Last week we took a last minute whirlwind trip to LA to fix up my Brother in Law’s new apartment. Like most rentals, it was a beige wonderland. Complete with vertical blinds, popcorn ceilings and oatmeal carpet.
The original plan was to throw a few new rugs and pillows down and maybe add a little bit of art. Um. That didn’t happen. Instead we packed everything we possibly could into the time we had there and worked our butts off.
He had a few good staple pieces of furniture (like the couch from West Elm) and the rustic wood kitchen table but that was about it.
I’ve learned a few things in my DIYin’ days the most important being, you are going to pay with your time, or you are going to pay with your money. There were a million projects that I would have LOVED to DIY in this makeover but 3 days just wasn’t enough time to pull them off. So the good news is that if you aren’t really a DIYer you can duplicate so much of this room because its all for sale! (I will link everything below) We did do a few projects though, so watch for tutorials throughout the rest of the week!
Just a reminder, this is where we started.
This is what it looks like now:
Wall Mirror | Fringe Pillow | White and Gray Tribal Pillow
We decided to flip the couch and divide the big room into 2 smaller spaces.
One of the biggest struggles with such a fast turn around is that ordering things online wasn’t an option, we were limited to what was available in store at that moment. Our main shopping sources were World Market, Target, CB2, Homegoods, IKEA, and the flea market. I feel like everything that we bought was really affordable.
The second that I saw that orange and grayish tribal rug I knew it would be so perfect in the room. The problem is that it wasn’t big enough to live underneath the couch and both of the chairs. The solution was to put an awesome geometric sisal underneath.
Sisal Rug | Orange Tribal Woven Rug
The chairs are literally my favorite thing in this entire space.
The cute little side table is a planter from IKEA with a wooden plate on top of it.
Navy Striped Pillow | Bolster Pillow | Brass Lamp
Desk | Shelf Brackets | Rug | Aqua Teapot | Brass Vase | Basket | Calendar (Target in store, similar) | File Holder | Folders | Hourglass | Ceramic Peanut | Stapler | White Planter
This giant wall was a killer. We knew that something needed to go there but we just could not for the life of us find anything! At the very last minute we found this shelf at a random furniture store. It’s the perfect size for the wall and the wall hanging (a table runner from target!) is such a great accent.
Wall Hanging | Black and White Picture Frame | Mint Bowl | Vintage Fiat Photo | Glass Jars | Brass Candle Lantern |Cardboard Boxes (Target in store) | American Flag Pillow | Yellow and Gray Pillow (Target in store)
One of the easiest (and most effective) ways to customize a space is to update the lighting. In the dining area I took out that white monstrosity of a fan and replaced it with this super cute wicker pendant light. We took all of the blades off of the fan for easy storage and changing the light made it so we could center the whole room.
Alex already had the table and chairs so all we needed to do was add art and a rug.
I’ve seen this black and white watercolor buffalo picture floating around the internet and was super happy that it was in store. The flag we found at a vintage clothing store. Its got the perfect amount of fade on it.
Black and White Rug | Buffalo Print | White Pitcher | Gem Bowls
For art on the wall by the window I did this super quick brush stroke piece with black acrylic paint (tutorial here!). I didn’t want to add more color because the flag was plenty, so doing it in black and white was sort of a no brainer.
Wow that was a lot of pictures! But just for fun, here is a before and after again.
Tomorrow’s post is all about breaking down how we solved all of the renters woes and a few things I wish I could change, so you wont want to miss it!
Love the wooden cornices and curtain panels used to disguise the vertical blinds. Look forward to hearing the details of the creation and installation of that bit of genius!
Just curious – how does he like the couch not facing the TV? I agree that this looks great, just wondering how functional it is when he wants to sit down and watch TV – and has to turn to the right…. (assuming he also wants to lean against the back of the couch). If he’s not a big TV watcher, maybe not an issue. 🙂 Looks great!
