We recently updated our upstairs family room with new wallpaper, lighting, rug and a barn track door. If you have been following my blog you know that our home is a 1200 square foot Cape in Connecticut. The previous home owners used this space as a master bedroom. When I was deciding how we would use the home I knew I couldn’t take a large room like this for our master bedroom. Now living in the home for over a year, I am completely happy with the decision to turn it into our family room, this room gets used a lot! It also doubles as a guest room, the sofa pulls out into a sleeper. Before I show you the entire room I wanted to show you the before when the previous home owners lived there and so you can imagine it as a master bedroom…
You can see there isn’t really a great wall to put a bed on, my current bed would not have worked in the room or really any headboard, so that helped in my decision. The week we moved in it was January, freezing outside. We hired someone to rip out the carpet and install THIS wood floor. So as you can imagine it was a disaster while we were trying to live in the home. We also painted the entire house in Cloud Cover from Benjamin Moore that week.
I had been itching to use THIS brick wallpaper from Devine Color, sold at Target. I just needed the right space. With brick wallpaper I think it should go somewhere that brick would actually go, so putting it on the ceiling wouldn’t really work. I added it to this wall and little alcove. I get told all the time how people think it is real brick. It is textured, giving it the appearance and feel of real brick.
We also painted this short little wall in Devine Color Chalkboard Paint, it is sold at Target too. Why not pick up paint and wallpaper and some eggs all in one place? Another reason to love Target. They also just added two new colors of chalkboard paint, not just plain old black. They have old-school green called Devine Dollar and a new blue called Devine Blue Jeans, they would both be very fun to use!
My husband is the painter in the family, he is always wrapped into my crazy projects. He normally doesn’t question my design ideas (smart guy that he is) but he did not want to paint this little door and the molding around it black. We had the argument discussion that it would stick out like a big zit. He finally agreed to paint it in the same chalkboard paint. You be the judged if it looks better….
Was I right?? That little door is the only spot I want to be colored on, it could get really messy fast if not. My great grandparents had a chalkboard wall right off their front door. When I was little I remember always walking in and going right to that wall and coloring on it. I have found memories of their home and being able to write on the wall. Hopefully my kids will have heartfelt memories of this home.
This little area behind our sofa is a play space for our kids, I shared more about it HERE.
I also added the temporary brick wallpaper to this wall. I feel like it completes the space and ties both areas together. Also it was SO easy to apply so why not add more of a good thing. We recently put in the sliding barn door from White Shanty, I can’t even tell you how much I love it! I will share more about the door soon.
I wrote a blog post HERE about how easy temporary wallpaper is to install. I installed this while my girls watched a movie one Friday night. I really enjoy it, it is a immediate gratification and no mess. It does not damage your walls if you decide to peel it off. You can find more options of Devine Color Wallpaper HERE.
The sofa separates the play area and where all the toys and lego table are. I keep the toy chest and the gold trunk free of accessories or pillows so guests can put their suitcases on top of them or use it organize their things while they stay.
We switched out the dated fan that was already in the room. I wanted to add in a pop of gold in the space and something simple. I love ALL the lighting from Barn Light Electric. They sell a lot of lights that have a vintage feel. I really think it is my new favorite lighting source. I was trying to decide between doing a fan or a light or both and when I found the brass three prong chandler I was sold.
You can find my exact light HERE from Barn Light Electric it also comes in different finishes and lengths. I love the industrial light with the brick wallpaper. You can read a post that Barn Light Electric shared on this space and design questions they asked me HERE.
Once I added the new brick wallpaper and chalkboard paint the room needed a lighter rug. I found this gray braided rug from Rugs Usa and knew it would be perfect in the space. I couldn’t stop staring at it once we rolled it out in the room. It is so soft and has just the right amount of color. I debated on the lighter cream version, but needed a contrast with my cream sofa.
You can find my exact rug HERE and see the other options it comes in.
I also added some new pillows to tie in the chalkboard wall and the gray rug. The pillows are from Stuck on Hue. I fell in love with all of her pillows. So many great fabrics made into pillows of different sizes. Mine are a linen material and made so well. I love how pillows can completely change the look of a space.
We have already had three different groups of family come and stay with us in this new space in the last month. We loved having them and we think they enjoyed their little stay at Nesting with Grace Bed and Breakfast, as I like to call it.
