Feeling blue? (living room redo)

We've been meaning to update our living room, after all, we spend LOTS of time in there.  We thought some paint and a few other changes would help.  Well, once we get rolling, we roll!

Pictures will help me explain how it all came together...

BEFORE:

realtor shot of living room fireplace

realtor shot of back of living room

front window the day we moved in (window awning
was taken off in the first year we lived here.

So the things to notice in those pictures are
1. the bookshelf to the right of the fireplace (sat empty for over a year cuz B would pull stuff off of it.)
2. window boxes and high end custom curtains (these things must have cost a fortune in their day... their day is sadly over.)
3. the walls and trim are all "looks white but really it's a light light blue" blech (and I like blue!)
4. Joe did the project when we moved in but re re-purposed the fireplace grate by spray painting it brown rather than buying a whole new one.  Quick fix at the time but it's help up and I still like it!

The work began in late November with the goal of celebrating Christmas in our updated living room.

The bookshelf begins it's remodel

it only took 15 million samples for me to decide what color would be just right

The window boxes come down with the curtains

Measuring, Ironing and Sewing... forever.

Insert montage here of Joe and I painting and painting, building and sewing...  Oh and a Pooh Bear movie or two for Ben.

AFTER a couple weeks!

I added garland and switched up some decor after this, but you get the idea.

Very proud of my cost-effective back tab curtains
 that cover all the windowed walls.

Joe build this great entertainment center that lets us put our TV
 where we thought it should be and give the bookshelf some purpose... win win!

We even did the curtains in the dining room/play room.
One of the next projects- down with the wallpaper and painting the play room!

Phew... there's other project to share later.  Everybody loves a good before and after!  Oh, and I'll share the secret of my curtains :)