Family Room Makeover: From Boring to Rustic

Homeowner Susan Rizer wants to turn her cluttered, boring family room into a cozy den. Designer Karen McAloon, painter Danielle Hirsch and contractor Ian Read help Rizer transform the dull space into a rustic warm space to relax and entertain in.

Before

Susan Rizer is ready to clear her very full family room to turn it into a more welcoming and warm space. Right now the furniture is too far apart so it's not set up well for entertaining. This room is quite large and full of mismatched pieces without a cohesive design statement and the white walls aren't offering any of the coziness Rizer's after. Plus, the blue sheet isn't really working as a window treatment.

After

Now the space glows with warmth thanks to a table-turned-faux fireplace, a new seating arrangement and a very tall wine rack to showcase her collection. A rich rust wall treatment (created by applying crinkled tissue paper over a coat of wet paint, and then painting over it again) along with stained ceiling beams set the tone for a cozy background. New curtains and moving the table underneath it turn the window into another focal point.

paint: (built-ins/woodwork: Serengeti Sand 2164-40 and Burlap 2163-50); (walls: Pilgrimage Foliage 2175-20); (ceiling: Dove Wing OC-18) (Benjamin Moore)