For some reason, I really slacked off last year on showing y’all completed rooms that I decorated. So I’ll start off today by showing you the updated room of one of my most stubborn clients ever!! You can read more about this stubborn client here and here.
It’s been a year since I last told you about her, so you may have forgotten. Here’s a quick recap.
When I first tried to convince her that her house needed updating, her family room (and breakfast room/kitchen) looked like this…
Straight out of the 80′s, right? So after dragging her along kicking and screaming, we made some pretty dramatic changes…
But there was always the issue of that carpet. I tried for a year (or more) to convince this stubborn client that she needed hardwood floors, but she resisted. Finally, one day out of the blue, she e-mailed me and said she wanted to look at the possibility of hardwood flooring. I couldn’t believe it! She had finally come around. We selected a gorgeous mahogany wide plank (real wood) floor, and what a difference it made!
So the last remaining item on the list seemed to be area rugs. We searched…and searched…and searched. The search lasted several months, and at last, we found a rug that we both loved.
But along the way, other changes were made as well. She decided that she wanted to replace the sofa (which was showing terrible wear after only three years–not really sure what went wrong there!), and she wanted to eliminate the leather recliner, which had developed horrible dark spots in certain areas like the head rest area. So along with our search for the perfect area rug, we also had to find new furniture.
It all finally came together, and here is the result…
I just love how warm and cozy it feels now. The chairs were actually Craigslist finds that we had reupholstered. Gotta love Craigslist!!
We still have a “to do” list. We want to replace the coffee table with an upholstered ottoman. And I’m still praying that the huge bohemoth t.v. will die, so that we can rework that whole wall with something more streamlined, like a pretty credenza with a flat screen t.v. mounted above on the wall. But that’s probably wishful thinking. That bohemoth t.v. has been through the fire (literally) and it just won’t die. But I’m holding out hope!! 
So that’s the saga of the ever-changing family room. It’s been an adventure! Oh, and my very stubborn client has actually become really open to my ideas over the last four years. It took some smooth-talking and feet-dragging, but she’s finally come around!!
(Thanks, Mom, for being such a good sport about your home!!)
I'm a self-employed interior decorator-turned-blogger, and a DIY fanatic. I hope you enjoy your visit here at A2D! If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to 
looks beautiful
Too bad you don't have any BEFORE the before pics with the pea green and blue shag carpet-that was a really classy look! It is, and has always been, one of my favorite places in this world and you have done a fabulous job decorating it tastefully
-Shelley
OH Kristi! I just had that conversation with my mom about painting her floor to ceiling pinkish brick fireplace! She doesn't like that she can't undo it… WHY WOULD SHE WANT TO UNDO IT??? And yes can change it, you can always paint it a different color. I am so showing her this room!
SG, you can also change the brick dramatically and in such a way that it CAN be "undone." I wrote a blog about one method last month here: http://roomscapesdecor.blogspot.com/2010/11/detour-ahead.html
And Kristi, your "most stubborn client" reminds me so much of my own, right down to the difficulty in convincing her to rip up the carpet and (in her case) refinish the hardwood floors beneath. Mothers!
Wow, what a difference. It looks beautiful!
Those rooms are beautiful. Your mom is a lucky lucky gal to have a daughter like you.
AMAZING!! Looks great ( come do mine???? ) I have wanted that EXACT floor for years! Quick ? – is the rug too long to go on a diagonal? Think it would look ood that way but of course I am a lil ocd when it comes too to that- lol!!
ok well not ood but good – my g likes to stick,darn kids
You did an awesome job!
KathyC
"Your stubborn client…"
You got a good smile out of me for that.
Your Mom must be soooo proud of you. I can tell you, me looking at those pictures and what you made out of that room left me speechless.
Although I'm a big fan of carpet (maybe I'm old fashioned, but I just love the softness of a carpet) I also need to say, the hardwood floor looks just gorgeous.
Great Job!
Paula Jo
Yes, I'm VERY proud of Kristi. And I love what she has done to our house. She is absolutely right though when she says I have been her most stubborn client.
I also love helping her occasionally on other client projects. I will say though that from the very beginning Kristi was always very independent. I think her first "sentence" was, "Me do it meself." 
I still tease her about that. She is a real blessing. Love you, Kristi.
Looks amazing! I like the rugs and the floors. Can you travel to Florida??
Kristi,
It is absolutely beautiful!! Painting the fire place was a huge-no-going-back, wonderful change!! Your mom must be very proud of you.
I love it . You did a great job!!
Tammy
Hey great job changing the living room from simply beautiful to extravagance! Thank you for sharing this!
Great work Kristi! I love that your work leaves such a relaxed feel! The perfect finishing touch would be to add some Genuine Mahogany wood vents and cold air returns to match that beautiful hardwood (if your client had heat/cooling returns in the floor.) Check out http://www.realwoodvents.com for this and any future decorating projects.
This is a fun website. I added it to my favorites. I'm going from a big house to a small condo and the tips are great. I have no idea how I am going to keep from having the cluttered look.
I will keep watching the site for the great ideas.
just beautiful! wish I could hire you for just one day…. and especially love that the client was your Mom! LoL!
I had to scroll back and forth for awhile because I just could not believe how beautiful the room had become. WOW. Talent is flowing over.. send some my way!
I love this room! I would love to know is there rules for hanging large clocks like that above a fireplace
Size wise. I have the exact fireplace top to bottom in size and color, but I have a white mantel. I just recently removed a large mirror and placed a 24 inch clock there, now it seems to small? Not sure if it will take time to adjust. Any thoughts? Pic help?