Replacing the 20-year old carpet and old wood flooring was probably one of the biggest updates that made a visual difference. We found some great gray wood that looked like planks from the side of an old barn. It’s super durable and provided a great foundation and contrast for the look we were creating:

RECLAIMÉ Heathered Oak Planks
http://bit.ly/XKlOLV

We wanted to replace the dark woods and chocolate brown colors with lighter colors  — we chose whites and grays as a base, and plan to add splashes of color in the accents and details.

Onward!