Becca's Before and After
Monday, April 25, 2011 at 7:18PM 
Hi Christine,
You probably don't remember, but I emailed you back in February of 2009 for advice on my living room (here. and here and here and here and here) I thought it was so fun to get on your blog and see my pictures and get some advice from you. Great advice, by the way. Well, I never sent you "after" pictures because I didn't exactly follow your advice. I've had some serious guilt issues about that. How rude of me not to respond with my finished room. 
Well, I wanted to send you some after pictures because I've been following your blog/new site and although I didn't follow your exact advice for my room, I have tried to apply the principles you talk about and I'm pretty happy with the end result. Thought you might like to see it. Thanks for all you do. I love to hear what you have to say!
Rebecca
ps - I'm so embarrassed when I look back at the before pictures. How did I have any friends???
pps - big chunky crown molding makes the biggest difference in a room. So worth it.
Hi Rebecca,
You really did a beautiful job! It's a good thing that good friends don't care about how well we decorate. :) They do make great before and after photos! I LOVE the lighter paint. I love how you took care of your TV. Your use of scale on your wall decor is infinitely improved! Good Job!
Do you want to take it to the next level? Consider a lighting plan. Check out the advice I gave Cara on her dining room. A rectangular shape on your light would be so much nicer. While I was replacing the light, I would move it. (Even if you just use a chain and hook) Move the table 90 degrees to face the other direction. Center the table with your new fabulous wall decor, as well as the window- then hang the light above the new location. 
I see that you have a vent near where that location might be, but you can make it work. It might require shifting your set of nine perfectly hung pictures. But- the most important thing is that we get it right, right? ;) Then I would put a nice large plant in the corner with an uplight. Consider also adding an eyeball light accenting your art, and a sconce between the window and door. Look at the advice I gave Kim on her lighting plan. Use the advice in both of your rooms.
The last bit of advice I have is to finish it off with a rug. (You might use this table every day and have small children and prefer the hard floor for practical purposes)- but I will tell you that from a design standpoint, the space would benefit greatly from the softness of a rug.
Be sure that the rug blends nicely with the rug in the family room.
I found the rug above on homedecorator.com. Rebecca, I can't thank you enough for sending in after photos. It makes me happy even if you didn't do every thing exactly- you did a fantastic job. There are many good ways to decorate a room- and you did very well!
Thanks again,
Christine
Reader Comments (6)
What a beautiful job! So glad that it's not to late to send in after pictures. I've been wanting to send in after pics but I still have a lot to fix with the help you gave me. Will you take works in progress pics? And to top it off I offset some big mirrors in my family room which I will need to fix before sending you a picture. I thought I was being so different by offsetting them, obviously not!
WOW!!!! Becca, that turned out great! I saw Christine's advice showing up in every photo, even when you weren't using her exact advice to you :) I saved your picture of the 9 framed maps to my inspiration file for large wall decor, my husband loves maps. Thank you SO much for sending in your after photos, it really gives me hope for my own home! <3
Christine - it never gets old to be featured on your blog! I love the additional advice you gave - I had to laugh because I picked out a rectangular chandelier just like you suggested and have wanted a rug for the kitchen forever!! And I've been trying to figure out in my mind how I could switch my table around. You make it seem so easy ; ). Unfortunately, those changes will have to take place in our next home, as ours is officially on the market. We're moving out of the country (to Beijing, China) after a short training tour in the DC area, so I'm not "allowed" to make any more purchases for our house. We'll be getting rid of most of our stuff when we leave anyway. But I will obviously continue to use the advice you've given me and other people when setting up where we live. When we live in Beijing, we'll be living in a furnished house, provided by the embassy. Doesn't that sound scary??? I can picture some really awful 80's furniture. Hopefully not, but I can guarantee I'll be writing in, asking for more advice. Thanks again - you're awesome!!
CHINA! wow! We wouod all love to see your furnished place in China- it just sounds so interesting! Good - luck selling your home- it looks beautiful!
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-Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar swiss watchesChristine - it never gets old to be featured on your blog!