Adding Personal Touches and a Creative Tile Solution

One Room Challenge – Week 5

A reminder: I’m participating in the ‘One Room Challenge’ (ORC), hosted by Linda from Calling It Home, that challenges home and design bloggers to make over a room in their house from start to finish in 6 weeks. We have decided to tackle our living room. Here’s what you missed: The Before and Vision and The Design Plans.

Finally, I’m starting to make some progress on my living room vision. This week I introduced lots of patterns, personalization and some creative solutions.Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

First, if you follow me on Instagram, you saw that I ordered some 20×30 canvases of my children in the fog, and absolutely love them. I wish I’d done this a long time ago, because not only do I love displaying images of my kids, but it helped solidify the style I’m going for – clean and simplistic, with lots of mix and match color.
Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy and disclosures.

I’ve mentioned before on the blog that I’m terrible with design vision. My only indicator of whether something is right in my space is how it makes me feel once it’s in the room.  And these feel so right! I’d had visions of these hanging in the hallway leading to the living room, but when they arrived I had a problem – I love them so much I could envision them anywhere and everywhere…maybe even above the mantle?

I also introduced a new sofa table that I hoped would contrast against our dark floors and help anchor our couch. I added bold print ottomans beneath it, to be used as storage and as seating at this table, or at our dining table right outside the shot of this image. Again, this feels right, even if my husband is convinced this weathered, coastal style wood “looks like the 80’s.”Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

Here is a before and after of what used to be behind the couch. Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

Last week, I’d mentioned I’d run into a snag with the chairs. We have our hearts set on chaise lounges for this room, but we weren’t able to find what we wanted in time. I found this chair that I do like, but I haven’t been able to find a matching one, so it may be going back to the store.

I’m trying to decide how I’m going to handle end tables in this room, because we love the weathered wood and iron tables I already have in here. But, when I brought down the mirrored tables I’d been using as a night stand for my daughter’s room…they felt right, too.

Mirrored or Rustic End Tables: What is your Vote?

Mirrored or Rustic End Tables: What is your Vote?

Next up is a huge visual transformation for the room. I’ve been in love with the black and white mosaic tiles that have been hitting the Pinterest and Fixer Upper scene lately, and really wanted a bold look to contrast against my white fireplace and soon-to-be white Stikwood wall.

The only problem was, it was going to be a big expense and a lot of work to our already new fireplace to achieve this look –  and my husband and I weren’t even sure we would be happy with the style long term.

Then, I found a faux mosaic tile solution, via Snazzy Decals, that would let me live with the look temporarily while we decided. And, there was no risk because it’s easily reversible. I found this shop that offers a huge range of popular ceramic tile styles that they offer as a heavy duty, but temporary, adhesive vinyl.

For a small fee, the owner will mock up a photo you send so you can envision the result. I asked for two mocks because I always need a comparison to help me make a decision.

You can send in all your tile measurements, and she will send the exact size of adhesive, which allows your own natural grout to show in between, for a more believable look.

When it arrived, I had it up in less than 15 minutes.Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

I like the way it makes the fireplace pop, which will be even more important once these walls are white. The faux mosaic tile will help us better decide if we’re willing to take the plunge to make permanent changes to our fireplace in the future.Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

We’re entering the final week of the challenge, and if I finish it will be by the skin of my teeth! My delay in ordering my Stikwood means I didn’t give myself much time to install it for the final reveal. I’ve also got to remove our entertainment center, Install light sconces and art above the fireplace (if we don’t go with the portraits), find a set of matching chairs, and convince my husband that these antique curtains of my grandma’s would look charming – the biggest challenge of all!Tips for creating a beautiful and comfortable living space on a budget: custom photo canvases, faux mosaic tile and vintage fabrics and prints.

Join me next week and follow along on Instagram for updates on all of it! In the meantime, please comment below and vote on your choice on end tables and whether these antique curtains are worth convincing my husband on? Then, head over to the ORC to see all the other designs in progress!

Source List:

11 thoughts on “Adding Personal Touches and a Creative Tile Solution

  1. Kathy Day says:

    I like the “tie in” of the iron tables over the mirror table as your end table.
    Love the curtains, but, they will really bring attention to the windows and possibly take away focus on other features you may want highlighted. Beautiful look so far!!

  2. Kathy Day says:

    I’m wondering if the the curtains could be repurposed as a quilt or possibly a mat for movie watching?

  3. larr says:

    I love the idea of the decal tiles. Such a great way to try out a look to see if it works for you. I prefer the wrought iron end table because it ties into the wrought iron you have in your stair railing. I can’t believe that the ottomans are from Target. They really bring a great pop of color and pattern to the room. Looking forward to seeing the finished design.

    • fivemarigolds says:

      Every fireplace is different, but our tiles don’t get too hot when ours runs. I was told as long as there isn’t high heat they should hold out. Time will tell!

  4. peachykeen32 says:

    I love the make over so far. It looks really good; clean and crisp but not stale. I love the set up behind the couch, I never thought about adding a small sofa table with ottomans the way you did but I’ll be looking in to that soon. I also love the tile around the fireplace, it’s even better that it’s faux tile so you can decide what you like before you make a more permenant change. My vote for the end tables is the rustic looking ones. They seem to really tie the room together but no matter what you do, it’s beautiful!

Comments make my day!