ORC Spring 2026 Week 2 | Great Room Re-imagined!

Welcome Back!!

...for another Springtime transformation during this One Room Challenge event. Originally created by Linda Weinstein populated by Designers, Do-It-Yourselfers, and Enthusiasts near and far. This time around our main media host is Apartment Therapy, where they help you personalize a unique home!

In these challenging times that our planet is facing, daily life must proceed in a productive manner, and I aim to surround myself in a cozy and wellness filled environment inside and outside the home, while treading as lightly on this Earth as best as I responsibly can. This time around I am returning to - by far - my largest project in my home, the Great Room! If you want to look back on this project I started over a year ago and catch up on its progress that I have already made, you can do it here: 

Lil' Recap

Our 2004 Ranch has a semi-open concept living space that adjoins the main hall, dining room, kitchen, and breakfast area with only one wall dividing. And as every homeowner of an open concept living knows, there can be some challenges in creating a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing spaces that all flow into one another. With the exception of the kitchen area, that has remained pretty generic throughout these remodels, I have completely refurbished all the adjoining spaces that lead to the nucleus of our home. It truly has been a labor of love, but also one of intentionality, functionality, and responsibility.

The Fireplace

A common element in houses today, not only has it brought warmth to the home, it most definitely sets the stage as the heart of the home. As a main focal point in any home, its many sizes, shapes and architectural detail can set the stage for a home's style and decorative use. 

When building out this home, I created a color palette that would be serene and earthy in subdued hues of greens, greys, browns and creams. Not only did I choose those colorways on the exterior of the house but chose to bring them inside as well. When I searched for the right kind of natural slate tile for the fireplace surround, I installed an interesting rock formation with veins and varying textural depth. In addition, extending up from the surround to the ceiling I painted the walls in 'Knitting Needles' a neutral grey form Sherwin Williams. It is soft and subdued and has cool purple undertones. I love the calming effect it invokes.

While a gas firebox was to be used, it came with artificial gas wood logs, that ignite real fire. Topping off the fireplace surround is a wrap-around wood mantel shelf I designed with the builder, replicating the Canadian pine columns throughout the living areas. It has always been decorated and has displayed decor and plants beautifully. But what I have not ever committed to is a wall hanging above it! I love the carousel of the changing the seasons, so I have preferred a neutral backdrop. The fireplace hearth is of the same material as the surround and its sturdy stone tiles haves held up exceptionally well.

"Reading Nook"

The main focus of the Great room has always been the fireplace. When I customized this home some 20 years ago, I chose some textural elements in materials that i believed would be natural by nature and timeless in design. To this day I am always tantalized by the earthiness of the authentic natural slate tile that was installed partially up the chimney chute and the natural grain wood pine shelf that wraps around it. Accompanied by several natural pine columns that help define the separate spaces, these few elements alone set the tone for my EarthenChic home!

While a "less is more" approach to decorating satisfied the requirements for keeping a neat home, I am refreshing my main living areas now for a different "season" in our lives. There are some challenges however, in the open concept living that will address just how multi-functional can this space be.

In our technological world today, one would like to stay up on the pulse, moment to moment, but also carve out space for resting and relaxation simultaneously. Perhaps even with a good book or magazine. Yes, I still like to peruse these too!!

So, I would like to carve out a small "reading nook" corner by the side of the fireplace. While the living room height is about 20 feet high, the area would only take up about 20 square feet! You heard that right!! It's going to get interesting.

Media & Viewing

One consideration when we started remodeling this living space, was taking the television viewing area into consideration. I curated many pieces in the last 5 years that presented their own challenges, especially during the Pandemic years. One important feature added to the mix was a beautiful media console that would fit perfectly on one side of the fireplace wall and into its niche! This is a contemporary piece from the manufacturer BDI, and its style and features can speak for themselves. Captured in their Elements Collection are gentle strokes of "Wheat' in a natural walnut. It holds all the media pertaining to audio and visual components. I love to admire it, and it will be an important piece to this puzzling room-.

Wall Feature

Last but not least...what to do with the main wall above the fireplace!? If you haven't notice already, I haven't done much to it! And that is for a very good reason. While creating a new color palette for the Great Room, I like to start with a blank slate, while keeping the aesthetic to a minimum, so as to create a space of tranquility and peace. Not every wall in a home needs to covered in decor! It should be meaningful and at the same time create joy!!

So Now the Plan!

• Install shelving in the nook
• Purchase lighting features
• Curate chair and side table
• Reconfigure media viewing
• Design a wall feature display

For this One Room Challenge "mini project", I will have 7 more weeks to pull everything together! I already have created a concept room plan that I rendered in Mydoma software. I entered this rendered project a few years back for a virtual contest that and now serves as a guide that can bring tangible results to fruition in the design process. Here is my wall concept-

Time to get to work...but please follow along on my design journey as I create an EarthenChic home that is sure to tantalize the senses!!

Don’t forget to contact me for all your interior design projects that need attention no matter how big or small. I offer a variety services, and I am sure we can turn your home into the haven it ought to be—

Visit DebSoChic.com to find out which of my Design Services is for you-

...from the light of my home to yours,

* Deb *