to submit my bedroom b/c it’s a blank canvas and I need help!

  42. denise sabia

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:03 am

    wow, that was quick! Lucky girl! It look great. Love the colors and taller version of the room.
    d e n i s e

  43. Design Love

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:08 am

    I am so excited for this new pick your presto! This is awesome for your readers Layla! I just sent you in a picture also!

    Cindy

  44. Paula in MN

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:10 am

    Great change – I love the dark wood floors, and changing the banister. Always a bonus when the client likes the changes, too!

  45. MommaHen

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:15 am

    The after looks amazing!

  46. Brandy

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Wow! That’s an awesome transformation!

  47. SheilaG

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Love, love, love! I really need to figure out a good angle to take a pic of my living room. Did I mention I love this? 😀

  48. Fairfield House

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:42 am

    Layla,

    The board and batten wall, the painted banister, raising the window treatments — small tweaks with HUGE impact. I am trying to decide which room to send you. Perhaps I’ll send all sixteen! 🙂

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

  49. Kathleen

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:47 am

    Layla,

    What a unique series you started…. I ‘m really going to enjoy this. I love that most of your “prestos”( even the past ones done on your blog) include board and batten or bead board. These make for more cozy textured, interesting room. Love it!

  50. Gwen

    Feb 3, 2011 at 9:48 am

    Awesome! This is one of the best. I haven’t been a follower for very long, but this will definitely keep me checking. Great job.

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