Behind the Design

A behind the scenes look at exactly how I planned my modern farmhouse living room design and purchased furniture and decor to compliment the space. There is a lot that goes into a redesign whether it's a small spruce or a complete transformation.While I don't intend on pulling you through each and every agonizing choice I made whileand the countless hours I spent shopping for things online like coffee tables and accent chairs, I did want to take you behind the design for a few basic principals of how I went from a dated room filled with orange-y paneling, ceiling tiles, layers of paint, and carpeting and ended up with something very clean, bright, and current.For your convenience, sources for this room appear at the end of this post.

And, along with links to all the in-process posts,When planning what I wanted to do with my living room, I knew that the end result needed to feel cozy with plenty of space for gathering and relaxing. "As I got more of a firm grip on my exact plans and what I wanted to purchase, I laid everything out along with a few inspiration photos on a mood board so that I could see it all come together and make changes if necessary.Actually, a mixture of textures, colors, patterns, and finishes is how you end up with a room that looks like you thoughtfully designed it rather than had a giant shopping spree to to the furniture store or Hobby Lobby. But looking at the completed space, aside from the walls and trim, a couple throw pillows, and my plaster medallion, there isn't anything white in the room. There is linen and leather, black metals and rustic woods.When adding a mix of elements you just need to remember to repeat it at least a few times in the room to keep it all from looking random.

And luckily, that no-fuss style fits in perfectly with what I already love.In order to get a room that looks like it has been put together over time (even if it wasn't), you need a mixture of new, from-the-store items and antique or vintage pieces. And they combine nicely with a pop of color should I decide to add one later on.I experimented with different designs by laying out the elements in Photoshop and playing with different rugs, chairs, and coffee tables.