Good morning!
Guess who slept until 8:30am?! Amazing! I guess my body needed it after my long run yesterday. I find I always feel a bit drained after long runs. The body needs lots of rest and apparently my body needed a solid 9.5 hours worth.

I was so excited for pumpkin pie this morning! I am so smitten by this latest vegan overnight oats concoction. I love, love, love having my veggies in the morning and since spinach in vegan overnight oats didn’t work out for me, I am quite excited that pumpkin did because pumpkin is super healthy and a great food to add to any diet.
I used the same recipe as yesterday! Click here for Creamy Pumpkin Pie Vegan Overnight Oats.
J’adore.
(See I’m working on my French!)

Magnifique.

CREAMY goodness! (Not sure what the French translation is for that!) ;)

Family Room, You Have Come A Long Way!
Now I would like to show you some BEFORE and AFTERS of our Family Room! Well, they are technically not ‘afters’ yet because we still have a lot of work to do (and furniture to buy), but they are more like ‘mid-way’ pictures if you will.
This is what our Family Room looked like when we moved in and set up our furniture back in December 2008!
Don’t you love the 70’s lamp shades rocking in there?

It was a tearful goodbye, but we chose to part ways.
Dark, dingy, and depressing!
I will note that the wall paper was GLUED on and took us 2 months to remove. The wall paper was also lined with wood! so it came off in wonderful 2 inch increments (even with steaming). Good times! ;)

Mid-Way pictures (What it looks like TODAY!)
Much warmer and brighter…

These chairs are on loan to us right now. We are storing a bunch of my brother-in-law’s furniture in the basement and they said we could try out their chairs to see how we like the set-up.


Giraffes fit perfectly on this wall:


We also put up chocolate curtains:


We are also going to put some kind of shag on top to cover the bar and blinds, but we’re not sure what would look good.
Originally, we put up white curtains and did not care for them! We took them back.

