I am absolutely thrilled to announce my collaboration with Raymour & Flanigan for the One Room Challenge (ORC). This partnership allows me to provide you with my genuine insights and experiences as I undertake this exciting project!
We are now a week into the One Room Challenge, and the vision for our family room is steadily taking shape. The transformation is becoming more tangible with each passing day, and I can’t wait to share every step of this journey with you.
Last week, I detailed the current, rather uninspiring state of our family room. I outlined the direction I wanted to take and introduced the key piece of furniture I selected to replace our old, worn-out couch—the stunning, elongated, and luxurious chaise that has quickly become a favorite in our home.
Raymour & Flanigan’s Griffon Sofa in Navy Velvet
I still find it hard to believe that I discovered the perfect sofa of my dreams! Let me share a bit of the backstory. My acquaintance with Raymour & Flanigan grew through my involvement with the last two Bloggers Heart Habitat (BHH) houses I worked on. For those unfamiliar, BHH is a volunteer organization founded by my friend Charlotte of At Charlotte’s House. It brings together design and DIY bloggers with local companies to design and furnish rooms for new Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Be sure to check out the latest house we completed this past January!
Despite having a Raymour & Flanigan store just 20 minutes from my home, I had never actually shopped there until the opportunity arose through the Habitat projects, which were generously sponsored by Raymour & Flanigan. Their commitment to the community is truly commendable—they are deeply involved not only with Habitat projects but also with numerous other community initiatives. This dedication earned my immense respect and excitement to partner with them for the One Room Challenge. However, I wasn’t sure if they had the sofa that would fulfill all my sofa aspirations—the one I had admired in a Pinterest photo years ago and always hoped to find. Honestly, I didn’t even dare to hope.
When I visited the store, I browsed through their selection of chesterfield sofas and saw various navy blue options, but none were the exact navy blue chesterfield I had envisioned. Initially, I was content and planned to order a beautiful neutral sofa that would blend seamlessly into our predominantly neutral home. However, the store manager, Chris, mentioned that they had an extensive range of pieces available online in addition to what was showcased in the store. Intrigued, I decided to take a look online. To my amazement, there it was—the navy velvet chesterfield sofa of my dreams!
Raymour & Flanigan truly offers something for everyone, and discovering this sofa was a game-changer for me. The excitement was overwhelming, leading me to excitedly text my family with photos and an abundance of happy emojis. While my family might not have shared the same level of enthusiasm initially, their support and encouragement meant the world to me. I genuinely appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm from last week—you truly are my people who understand and share my excitement!
This week, my primary goal was to finalize the other significant pieces that would go into the family room, allowing me to proceed with installing the crown molding on the walls. If you think I’m avoiding the task of installing crown molding, you’re spot on. It’s a painstaking process, yet I find it oddly satisfying and enjoyable!
While the sofa, as previously mentioned, is a gorgeous navy velvet, I decided to keep the overall space light to maintain the coastal vibe that permeates the rest of our home. This involves white walls, elegant millwork, and the marble surrounding our fireplace, which ties the room together beautifully.
Fireplace Updated with Marble Tile on the Surround and Hearth
After extensive deliberation, measuring, and calculating, we determined that the only piece from the existing furniture that would remain in the room is the coffee table.
X-Base Coffee Table
Currently, we have two sets of chairs positioned on either side of our couch, forming a U-shape that faces the fireplace. Initially, these chairs were intended to stay in place. However, integrating them with the new chesterfield sofa proved to be challenging, and the area felt somewhat awkward. Ultimately, we decided to relocate these chairs to our living room, where we were already planning to add a couple more. This move allows us to completely rethink the seating arrangement in the family room, moving away from a mishmash of furniture pieces accumulated from previous homes.
My mission was to find four chairs that would complement the new sofa. I tested nearly every chair available, grappling with the classic Goldilocks dilemma—some chairs were too large, others too small. Then, I discovered this charming settee (yes, this one is also a lady!) that was a perfect match in both size and color for the navy velvet sofa and the overall room. It’s almost as if this settee was custom-made for our half-wall space. Without hesitation, I placed the order. Judging by the legs, I believe this settee is the same one featured in this Lonny photo, which is also available in a beautiful grey velvet.
Small Problem…
However, there’s a minor issue. While I adore the settee, I’m not a fan of the artwork that accompanies it. Specifically, I love the vibrant, multimedia triptych by Dan Hobday available on Etsy, but it doesn’t quite harmonize with the cute armless settee. The combination feels a bit jarring to my eyes within the same space.
On a positive note, the art is downloadable, meaning you can have it printed at Staples. This makes it both affordable and customizable, allowing for a colorful and lively addition that stands out. The best part is its uniqueness and originality!
Even though I won’t be using this particular settee with the current artwork, I have several other pieces in mind that I adore. I would love your assistance in selecting the perfect artwork, so stay tuned for an upcoming post where I’ll showcase Etsy artists I’m enamored with. Your input would be invaluable in helping me choose the best piece for our family room.
Additionally, I’ll be involving you in the process of selecting chairs for the other side of the room. Keep an eye out on Instagram Stories and Facebook Live because, quite frankly, I’m not equipped to make these decisions on my own. Your support and opinions are crucial as I navigate through the myriad of choices.
The Rug Dilemma
Another significant decision looming over this room makeover is the rug that will unify all the seating. Oh, the rug! What a challenge that has been to decide upon. It’s not as straightforward as it might seem, and finding the perfect rug that ties everything together has proven to be more complicated than expected.
If you’re thinking that I’m being vague or not providing enough details, it’s because I’m still in the thick of the decision-making process. Additionally, the family room currently resembles the “before” photos I shared last week, but that’s about to change—mark my words, it won’t look the same for long!
This makeover is not merely about purchasing new furniture. Once the major pieces are secured, there will be significant DIY projects and thrift store hunting to personalize the space further. I’m excited about the creative opportunities that lie ahead and can’t wait to dive into these tasks.
Community Support and Gratitude
To all my fellow One Room Challenge participants, I hope your first week is progressing smoothly and that you’re seeing great progress in your projects! I can’t wait to witness your transformations and hear about your experiences. For those interested in following along, visit this page to stay updated with all the ORC challenge updates for week two.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Linda at Calling It Home for organizing and coordinating the One Room Challenge alongside our media partner, House Beautiful. I’m especially grateful to my wonderful ORC sponsor, Raymour & Flanigan, for their support and for helping me share the intricate details of a complete room redesign with all of you.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward into the second week of the One Room Challenge, the anticipation of seeing our family room evolve is incredibly exciting. Each decision, from selecting the perfect sofa to choosing the right artwork and rug, brings us closer to creating a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing for our family.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey. Next week, I’ll be tackling the installation of the crown molding, which, despite being a tedious task, will add a touch of elegance and sophistication to our family room. Additionally, I’ll share more about the DIY projects and thrift store finds that will infuse our personal style into the space.
Thank you all for joining me on this adventure. Your support and enthusiasm fuel my motivation to create a beautiful and welcoming family room. I’m eager to share the progress and hear your thoughts and suggestions along the way.
See you next week, and thank you for stopping by to follow our One Room Challenge journey!
