Your Home and Garden teamed up with Adairs and Resene to give a reader’s tired, dull living room an inspiring and fresh new look
Meet + Greet
Janette Elliott, 47 (stay-at-home mum), partner David Dodds, 47 (finance manager), Liam, 9,
and Matthew, 7.
Your Home and Garden’s makeover series transforms a tired living room
Janette Elliott, our second makeover winner, lives in the beachside suburb of Waiake with her partner and two sons. She knew her living room needed attention but was unsure what to do, so she was thrilled to be able to hand it over to Your Home and Garden’s talented stylist and interior designer Vanessa Nouwens for a top-to-toe revamp using Adairs products and Resene paint.
The large room occupies the lower section of a split-level space, with the dining room on the upper level. With cream-coloured walls, an acid lemon feature wall, a wooden ceiling and lots of dark furniture, the space lacked a sense of cohesion.
In addition, an extensive brick fireplace – further highlighted by the feature wall behind it – was far too dominant and had caused Janette to position her sofas on an angle, making the room feel unbalanced.
The Plan
Vanessa’s inspiration for the colour palette was to bring the outdoors inside, connecting the interior with the home’s bush outlook. “Janette loves the colour green so I selected soft, warm greens which would tie in with the olive-brown carpet and the chocolate leather sofa.”
To lighten and freshen the space, Vanessa’s first thought was to paint the tongue-and-groove ceiling a light colour but because Janette really loves the feature, it was instead decided to link the ceiling into the scheme through wood accents in the furniture.
The large, heavy-looking leather ottoman was not the best solution for a coffee table so it was replaced with a nest of elegant round wooden tables from Adairs. Not only do rounded shapes soften a space, these versatile tables can be moved and used at the side of the sofas when the family has guests.
Colours used
Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen ‘Quarter Evolution’ was used for a feature wall at the end of the room where the television is. While the feature wall is quite subtle in colour, it helps lessen the contrast between the black TV and the wall.
The rest of the room was painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen ‘Quarter Lemon Grass’. The fireplace wall and the trims were painted in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in the same colour for a simple, cohesive feel.
Tip 1: Leather sofas
To soften the impact of the dark sofas, Vanessa added cushions from Adairs in natural tones, with different sizes and textures. This simple change instantly lifted the look, creating an inviting space to relax.
Tip 2: Brick fireplace
The brick fireplace was painted the same Resene ‘Quarter Lemon Grass’ colour as the walls. The paint brings out the rustic texture of the bricks and looks fabulous with the addition of potted greenery and baskets.
Tip 3: Reading nook
The corner by the ranch slider to the deck was the perfect spot for a reading chair (once the fish tank was moved). Now Janette can sit with a coffee and keep an eye on the kids in comfort.
Shop the Style
Home Republic Siglo frame, $32.95. Home Republic Arlo cushion in green, $54.95. Home Republic succulent in concrete pot, $27.95. Home Republic Aberdeen cushion in oatmeal, $69.95. Mercer + Reid Riviera basket in white, small $32.95, large $44.95. Home Republic Santona throw in oatmeal, $109.95. 8. Home Republic Lonsdale chair, $999.95.
Other products in makeover: all from Adairs: Home Republic Dane coffee table, large, $479.95; Mercer + Reid carving ‘Palm Frond’, $309.95; Home Republic Eucalyptus side table, $309.95; Home Republic Harlow vase, $21.95; Home Republic Basque plate in ash, $21.95; Home Republic potted monstera, $54.95; Home Republic Vintage washed linen cushion, $69.95; Home Republic Santona cushion in oatmeal, $69.95; Home Republic Stark pot in concrete, $44.95.
Words and styling by: Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by: Rebekah Robinson.
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