I also think the room looks great! But I’m also on the same page as Tracy M in regards to the functionality of the couch placement for viewing the flatscreen. We had a place with a similar viewing angle for our rarely used (rental movies only) TV, and we had to put the TV on wheels and rotate it away from the wall for a comfortable view. This current set up allows for great window watching but not so much the TV. Perhaps this is just a staged look and things will be tweaked towards the TV when it is watched? Please let us know your thoughts on this, Mandi. Thanks!
I instantly thought the exact same thing!.. It looks really great! But every boy (and most girls!) I know would be switching that back within 24 hrs. Sometimes practicality wins out. Unless, like you said, he’s not a tv watcher… and neither are any of his friends/guests.
I don’t think we’ve had our couch facing the tv….ever. Instead, we’ve always had it angled like this because then, when you lay down, the tv is actually at your feet, as if you were relaxing in bed watching your show. For us, it’s the perfect way to angle a television.
Our solution to this was to wall mount the TV on an articulated arm wall mount. It works perfectly for us!
This is not our home, but ours is mounted just next to a corner, it lives flat on the wall most of the time, but when we want to watch it looks more like this
https://www.thericheygroupllc.com/ct-tv-home-theater-security-automation-solutions/blog/burlington-ct-homeowner-led-tvs-installed/attachment/img_0776-2/
I wondered that too. One of my husband’s very few pet peeves is having to crank his neck to watch TV.
That’s just stunning! Thank you so much for sharing, how inspiring!
Love from Germany and a sunny day to you:
https://www.fatcatconnection.com/#!hello-again-and-notes-from-the-sickbed/cmbz/55bf8ddd0cf285bbf303c6d5
Lisa
This is an incredible result! I wish you were in the Washington, D.C. area so you could help me! I’m about to move into my boyfriends rental house from my condo, which I own. Not only do we have completely different styles, but have the challenge of being in a rental where we don’t want to invest much money as we aren’t sure how long we will be there and are having to figure out which pieces to keep and which to toss! It’s going to be an interesting process!
Wow! What a difference… that is really fun. It’s always nice to see true rental makeovers. You accomplished a lot in such a short time period! I know ceiling fans are ugly, but I love them. We keep ours on year round!
love this mandi! the wood valance is brilliant.
can you share the source of the rattan pendant ?! i’ve been looking for one just like it forever!!
x
Wow! I really think that the plants and rugs make the space. I love it!
Just wonderful!!! Who knew world market had so many awesome things.
YAY! I have been reloading the home page like a total creep all weekend. I love to see how other people spruce up rental properties. I hope there are more posts like this in the future!
Just wanted to say the proper flag etiquette is when you are hanging a flag vertically the blue with the white stars should be on the left. I know it looks backward and even awkward but that’s the Federal Flag code.
Just thought you might like to know.
Thanks for the heads up Liz! I’ll let Alex know!
xo
m
Love that you shared that! Thank you!!
I am glad that I was not the only one to notice this and want to correct it!
I love how you covered the blinds! Considering moving into a scary beige apartment myself and this is so helpful. I was thinking the blinds may be a deal-breaker, but now I have new inspiration! Thank you!!
How much would you charge to decorate an apartment?
Oh my gosh, you saved his life!! Lol!
Also, not real important – but I see an animal in his shelf driftwood. (Like one sees cloud animals 🙂
I saw it, too!
Just wonderin’, how do you handle the rug over carpet thing? I lived in carpeted flats in LA for ten years and that never worked. They slip, buckle, and are a constant trip hazard, even with heavy furniture on top. Any tips for how to keep them in place?
This is amazing! I’m impressed with how much you got done in just three days– it looks like a different apartment. And I agree with you about the lighting. My favorite here is the bare Edison bulb. That little coil of light is just perfect.
oh my goodness, the artwork and the light fixture by the desk and shelves is AMAZING. Please let us know where you purchased these, ORRRRR pretty please make these your first tutorials. You’re freaking great!!
Dawn
Great job. Love it. What really caught my eye, was the light with the wire basket over it. I thought that would be great for my boys room. Was the light and basket from Ikea?
