A few months ago we created a custom mood board for Chantel in Canada, and we were excited to see how her living room would turn out. She recently sent back some beautiful after photos and a warm note about the transformation:
Thank you again for all your help with our living room in January. We followed all of your advice to the letter (except for the pillows because they wanted to charge me $200 to ship to Canada). I hope our replacements are up to your standards! We love the transformation, and everyone who’s visited has loved it, too. I don’t know how you did it, but you managed to make it feel like a beachy summer day in our living room, even though there’s two feet of snow outside! And we hope you’re up for another transformation. We’ll be sending you before shots and a plea for help for our master bedroom later this week. Thanks again! – Chantel
We’re thrilled she’s so happy with the result. To appreciate the change, here are the images of the room before the makeover:
Chantel wanted a beachy, casual living room with fresh pops of green and blue to harmonize with a large artwork she already had above the sofa. Based on that brief, we assembled a mood board that focused on a relaxed coastal palette, layered textures, and light, airy furnishings to transform the space without overwhelming it.
Here’s the living room after the mood-board-driven makeover:
A few straightforward changes produced a dramatic result. Replacing Chantel’s older leather sofa with an Ikea slipcovered sofa immediately softened the room and made it feel more casual and welcoming. Painting the walls a serene blue tone introduced a coastal vibe and tied in with the artwork and accent pieces, moving the room away from a stark white-on-white look toward a light, beach-inspired atmosphere.
We also updated the TV component area to feel more integrated. Painting the TV shelf and the piece beneath it white helped them blend into the room rather than dominate the wall. This small move keeps the focus on the seating area and artwork, and it reduces visual clutter so the space reads as calm and cohesive.
Texture played a big role in creating the casual-chic look. A lightly textured rug anchors the seating area, printed curtains introduce subtle pattern without competing with the artwork, and woven table lamps flanking the sofa add warmth and an organic touch. These layered textures give the room depth while maintaining an effortless coastal style.
In the fireplace nook, Chantel painted the recessed area a slightly deeper blue to frame a delicate mobile we suggested. The three-dimensional art piece becomes a gentle focal point, adding movement and an ethereal quality that complements the room’s soft palette. It’s a simple but effective way to bring personality and a sense of airiness to an otherwise empty niche.
Finally, the pillows Chantel chose finished the space beautifully. They echo the calming greens and blues found throughout the room, and the stitched detail mirrors the curtain pattern for a deliberate, unified look. Even small accents like these can pull a room together and reinforce the intended style.
Thanks again to Chantel for sharing the after photos and for trusting the mood board approach. The result is an airy, inviting living room that feels like a beach day inside—even with snow outside. What stands out to you in this makeover? The sculptural mobile and printed curtains are our favorites, but the cohesive color palette and the relaxed slipcovered sofa really make the space sing.
Update: We no longer have time to take on commissioned client mood boards and instead produce general inspiration boards, but if we ever resume custom projects we’ll announce it.