Bulaful Home Living Room - Before & After

When we moved into our “forever” home, affectionately nicknamed our Bulaful home, I knew a redesign was inevitable. I’m a designer…leaving anything exactly as-is just isn’t in my nature! The house had so much potential from the start: beautiful natural light, plenty of room for our family to grow, and great bones. But it didn’t quite reflect my aesthetic or the way we actually live. So it was never a question of if we’d renovate, just when.

Over the course of about five months, we transformed the kitchen, living room, staircase, Bennett’s bathroom, the guest bathroom, and Cameron’s nursery. And in this month’s blog, we’re kicking things off with one of my favorite makeover moments: the living room before-and-after.

This space saw a full glow-up. We removed the carpet and installed white oak hardwoods, added stone to the 16’ vaulted fireplace wall, reimagined the wainscoting, refinished the built-ins, refreshed the paint, and layered in furnishings that made the room feel like us. It was a big transformation - but such a rewarding one.

There are so many details I adore in this room. From the dual ceiling heights that add unexpected character, the stone that completely redefined the fireplace, to the criss-cross detail on the drapery pleats. There are so many thoughtful details I’m excited to dive into!

This project was a labor of love, and I’m grateful every day that our family gets to live in this space and not just look at it! And because it feels especially magical during the holidays, we’re also sharing how we style it for the festive season, along with tips to inspire your own holiday decorating.

In the living room, two of the most striking updates are the new wood floors and the reimagined fireplace, but the room as a whole underwent a series of thoughtful, intentional changes.

To bring in softness and warmth, we furnished the space with cozy, durable, well-made pieces. As a family with two little kids (and like many of my clients), we’re willing to invest in quality furniture that can handle real life. There were plenty of layout possibilities, but my main priority was creating a space where we naturally want to gather for movie nights, Saturday college football, or slow weekend mornings. A sectional was the obvious choice, and the chaise quickly became a family favorite - my husband and I can both fully stretch out during a movie, which is a small joy worth designing for!

We layered a large area rug under the U-shaped sectional, which is as functional as it is beautiful. And yes, it’s already survived multiple spills - spot cleaning has been a breeze. In the installation photos, you might notice that we originally had an antique marble-top coffee table. I still adore it, but the scale wasn’t right for the new layout, and sharp corners aren’t ideal for active toddlers. Instead, I opted for a round, upholstered ottoman in a berry stripe. It adds such a fun pop of pattern and color, and since it’s stain-treated, we can comfortably snack on it without worry. Designing spaces that you can truly live in, without flinching at every sticky hand, is a big priority for me.

Other furnishings include an antique chest of drawers paired with a new media console (I love mixing old and new), a curated gallery wall of family photos with navy-striped mats and vintage frames, original artwork above the sectional from Art House in Charlotte, and custom pillows in a variety of patterns and tones with plush inserts that actually hold their shape.

One of my favorite features in the entire room is the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace that required scaffolding to install! While our vaulted ceilings are beautiful, their height can feel a bit overwhelming, so we embraced that scale and made the fireplace the star. We chose a soft white stone and carried it all the way to the peak, creating a stunning vertical moment that adds depth and quiet drama. The 200-year-old barn wood mantel is the perfect finishing touch - it brings in history, warmth, and character that can’t be replicated.

To balance the height of the fireplace, we installed soft green drapery panels. If you look closely, you’ll notice the criss-cross pleat with a color-blocked edge, such a charming detail. And, as any longtime Delphinium follower knows, we love a layered window moment. Woven Roman shades sit beneath the drapery panels, adding texture and contrast to an otherwise calm backdrop.

We also updated the wainscoting to better suit the proportions of the room. The original 36" height felt a bit too traditional and visually low for the ceilings, so we raised it to 42" for a more balanced, modern profile. A small but impactful upgrade: instead of applying trim directly to drywall, we used solid wood backing, which creates a crisper, more refined finish.

For paint, we selected Benjamin Moore Etiquette for the walls, an inviting neutral that stays warm without leaning too beige. I love a bright, uplifting room, and this shade accomplishes just that. The trim is Benjamin Moore Simply White, my go-to warm white that avoids yellow undertones.

When we bought the house, I immediately fell in love with the existing built-ins and knew I wanted to keep them. But I did want to refresh them with a new color for a fun focal point. After trying every possible blue, we landed on Benjamin Moore Bachelor Blue, and it completely transformed the wall. We also made a few small but meaningful updates, swapping the original black wet bar sink for a white porcelain version, selecting a polished nickel faucet, and brass hardware to bring a touch of shine.

I’ll be honest - styling built-ins is always a challenge, even for me! I love to switch things out seasonally or whenever I find a new piece I adore. For this round of styling, we focused on achieving visual balance rather than strict symmetry. We mixed family heirlooms, like a photo of my grandmother, with original art, favorite coffee table books, sculptural vases for height and dimension, and classic baskets for texture and practicality. These layers create shelves that feel personal and collected.

Home For The Holidays

When we purchased our home, I dreamt of the day I’d get to decorate this room for the holidays. A few years later, and it’s still one of my favorite things to do! I’m sharing the details of how I styled our space in hopes it sparks a little inspiration for your home this season!

To dress up the mantel, I started with a pre-lit garland and layered in white berries, champagne beaded grapes, and pinecones for a full, textured look. The finishing touch (and my favorite part) is my collection of vintage Santas passed down from my mom. Growing up, she would always adorn our mantel with the Santas she collected over the years. She let me choose a few of my favorites, and now they instantly make the whole space feel like Christmas.

To tie in the room’s color palette, I chose green stockings that coordinate with the sage and champagne ribbons on the wrapped gifts (I can’t resist a coordinating present moment!). On the antique chest, we created a festive vignette with wooden nutcrackers and Christmas trees in varying sizes and finishes, including a few flocked ones for extra holiday magic. Small wreaths hang from the knobs, finished with long champagne ribbon.

And of course, the star of the room is my Balsam Hill tree. With vaulted ceilings, I knew we needed something that felt proportional, and this 9’ Frasier Fir fits perfectly. We trimmed it with a mix of champagne and gold ornaments, pinecones, berries, ribbon, and soft white lights to give it that warm holiday sparkle.

Bulaful Home Living Room - Before & After

Home For The Holidays

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