Wow!! It looks amazing and gave me so much inspiration for my new apartment! Did he already have the wishbone desk chair or did y’all buy that for the makeover?
Lucky guy! You did an amazing job! I know he already had the dinning chairs but could you share where they are from? Thanks
This ia a great difference and it looks great. I hope you’ll post the total cost – I know it might be a bit uncomfortable, but I think its good for people to know how much it will cost to get that, all in. IKEA has this annoying habit of posting a room with “get it for 1287$” or whatever but they won’t include any of the details – which make the room! I would love if you could do this with all the receipts you have, even if you could ball park it.
wow wow wow!! You’ve done it again 🙂 looks amazing!
You are one amazing girl~I can’t believe how much you got done in just a few days!!! It looks amazing! Can you remember where you bought the industrial shelf (for those of us that live in So Cal)? Thanks so much!
Great work. Love all the plant life in the apartment. Could you please share the name of the plant next to the TV, and are those staghorn ferns on the bookshelves? Thanks.
Hey David! I’m not sure the exact name of the plant by the TV, its some sort of palm. And yes those are stag horn ferns on the bookshelves!
xo
m
Where was this when I lived the beige apartment life? It looks great and you did a fantastic job!
Very cool makeover! 🙂 I love the earthy tones and clean design.
x M.
https://nevermindnm.blogspot.com/
SERIOUSLY!!!! Amazing.
You knocked it out of the park! Looks so amazing!
Great job. Love all the plant life in the apartment makeover. What is the plant next to the TV & are those staghorn ferns on the tall shelf? Thanks.
I’d love to know what the budget was for this space and what it came out to.
Mandi! This is fantastic!!! I can’t wait to see the DIY projects!
Could you tell me where you got the glass jar that has a wooden ball for a stopper? (The one on the bookshelves, filled with wine corks. I tried searching the CB2 link for the other glass vases and couldn’t find it, sorry!)
I like the macramé half square knot on the light cord. I did the exact same thing last year to a hanging pendant cord and it’s still one of my favorite projects.
I have always loved the idea of adding a bold designed rug on top of the stock/standard bland carpet you find in most apartments. Also, i too love…and have incorporated the acrylic chairs in a small dining space. They disappear and make the space look so much larger! Love this! Thank you for sharing! As always. You have an inspired eye for design! It is fun to see what you do!
Such an improvement! Seems like the perfect bachelor pad!
Such a great makeover! I just LOVE the idea of hanging a table runner on the wall! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I like how you changed the lamp location in the dining area without having to do holes/patching. I live in a rental too and the lamps are driving me maaaaaad. Trying this ASAP!
I don’t know why I can’t find the source for the macramé light bulb over the desk! Where did you get it? It’s fabulous! Great job.
Oh man, that’s cute! Kami needs a 72 hour bedroom makeover….Just puttin’ that out there…
What a splendid idea to hide the blinds under curtains. Sorry to read that normally perfect products from Ikea were a disappointment.
And just a tech observation. The pale gray type is hard to read!
Love it! I feel refueled on creativity when I read your posts. I’m always so drained by the time it comes to doing projects around my home that I just can’t think. I work full time (in a sucktacular job) and life is chaos with my husband’s new job (long haul truck driver). I just want to make things. I appreciate that your ideas and style speak to me (blog land would be quite boring without you!)
I love your makeover. However, I was hoping you could provide a link to the hanging pendant lamp hanging above the desk. I love it. Could you also include the cord if that is a separate piece? Thanks for the inspiration.
HI Mandi, this is great. I was wondering Where did you get that desk chair?. It’s perfection!!
amazing!
I’d love to know about the art near the desk, the one that appears to be watercolor and ink. Do you know who the artist is?
From a bland and boring decoration to a happy and green one- in 72 hours?? It’s a transformation everyone badly needs.
Beautiful wall colors interior Nepal
This is so great, Mandi. What a lucky BIL you have. xo