Sources not already listed in post-
You can read about our Sliding Track door from White Shanty HERE
Similar Sleeper Sofa (mine is discontinued) HERE
Similar Leather Recliner (mine is discontinued) HERE
Antler Art and Floral Art HERE
Love Grows Best Art HERE
Playroom Antique Rug Source HERE
Stripe Large Cloth Basket HERE
Thank you Devine Color for sponsoring this post.
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
You have definitley used this space to the very best advantage. I love it. What a fabulous room it has turned into.
[email protected] says
thank you very much!
Rachel says
All of it. Gorgeous!! I’m daytr among where I will put that brick wallpaper. Can you only get it at target? Also.. Please tell us more about your ottoman.
[email protected] says
I recovered my ottoman with a rug:) I think that is the only place to get it…use your red card and save 5%!
Tania says
This is my favorite room in your house, I love looking at it! Now that I’ve seen what it looked like as a bedroom I can’t believe how much you’ve been able to incorporate into this room yet it still doesn’t look crowded or cramped to me… just warm and cozy! Love the brick wallpaper and I think the little door looks great painted along with the wall. :o)
Tania
[email protected] says
Thank you! That is such a nice compliment:) and thanks for being on my side!
karen says
Positively beautiful.
[email protected] says
thank you!
Shawnna says
hey girl great space! Looks so good!
[email protected] says
Thank you Shawnna:)
Tara says
Amazing!!! Can I have this room? 😉 I am so jealous of that barn door! An now I want to go get some of that wall paper too! I have de ark chalkboard areas I. My home and I love all of them. Well done!
[email protected] says
Thank you! I love my barn door too:) You would love the wallpaper!
Kara says
This room is beautiful!!!! It’s too hard to pick a favorite thing about it because there is SO much good in there! I love how you have incorporated so many different uses out of one room. We have a 1500 sf house so I appreciate how you think outside of the box to use the space you have in the best way possible for your family’s needs – very inspiring! Your family and guests are very blessed to have such a warm, inviting, comfortable and cozy place to enjoy. And I totally agree with painting the small door black!
[email protected] says
That is the kindest compliment. Thank you for taking the time to say such nice things. You are living in a small house too, so you get it:)
Chrissy says
I too live in a cape (1008sqft) in CT and love this idea! It’s a great use of space and makes total sense, not to mention your styling is gorgeous! Can’t wait to show my husband! Thanks for the inspiration and ideas for smaller homes. It can get a bit discouraging sometimes when a lot of blog posts are only on larger homes so it’s nice to have a place I can relate to and to find someone who feels the same about their little cape! 🙂
[email protected] says
Hello! Yes, we are totally living in the same space:) Thank you for your kind comment.
annie says
Brooke!
This space is gorgeous! I can’t believe what you can do in a small space. If you didn’t mention that you live in 1,200 square feet, no one would ever guess that it’s a small cape. Every inch of this space is divine. I’m going to try that wallpaper in my attic. I agree with your thoughts on using it on a wall that might actually be brick. Can’t wait to see it one of these days!
xo
annie
[email protected] says
Thanks so much Annie xoxo That would look so great in your Attic!
Donna says
I ‘ m crazy about this room. It looks wonderful. I always thought your kitchen was my favorite . Then you did that fabulous job in Finn’s room and I thought that was my favorite . This room looks so amazing I can’t decide anymore . I have a small home too. I love the barn door and I agree the room doesn’t look s roomy the way it’s arranged. Those pillows are great. What size are they? 18 inch? Did you get the solid gray ones from the same shop? I can’t believe you covered that ottoman with a rug. Where did you find that? I love the wallpaper too. Your decorating ideas are endless.
[email protected] says
Thank you Donna! The pillows are 22″ and the smaller at 20″ I find 18″ too small for my sofas. The gray one I have had for a long time.I appreciate your kind comment. xxxx Brooke
Donna says
Excuse my typing.above. I meant to type the room does look roomy the way it’s arranged . Sorry about that .
Dawn says
Hi!
Just discovered your blog and I love everything about your home and style! I too especially love this room the most! Do you have the color and actual name of the rug from rugs usa? It looks so soft and cozy!
Dawn says
Oops, nevermind. Just found the link for it!
[email protected] says
Thank you Dawn! click on the link and it will take you right to the rug 🙂