It’s Week Three of the One Room Challenge, where I’m giving the living room in my rented Edwardian house in East Sheen, London, a spruce up. Catch up on the interior design plan for this room in Week One, and progress on the fireplace wall makeover in Week Two.
![Peonies on mid-century console against Wevet Farrow and Ball](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ORC-Living-Room-Makeover-Week-3-2-of-6.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
More Painting
I’ve done as much painting as needed for now – that is, all the walls have a full three coats, bar the window bay. I’m still in love with the colour (Farrow & Ball Wevet, colour matched to Johnstones in a soft sheen), and how much more light there is in the room.
![Peonies against Farrow & Ball Wevet](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ORC-Living-Room-Makeover-Week-3-5-of-6.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1)
Rehanging the Door
The door to this room is a lovely old wooden one. It’s been stripped of paint at some point, but there are still little remnants of the previous paint finish, and it adds beautiful character.
![Farrow & Ball Wevet with door blocking sofa](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/5-Farrow-Ball-Wevet-Navy-Chesterfield-2-2.jpg?resize=800%2C728&ssl=1)
Originally, it opened into the room in a direction that clashed with the sofa, which was functionally irritating. It also visually cut off the corner of the room, although I didn’t appreciate how much of an impact that had until we changed it. Rehanging it to open towards the wall was a no brainer.
![Floor plans showing rehanging door in living room makeover](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Rehanging-door-plan.png?resize=800%2C500&ssl=1)
I got landlord permission and had my builder do it. It took him an hour and a half, and it’s made a huge difference. Before, you can see how it eats into the room and blocks the sofa.
![In progress painting with Wevet by Farrow and Ball](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/6-ORC-Living-Room-Makeover-Progress-2.jpg?resize=800%2C615&ssl=1)
Now, it’s much more open.
![Chesterfield sofa in living room makeover](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ORC-Living-Room-Makeover-Week-3-4-of-6.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
The whole living room is bigger, all of a sudden. And the benefits extend to the hallway too, because it lets way more light into that area too.
The plan was to hang new abstract art above the sofa, but a wall hanging I already owned works well.
The holes from the old door hinges need making good, but it’s already a tick off the list.
![Rehung paint stripped door](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ORC-Living-Room-Makeover-Week-3-1-of-2.jpg?resize=800%2C1067&ssl=1)
Decluttering
I’ve held off on ordering new furniture so far, because I want the existing pieces that we’re replacing gone first. There’s nowhere to store extra pieces and I don’t want to fill the house, even for a couple of weeks. Mess = stress, especially while the world is on lockdown. It’ll also give me a slightly bigger budget to play with once those bits are sold.
The Living Room To Do List
1. Make it Lighter & Brighter
Strip the wallpaper✔- Repaint – just the bay left to do
- Replace curtains with blinds
- Add mirrors
2. Make It Tidier & More Functional
Hang the TV✔Rehang the door✔- Get rid of/replace some of the furniture – in progress
- Organise storage for electronics & guest bedding
- Lighting plan/execution
3. Make It Happy
- Add colour with art & textiles
- Style the built ins with pretty things
What’s Next?
The TV and all the electronics need sorting, but in the meantime, I’m rethinking a few of the design choices. I still want the same overall vibe and colour palette, but I might splurge on a more comfortable chair. That means I’ll have to shave the budget in other areas.
![Peonies in milk bottle](https://i0.wp.com/www.emmersonandfifteenth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ORC-Living-Room-Makeover-Week-3-6-of-6.jpg?resize=800%2C580&ssl=1)
Head to the One Room Challenge to check out the featured designers‘ progress this week, as well as all the guest participants.
Great Color on that sofa ! Following along โ canโt wait for next week !
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Thanks Jenna ๐
I LOVE that door!! Crazy how much of a difference it makes to switch it to the other side.