More Transformations
I was thinking about doing a post and bragging about all the painting that I have done around this house. I have painted so many miles of trim here I feel justified in boasting a bit. Then I remembered about the before/after pictures that I took in the family room of the makeover.
We moved into this house 2.5 years ago and I believe it was about 9 months after moving in that I tackled the transformation of the family room.
My family room is directly off the kitchen. I have a 1970s home so it does not have a great room, but rather there is a large doorway from the kitchen into the family room.
That room is extremely dark because it has no windows but it does have a large sliding door onto my screen porch. I love my porch but it doesn't allow much direct light into that room.
The room had worn berber carpet, a dark wood beamed ceiling and a brown brick fireplace wall with built in bookshelves. Very 1970s! My husband was completely opposed to painting the brick. We took out the carpet and put in a light laminate wood floor. We painted the dark wood ceiling and beams bright white.
This picture shows that wall and you can just see the painted ceiling above. The built in bookcases actually slid out of the openings. See how brown the brick is, yuk!
We found a product on the internet that is a faux painting treatment that makes the brick look like a different color rather than painted brick.
It is a five step process and here is the wall after the base coat and steps 1 & 2. The bookcases look so much better painted white!
Here we are just prior to the final step which is to add some of the base color as the top coat.
What a transformation. This is probably the easiest painting technique that I have ever done. It only took part of one day! I have since painted the mantle white also.
I should have included this before, and I have already been asked where I got this great brick paint, it is called Brick-Anew.
Tomorrow is Karla's Romantic Cottage Party so I will be posting pictures of areas in my house that are my favorites so come back tomorrow and I will post a current picture of this room.











WOW Suzy, talk about an extreme makeover!! It looks sooo pretty and professionally done! That must feel so great.
Posted by: Tanya Whelan | September 24, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Love your transformation! I made a note about the brick change - what a great idea!
Posted by: Cheryl | September 24, 2007 at 08:43 PM
Oh, whats the name of that product, I have some 70's brick myself!
Posted by: pam | September 24, 2007 at 10:27 PM
Wow~~! That IS quite a transformation! Love it!
Posted by: jen | September 24, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Can't wait to check into that Brick Anew. I would enjoy some transformation and have always been afraid of just painting.
Posted by: pam | September 24, 2007 at 11:40 PM
I was going to say I would have painted/stained the mantle either a dark color or white, but you did! It looks great!
We finally painted over our nasty red exterior brick. It's a pretty solid brown now. We have to paint the house. Our home is a 70s also.
Posted by: A Jill of All Trades | September 25, 2007 at 09:38 PM
Wow! That is an impressive make-over!
It really brightens and updates the space. Great job!
Love those built-ins.
Kimberly :)
Posted by: Niesz Vintage Home | September 28, 2007 at 09:05 AM
You have every right to brag...that's an incredible transformation!
Posted by: Susan | September 30, 2007 at 07:42 AM
OMG! I love the light brick! My husband is Paint Salesman and I have to ask if he has ever heard of it, and if so, then why in the world HE hasn't told me about it!
xoxo
Trisha Evans
a vintage white
my2roses
Posted by: Trisha Evans | September 30, 2007 at 08:22 PM
OMG! I love the light brick! My husband is Paint Salesman and I have to ask if he has ever heard of it, and if so, then why in the world HE hasn't told me about it!
xoxo
Trisha Evans
a vintage white
my2roses
Posted by: Trisha Evans | September 30, 2007 at 08:22 PM
OMG! I love the light brick! My husband is Paint Salesman and I have to ask if he has ever heard of it, and if so, then why in the world HE hasn't told me about it!
xoxo
Trisha Evans
a vintage white
my2roses
Posted by: Trisha Evans | September 30, 2007 at 08:22 PM
Great idea!! we think alot alike. I am going to do something sorta like that but add dark instead of the white looking finish. Ill send a picture once finished. Thanks for the IDEA. :)
Rob
Posted by: Robert Guerrero | December 05, 2007 at 09:47 PM