Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comGuess what? We’re STILL in the thick of our One Room Challenge renovation, despite the fact the challenge officially wrapped up a couple weeks ago. That’s ok though- we’re moving right along and progress is a good thing, my friends! I’m just trying to embrace our process and pace, knowing the formal living room will turn out exactly as I had pictured in the end. Slow and steady wins the race, right? That’s what I’m hoping anyway. Kudos to those of you who are still following along with us- we appreciate you! Emmett has been working on millwork and the baseboard & casing is basically finished. Click through for this week’s progress report. One other thing to note- given the time change, I only had time to photograph our progress during the evening hours with my phone, so if the images are dark and not flooded with natural light this time around… you know why! I guess that’s real life and this is about as honest as it gets, folks.

If you found me through the ORC site, hi there! I’m Sarah, a designer & blogger located in Salt Lake City, UT. You can see my current home renovation here, as well as my previous home tour here. My husband, Emmett, and I are renovating our third house. Join us as we tackle the formal living room. In case you missed previous updates, don’t worry! Catch up here: Week 1 (before images, floor plan, and design plan), Week 2 (demo), Week 3 (drywall), Week 4 (fireplace and lighting), Week 5 (sneak peek of furnishings), Week 6 (built-ins and flooring), Week 7 (built-in and furniture placement).

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comAlrighty- as I mentioned, we’ve been focusing on millwork this week. Baseboards are in! That means it’s my turn to help out… I need to fill the holes, sand, and paint the base. Emmett has also installed the door and window casing. He just keeps getting better at millwork and mitering. I’m so impressed! Lots of you were asking about the miter clamps- they’re a must and make millwork SO much easier to install. I’d definitely recommend getting a set if you’re planning to install trim.

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comI decided to use the same millwork profile we used in our guest bathroom. It was the first room we renovated in this house and I think the consistency will be nice. I also like how beefy it looks!

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comOnce we finish the basic millwork, we’re going to move onto panel moulding and the coffered ceiling. We’re honestly a bit intimidated by the coffered ceiling because it will be the first one we’ve ever built. I also think it’s going to be time consuming, because of course… I designed it with lots of detail. Is anyone interested in a DIY tutorial for that? Let me know!

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comThe built-in hasn’t really changed much since last week, but I did bring the hardware and lighting upstairs. Those are the next steps for this wall… add the lighting, hardware, and remaining millwork.

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comThese are the gallery lights that will attach to the top… there will be three of them! If you’re interested in sources, check out this post with the complete design plan and links.

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comThe cabinet door hardware is going to look really great and I’m eager to see it installed. That’s on our to-do list this week as well! I opted for a simple and classic antique brass knob from Emtek.

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge – Week 8 - roomfortuesday.comLastly, my drapery came in from my seamstress a couple days ago and I’m over the moon about it! I went with a sophisticated ticking stripe from Fabricut. I had my seamstress sew triple pinch pleat drapes for me. These will be installed over the french doors from wall-to-wall. We won’t be able to install these until after the coffered ceiling is finished, but I’m just happy to have them in my possession.

If you missed the ORC reveals, check out the featured designers here and the guest designers here. As I mentioned, we’re a couple weeks behind, but I can’t wait to add our final reveal to the mix sometime soon! Thanks again for sticking with us in real time.

Formal Living Room : One Room Challenge - Week 1 - roomfortuesday.com

linked below…

At Charlotte’s House | Design Addict Mom | Erika Ward Interiors | Erin Kestenbaum | Girl & Grey

Gray Malin | Hommeboys | I Spy DIY | Jewel Marlowe | The Learner Observer | Making it Lovely

 Nicole White Designs | Old Brand New | Oscar Bravo Home | Place of My Taste | The Rath Project

Room for Tuesday | SG Style | Undecorated Home | Veronica Solomon | Media BH&G | TM by ORC

 

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26 Comments

  1. Millwork, hardware and drapes! Oh my! Just the update I was wanting. I love how the gallery lights and knobs coordinate. And those drapes look luxurious! Mitering. Sob. One of the reasons millwork is my nemesis. (Honestly, you would laugh to see me cutting it on a yellow plastic miter box from Home Depot. I’m basically Norm Abram.🤣) Speaking of cuts, did we forget to celebrate the completion of the herringbone floors? That deserves a high five and a back slap, for sure. Lastly, the coffered ceiling may be the most exciting thing you’re doing!! I’ve never seen a DIY one, and I am certain you are the team for the job. So, heck yeah to a tutorial! Have I mentioned I’m in awe of you guys? XO

