I’m thrilled to be partnering with Raymour & Flanigan for this season’s One Room Challenge, and as always, I’m here to share my honest experiences—the good, the bad, and everything in between!
This week, my One Room Challenge journey could best be described as straight out of Alice in Wonderland:
The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.
And of course…
I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye—I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!
Yes, I’m behind on my Week Four update, but for good reason—it has been a whirlwind! My baby girl officially committed to a college, the deposit is paid, orientation is scheduled, and move-in day is officially on the calendar. Meanwhile, I’m over here deep-breathing into a paper bag (wasn’t I doing this same thing during last year’s One Room Challenge when my son left for college??). Who thought having kids close in age was such a brilliant idea??
And if that wasn’t enough, today is Hannah’s prom! In just a month, my little peanut—the one who used to giggle over mashed bananas fed to her from an Elmo (“Melmo!”) spoon—will be a high school graduate. By August, she’ll be packing up and heading seven states away! While my heart aches at how fast the years have flown by, I can’t even begin to describe how excited I am for her. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from sending Peter off to college this past year, it’s that the sheer joy of watching your child step into their next adventure outweighs the where-did-the-time-go lump in your throat. But WOW. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart!
Progress in the Family Room
Despite the chaos, the family room makeover is moving forward—though at first glance, you might not believe it!
At the moment, our living room is piled high with an assortment of furniture and materials, all waiting to find their place in the finished space. This week, I focused on finish carpentry and caulking, which, as any DIYer knows, is where patience truly comes into play. Unlike rough carpentry—where installing battens on the walls was a quick few-hour project—finish work requires precision, and I want to get it just right.
One major update was the addition of moulding to the half-wall, where I enclosed an existing drywalled beam to give it a more decorative pillar look (I still need to write a full post on this project!).
As I worked on refining this detail, I debated whether to add a pilaster to the other end of the half-wall to mirror the new decorative pillar. Not only would it create balance, but it would also help transition the moulding from the hallway into the family room. So, this week, I took the plunge—starting by removing the outdated alarm box that had been sitting on that wall for years. (Since it was low voltage, I wasn’t too worried about electrocuting myself, but I still turned off the power—safety first! 😊)
With the alarm box gone, I moved on to building a shallow pilaster (essentially a decorative pillar that’s attached to the wall). It’s a small architectural detail, but one that will make a big impact in pulling the entire space together.
To create the pilaster at the end of the half-wall, I started by cutting and installing common boards from the half-wall to the ceiling, then attached a poplar board, framing the sides with 1″x2″ boards to form a structured box.
To ensure a seamless look, I covered all the joints using the same trim that I previously used on the decorative pillar and fireplace surround, maintaining a cohesive style throughout the space.
Of course, this addition means that instead of installing one clean piece of crown moulding across the doorway, I now have to cut a series of intricate pieces to fit around the pilaster—just like I did with the fireplace mantel. But in the end, those little details are what bring character and charm to a space, so it’s totally worth it! (And let’s be honest, I have a habit of making things a million times harder than they need to be anyway. 😊)
Unfortunately, I’ve been having some photo upload issues, so you’ll have to picture me knee-deep in crown moulding scraps, alternating between frustration and victory as I try to master these precision cuts. Crown moulding is my love-hate relationship in home improvement—it drives me crazy, but I can’t resist it!
Hits & Misses of the Week
HIT: The Perfect Macramé Lumbar Pillow & A Jute Rug Win
This week, I scored a gorgeous macramé lumbar pillow for the couch—an amazing HomeGoods find (which, if history repeats itself, Mark will remove from the couch every single night. 😂).
The other big win? The ivory jute braided rug! Some of you correctly guessed that this was the one I had my eye on, and let me tell you—it does not disappoint.
I know some of you are probably questioning my sanity after seeing the current rug up close, but hear me out:
- This new rug is durable, reversible, and—most importantly—soft enough to sit and lounge on.
- Instead of just using a standard rubber non-slip rug pad, I upgraded to a felt/rubber hybrid pad for extra comfort and a little more plushness underfoot.
- If you’re looking for a rug pad recommendation, I’ve linked a few favorites in my Shine Your Light Amazon Shop!
MISS: My Tiny Art Blunder
So, about the custom canvas print I ordered from artist Carol Schiff… I messed up. 😬
I was so excited to bring in an abstract ocean-inspired piece, and I thought I had carefully measured everything. But as soon as I unrolled it, I realized it was way too small to hang above the low-back Chesterfield sofa.
When it arrived this week, my fears were confirmed—it looks minuscule on that wall!
The silver lining? I LOVE the painting. So instead of returning it, I’m finding a new home for it in another room. (And yes, I was even a team player—I let Mark help pick the design. This is as “abstract” as he’s willing to go!)
But now, I need a Plan B for the living room art… and it has to be budget-friendly, because let’s just say I may have already blown my art budget. Adding another project to this crazy six-week timeline sounds like a great idea, right?? (Facepalm.)
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
MISS: The Too-Small Sconces Dilemma
This one hurts. I was so excited about the white sconces, but as soon as I hung them up temporarily, I realized they’re too small for the space—even though I measured and sketched the approximate size on the wall beforehand!
And I know a lot of you love the starburst sconces (I do too!!), but after living with them for a few days, I started questioning whether they actually fit with the overall design flow of our home.
With the kitchen being open to this space, I need to make sure all the finishes work together cohesively. So now I’m back at square one, reevaluating the lighting situation.
Honestly, I think I have a special gift for making this challenge even more challenging.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary-wise, what is, it wouldn’t be. And what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?
HIT: The Chairs Are Finally Ordered!
After much deliberation, I finally placed an order for the new chairs! While I adored some of the other options (especially the wingback style), this space is our main hangout spot for watching TV and relaxing, so comfort had to come first.
These chairs:
✔ Are super cozy
✔ Fit perfectly in the space
✔ Were in stock at Raymour & Flanigan (which means NO 6-8 week wait—hallelujah!)
✔ Will be delivered in just 3 days!
For someone who thrives on instant gratification, this is a major win! I cannot wait to see how they look in the room next week.
To refresh your memory, these are the primary furniture pieces anchoring the space, along with the new rug. Now, the biggest challenge ahead is finding or creating an affordable art solution—and FAST!
This week’s whirlwind of hits & misses proves that design is always an evolving process. Even the best-laid plans can require adjustments along the way, but that’s part of the fun (and frustration) of a project like this.
A Huge Thank You!
Special thanks to Linda Weinstein, the visionary behind the One Room Challenge, and to House Beautiful, the official media partner of the event.
An extra round of gratitude to Raymour & Flanigan for making it possible to share the real, messy, and rewarding process of transforming a space!
To all my fellow One Room Challenge participants, I can’t wait to see how your rooms are progressing—we’re in the home stretch now!
Only TWO weeks left… and SO MUCH to do!
Have I gone mad?
I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.
—Alice in Wonderland
