Living Room with Built-in Entertainment Center
Showcasing the Built-in Entertainment Center in my Illinois living room. I built this entertainment center and painted it white with Sherwin Williams ProClassic paint.
Happy Friday!
For layout perspective…the living room is opposite the kitchen, off the entry hallway.
I’m not a huge fan of televisions in your living room (that you can see) but it’s nice to be able to just turn it on without opening doors and sliding them back into the unit. What a pain, right?
Honestly I just didn’t want to make pocket doors. I did that once before and it took me 3 days just to get them installed properly, and working right.
This “Unit” is 6 different pieces and took me 8 weeks to build. I used furniture grade plywood on this puppy. It’s more expensive than MDF but much lighter. There is no way I could have lifted, carried and installed this piece if it were made out of MDF. Even out of plywood, my neighbor had to come help Wes carry it in because it was just too heavy for me. (I really do have awesome neighbors!)
I got to be on head nodding terms with my mail man by the end of it all. (Because my garage is my workshop and I’d turn around every day when he delivered my mail…when it was finally built and standing up and looking huge and awesome, he gave me a head nod AND a thumbs up!)
moving on…
I always wanted to change this fireplace but the hubby liked it so it was on the end of my to-do list…and it never got- gotten to. And, whatever, I think looks fine!

I’m a lucky lady really. My husband doesn’t interject any opinions when it comes to decorating or design or layout…or anything like that. He goes along with whatever I want MOSTLY.
But, once in a while, he has an opinion and when that happens, I have to give it to him. So the fireplace was left alone for him, and then there was the sectional…

When it was delivered and all the extra pieces were put in , I immediately knew it was way too big and we should send back at least one of the “extra” chairs. But, he and Maddie sprawled out on it and were sold. So, it was another opportunity for me to practice letting go of my need for everything to be “just so”.

So the breakdown for this room redo: new floors from BuildDirect, can lights, paint on walls/ceiling/windows/trim, and a really big entertainment center! The drapes and striped chair are from PB (clearance), sectional from JCPenny, rug from Home Goods along with most of the chotchkies.
See the rest of my IL Home Tour here.
You are so talented! Did you design that entertainment unit by yourself? It is BEAUTIFUL! I want to lounge in that room forever! Haha. I agree with another commenter who said the fireplace looks nice with all the white in the room. Do you remember the name of that sectional? I have been looking at them at JC Penney but a few of them didn't have good reviews so I am curious if it is the same one. Have a great day! Thanks 🙂
I'd love to take a nap on the couch. Big it is, but I wouldn't change it. Sometimes you just gotta go with how you live and not so much what the magazines want us to mirror. Great job on the bookcases. Amazing work. Truly.
Unbelievable! I wish I was your neighbor. I'd bring you treats all the time, just so I could hang out in that amazing room. You'd invite me in right? 😉 Great job. You are very talented!
You are so talented, I just love your work! It's inspirational in a way.I did have a random question, though. For all of these larger pieces that you built that are not "built-in" are you going to leave them with the house or will they be coming along with you?
When I lived in Boston, I bought a 2-family house with a friend. We gutted one apartment and rebuilt it while we lived in the other. Later, my wife and I bought a 2-family house and converted a one-bedroom unit into a 2-bedroom while we lived in the other unit.Renovating is great sport! I look forward to your further adventures.