Fireplace transformation - from zero to hero
Alix Helps Interiors
5 years ago
I couldn't resist sharing, as this kind of transformation is what gets me out of bed every day. As a Decorator, it's the process of taking something from ordinary to extraordinary that makes me tick. If I tell you I get genuine pleasure out of raking up leaves on the lawn, you'll begin to get the picture.
This room was part of a major renovation, but this is one of my favourite outcomes in a project. You'll see from the before pic that the house was typical of a (Sydney) north shore family home from the 90's. A sandstone fireplace keeping the family cosy during winter. I was looking for a way to create a focal point, and wanted to find some contrast to the new oak flooring and pale colour scheme.
Before
After
Lounge room Turramurra · More Info
One day I'll remember to take before and after photos from the same angle. Until then, off I go to rake up some leaves. You can see more of this project on my Houzz profile or my website
Featured Answer
Comments (8)
julie herbert
5 years agoRelated Discussions
one room for multiple use
Comments (6)Hey Jade! You say you don't mind doing a bit of DIY - then, the easiest to make a low bed frame would be using pallets. I'm not sure where you can get them from (some merchant store?) but they should be cheaper than buying a new platform bed frame. Obviously, you can try Ebay or Gumtree for some bargains, sometimes you can get quite lucky and find great things. To save space and help with cosiness, I'd place the bed in a corner and do a two sided headboard - it will give it a more intimate look and would feel like a daybed too. You can DIY a headboard - there are lots of guides all over the net; Houzz USA has quite a few too. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/design-solution-dual-headboards-to-cap-a-corner-bed-stsetivw-vs~4771970 https://www.houzz.com/magazine/high-end-look-for-less-make-a-layered-headboard-for-20-stsetivw-vs~19478725 Or at least, paint the sides of the bed in a strong colour, to better define the space: In order to get the bed area even more cosy, how about a floating canopy. They're quite cheap to buy or you can make one; buy a curtain pole, fix it on the ceiling, then hang some gossamer or whatever fabric you fancy. Or, if you've placed your bed in a corner, buy a shower curtain pole and place it around the bed for a fake canopy. https://www.houzz.com/photos/2009-southern-accents-showhome-traditional-kids-dallas-phvw-vp~505315 Then just hang some fairy lights, get candles and pillows, a nice blanket......See MoreRenovating 1970s uk semi
Comments (26)Paint....Urban obsession on left and night fever on right ... Surely I cud get away with this for a year or so? Took pictures of fireplace to a demolition yard ...he couldn't give me a proper estimate of what he would give me for it...u know what they are like!!! He said take it out and we will discuss ffs ! It's £450 to take out and render wall I don't have this money all our cash is goin on 'must haves' like rewire. Boiler, windows, kitchen... (crying face) Have no idea who could come and give me a proper valuation... I'm in Surrey near Croydon, CR6...See MoreMy living room!
Comments (21)You have some very nice elements in the room and the room already shows individual character. What is the brick structure to the left of the fireplace? It's very dominant and takes the focus of the room away from the fireplace. Consider having this plastered and painted. This will considerably lighten the room. I'd recommend moving the chesterfield sofa to the opposite wall and the wing chair out of the corner where it looks squashed in. The TV would sit better where the wing chair is now. If you don't want to move the chesterfield, I'd still move the chair to where the TV is now. That wall is crying out for tall shelves and the TV could be incorporated into them. The domed chest is not suitable for a coffee table but would look good next to a sofa. The red checked curtains are homely and add warmth to the scheme. There appears to be a definite pale caramel colour in the fabric, which you could copy in a paint colour for the walls. A colourful rug with red, caramel and perhaps green or blue will add much needed colour....See MoreWhat can we do with our kitchen cabinets?
Comments (25)We have also just installed our diy-kitchens kitchen and are very happy with the results. Like you, we need to maximise the storage space and awkward layout and could do so with the wide range of cabinet sizes available. It probably took us a total of a week full time to design it properly (= a few weekends a month spread over 3 months), but this included changing the whole layout of electric cables & sockets & gas and water pipes and a toilet waste pipe running through the kitchen. You have to be methodical with designing a kitchen but diy-kitchens do have a guide to planning a kitchen and working out what layout suits you best. We did the fitting on the weekend which also took 3 weeks (including some clever fitting to get access to the meters and stop cock), but it meant we could maximise the storage space. For about 20 carcasses and end panels, plinths etc but not including appliances we spent £7k on solid wood painted shaker range Linwood....See More- PRO
Alix Helps Interiors
5 years ago 
cloudpants
5 years ago- PRO
Alix Helps Interiors
5 years ago 
melanie4427
5 years ago
PROClipsal by Schneider Electric
5 years ago
PDL by Schneider Electric