I feel like our upstairs redo just made our house feel new and bigger. We have been spending so much more time up in the space. It is great to wind down at night with the kids and then they fall in their beds. I would say that the biggest things I learned in redoing this space is : 1) Think outside the box. I had originally not planned to move the tv area and keep it in the back space where the desks are now. Brian suggested moving our secretary downstairs and moving the couch to the other side of the room. I am so glad I let go of the old and opened to a new arrangement. The area right at the top of the stairs is bigger and more inviting. Don't get stuck in how things are arranged and don't be scared to rearrange. Ok, we are again running into decorating lesson and life lesson parallels again. 2) Start with finding your dream fabric and plan all around that. 3) Figure out how you will really use your space and design/ configure according to real life and not what you think the space should be.
For the TV area, I found two Craigslist chairs and had them recovered. These chairs took a lot of searching for because I needed small profile/low chairs. They work so great in the space. I knew I wanted them both in charcoal gray to pick up the gray in the Zimba roman shades, but decided to do different fabrics.The smaller one is done in a charcoal leather I found at Jo Ann's. The tufted chair is in a Robert Allen charcoal linen that I found online. Note: if you order fabric online, get samples. I did this time and was so glad because I would have ordered the wrong fabric otherwise. I made the pillows on the couch and on both chairs. The black and white polka dot fabric is something I found at Textile Fabics here in Nashville. I reused two end tables we already had. I plan to paint the one next to the coach white. The smaller one is a piece that my mother gave me that she brought back from somewhere in Europe. It is the perfect little table for our little chair. i have been pulling it out and using it as a "post nap" snack table.
I added some larger floor pillow for the kids to lay on when we watch tv. Brian asked about whether we are getting a rug. A rug was not in the budget, but it would really cozy the space up. To be determined. This is the space where we are considering putting a large map (above the TV).
This is one of my favorite spots in the entire upstairs. I love the mirror with the baskets. It looks good and is completely functional. A place to throw the kids shoes and random toys.
Here is the window bench. I made pillows for it when we moved in 5 years ago that lined the back of the entire bench. I think we sat on it once. It was not a wide enough seat to have pillow all behind your back. I re-thought it and looked at on-line pictures and realized that you really only need a couple pillows at the end of the bench to lean back against when lounging. I love how when you walk up the top of the stairs, your sight line hits the both the Zimba bench immediately in front of you and these pillows on the window seat at the back of the room.
Here is a view of the back of the room. I have already really enjoyed using my craft skirted table. It is a great place to cut fabric and do some sewing. The little desk under the window has not gotten much use, but time will tell. A few more pictures.
This is the budget breakdown. My original budget was $800. I feel pleased with what I accomplished at this price point.
Skirted Table
Table $5
Fabric $30 Jo Ann Indoor Outdoor Fabric
Glass Top $80
Zimba Fabric remant 4 yards $120
Orangerie 1 Meter $110
Cording for Pillows $8
Bench Legs $40
Target Sunburst Mirror $40
Baskets $35
Craigslist Tufted Chair $40
Craigslist Mid-Century Chair $20
Charcoal Linen Fabric $60
Charcoal Leather Fabric $20
Recover Tufted $145
Recover Mid-Century $90
Sheep Fur Throw on Chair $20
Deer head $50
Fabric Roman Shades from Tuesday Morning $20
Total: $943
Skirted Table
Table $5
Fabric $30 Jo Ann Indoor Outdoor Fabric
Glass Top $80
Zimba Fabric remant 4 yards $120
Orangerie 1 Meter $110
Cording for Pillows $8
Bench Legs $40
Target Sunburst Mirror $40
Baskets $35
Craigslist Tufted Chair $40
Craigslist Mid-Century Chair $20
Charcoal Linen Fabric $60
Charcoal Leather Fabric $20
Recover Tufted $145
Recover Mid-Century $90
Sheep Fur Throw on Chair $20
Deer head $50
Fabric Roman Shades from Tuesday Morning $20
Total: $943