One of the most time consuming, yet gratifying, things I’ve ever done was paint the Living Room in this little cottage we call home.
I started with walls like this in my Living Room…
I was WILD about the texture. I see walls like these in almost every issue of Pottery Barn magazine, but knew I was in for a LOT of painting to achieve the look I wanted.
SO, I ran out and purchased some oil-based KILZ (because otherwise the knots in the pine would have bled through a yellowish color), and began painting on TWO coats. UGH.
Then I started to experiment with paint choices. (Check out what the Kitchen used to look like!)
And once I decided, after days of intense scrutinization, I began to paint the room “Natural Choice”. Ah, the magic of paint…
WOW! what a transformation!! Great Job!!
Beautiful Layla…just beautiful! We started out with a dark, dark paneled den when we bought our house…the transformation is amazing…I feel so sad for all the previous homeowners…it was so dark and blah.
Hi.. I'm coming out from behind the shadows to tell you that I just adore your home. Wonderful transformations! Everything looks so cool & crisp. I just love it 🙂
Would you be willing to share some of your "quotes" in your floating frames? I love the idea…hope you don't mind if I borrow it 😉
GORGEOUS! You give me hope for my home.
It’s a fixer upper with paneling as well and I have big plans! Thanks for the inspiration and I can’t wait to see what you do next!
I always always love coming here and learning more about your home and you~I can’t wait, Layla, for you to be on Design Star.
Oh, and fyi, I just got through learning more about Eric Clapton and ‘Layla’, ‘Tears in Heaven’, and ‘My Father’s Eyes’. Clapton has been a fav of mine for years but I never took the time to learn about the background of his songs, preferring to read it from magazines, etc. Today I did it the right way and am so glad I did. Thanks for being the jump off point of what turned into a delightful morning!
Most people would’ve skipped that house because of the paneling. You saw past that, and it’s just gorgeous all painted. Way to go.
And people are afraid of paneling….amazing transformation!
Wow!! Stunning!! Who’d have thought that painted paneling could return as bright, crisp and clean. Great job!!
I’ve been strolling through your blog and your home is absolutely beautiful. You have wonderful taste and you’ve created magic in every room!
Wow. This is weird. I did a post on the transformation of my living room too. We’re so connected. As for your living room, you KNOW I’m in love with it. The favorite part for me is the paneling! Probably the most challenging for you, but it makes such a difference!
it looks beautiful!
So beautiful and so inspiring, Layla.
You’ve done such a great job on your home! Everything looks wonderful. As a HUGE Pottery Barn fan, I think you’ve truly captured the PB feel in your whole home. I can only hope to do the same as we attack room by room. UGH.
Love the transformation……that piano looks great against the white walls. I will have to reconsider my color scheme at home….this is what my piano looks like:
http://thegreenhousediaries.blogspot.com/2008/08/partridge-family.html
Oooh I love it! I love the panel look, it’s definitely a Pottery Barn style. And I love that you painted the fireplace!
Aren’t you glad it already had that paneling! Looks great!
I must have missed it … what did you do with your fireplace? Mine is somewhat similar and I’m thinking about plastering over the bricks.
Kindred pals…Our home (and guest house) was full of dark dark panelling. It was an amazing, while time consuming, transformation. I remember painting at 2 and 3 in the morning while the whole family was quietly asleep!
Your living room is no less than spectacular, girl!
That turned out great. Fantastic job.
Nice pictures! Is that a photography backpack I see in one of the pix? Your pix look like natural or ambient light shots that are properly white balanced and sharpened. Who’s the photog in your house? Good pictures are such a plus for a decorating blog!