The white just looked too stark in our opinion…
Future plans for the family room include hardwood flooring, art/photography on walls, and furniture (coffee tables, chairs, corner unit for electronics). In due time!
Unfortunately today is a house work day for me- cleaning and laundry! Necessary evils.
Have a great day!
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{ 90 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely lovely. It’s very warm and looks cozy!
I also have the giraffe print, hehe completely fell in love with it!
Wow, this looks AMAZING!! I can’t even believe that’s the same room!! I love the colors and furniture…it makes the room look so much more open with all that dark paint!
Your house looks STUNNING! Beautiful furniture, all so charming and cosy looking. Yours is like my dream house :)
I really want to know what you’d just been watching on TV in the 1st pic though..end credits make me curious!
My memory fails me as it was December 2008…but I will take a wild guess and say one of Eric’s kung-fu movies ;)
the room looks great! we’ve also rehabbed our entire house. It’s amazing what a little TLC can do for the feel of a room
*Je l’adore = I adore IT.
Also, that’s an amazing improvement! I can’t even tell that it’s the same room, it looks so warm and homey! The old version looks kind of like a billiards room in a sleazy bar.
What if I love the oats like a human being though? ;)
Same thing!
I really love all the pops of green! You’ve done a great job!
Whoaaa your family room has done a 180! Seriously, it doesn’t even look like the same place. Do I even have to say that the ‘after’ shots look a lot better? :)
Incredible change! It does look much brighter, airier, and welcoming. Great place for entertaining, reading a good book (EPL), or taking a nap ;)
Wow– it looks SO much better!!!! Home projects take a lot of time, but they are SO worth it. We just did a major makeover of our living room (new paint color, furniture rearragement, etc.), and it just makes me so much happier when I walk into our house now!
good choice…much warmer
WOW!!!! What a difference, looks so cozy now!
Wow that is an AMAZING transformation! I couldn’t have even dreamed that one up! The room is beautiful! What awesome work you have done. Congrats!
Wow! If you hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t even know that was the same room!
Amazing!
Wow! It looks amazing! I love the color scheme the colors are gorgeous together and make it look so bright and open! I think you should come to my house and decorate!
Beautiful room! Want to come decorate for me? :)
I just love your house Ange! Wanna trade? lol
I love the open space and all the natural light in your family room…the green and chocolate are great color combinations!!!
Your family room is stunning and that fireplace is BEAUTIFUL!!
What a fantastic change! You should show some more pictures of your beautiful home!
Uh oh…I think you’ve inspired me to re-do my bedroom. The Fiance better hide his credit card. Evil laugh ;)
Such a cozy and sweet room now. I don’t know about you, but I find it much easier to relax in a room with lighter color walls and neutral tones.
I like the chocolate curtains – they look very nice! You could maybe make some kind of wood cover thing to cover up the curtain pole — that way it would match the wood beams on the ceiling?
What a change though! The walls look so much better painted white — that dark green looked so dingy and depressing!
It’s so -you- now!! What a beautiful space <3 I loved decorating my little loft.
Your room looks great!
OH wow! Your family room is beautiful now!! Not that it was very ugly before, of course, but it has a lot more character now!
Angela, I love what you’ve done with the living room! Amazing what some paint and diff furniture can do! I love the color pallet you’ve chosen. Fun yet relaxing.
What a great transformation! The old version looks kind of like a hunters lodge. lol.
Wow, great job!!! If you ever get tired of baking I’m sure you’d have no problem starting an interior decorating business! I love the contrast between the walls and the brick at the end of the room. Have a great day! :)
Looks wonderful!!!
That’s amazing! It’s so lovely and definitely came a long way!
Wow – that looks incredibly gorgeous! I need you to come help me with my condo, or my future dream home. Love it Angela!!
The room looks fabulous!! I agree with the white…definitely too stark.
wow what a difference! I dont like dark colored walls, makes the room look small and closed in
I made carrot cake scuffins this morning–OMG! I’m gonna do a post on it today if you want to check it out :) I added something that made them incredible!
The family room looks so cozy now. It has come along way!!
Oh wow, LOVE the new family room!! Good work
Wow! That fireplace area is beautiful =D I would love to have a seating area like that
Your family room is stunning! Can I hire you to decorate my place??
That looks great! That couch look soooooooooo comfy!
Hi, I just wanted to say I really like your blog and that I added it to my blogroll….When I read your story, I recognized myself in the “restiction” struggle, I still have some issue and I really work hard on myself to let go that control and be healthy…
you are a real inspiration..thanks.
Angela! That is gorgeous! You guys did a great job! I showed my bf because he loves that kinda stuff and he was really impressed too. Congrats you guys! What a lovely home.
I love the before and after pictures!!! What a great transformation. It’s amazing what a little TLC will do to a room!
Beautiful renos! Your place looks much brighter and lively :D
I’m sure you will conquer the house cleaning in no time. You are SUPER WOMAN!!!
Like your choice of colors so much better!
WOW! It looks so much better the way you have it. It was definitely way too dark before. I’m sure it was a TON of work, but looks like it was well worth it!
Man, it looks about 1 billion times better than before! Love it!
Hey Angela,
