Ahhhh Gigi's. Who can live without the great-grandmas in this world? Not I! My great-grandmother was my hero. She was like no other. Her spirited laugh and feisty personality made her the most lovable woman you'll ever meet. She could cook like no other and she was always thrilled to sit and play some competitive card games.
Well my daughters have a very spirited great-grandmother as well. Her name is Gigi. Like my own great-grandmother, Gigi is a fabulous cook. She is a spirited card-player. And she has serious spunk. Did I mention, she is FULL BLOWN ITALIAN. Yep. Drew's grandma is a pint-sized Italian woman with a knack for the garden and a New Yorker accent. She can grow a basil plant to roughly the size of a tree, and then make you the meanest 'macaroni pesto' you've ever had.
So when she asked me to decorate her living room in upstate New York, I didn't refuse. She had a few stipulations. Bright and airy. Lots of pictures of grand-kids and great-grands. Keep it cozy. Piece of cake. We whipped up this design job in less then a month! Here is the big reveal!
BEFORE:
BEFORE
BEFORE
BEFORE
And now for the AFTER TOUR!!!!!
AFTER: Gigi got two new recliners. They're a great scale for this cozy living room. New photo frames showcase kids and grandkids in the hallway. We relocated the black bookcases because they were taking up a lot of the living room. The two new area rugs match, making the space feel cohesive.
AFTER: The huge picture window looks twice the size and extra bright. I doubled the size of her rod and brought in four plain white panels instead of two floral ones. We did the 'old curtain trick', and hung the rods as high as possible. The TV was placed on this gorgeous chest that Gigi already owned. Matching end tables and matching mercury glass lamps flank the original sofa to give it new life. Bible verse inspiration art was hung and the extra dining chair was placed in the living room. Easily accessible for a card game on girl's night.
AFTER: I turned the end base cabinet on it's side to allow the living room to feel larger (it was a moveable cabinet). We hung Gigi's existing clock in the dining room for some drama. The table was turned the opposite way and two new area rugs were brought in for added cheer.
AFTER: Gigi also requested a dining room shelf. We were able to give her one and display some of her gorgeous white dish wares. A boxwood wreath adds a pop of green. I used new florals in one of Gigi's vessels for a fresh table scape. I bought Gigi a new tray and we were able to use her existing light.
AFTER: The new tufted ottoman is a much smaller scaled piece which suites the room. Gigi's existing vase and tray, house new fun florals. How gorgeous is this distressed rug?
AFTER: A menagerie of brand new pillows freshen up the space and add a pop of color to the sofa.
AFTER: Artichokes are Gigi's favorite.
AFTER
Another exciting re-design! That's a wrap y'all!
XOXO from New York!