Fireplace Cabinets Before & After

There has been a dream of mine to update and warm up our family room for quite a while now.  I did not want to change out everything as I really like what I have in there, I just wanted to warm the place up a bit.  This past weekend with my Mom's help, oh yeah, she pretty much painted the whole thing, I finally made my change.  Here is the before and after pictures of the transformation.  I am amazed how big a difference a little bit of paint can make.  And literally, I used, or I should say, Mom used only a quart of paint.

This is how the fireplace looked when we moved in.  Now, don't judge me because of all of the clutter, afterall, we had "just" moved in.  With the help of my Dad, my husband and he were able to build the cabinets and shelves just as I had seen them in a model home just a couple of miles away.  I have been very happy with the way the fireplace looked as well as the extra storage, but it was ready for a bit of an update.

Enter, 72 year old Mom who has always been a ball of energy and willing to do just about anything to be helpful around me and my sisters' homes.  Say, "painting project" and she's on it.

Everyone tells me I am like my mother, boy, I hope so.  Look at that flexibility and balance.  That's what I am going for when I am her age.

Sometimes I wish that we did not have to decorate around a TV.  Oh who am I kidding, all the time I wish I did not have to decorate around a TV, but at least they are getting smaller from front to back and can now fit on a shelf.  

I keep walking into my family room and just looking at the fireplace and love, love, loving it.  Thanks, Mom, for your willingness to be my personal assistant and get these projects done for me.  

Now that I have got this project done, I am ready to take fall down and move on into Christmas, yeah!

Comments

[Peggy Bergfalk]

Hey, I'll do anything for my gals as long as you all feed me and provide a bed to sleep in!! The picture of my "broad behind" is a "laugh out loud" kinda picture :)
The constrast color behind the shelves looks great - good color choice! Mom

[Sheri]

I really love it too, Jude. Peggy, I have several beds, a huge pantry with LOTS of food and a side of projects. If any of those girls get on your nerves, head south. Oh, but drive PAST the first white house.

[Peggy Bergfalk]

Oh Sheri - I continue to laugh out loud :) I think you have the perfect little 4 year old "personal assistant" -I dare you to give her a bucket of paint and brush!!!!

[Sydney Martin]

Seems like such a little thing, to "paint", but what a HUGE difference it made! I lOVE the outcome. Thank you for sharing this idea. I had seen Nate Burkus do something similar on one of his shows. It's nice to see someone in the "real world" tackle it themselves and show the rest of us we can do it ourselves. (P.S. Please leave the "Fall" up until Thanksgiving. It looks so totally awesome with your new color.)

[Chelsea]

Wow Judy, it looks AWESOME! What a small change that makes a HUGE difference!! :)

[Emily F.]

New reader here. Love the new look of your fireplace/cabinets. But what I really wanted to comment on was the fact that you have your Mom around to help you. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of my Mom going to be with the Lord. What a blessing that your Mom is willing and able to help you out! So, so precious.

[http://www.tvstands2go.co.uk]

Great transformation! Great Christmas decoration and I think I would try this kind of deco next Christmas.