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11 Magnolia Lane

Sharing our easy DIYs, decorating, entertaining and more!

Our Dark + Moody Library Reveal

July 31, 2017 By Amy 21 Comments

This Post Contains Affiliate Links

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I am so excited to share this newly finished space with you all. I meant to have this post up much earlier but today got away from me, so I wanted to at least post some finished pictures of our newly finished front “library” room. This room would be the formal living room in our home, which is such a waste of space I think in today’s world! We have turned it into a space that makes more sense for our family with these built-in shelves, you can see where this space started if you scroll down.

 

 

After the ups and downs of the last month, I wanted to tackle a fun project in our home, something that would change things up a bit but not be an overwhelming DIY project. Paint is always the easiest way to make a change in a space, so I decided to make a quick update in our front “Library” by changing the walls to a darker color. The paint color I chose was Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore, because I knew it was a dark moody gray. I will say in my space it has green undertones so I warn you of that, but it is definitely a very dark, charcoal gray. This was a quick project because there isn’t much wall space, so it was perfect to knock out in a day.

 

 

You have probably seen our DIY bookcases my Dad built from IKEA Billy Bookcases. If not, those posts are HERE {reveal} and HERE {how to build them} if you need to catch up. These are my very favorite project in our home, but recently I have been feeling like the white shelves weren’t standing out enough against the pale gray walls in the room.

 

{this room about a year ago}

{today}

Adding the dark paint was just what the room needed, I definitely think the shelves now stand out against the gray walls in a way they never did before. I am still tweaking the shelves and the styling, but that is a never ending project around here 🙂

 

 

This room holds my sister-in-law’s piano, she’s currently on stage in Chicago {go Rose!} so she doesn’t have room or the lifestyle to be toting around a baby grand. We are happily storing it for her until she settles into a permanent location. It is a bit of a space hog in the room, but I hold out hope that while it is under our roof one of our children will develop a love of music just like their talented Aunt. So far it hasn’t happened, but we’ll see!

 

 

I switched around the Bergere chairs that were in here {I may sell them, not sure yet} and moved up this simple IKEA sofa we’ve had in our basement; I just added new bright white slipcover and a few throw pillows which gave that a new look. I still need to work on the lighting in here but for now, it’s a perfect spot for a glass of wine or to relax with a book.

 

 

I also moved my art print from Minted in here, much as I loved it in our family room, I couldn’t ignore that the colors of the painting called out for a darker background. I love how the scale of the painting and the mix of the tones in the art look over the white couch.

 

 

I can’t believe the change in this room, the space started out like this {below} when we moved in just three years ago.

 

{before}

{after}

I moved over our gold bar cart over from the Dining Room, I’ll do a follow-up post with the details on this, but I love how it looks under this antique mirror. The light wasn’t ideal today for photography but I think the gold on the cart looks great in this little space right by the front door, cocktail anyone?

 

 

I also did a quick rug switch, moving the Fables rug from my Dining Room in here. I like the traditional style of it better with the mix of the shelves and the wood tones of the piano. You can see how our dining room looks now, I have posted some pictures of it over on our Instagram feed.

 

 

I’ll leave you with a few more pictures, and stay tuned for the follow-up on the bar cart with more pictures of the room and that easy DIY.

 

Sources

Rug–{from Joss & Main} but currently available HERE

Couch, Black + White Pillows–IKEA

Bench–Target–Similar HERE

Art Work 

Throw Pillows, Tray, Shelf Items, Pillows–HomeGoods

Bar Cart–Similar HERE and HERE

*******

See the Bar Cart Makeover Post HERE.

{sharing this at Inspire Me Tuesday!}

 

XO,

 

small-amy-new-headshot-summer-2016-2 copy
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Filed Under: Living/Great Rooms, PROJECTS Tagged With: amy home, home makeover, library, paint, shelves

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. laura janning says

    July 31, 2017 at 7:10 pm

    the room looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:40 am

      Thanks so much Laura 🙂 hope you are doing great! XO, Amy

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    July 31, 2017 at 7:26 pm

    LOVE IT! Yes I definitely remember when your dad did those bookcases and I was drueling at what was accomplished! OMG! I’ve told friends about this and encouraged them to do the same though they haven’t yet….maybe intimidated? Either way, LOVE the look and everything in the room – including the piano! Who knows YOU might be the one to take lessons!! -)

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:40 am

      Thank you Julie! I took lessons years ago and can’t remember a thing. My daughter needs to start, but it’s one more activity to squeeze in much as I’d love for her to learn. Hope you are doing well! XO, Amy

      Reply
  3. Joy says

    July 31, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    It looks so good! Where do you get your slipcovers? I need some for my sofa..

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:39 am

      Hi Joy, it is an IKEA Ektorp couch with IKEA slipcovers! Xo, Amy

      Reply
  4. Sue says

    July 31, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    What a beautiful room this is! The perfect place to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine. I love it.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:39 am

      Thanks Sue, yes it is such a relaxing space 🙂 XO, Amy

      Reply
  5. Lauren@SimplyLKJ says

    July 31, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    It’s beautiful. We made our formal living room into a music room/library and use it so much more!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:38 am

      Thanks Lauren, I am not surprised at all we are thinking alike 🙂 XO, Amy

      Reply
  6. Parker says

    August 1, 2017 at 3:25 am

    OMG! It looks so beautiful! I would have love to decorate my room like this!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:38 am

      Thanks you should! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    August 1, 2017 at 9:27 am

    Love it all. What a gorgeous room.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      August 1, 2017 at 11:38 am

      Thank you so much Marty! We are definitely enjoying it 🙂 XO, Amy

      Reply
  8. Sherie says

    August 1, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    I enjoy your blog! Can you tell me where you got the slipcover for the sofa?

    Reply
  9. color n interior says

    August 16, 2017 at 4:18 am

    Really amazing transformation. Loved your color sense, the dark gray color is looking great with the white shelves.

    Reply
  10. Becky says

    April 8, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    Love the transformation. Found this from your post about the “built in” shelves your father built. Great design for shelves and room redo. Where did you get the slipcover for the sofa?

    Reply
    • Amy says

      April 9, 2018 at 12:22 pm

      Becky, I got a new white Ektorp cover off eBay and just covered an existing IKEA sofa. Easy! Thanks for your comment! Amy

      Reply
  11. annmarie says

    June 16, 2019 at 11:01 pm

    These are amazing! and i love the update with the darker wall color. Perfect!

    Reply
  12. Sandra Kaye Baker says

    October 24, 2020 at 7:41 am

    5 stars
    Can I hire your dad??!! This is beautiful!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 27, 2020 at 10:41 am

      I will tell him that, it will make his day! Thank you, Amy

      Reply

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  • CELEBRATIONS
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    • GIFTS
    • HOLIDAYS
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    • Back
  • HOME
    • CLEANING
    • DECORATING
    • ORGANIZING
    • ROOM BY ROOM
      • BATHROOMS
      • BEDROOMS
      • CLOSETS
      • CRAFT ROOMS + OFFICES
      • DINING ROOMS
      • KIDS’ ROOMS
      • KITCHENS
      • LAUNDRY ROOMS
      • LIVING + GREAT ROOMS
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      • PANTRIES
      • PLAYROOMS + BONUS ROOMS
      • PORCHES + OUTDOOR SPACES
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1127 shares
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