A few months ago we created a custom mood board for Chantel, who lives in Canada, and we were eager to see the finished result. She’s back with delightful after photos and a thoughtful note describing how the room came together:
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 Chantel is so happy. To appreciate the change, let’s recall how the room looked before the makeover:
Chantel wanted a relaxed, beach-inspired living room with pops of green and blue to complement a large artwork she already owned and planned to hang above the sofa. We prepared a mood board with calming coastal tones, layering texture and subtle pattern to keep the space inviting and timeless.
Below is her living room after the mood board-inspired makeover:
The transformation relied on a few thoughtful, simple swaps rather than an expensive overhaul. Replacing Chantel’s dark leather sofa with an IKEA slipcovered sofa immediately softened the room and set a lighter, more casual tone. Painting the walls a serene, coastal blue shifted the mood from stark white to a gentle, beachy atmosphere, making the space feel calm and restorative.
Small adjustments to the media area made a big visual difference. Painting the TV component shelf white and adding a second white console underneath helped the electronics recede and created a more integrated, less intrusive appearance. This simple white-on-white layering kept the focus on texture and color rather than bulky furniture silhouettes.
Texture plays a leading role in keeping a casual-chic look fresh and interesting. A woven rug introduces natural warmth underfoot, while printed curtains bring subtle pattern and movement to the windows. The woven table lamps flanking the sofa contribute organic texture and a relaxed, beachy feel—these layered elements work together to create a cohesive, lived-in look that still reads as thoughtfully designed.
Chantel also painted the niche above her fireplace a slightly deeper blue to showcase a delicate mobile we recommended. The deeper tone frames the 3D artwork, turning that small architectural alcove into an airy, ethereal focal point. It’s a lovely example of how color and the right accessory can transform an empty space into a curated vignette.
To finish the room, Chantel chose pillows that echo the same calming palette used throughout the space. Their stitched textures and soothing hues mirror the curtain patterns and other accents, tying the whole scheme together. Those final textile touches are what make the room feel complete and comfortable.
We loved receiving Chantel’s after photos—her space now feels bright, breezy, and welcoming, a perfect contrast to snowy weather outside. The makeover is a great reminder that thoughtful paint choices, coordinated textiles, and a few well-placed decor pieces can completely change the mood and function of a room without major expense.
What do you think of Chantel’s living room transformation? Which element speaks to you most—the airy mobile, the leafy printed curtains, the slipcovered sofa, or the layered white media units? We’re especially fond of the way texture and color work together to create a casual yet polished coastal look.
Update: We no longer offer commissioned client mood boards, and instead create general inspiration boards. If that changes in the future, we’ll make a formal announcement.