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This one’s been a long time coming.

I’ve talked about this space a lot—first in Reimagining the TV room: A dark & glam makeover, then again in Design Update: TV room transformation. But now it’s finally finished. Curtains hung. Lighting installed. The lot. And I am so happy with how it’s turned out.

Let’s backtrack for a second.

When we moved into the house in late 2022, the room in question was painted a colour I affectionately refer to as “baby poo brown.” I could’ve just repainted it and called it a day—but I didn’t want to slap lipstick on it. I wanted the whole space to feel different. And after living in the house for a while, it became clear that we never spent any time in there during the day. It’s a room for the evenings—movies, snacks, evening drinks with friends. That made the decision easy: it needed mood, depth and a bit of glam.

It all started with the sofa

The sofa we’ve had for many years is incredibly comfy but its charcoal grey colour looked dated and drab. Reupholstering it was the beginning of the transformation of the space — something I shared in full here: Giving a sofa a new lease of life. Once the sofa was back in the room, all sleek and grown-up in its new fabric, the vibe started to shift.

Then came the wallpaper

I went to so many shops, I ordered so many samples. But once I landed on this pattern—dark, a little dramatic and full-on glam, I knew it was the one. It now frames the bar nook beautifully and adds just the right amount of intrigue without taking over the room.

Speaking of the bar…

Hello, metal tiles

The small metal tiles at the back of the bar were definitely a splurge, but when you’re only tiling a tiny area, it’s worth going bold. They bounce light around beautifully and add that hint of glam I was after. The bar now feels like a destination, not an afterthought.

Paint makes all the difference

The ceiling is now a soft grey—not white, because stark ceilings in moody rooms just don’t work. It wraps the space and makes it feel cocooned. The woodwork got a coat of dark brownish-black too, which grounds the space and adds a bit of weight. It all feels considered now, not just “painted.”

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find a paintable replacement for those white heating grill covers on the ceiling. Would have loved to have them painted so they blend in with the rest of the ceiling. Ah well.

The lighting situation: completely reworked

Previously, there were track lights that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an art gallery or office space. Harsh, clinical and all on one non-dimmable circuit. Now? Two circuits, both dimmable. A beautiful ceiling-mounted pendant is the star of circuit one, while adjustable spotlights do the heavy lifting on circuit two. The bar area still has its own soft glow and I added a fun table lamp—a second-hand pineapple base I couldn’t resist—topped with a shade I made myself using silk ikat fabric I picked up when travelling around in Uzbekistan a few years ago. Personal touches are everything.

A new rug

The old rug had been with us for years. It was bold, bright and full of personality, but it was too small for the space and didn’t match the moodier palette. It’s now living happily elsewhere in the house. The new rug grounds the room and fits the scale much better. Grown-up decisions, I know.

Quirky coffee table? Check.

I found an old wooden trunk in a second-hand store and knew straight away it would make the perfect coffee table. It brings a rustic edge that balances the sleekness of everything else and bonus: extra storage.

An old roadside chair makes a comeback

One of my favourite pieces in the room is the armchair I found dumped by the side of the road years ago. I brought it back to life with new upholstery, and it’s now proudly sitting by the bar. You can read more about that project here: My upholstery projects.

And finally: those curtains!

Easily the most expensive part of the makeover, but absolutely worth every cent. I swapped out the original linen sheers and blackouts for dreamy light-blue sheers and rich berry-coloured drapes. I love drapes. They add drama, depth, texture and they just make everything feel finished. It always surprises me how underused they are in New Zealand homes. A well-made drape can change a room.

If money were no object…

If budget hadn’t been a consideration, I would’ve loved to take things a step further — think proper plumbing to add a small sink to the bar area (no more traipsing to the kitchen with empty glasses), a built-in bar fridge (which would’ve meant deepening the bar niche and potentially major structural changes) and that ceiling light I fell head over heels for… until I saw the price tag. Let’s just say there was an extra zero I just couldn’t justify.

You don’t need to change absolutely everything to make a space feel special. A bit of careful planning, a few well-chosen details and the right lighting & atmosphere can do wonders.

Take a look here to follow my design process for this space.

More interior styling inspiration for you to discover: