Farmhouse living room reveal of thrift stores and hand me downs!
A post all about my farm house living room! Beneath that old blue carpet were several layers of linoleum that wonderfully protected the hardwood for many many decades. This is not a big room nor was it an easy room to plan. First the staircase had to double in length (because the old one was so steep it was like climbing a mountain!) and, because of the staircase covering up its entryway, then the bathroom had to move and the living room absorbed that problem too by giving up even more space.
On top of all of that this has never been a room with a lot of light except, maybe, when the house was first built and that stained glass window was actually on the outside of the house facing the south. In fact, that stained glass window and that etched glass door used to be the front of the house when it was built in 1915.
In 1924 they added on the wrap around porch covering two whole sides of the house and totally eliminated the “front” door and then they started coming in what they called the “back porch” (now my main entrance and dining room) Well, now there is no “porch” left, everything has been enclosed and where that stained glass window used to look at the road and then a screened in porch it now looks into My Guest Bedroom.
My Grandparents had a big picture window on the east wall and I replaced it with that 72 inch french door for even more light. I have three glass exterior french doors in the house now, think I’m a bit obsessed? I like sunlight and this house is still so tree covered that even with all of that glass, I really don’t get a lot of light but I did the best I could.
The corner cabinet sat in my Grandparents’ kitchen for years and years after they built it. I put a couple of coats of white paint on it before adding it here. It now houses all of my old game consoles, I even have the first Nintendo still 🙂
Putting the main floor bathroom in a corner of the living room was probably the worst decision I had to make in the whole house. The big defining factor was that there was NO WAY I was going to leave the bathroom in the kitchen. And there was no way I was going to run the plumbing for an entire bathroom out where the pipes could freeze just because my living room was going to get a bit smaller. (It also wasn’t in my pay grade to run plumbing in a two foot crawl space either nor did I feel that kind of work worth it for the worry of frozen pipes every winter.)
So, the bathroom was put right in a corner of the living room, on top of the basement, and, dammit, I stand by that decision as there just was no other decision to make. Besides, when I have people over the last thing I want to do is sit in front of the tv so my living room is plenty big just for me.
(Of course that decision ended up kind of moot because I had the entire peer and beam foundation sprayed foamed throughout so I’m sure the plumbing pipes would not have been in danger of freezing. However, I’m not upset I didn’t have to plumb in an entire bathroom with only two feet of crawl space, on my belly, in the dirt.)
The renovation of this room included a whole lot of change, I covered the ceilings with bead board, added all new electrical, lights and sheet rock. Aren’t those floors pretty? I know, I bring it up in every post but I’m totally ecstatic that they were under there, just waiting for me all those years.
The drapes I had and I wanted something sheer, if I hadn’t already owned them I might not have ever added drapes. Some people think I’m nuts but I really don’t have close neighbors so drapes are not a big deal.
The couch and chair my ex husband and I picked up at my local Salvage Depot for $80 all together and I absolutely love them! The old rocking chair came from my cousin and, of course, it came to her from our grandma. She no longer had a place for it so she knew who to call. (At some point I plan on painting it or reupholstering it or something.)
Don’t I have the most ridiculous entertainment center? It’s actually a buffet and you’ve seen it in my Before & After of Eleonora’s buffet/my entertainment center. It even has a velvet lined drawer for silver that I use for my remote controls.
No, I actually did not buy the enormous tv – it was a gift from family. The coffee table I made from an old gate that I found out in the barn, I gave it legs and added a shelf, besides a good cleaning, a quick sanding and a couple of coats of poly acrylic.
One of the lamps was a gift from a friend who loves to make lamps. The two tone side tables I picked up for $10 at an estate sale and they got their own country makeover too 🙂
So, why did it take over 2 years to finally tell you about my living room? Television cords. Yup, that’s it. Those awful eye sores of cords sitting behind an enormous, very heavy tv that is just hanging there from the wall.
Once I finally got the beast up there it took me 2 years to come up with some kind of solution that didn’t, in fact, look like I was “hiding cords” and I think my little mantel/floating shelf worked out just fine!
Click here to see how I built it. I also built us a sofa table charging station for behind my sofa that you all saw here just a couple of weeks ago.
Since my grandparents bought this old farm house and moved in nearly 70 years ago this living room has seen a lot of dancing and smiling, laughing and living. Those old photos are just a couple I have of those many years! To me it still feels like my grandparents’ living room just a little upgraded.
That’s my grandpa holding up his cup to the camera! And that’s my grandpa and mom dancing!
