Thursday, April 19, 2012

Spring Into Action: Week 3

This is the final week of the Spring Into Action challenge, where a group of bloggers committed to finishing a project that we've been dragging our feet on.

I chose to build shelves in my TV nook in my living room.  Here's how this area has evolved over the past year:

Bland and Boring

My first and last attempt at abstract art.


Leftover Christmas decor.

This is what it looked like three weeks ago when the challenge began.

Stencil Madness.



I scavenged my house to find things to fill the shelves.  Here's what it looks like now:

Next, I decided to try adding a gallery wall behind the TV using some art that I found at an estate sale.

This was starting to look a little too busy for me:

Styling is definitely NOT my strong point.  Where's Emily Henderson when I need her???  By the way, did you see that she just redid her office in navy.  It looks amazing.

I took some things out:

Added them back in and moved some things around:

Just as a reminder, here's how it started:


What do you think?  Do you prefer the really full look or the more spare look?  I'm definitely not a stylist, so I truly appreciate all of your comments, suggestions and feedback. 

Thanks to Linda of My Crafty Home Life for putting this challenge together and giving us a kick to finish our projects!

Check out the other challengers completed projects here:
Tiffany – Living Savvy
Cathy – Room Rx
Carrie – Hazardous Design

22 comments:

karen@somewhatquirky said...

Suzy, I think you did a really nice job of styling on both the full and spare shelving. Normally I'm a fuller is better girl, but I like the less full better. I think maybe you need to replace the pink section with something in the blue/white. Either that or divide the pink so that it shows up in 2 or three of the cubicles. It is a nice contrast, but a little awkward just stuck in one corner. I like the collage of paintings surrounding the TV.

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

You worked through the styling headache....I have a super hard time with styling, too. Your last post of it finished is great! I hope you finally love it? It looks fantastic.

A room with a view said...

This looks wonderful, Suzy!I love your collection of artwork and other items. I would go with the less option as you do not want the shelves to compete with the walls below (behind the tv). Very skilled work getting the shelving installed, impressive.

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

I love the navy color on the inside of the shelves and the art collection. You should keep at the abstract painting, yours was a good painting. I hope you kept it.

Unknown said...

Great job Suzy! Love the more simplified styling ..you seemed to nail that in the end. Looks great!
Nancy
PowellbrowerHome.com

Cassie Bustamante said...

it looks AMAZING! i love the color, the pops of pink, and the paintings! you did a fabulous job!

Maury @ Life on Mars said...

Awesome job Suzy! I love the shelves and the color! I think both types of styling look great. If you want to add some more back in, then I would vote to leave the two center shelves as they are and add some items back into the side shelves.

Unknown said...

I think the addition of the navy color and shelving really makes that nook. As for the styling, I like the less is more look, but always find it hard to do. To me styling a space is an evolution of sorts. I think you did a great job with the styling, keep tweaking, it will soon be just to your liking. Speaking of styling, if you want to feel better, go check out mine....!

Tiffany @ {Living Savvy} said...

I love the shelves! The less is more works for me.. and the way they ended up was perfect!

Jessamie {Bird and Branch Redesign} said...

Love it! I knew you would do a good job styling it! The final product looks really good, and I promise it will continue to change anyway, haha. The art around the t.v. looks good, too!

Crazy Wonderful said...

Love the styling you ended up with, it looks great! I could use some navy in my life :)

pam {simple details} said...

I remember when found that art, it looks amazing! I LOVE it all together and your styling is beautiful! What a nice focal point in your room!

Anonymous said...

Love the navy blue! And I'll vote for the more spare version of your styling! Allows you to actually appreciate the art and accessories as opposed to the fuller version. Great job!

Me, Ed and Pea said...

I think it's looking AWESOME! You chose the perfect background color. I wouldn't put anything on the wall behind the TV and just style the dresser instead. Great job!

From G2B said...

It looks awesome Suzy! I love the drama of the navy paint, that was a great choice. And of course the shelving looks super. I loved it when Mandi posted it, and I love it now!
Great job!
xo Becca

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

Suzy, the solid navy looks great in there - in retrospect maybe the stencil would have appeared busy with items on the shelves. Great job building the shelves by the way you amazing carpenter!! Styling is not my strong suite either but I like what you've done with "less"!

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...

I'm totally impressed, especially with the brilliant shelving idea...seriously smart! And I love that you referenced Emily Henderson's office make over...I {heart} her, A LOT. (c:

Carrie @ Hazardous Design said...

This is like a case of goldilocks and the three bears...too spare, too full, and just right :)
This post is a great testament to the fact that sometimes you just have to try something out in every which way to see what works the best. I think you nailed it.
Btw, I'm so jealous of your estate sale art finds. Those are awesome!

Holly Gruszka said...

You did great! The new navy in those nooks makes the whole space richer and I think you did great with the styling too. I think it's all about rehearsing - over and over and over and over - until you feel good about it.

Katie said...

Styling is definitely my kryptonite! You did an awesome job though! I love how that nook looks now!

The Pink Pagoda said...

What an improvement! I love that blue paint color!

Sam | Away She Went said...

I love the navy and I love the styling! I think it looks great! Yay for finally finishing projects!