enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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Remember how I didn't see our townhouse until move in day? I signed a lease based on photos and videos and then was thrilled the day I moved and realized it was 10x better than I imagined. Seriously. I'm obsessed.

But one thing I knew right from the beginning that I would want to change is the fireplace area. The cushions on the built-in couches were old and faded. The lights above them were outdated. They were some of the first things on my list to switch up.

So let's refresh :

BEFORE

Before
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AFTER

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After

Hooray!

Color! Clean fabric! The lights are down and art is up!

It's shaped up into a pretty sweet little nook. I still have to figure out how to get the fireplace working, make and hang a big driftwood wreath over the mirror, get a standing floor lamp and sew up some little poufs as foot stools (or maybe make these), but I am pleased with the improvement.

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I sewed new cases for the eight pillows out of Joel Dewberry herringbone fabric that I bought on etsy. The orange piping came from Joann's. For the cushions, I carefully took off the fabric of one and used it as a template for the new covers which were made out of indoor/outdoor teal fabric from Joann's.

Pillows

The pillows are from Home Goods (arrow), Crate & Barrel (black and white) and the cute pink ikat one is from Moxie Mandie.

Uphigh

Above the left went our favorite photo ever. That striped rug is 5×8 and came from Crate & Barrel.

Right

And above the right is the start of a gallery wall which I feel like will always be changing. From left to right : 5×7 print from For Me, For You in a C&B frame / art I made after taking Kal Barteski's script school workshop in a West Elm frame / a canvas I designed and had printed by CanvasPop* / a print by Austin Kleon from 20×200.

Mantle
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On the mantle is a lot of DIY art (copper & ampersand) that I have hung all over the place since our first apartment, a few Ikea vases, a pot from Anthropologie and a wooden love cutout from this etsy shop. That photobooth strip was from our trip to Palm Springs last summer. I just taped to a piece of thick white cardstock and stuck in an 11×14 frame. I LOVE big mats with little art.

Little by little the downstairs has took shape (see the rest of it here). Upstairs is still a bit of a disaster and I am trying to decide if I want to get it all set or if I'd rather wait for Paul to be home and be a part of it…

*that palm tree canvas was designed by me and provided by CanvasPop. I am happy to say the quality is fantastic and the site could not be easier to use. CanvasPop is currently offering a 20% discount on orders over $99 with promo code "ELISE20".

Dottedline

26projectslogo This is project 19 of 26.

I am attempting to tackle 26 personal craft projects before I turn 27 on 02.22.12. You can follow my progress here on the blog or on pinterest.

See project 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18.

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65 responses to “project 19 of 26 / recovering the built-in couches.”

  1. Jessica Avatar

    love your style! So eclectic, yet pulled together. It makes me want to just hang out and relax…a great feeling to come home to at the end of the day! Great work!

    Like

  2. tamivik Avatar

    Love the fabric you chose and especially the orange piping! The rug pulls it all together, looks great!

    Like

  3. Elizabeth M Avatar
    Elizabeth M

    Those recovered cushions are so beachy & fun!

    Like

  4. Jenn Avatar

    Looks great! I love the contrast piping on those big pillows.

    Like

  5. Nina Avatar
    Nina

    Lovely!
    I’ve discovered your blog a week ago, and am a huge fan already. You inspire me a lot! I have one question for you, how do you keep track of your ideas and if you see something online (like a picture) that inspires you, how do you save them? Print them out? Keep them in a folder on your computer?
    Thanks!
    Kind regards,
    Nina from the Netherlands

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  6. elise blaha Avatar

    hi Nina, there is a website called pinterest.com that I use to post images from all over the web. Then they are super easy to reference when I want them. You should join that!

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  7. nina Avatar
    nina

    Thanks Elise for your response!
    just checked pinterest.com , yet another website to surf on for hours! This must help me keep track of all the cool pictures I find.
    Kind regards,
    Nina

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  8. Michelle Avatar

    It like night and day! Everything looks so fresh and fantastic. Awesome!!

    Like

  9. pianoB Avatar

    You’re doing a great job with your new house!
    I’m amazed at how fast you managed to decorate it and make it look so personal (I would be still unboxing stuff…).
    To tell the truth, I was a bit “worried” by all that marble on the couche zone, which looks so “cold” to me. But surprisingly you’ve been able to transform it into a cozy and homely corner. You’re talented! 🙂

    Like

  10. Katie Avatar

    Wow the whole space looks so fresh and well designed 🙂 excellent transformation! Thanks for sharing

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  11. Katie @ Katie Without Restrictions Avatar

    This is amazing! I just discovered your blog today through a friend, and I’m so glad I did!

    Like

  12. ali Avatar

    you are super lucky to be able to hang art and paint in a rental. here in australia you cant do that! 😦

    Like

  13. Christian Traughber Avatar

    The couch and the pillow complement the environment of your home! It’s important that your couch in the living room is attractive to the eyes. It gives your home a more distinct identity. Truly, the lights are down and the art is up in that setting! 🙂

    Like

  14. Allison R Avatar
    Allison R

    where did you get that palm tree print? I LOVE it.

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  15. elise blaha Avatar

    I designed it with my photo and song lyrics and then had it printed by canvaspop. 🙂

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