The other morning I went down in the basement to start the big project of painting the new patio door that was installed in March!

This is a big project….
We love the door and it needs to be done “just right”…with white enamel paint….

which is why we have been putting it off!

On my way to get the masking tape and start masking….

The bench along the wall caught my eye!
I thought to myself…”Self…do you realize that bench has been in the same spot for more that a year?”  
Then I thought to myself….”Self….do you realize you still have about 4 yards of that blue and white fabric sitting in the closet?”
And so it began….
the “restaging” of the lower level family room for the summer!!
Read on to see how I AVOIDED painting the patio door and accomplished another Use What I’ve Got Challenge 2012!

The couch in the main floor family room already got this treatment!
Last summer I made small couch cushions out of the blue and white fabric.
But remember….I had LOTS more of that fabric…
So….I made gigantic pillow shams for the big couch cushions on the back of the couch!
But….NOW the little red pillows looked really out of place….and not at all summery!
 They got covered with a little remnant of white fabric with a rope design that was in the “fabric stash”!
I was ON A ROLL…..remember it was all about moving the bench with the box cushions!!!
Bummer….I needed to wait until Mr. S. was around to help move that heavy sucker!!!
Now….Mr. S. is not a big fan of furniture moving!!!!  In fact he gets this “LOOK” on his face whenever I ask…Maybe it is because when he asks…”Where is this going?”  My answer is “I won’t know til we try it!!!!”
But….he was game….and only grunted and complained a couple of times….
Mr. S:  “Are you sure this is gonna fit under here?”
Me: “Yeah it has been here before, don’t you remember?”
Mr. S: “No…but we are going to have to move the bookshelf so I can get the chest in! “
Me: “I know…just go to work and I will do it!”
Mr. S.: “Are you sure?  It is pretty heavy!”
Me: “Yeah but not as heavy as the sighing you are doing!!!”
Mr. S: “FINE!  I am leaving then!”
 So all the stuff on the bookcase needed removing and I huffed and puffed and got the chest in!!!!
TOLD YA it would fit!!!
It almost looks like a built in window seat with the cushions and a couple of pillows…
You can’t see out the window….but the view isn’t too bad either!
The rest of the room was a gigantic mess…..the way it always is when you rearrange….
I won’t bore you with the details…..but after about 2 more hours….the room looked like this!

This post is getting awfully long…but I will bore you with some  “Use what I’ve Got” details.

The red ottoman was totally out of place in the new room….but we really like to put our feet up on this, so I didn’t want to move it out of the room!
I found a blue and beige patterned tablecloth in the closet….
 
 I like the tablecloth and didn’t want to cut it up….and I think I might want to actually recover the ottoman if I ever find the perfect fabric….
So I just used that masking tape I was supposed to be using to get the patio door prepped for painting…..and taped the tablecloth around the ottoman….
It’ll do for now!!!!

I wanted a “beachy” look for the mantel…
We had a rope hammock in the closet that we weren’t using to lay around in….
“Who has time to “lay around”?
I think it kind of looks like fisherman’s netting….
So….to make a long story even longer….I hope this gives you the inspiration to take a look around your house and find a way to freshen things up without spending any money…
OR
At least it will give you an idea of how YOU TOO can find a way to avoid a job you don’t want to do!!!
Oh….and I DID start the painting job…..and it IS as big a pain as I thought it was going to be! 
Wow….I was selected as the featured blog on Mikki’s Flock Together Tuesday Blog Hop!
Hope you can take a minute and check it out! 
Flock Together TUesday
Link Parties

0 comments on “Restaging In the Basement! Use What You Got Challenge!

  1. marty (A Stroll Thru Life)

    Oh my word, that looks amazing. It really does look built in. Beautiful room. Hugs, Marty

  2. NanaDiana

    It looks really nice, Mary! That bench surely does look like a built in. Great job and I know it was a BIG job, too- xo Diana

  3. Debra Ann Elliott

    Great blog! Stopping by from Flock Together Tuesday

  4. the cape on the corner

    oh, i LOVE how it looks now! that bench as a window seat is perfect, and definitely lends itself to a nice conversation set up that way, with the other chair and the sofa. fabulous job!

  5. Mom of A and a

    Hi, coming via the Flock together bloghop! Just love what you have done to the room!! Do stop by my place when you have the time!

  6. Renee C.

    I love the bench with the pillows under the window. What a perfect reading nook! 😀

    I'm visiting from the Hop and I'm now following you via Twitter, FB, Linky, and Pinterest. Hope you get a chance to visit us too! Cheers, Renee

    http://motherdaugtherbookreviews.com

  7. Elise @ The Jersey Flower

    This is such a cool blog! I love DIY projects. I found you from the Welcome Wednesday blog hop 🙂 following! Hopefully you can help me make my college dorm wonderful.

    Elise
    @ jerseyflowerse.blogspot.com

  8. MyTwoCents

    Love how the window seat and couch match, brings the whole room together. Great job.

  9. Garage Sales R Us

    Great job!!!! I am visiting from the Welcome Wednesday. I am a new follower! Hope your will stop by http://www.garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/ and do the same. I also have a giveaway going on right now you might be interested in entering! Hope you have a good day!

    Robin

  10. ♥ Shar

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  11. ♥ Shar

    Great job!

    The room looks so COZY and beautiful!

    xoxo
    Shar

  12. Connie

    I am so impressed with your creative ideas. LOve the window seat and everything.

  13. Trish Hughes

    what great ideas, thanks so much for all of them. Now I can't wait to play around in my own house!!!

  14. Our Pinteresting Family

    Looks fantastic! I love how you made those larger pillows. Megan

  15. Mrs. Handyverger

    Love it! I had to laugh at how you covered the ottoman – sounds like something I would do. 🙂 What a great update. 🙂

    Stopping by from Live Laugh Linky. 🙂

  16. R @ Rebecca's Roundup

    What a perfect little spot for that bench. I love windowseats. And I love that blue fabric. Visiting from Delightful order 🙂

  17. Christine

    Mary, I totally ENJOYED reading your post from A to Z!!! LOVE how one thing lead to a totally different thing and then back to the original hehe The outcome is GREAT!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality 🙂

  18. Hani@Craftionary

    Love your room. Looks so very warm and ready to hit the fall season. 🙂
    Thanks for linking up at Friday Fun Party and have a nice weekend!

  19. Julia Gibson

    The room is beautiful! Love the idea of the hammock on the mantle! You've got me looking around my dining room to see what I can get into today. LOL.

    Hopping over from the Weekend Walk!

    http://www.momontherunx2.com

  20. cathy@my1929charmer

    Your room looks great, and I also like the hammock on the mantle. Don't worry about painting the doors, they'll be there waiting for you! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday's Best – you help to make it a great par.tay!

  21. Kathryn Ferguson Griffin

    Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

  22. Charlene@APinchofJoy

    Isn't it amazing how much one can accomplish when avoiding a bigger project?! The transformation looks great. Thanks for sharing on Busy Monday.

  23. Cecilia

    lol, sounds a lot like me…BTW have you ever heard of Super Sliders? They go under the feet of furniture and it makes them easy to slide into place – by yourself!! I just love them ( and so does my husband!). You can find them at Wal-Mart and home improvement stores. Be sure to get the large ones!
    Your room looks great! Love how you used what you had.