Before and After: This Colorful Living Room Makeover Is so Inspiring

If you’re buying a 95-year-old house, there are certain issues you’d expect: creaky floors, drafty windows, faulty light switches — but probably not a mirrored wall over the fireplace. That was one of several things that perplexed Nydia Parries and her husband, Jordan Heller, about their 1924 Colonial in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Also not upping the charm: hazy gray paint on the walls and a looooong layout that made it tough to arrange the furniture from their previous place — plus, where to put the TV?

Time for an HGTV Magazine takeover! Vivid blues and greens and punchy patterns made it modern. So did dividing the space into two sections: one for hanging out in front of the fireplace and one for watching TV. “Our 3-year-old asks to eat breakfast in here every morning,” says Nydia. “We all love it so much, we can’t get enough.”

Reno Details

Fireplace

Dingy stone dragged down the cute fireplace (that arch!); bright white paint (Polar Bear by Behr) perked it right up. And how’s this for a magic trick: Cladding just the mantel in wood-look Formica makes it appear brand-new.

Shelves

Supersmart: a short bookcase behind the sofa to stow bins, display mementos and corral books. Superchic: the X detail on the sides and back.

Art

Unlike the old mirror, a trio of abstract prints — these are from Etsy shop Oh Finale — that play off the new ocean wall color make a style statement.

Seating

Modular seating from World Market — there are three pieces here — arranged in an L shape fits just right in the corner. A round ottoman from Blu Dot does triple duty as a footrest, a coffee table and a toddler play spot.

Rugs

Rugs in coordinating blues are way hipper than the former fussy one. The mottled chevron rug is by West Elm, and the round raised-texture one is by Surya.

Sofa and Chair

“The sectional we had was too big for the room, so we used only part of it,” says Nydia. “It looked pathetic!” She and Jordan were thrilled to trade it in for a 78-inch-wide apple green sofa from Apt2B. “Every time I walk in, it feels so good to see this happy couch,” says Nydia. The double-decker coffee table is from Target, and the dotted chair is from One Kings Lane.

TV Stand

The old bookcase had survived several moves, but its open shelves were terminally cluttered. A low TV stand and a wall-mounted cabinet, both from IKEA, hold almost as much — but are way sleeker. “And the doors hide everything,” says Nydia.