My parents came into town this week to celebrate my niece’s graduation. Normally they visit regularly, but this time it had been over eight months.
Showing them some recent changes we’ve made to house reminded me of all our projects over the last three years.
One of my favorite updates was also one of the simplest. It took about five cans of paint and a long weekend, but I love the outcome…
We have a “sun porch” that was added on to our home in the 1970′s. It was practical, but really ugly (one of our friends referred to it as the lounge when we bought the house and I think it was an apt description).
Here is what it looked like the day we had our inspection…
Really got to love the “Tiffany Lamp” era…
The previous owner graciously left that green couch for us to enjoy.
We quickly realized that her generosity was fueled by the fact that it wouldn’t fit through the door. It required three men and a sledge hammer to get it out.
Don’t you just love moving?
Despite being really ugly, the space has proven to be very practical.
During the worst season of our house renovations everything we owned was stored on this porch…
(We brilliantly put my clothes all the way in the back corner of this jam packed room. If I needed a change of outfits, I had to literally climb in to get one. Not my finest hour)
Needless to say, the sun porch needed a make-over.
We wanted to make it a warm and friendly space that would welcome people to our home.
How did we plan to accomplish that?
We used paint. Lots and lots of paint.
We painted the paneling, we painted the acoustic tile ceiling, we painted the window trim, we painted the floor. We even painted the aluminum door that had a plastic, stained glass accent in the middle – we covered it up with cardboard and then painted over it!
And now, our lounge/sun porch looks like this…
And this…
and at Christmas time it looks like this…
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
WOW! What a difference! If I didn't compare photos, I would never have known it was the same room. Incredible job . . . so bright, and cheerful and beautiful.
Wow! Amazing transformation! I love the yellow–very bright and calming.
Thanks for stopping by to comment on my post. Have a very blessed day!
Okay that is beautiful!! It doesn't hurt that I love yellow. I think it looks so inviting now!
That is amazing!! I love yellow, it brightens up the room so much! Beautiful!
It's just gorgeous! Can't even tell there is brown paneling under that beautiful yellow paint! I LOVE yellow makes you feel happy just looking at it.
Nice job.
Man, you are so freakin' HGTV. And I am so jealous.
Wow! What a great job! I love it!
Thanks for your encouraging words everyone!!
I love the yellow too – it definitely keeps it bright, especially during the long gray winter days. We really hemmed and hawed over the color but now we can't imagine it any other way!
By the way, see the little red wagon near the bed? I didn't even realize it was in the picture until I uploaded it, but I'm glad it is because I got it at a yard sale for only $1! Our Little Guy loves it!
Wow, what a miraculous transformation! I'm visiting via Lea Ann's site, by the way. Glad to "meet" you!
Amazing what a little paint can do isn't it! I've got a room I need to do the same thing with… after I restain the deck, paint the trim in the bath.. the list goes on!
what a great transformation….where did you find the wonderful flying angel??
Thanks GrammieBarbie!
I am a huge fan of American Folk Art and I bought the "flying angel" at a craft show in Western Mass. It was made by Jim Lambert, who has an art gallery in Tilton, NH. He does a lot of fun, funky stuff!
Thanks for the nice words.
SHAZAM!!! That redo is AMAZING! Love how fresh, spunky and restful it is
Awesome job.
amazing. really. i don't know why dark paneling was in style way back when. i mean really, why on earth would anyone want to sit in a dark room? ugh. i love the yellow. it is so crisp & cheery.
happy new year. visting from the favorite post link from the nester.
take care!
You did a great job. I love your style of decorating. Cheerful and calming at the same time. I found you through Nesting Place. Thanks for sharing.
DANG, quite different for sure! Very charming.
-Heather @ http://www.savingmoneylivinglife.blogspot.com
Yellow is the best color for cheering up a space. When my boss said I could have my office painted any color I wanted, I choose yellow. Went from dull dingy 60s tannish brown (or soomething, never could really tell) to a medium sunshiny yellow. Added hunter green carpet and everyone loved it!