Gutting The Fireplace

I figured it would be a good idea to let you in on what my home looks like room by room. I'll start with the family room, since that's where we spend most of our time.
We purchased our home in 2006. We had looked for 11 mos. and discovered that we more than likely would have to build or remodel. So we bought an existing house and started remodeling.
Typical houses are just not made for five children--no kidding!

This is how the fireplace wall in the family room looked "before".

It was white, white, and more white. It had a "Mickey Mouse" (no offense, Mickey!) fireplace and entertainment center "thing". They just did not look right in the room. If the fireplace was centered on the wall and a large feature, that would have been great.

It wasn't.

Before we moved in, we had a handyman remove the fireplace
and entertainment "thing".

Fun-size chick's face about sums it up!

My man and Good Egg son, trying to put a "happy face" on it!

I hope I don't hear any gasping for removing the fireplace.

We live in Florida, we only used the one at our old house
maybe three times in ten years...
I showed my handyman a picture of an entertainment center I liked in a Ballard Design catalog. Note, the bead board back. I chose the "Frenchy" hardware. (My old house had mostly traditional decor.)

This is how the former fireplace wall looks

After:



I had begun to fall in luuuve with French Country.

* * * * *
Here are some more after pictures.

Before we even bought a house, I knew I wanted to paint the family room green.

And chocolate-colored???

I promise the table runner isn't neon! The last photo looks about right!

The rest of the colors were bounced off the area rug.
Wow, this is not the best photography work I've seen, the sun wasn't cooperating with me today! I'll get some better pics in future posts--Promise!