Putting the bathroom in the living room was not the ideal solution but it was also the only solution!
Making the staircase longer was absolutely something I had to do as the old stairway was so steep it was like climbing a mountain!
I put all of the bead board ceilings in the house
I put all of the bead board ceilings in the house
Comments
Leave a Comment
I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
I LOVE LOVE your stained glass window! It brings so much character to your room. The old pics really show the amazing transformation as well as the fun times your family members had there. Wow.. the living room looks great:)
Thank you so much Kathleen!
Such an interesting way to redo a home. I love the living room.
Thank you Carol!
You always have the best blog posts. My fave is that window with the stained glass window at the top–creative!! Love it.
Thank you April, its mine too!!
It’s all so charming and cozy – I love it! And, the floors are amazing.
Thank you Joanna!
It looks amazing, Tarah!
Thank you Kiki!!
So much hard work but so worth the effort. Great to look around and know you did all the work. Found you on Bloggers Pit Stop.
Thank you so much Candy!
Wow, what a beautiful transformation. I love the wood floors! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you Jann!
You guys have really done a terrific job on the house – it looks excellent and is wonderful –
Really a remarkable makeover without spending too much money – and looks much more functional now!
I continue to enjoy watching all the improvements!
You have great ideas!
Best,
Leslie –
Thank you Leslie!!
I love everything you’ve done. It’s all so wonderful! You have an eclectic vision and it’s all working wonderfully! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much! I know its not everyone’s taste but its kinda my favorite place to hang out!
The floors are amazing! You have done such a great job! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the fan favorites at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link so you can check out your feature: http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/sunday-showcase-make-pretty-monday-8-21/ Hope to see you again tomorrow at Make it Pretty Monday! Have a lovely week! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Oh that’s so amazing! Thank you Kathryn!
Tarah, I looked at all your photos and your house plan before and after. Looks like you made big improvements! About the bath in the living room…sometimes you have to make those hard decisions.
The hardwood floor is amazing! Imagine having that all along under all that linoleum! For me it would be really special knowing I was living in my Grandmother’s house. Lucky you! Y’all have made some great cosmetic improvements too. Love the coffee table!
Thank you so much Florence, it was a huge job but I wouldn’t have it any other way, I love that we were able to save the old farmhouse and keep as much as the old charm as we could! It always felt like home to me and now it really is, thanks again!
I love seeing all the transformation with your home. Such love to your family home. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party @DearCreatives
Thank you so much Theresa 🙂
What a huge transformation. I’m bringing back my Monday link party @ DIY Home Sweet Home (first one will be Oct. 16th) and I would love for you to stop by and link up your living room tour! http://diyhshp.blogspot.com
Thank you Jamie, I’ll definitely check that out!
A huge change but for the best. The nicest thing is that somehow you have managed to save the integrity and style of the house. Good job!
Thank you!
Pretty great!
Thanks Shanice, have a great week!
Wow, it is looking really nice. I love the ceiling and the wall color. 🙂
Thanks Joy!
Love your home!! Also I have to comment on your old box that holds quilts, Love it!!
Great job!!
Thank you Lacy, that old box my Grandma kept in the basement half filled with sand and she would fill it with carrots to keep them fresh all winter long!
I love the floors and your coffee table especially. And now I’m going to see how you did that cord hiding magic mantel.
🙂 gwingal
Thanks Nikki, have a great weekend!
How awesome! I just hopped by from Homestead Blog Hop to check out your farm house living room reveal and I shared this wonderful post. Such a useful and inspiring idea.
Thank you so much Deborah! Happy St Paddy’s day!
Oh Tarahlynn, You are amazing! From your brain to your hands, you carry through it all. How I wish I had had your courage 20-50 years ago. I was married to a traditionalist/non-conformist from 1966 to 2011, when he died. I did whatever I wanted to do in our house, as long as it wasn’t “weird”. In other words – boring! I was the ‘doer’, he was the thinker. Now that the house is totally MINE, I am too old (71) to do much with all my huge stash of carpentry tools, etc., and limited budget. You have been given your ideas, wishes, dreams & imaginings at an age when you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to. Keep it up, & just enjoy yourself. Don’t let anyone stop you. You GO, GIRL!
Oh Dianne, thank you so very much! Getting to this point in my life has been both a ridiculous amount of work and also a total dream come true. To have this place to shape into all that I’ve ever wanted has been so incredible and knowing my grandparents’ are looking down on me that I could save the family farm means so much! Thank you again hon! *hugs*