The Christmas decor is slowly going up around here, but I find I’m leaving more in the boxes than putting out for display. You know, my whole Minimize & Simplify mantra. But I was thrilled to have our Family Room mantel back for decorating!
The Family Room is just one of the spaces we’re currently working on, and we recently crossed off a major project on the list. Remember the jumbo TV we accidentally bought at Costco on Memorial Day weekend (that incidentally led to the entire room’s makeover plan!) It was so heavy, we were afraid the mantel couldn’t support the weight…so Mr. Sugarplum rigged up a sweet solution to give it extra stability until we could get the TV mounted on the wall. And by sweet I mean ridiculous eye-sore.
And of course with a TV comes components and a mass of wires and cords to hide. Sigh. And that’s how this corner of the Family Room sat since Memorial Day. That’s SIX MONTHS! We had the TV mounting system and all the cables necessary, but we just couldn’t get up the nerve to tackle it ourselves. Well, scratch that. Mr. Sugarplum thought he could hang and mount a 100lb TV on drywall, and feed wires through self-made holes in the wall…..but I wasn’t so sure. And by not sure, I mean, Oh Haaaaiiiiilllll No!
And thank goodness we didn’t DIY this one….in addition to feeding all the cords through the wall, he actually installed a new power outlet on the top shelf for the components, one behind the TV, and another one under the desk top. And I don’t want to know what kind of bolts and reinforcements he had to use to get the TV safely on the wall. I’m just thrilled he did.
He even drilled a little hole in my Distressed Desk for the lamp and computer cords to feed through, to the new outlet below.
So no tangle of cords on the desk either!
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| The cords you see are from the Christmas lights. There’s no escaping them completely. |
I’m still working on the shelf styling….trying to mix the necessary electronics, CDs, and DVDs, with some stylish accessories. The plan is to move a computer here, too….really test the house’s electrical boundaries!
He lengthened the speaker wires, and fed them up through the fireplace.
Since the TV is so high, we opted for a mount that allows us to tilt it down. It really helps cut the glare and improves the picture. A giant TV and two big, black speakers aren’t aesthetically pleasing to a room….but this is real life, and just how it is.
And to refresh your memory….here’s how the corner used to look! Man I miss that Wet Bar. And by miss I mean click my heels every time I see it’s gone.
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| I totally apologize if this image just burned your retina. |
Something needs to happen with the mantel too….I’m open for suggestions? And a better chair is in order if we’re actually going to use that Desk Nook.
Crossing off another one on the list! Are you still working on projects around the house, or are things already on hold for the holiday? I may get one or two more projects done in here before the end of the year. And by end of the year, I mean 2013.
hmm, I wonder if you could make some sort of stylish screen covers for those speakers. Like how people hide radiators??
I love the new outlets tho. genius!
I literally laughed out loud at the oh haaaaaaaiiiiil no! love it! those words happen over here a lot! 😉
I think I'd be tempted to paint the brick black then the speakers would blend in and paint the mantel white – that's the opposite of what's on the other side right? Would give it a cool modern look I think – but you know how I feel about all things black and white. 😉
Wow, what an improvement!
For the mantel, I would cover it with a white painted box, kind of like they always do on Designed to Sell.
Wow! What a great transformation! Looks so good, congratulations =)
Renee
http://casastephensinteriors.com
I would box out the mantel with wood to match your new shelves and desk area. Make it look like an old barn beam.
Looks fabulous!
I have been waiting for two years for this to be done in my house, but my contractor is my husband, so you can imagine how much longer I will be waiting.
~FringeGirl
That looks GREAT! Love the before and after! Such a great change!
Yay!!! It looks great. I miss the ladder already, though. It must feel so great to get it all tucked away like you wanted. Great before and after with that corner!
This looks great, Cassie. I really like the look of a mounted TV — it's much cleaner, I think. Holiday projects are in full swing in our home, but there's still a leeeetle time for other odds and ends. 😉
So much better!
Champagne Lifestyle on a Beer Budget
Well I'm still trying to unpack boxes in our new house, decorate the house and decorate for Christmas all at once! hah We'll see how far I get with any of it before the end of the year. This corner looks fantastic!!! I agree that a rustic beam to match your other shelves would be perfect!
Wire free! It looks so great! Seriously unbelievable update to this little corner.
What an improvement!! Jeez that wet bar was BAD!!! I'd ignore the speakers-it IS a den after all. I'd leave rough texture of brick alone to contrast w sleekness of tv screen. Maybe I'd sand the mantel and stain it a dark ebony but I wouldn't match it to shelves – too builder-matchy matchy. And I wouldn't box it – too *yawn* expected and might hurt proportion of it to brick area. My 2¢ 🙂
Are you going to paint the mantle??
Your were so smart to go with the tilting mount. Looks great, even the real life part. I need to be more like you and write a list to keep me focused.
That space is looking great! Wires are such a bear. We've done the mount and hide wires thing over two fireplaces now and they were both a hassle. The mount is only a problem when you have to hold the tv up there, but it's not too bad. Those wires can be bad if there are any blockages and can be tough to feed through. Glad you got it done! Looks great! I love that I'm not the only one with things sitting for six months at times!
Oh wow, what a great solution! I love the little nook styling too. I can totally see you with a great chair covered in some awesome fabric. I need more info on your contractor- I need a light switch installed in our kitchen near the living room- our switch is all the way by the breakfast room.
Yup, sometimes even a diy'er needs to know when to hold up the white flag and ask for some professional help. Looks fantastic.
Your desk nook rocks! It will be a great place for your kids to use a laptop as they get older (it's within your spy zone!). I know you asked for input on the mantel but mine is for your desk chair – how about Ballard Designs' Slipcovered Swivel Stool?! I recently bought this stool from the Ballard Outlet for my daughter's room and it's comfortable but has a nice low back AND it's super cute. I think it would look great in your space!
It looks beautiful! I wish I had your vision! And your ability to get it all done. Plus you're funny, which isn't too bad, either.
It looks beautiful! I wish I had your vision! And your ability to get it all done. Plus you always make me laugh, which isn't bad either. Thanks for sharing!