    1. I should’ve waited about an hour longer to hit publish on this one because I came home from a work meeting last night and the cabinet knobs were installed! Emmett surprised me. Norm Abram!!! HAHAH! I’m cracking up. We can’t celebrate the finished floors *quite yet* because there are still a few more to do that bridge the living room and the hallway. Argh. It’s never-ending. You’re the best for the kind words. Thanks Peggi! Have a wonderful day :)

  2. All the details look so beautiful! The trim, hardware, drapes are lovely. Exciting! Omg so much work but I can see how Emmett has mastered the miter saw. Wow! We could really use his help as our 70s house has different trim everywhere 😩 I guess I should replace the original 70s trim around the doors to match what’s already been replaced 😬 I told myself it’s part of the charm but at least all the trim is the same color 😉
    Everything looks amazing!!

    1. Thank you Colleen! I’m so impressed with how far his skills have come in the past 5 years or so. I keep begging him to teach me how to improve my own miter skills. I kind of suck (math brain is not my jam). Ha! xo

  3. Trim makes all the difference…..well, caulk really does, but the right trim makes a room really sing! Love where you are headed with this room!

    1. Thanks Paige! It really does! I can’t wait to caulk and paint it- then it will really look incredible :)

  4. Looking great! Can you link the cabinet knobs? Can’t wait for the final reveal!

    1. Thank you, Kim! Definitely… here is the link: http://bit.ly/341w0JU … they’re very heavy, have a great antique brass finish, and I love the simple shape!

  5. All your hard work and planning is coming along beautifully! I’ll say it again..so lucky to have a husband who is handy! Millwork looks so good. This is where I would get impatient to want to hurry everything else to put all the beautiful things out!

    1. He’s amazing! I’m definitely at that stage though… want to bring out all the pretty things, BUT- I’m trying to remember the coffered ceiling is going to make a huge mess. haha!

  6. Hi Sarah, the room is coming along so well…details take time and it shows!
    I have a question for you about your art lights. It looks as though they are plug in lights by the picture above (the cord) but you noted they will be hardwired. Are these ones specific that they can be either or can you change any plug in one’s to hard wired? thanks in advance!

    1. Thank you Layce! Great question- yes, the lights will be hardwired. This specific model can be either plug-in or hardwired. We just had to add a junction box :)

  7. It looks wonderful! Can you provide a link for the drapery fabric? Can’t wait to see this room completed.

  8. This is looking great! Slow (not really — still fast by normal person standards!) and steady, careful and precise so that you’ll get to LOVE the final result!

    1. Thanks Deborah! I appreciate the reassurance… I feel so behind, but I know it will be worth it :) xo

  9. Good things come to those who wait! 😊

    1. I hope!! Thanks for sticking with us Kim :)

  10. Did I miss where you talk about the wall picture frame moulding? I’ve always loved it, but haven’t attempted it yet. I would love to hear what your process was for that or even see a tutorial! It turned out gorgeous!

  11. Elizabeth says:

    I loved the way your living room turned out! How did you go about measuring the wainscoting/wall panels? I wanted to attempt the same thing but not sure how to start…

  12. nicole torres says:

    I’m loving all the details. Love seeing the process

    1. Thank you Nicole! So happy you enjoyed watching this room unfold :)

  13. Renata Klepacki says:

    Hi Sarah – just found your blog after seeing your room featured by Maiden Home. I have my eye on Carmine and Ludlow sofas in velvet and after seeing your living room will most likely go with Carmine. Thank you for making my decision easier! Can you please let me know what paint color was used on your walls, ceiling and millwork? I’m leaning towards BM Classic Gray or BM Swiss Coffee and would love to find out what colors you used in the space. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

    1. Hi Renata! I love hearing that- I’m so happy you’re here. The Carmine is gorgeous in person. We really love it. I’m happy to have helped make your decision a bit easier. They have so many beautiful options to choose from! The paint color on the wall is Aestethic White by Sherwin-Williams, the ceiling is Ceiling White by SW, and the trim is Extra White by SW. You can also see the updated space here: https://roomfortuesday.com/formal-living-room-updates/