Back in August, I told you we wanted to add some wood planks to the biggest, windowless wall in our living room. I asked you if you thought we should attach them horizontally or vertically, and according to the poll I posted on my blog post that day, most of you thought we should attach them vertically:
(Thanks for weighing in on that, by the way!) 😀
I, too, love the look of vertically-oriented wood paneling, but we decided to go with horizontal planks this time around (mainly because it was easier to attach them to the vertically-oriented walls studs behind the drywall), and I’m so excited to share how the project turned out today!
Rewinding a bit, here’s a photo of what the wall looked like when we moved in last October…
…and here’s an “in progress” photo that I snapped while Brian the Carpenter was working on the new wood wall a couple of weeks ago:
Because the depth of the wall got thicker with the addition of the planks, he replaced our door jam with a wide board…
…and used electrical box extenders so that our outlets could be pulled out of the wall a little further than they were before:
When Kevin installed and attached the new outlets, covers, and switch plates, they all laid nice and flush up against the wood planks.
Bye-bye, old outlets! 😀
When all of the construction stuff was done, I had some fun accessorizing with a lot of grays, browns and blacks to contrast with the bright white wall. Most of what you see in these photos is stuff we already had around the house. The vintage suitcases were all Etsy/eBay finds, and the black and white tree photography was shot by Kev’s BFF, Josh.
I framed it in an inexpensive metal frame from Michaels, and I love how it contrasts with the rustic art piece above it.
That piece was a collaboration between me and my down-the-street neighbors, David and Ashley Owens, who own a shop here called Charleston House. David created the painting, and I found the bead board “frame” at a local flea market. He just stapled the two pieces together, and voila! 😀
We bought the ($500, solid pine) entertainment unit eight years ago at Ikea, and it’s still doing the trick…
…and the CD baskets also came from Ikea several years ago…
The antique scale and old Minnesota farm photo were gifts from my Mom….
The ‘Lake County’ crate came from a local flea market, and the (gray) crocks all used to belong to my Grandma. The white ceramic jug came from TJ Maxx, several years ago and I found the little stump at a flea market.
The vintage toy trailer came from my friend, Mary at Urban Farmgirl, and I made the shell art that’s sitting behind it.
The rope-handled galvanized tub came from Tuesday Morning…
…and I got the locker basket on a road trip several years ago…
We, or should I say Kit-Cat, got a pretty new perch from Pottery Barn, thanks to The Design Network…
…and the URSULA throw blanket and FJÄLLJUNG pillow cover are both from Ikea.
The side table next to the (big) chair used to be a little chair:
I found it at Eastbrook Flea Market here in Montgomery. The chair back was only secured to the seat by a couple of screws, so I just took them out and gave the whole thing a good wash and waxing. I absolutely adore the industrial-style metal parts on it, and it’s definitely one of my favorite (little) things in the room!
We painted our planks ‘Simply White’ (Benjamin Moore), and we’re so happy with how the whole thing turned out. It wasn’t a huge change, but you’d be surprised how different the room feels now!
If you’d like to watch the episode Kevin created to document the whole project, you can find it on TheDesignNetwork.com at 9am (CST) today!
My favorite parts always end up being the bloopers, but because I got an extended case of the giggles this time, we didn’t include all of them at the end of the episode. I’ve pasted the full blooper reel below (email readers will have to visit TheLetteredCottage.net to view it), but I must warn you of something before you watch it. You’ve heard of an “ugly-cry”? This reel contains LOTS of ugly-laughing!! 😀
I don’t know what got in to me…but, in the end, I’m so glad it did- and that my hubby was on the other side of the camera laughing right there with me!
And speaking of my Mr., I also wanted to share that he shoots and edits these episodes for me, and I’m so thankful for his help with this stuff. 🙂 He’s smack dab in the middle of writing songs for a new project (more about that next year!), but he always makes time for my passion too, and for that, I am so, so grateful. (Thank you, Only!)
And I’d also like to send out a HUGE thanks to Brian the Carpenter and the folks at The Design Network for helping us make this project happen, too. We couldn’t have done it without ’em!
Last but not least, thanks to anyone who commented on, shared, or “loved” episode 1 using the icons below the video. You made me look really good in front of my bosses at The Design Network- LOL! 😀 Seriously though, they track that stuff, and I really appreciate you taking the time to log in so that you can click and copy & paste!
Kevin and I are starting work on episode 3 today, and I can’t wait to blog more about that this week! It’s going to be such a fun room to work on, and I look forward to sharing the whole adventure here on my blog as we go!
Beautiful! I love how it turned out and your mix of old and new. And seeing it on video? So much fun 🙂
looks great! But do you have a further away “after” shot so we can see how it looks as a whole??
Thanks!
Thanks, Erin! I don’t have a wider one because you couldn’t see the lines between the planks when I stood further back. Sorry about that! 🙁
LOVE IT! 🙂 I really want to add planked walls somewhere (everywhere!) in our house, but I’m worried that it won’t work with our home’s traditional style. Would it be weird to have, say, a cottage kitchen in a traditional home?
Loving your room! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
that was hilariousssss!!!!!
I’m dying to make this same update to some walls in my office. I’ve seen some other tutorials around Blogland using thin plywood cut into strips. I’m curious… is there any reason why you chose 1×6 planks instead?
The wall looks awesome and you have styled it all so nicely. I love the contrast of wood and white. Love the new chair too. I’m off to see the bloopers now.
Hello Layla!
I was wondering where you guys picked up the wood planks for the plank wall. We have been wanting to redo our entry with wood planks and LOVE the look of this. Thanks
I love that chair from pottery barn. What color couch would/did you pair with it in your living room? Just curious as we have similar colors in our living room, but I’m stumped on what style and color couch to get to really maintain that cottage feel. Dilemma, I have a toddler and another baby on the way so it can’t be white although I’m ok with lighter couches.
What sheen of paint did you use? The same as your trim?