Jill and Frank Roberson and their two children recently moved to Denver from Atlanta, leaving behind a beautiful home that they had carefully renovated to reflect their modern style. Their new house is anything but beautiful and they are embarrassed to show guests the old family room. Carter can turn this gloomy, dated, brown room into a colorful, contemporary place to hang out and entertain.
Dated wall panels are brightened with sunny yellow paint.
The dark brick fireplace is brought to new life with a couple coats of white paint. To give the fireplace a contemporary look with balance, the hearth is resurfaced in stained concrete and the mantel is covered in bamboo. Bamboo leftovers from the shelf project are used to make geometric shelves for the great wall. Shelves add visual interest to the expansive wall and give homeowners a place to display artwork. The large industrial light box is replaced with a custom ceiling fixture. Fashioned from stainless steel bowls and LED lights, the new fixture reflects light from the ceiling and walls to give the room a warm glow. Finally, modern furniture and accessories give the room a fun and fresh retro style.
Product information for the items used in this makeover:
bamboo plywood:Plyboo
Hybridized Portland Cement:SkimStone - Minoan Red and Yellowstone
grass stems:target - 065050237
Vases on Art Shelves:Wal-Mart - 8 ½" square (003885813204), 9" square (003885813212), 4x4x4 square (003885813189), summer vase (008018505499), and glass container (074270231932)
rug, coffee table, green chairs and sofa:Scandinavian Designs - Werner rug (S36 G-85 / 5x8), black Williams table (CT5078 / BK) lime velvet chairs (GRITT-1 / HE03-23) and Elan Sandstone Three-Piece Sectional (2587R-S / 2017)
paint:Benjamin Moore - Lemon Drops, Windham HC-6 and Raspberry Pudding 2004-30
glass mosaic tiles:Tile for less - red, yellow, green, orange
mantelpiece painting and fortune cookie:Cost Plus World Market - "Summer Meadow" (380692) and Asian Passage (23426498)
Kitchen Light Fixture, Striped Curtains and Drapery Panels:Urban Outfitters - Spectrum Chandelier (12653796), Folk Stripe (123907872019-50) and Panels - 90x108 Bedspreads (AM-126, 2390787)
Orange Beaded Lamp:American Furniture Store (107-2650)
throw pillows:commissioned by designer Polly Blair
The kitchen is connected to the living room and is also full of old-fashioned style.
The tile backsplash looks like a relic from the 1970s. The cabinets are dark and dreary, and the big fluorescent light box is just plain off-putting.
The accent wall between the kitchen and living room is painted a vibrant apple red.
In the kitchen, the dated backsplash is replaced with new glass tile. Set in a funky geometric pattern, the tiles unify both rooms because they carry the color of both spaces. The large light box is knocked down and two retro-style chandeliers are hung in its place. As a special surprise, Carter and his team replaced all the cabinet doors and drawers with new bamboo ones..
Carter built the entertainment center and mantel cover using eco-friendly bamboo plywood.
Laminated bamboo plywood is an excellent alternative to standard wood materials. It's made from 100 percent bamboo, which grows quickly, reaching maturity in just four years. Harvesting is done by hand in tightly managed forests, minimizing any harmful impact on the environment. Bamboo is laminated together with a low VOC (volatile organic compound) adhesive and is adaptable to many different climates.