I’m gonna be leaving tomorrow for Europe for a month or two living in student housing and so I am going to have veeerry limited ingredients, but I will definitely have cooking equipment. Any ideas for simple, quick + easy + healthy recipes I could make for dinner while there? Please post.
Thanxxx
xoxox
Holly
First thought is vegan overnight oats. They are So simple to make and require no equipment.
Other ideas…trail mix…make some and keep in your purse for quick snacks on the go :)
Other than that, I would prepare huge batches of things that you can keep for the week, like stews or pot roasts. Make lentils and grains and have with pasta sauce for quick meals. Pre chop all your veggies on Sunday for the week for snacks.
Oh my gosh that room looks INCREDIBLE!! I can’t believe you were able to bring it so far! Dang, you go girl!
And I loooveee sleeping in ’til 8:30- anything beyond that’s a little too much. But lately 8:30’s been just right :)
It doesn’t even look like the same room. What a brilliant job. And well done on keeping the before shots. I didn’t for my little flat and regret not being able to show what a difference I’ve made.
I’m sure it’ll look even better once you are finished!
Love the before and after. Inspiring.
Hi Angela,
Do you have any tips on where to buy chia seeds that are not sooo expensive? Do you get yours at Whole Foods?
Thanks!
The family room looks great! What a huge change! I can’t wait til we can buy a house and make it our own! Living the military lifestyle makes that a little tricky though :-P
Your family room looks AMAZING (as do your pumpkin pie oats!)! That’s such a big transformation. Wow, such a good job!
Your room looks so awesome!
i love the new look! i can’t believe what you said about the wallpaper…i’m definitely never going to buy a house with wallpaper or put it up myself. it just is too much work when a great paint color would be much better!
Beautiful room! I also have that sweet giraffe picture:)
Your living room looks great! My mom’s living room has a brown theme going on as well. She has birds, acorns, and leaves for sort of an Autumn theme. It looks really nice and so does yours!
It’s amazing what a paint job can do. Even repainting the ceiling white can make such a difference!
The family room looks beautiful. Love the pumpkin, can’t wait for fall flavors.
Love it! I am a huge fan of light and airy spaces and this looks just perfect. Have you thought of getting some overstuffed, comfy chairs for where the loaners are? You could create a little reading nook.
Are you sure I’m looking at the same house?!
Amazing!
wow that room looks SO COZY!!!!! I would be sitting on that couch sipping tea on a nightly basis. The greens you added with the pillows and other accents make the whole room pop open. beautiful!
Your living room is gorgeous! :)
I love all the bright pillows.
Oh my – I love how wonderful and light and bright it is now!~ Great job!
I LOVE what you’ve done with your living room! It looks so inviting and calming, especially compared to the “before”! Well done! :)
I am so glad you said that your long runs leave you feeling a little drained – anything over 6 miles has me feeling the same way and often i think I’m the only one! I actually took a nap after my run yesterday, but given that I have had a week of less sleep than usual due to family visiting and early morning texts from friends at home (my fault – forgot to switch to vibrate! They’re totally worth it though!! :)). It helped my mood immensely the rest of the day.
If you’re finished cleaning and washing, want to come and help with mine? :)
Beautiful! Completely unrecognizable! I love the the curtains!
That is an amazing makeover!!! The room is gorgeous!!! Can you come over and do my livi g room too? Hahaha!
I love what you did with the room! The colours are so fresh and springy!
The place looks gorgeous! The before and mid-ways are completely different but it’s lovely and I am excited to see how everything ends up. Love the giraffes!
love the transformation in the family room! amazing!
You have great style!!! I love it!
Angela your living room is beautiful, what a fabulous transformation! :) I really like the color tones (the greens and browns) that you’ve put together and I am especially obsessed with that awesomely adorbale giraffe picture! And I must say, that the old wallpaper guled to the wall must had been quite the adventure while removing it
I love your room! It somehow looks both spacious and cozy. Well done!
Your living room looks fabulous! The colours look so warm and lovely. Have you ever had experience with interior design??
Wei-Wei
Nope no previous experience :)
I love the new look of the living room! It is so much more welcoming and I also prefer the chocolate curtains.
Wow! What a wonderful transformation!
Quite an improvement, it looks great! I love your brother-in-law’s chairs – any idea where he got them from?
It looks good and I am sure it is even more rewarding knowing that you used some valuable elbow grease in there. I know food bloggers hate these questions….but where did you get your lovely red mug??
I knew someone would ask me that! haha. I can’t remember where it is from for the life of me.
I love your family room. It looks so fresh, open and inviting!
I love that vase in front of the fireplace. Can I ask where you got it?
It looks absolutely amazing! I love love love the browns and greens together, you did a phenomenal job. My mom is an interior designer and would love this! And, good choice with the curtains.
Just came from Market Street, got 3 cans of organic pumpkin….teehee! I love the look and feel of your family room!
The new look is a thousands times better… great taste and style in your redecorating!
All I can say is WOW! It looks amazing, and we don’t even need the “before” pictures to say that!
That is a remarkable re-design! Kudos. Looks like something off HGTV. LOL
MY GOD. I LOVE your house – it has so much character! All the houses we’ve been looking at in Oakville are the cookie cutter mansions in the north. It seems as if you live more in the south. I will take a look there. WOW