Are you a thrifter? Grab my free tips! Click Here!

Half A Hallway Makeover

May 10, 2022

This post may contain affiliate links.

Ah renovation, why does it always take so long?

Even when you decide to remove the middleman and tackle it yourself, there are always delays, roadblocks and interruptions.

Painting The Hallway

It's frustrating, but as my husband always says, it is what it is.

The hallway remodel began several months ago and as of today, it's still incomplete.

Oh the walls have been painted and - don't yell at me - but so has the floor.

I just haven't finalized all the details yet.

And what I have purchased may only be temporary, since I keep changing my mind as the space the evolves.

It opens up to several rooms in the house, all of which are getting facelifts, and their changes keep impacting the hallway vibe.

So. I'm kind of at a stand still until the other halfway done rooms are complete.

However, I'd really like to show you where we are right now. 

A before and after-some-of-the-work-has-been-completed, rather than a full, traditional before and after reveal. If that's ok with you. 😊

This is where we started.



Wall to wall carpet, dark paint and mahogany accents. 

It just all had to go. Twenty years is plenty long for any design marriage. 

And while I don't follow decorating trends, it was time to abandon that patterned carpet from two decades ago.

It was buckled and had seen its day.

Besides once I saw this hallway on Pinterest, I fell in love and there was no turning back.

I wanted that hallway to be white, bright and light. Especially since all the windows were blocked up when we added the kitchen.

Once he ripped the carpet up, I knew we were headed in the right direction.

Hallway With Wood Floor

Then we hit a speed bump.

You may remember that we picked the wrong paint for this makeover at first. Thank goodness for those paint samples so we didn't repeat that error in the family room.

Well, once we got back on track and went with my original choice, Antique White from Benjamin Moore, it was smooth sailing.

It set the proper tone and looked fabulous.

To accent it, my husband gave the ceiling a fresh coat and painted all the trim in Benjamin Moore Super White semi gloss. 

Eleven doorways, seven doors, four built in shelves, a radiator, plus the six inch mouldings that anchored the room at its base and the two inch ones that capped it off.

It was very tedious work, but he's a pro.

Renovating The Hallway

Once the walls had been addressed, we had to think about that floor. Apparently before we moved in, there was a flood. Much of the floor was fine, but parts of it were very badly damaged.

Warped, stained and bowed. 

This was not a floor that could be refinished or repaired. To do it right, we would've needed to rip it out and start over. 

Now, with my allergies, that kind of renovation was not going to happen. And we did briefly consider installing more vinyl plank flooring

But. While my husband saw a mess, I saw my opportunity to have a painted wood floor.

Painting The Hallway

Something I've always wanted and drooled over on Instagram.

And with a little bit of persuasion, I convinced him to give it a shot. The result was just gorgeous and now he adores it as much as I do.

Cottage Hallway Decor

When all the painting was done and dry, my hallway looked very similar to the one in my inspiration photo.

I love when that happens.

Hallway Makeover

In the past few weeks, I've added some white hobnail pieces to the shelves. I've also repainted the old mirrors and placed them in the space.

I bought these pretty rugs and I adore them, but I'm wondering if they'll fit the space when the new sofa shows up in the family room. Something in a beige braid may work better...braided rugs are my weakness.

I put a little table in the corner with a lamp and it was cute.

Cottage Style Hallway

Then I found a small corner hutch on FB Marketplace for $25.

I think would look better in the area and give me a place to display and store things.

Plus, it has a built in lamp.

My husband and daughter also brought home a great vintage style mirror I think would work well in the space.

Facebook Marketplace Corner Cabinet

Both pieces need paint and a little fixing, but I'm working on it.

In the meantime, I'm loving the fresh open feel of our renovated space and the view of that newly painted floor.

In the halfway done hallway.

Of my halfway done house.

Do you have an incomplete DIY?
Kim Signature


Post a Comment | 50 Comments

Hey~ before you go, let me know what you think!

I love comments and respond to them all.

*Please refer to our privacy policy if you have questions regarding your profile and note that comments with links will not be published.



  1. Today I can say most of my house is a unfinished DIY...
    Guest bathroom and Master bedroom.... Needs painted
    I am in the middle of painting my living room.
    I met with 2 different contractors for estimates on roof and siding
    My guestroom is full of everything that needed to removed for painting...
    In 6 weeks🤞🤞all will be done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Margie! We are kindred souls for sure. My living room and basement have become storage rooms. The family room is still unwallpapered and there's no new sofa yet...the patio is getting replaced...whenever the contractor decides to show up...and in the meantime, there's a lot of waiting!! I hope your 6 weeks goes fast!!

      Delete
  2. LOVE the painted floor!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That hallway looks amazing!! I love painted floors too! When you're all finished I'll show me mine if you show me yours LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha!! Thanks Susan!! Too long between visits, we need to set a date and swap new views.

      Delete
  4. It looks so good, Kim!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Let's call it a 'Work in Progress'! It looks great, Kim. I love the painted floor. We did that once, along with painting the stairs (which almost killed me), but it turned out beautiful. Don't worry, it will all get done...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ann! I like your 'work in progress'...especially the progress part!! Haha!

      Delete
  6. Oooh! I love your inspiration pic and your hall looks very similar. So, you did great!
    We don't have anything half done right now, but that's only because we have projects that we haven't even started! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Mari! That inspiration picture is so dreamy, isn't it? I'm kind of tired of being in the middle of things right now. I'm looking forward to the day when everything is back in its place!

      Delete
  7. The whole house is an incomplete DIY. The office is partly painted, but I can't move the rest of the stuff out to finish it because I need space to hold the stuff yanked out of the kitchen when the dishwasher flooded and destroyed the bottom cabinets (and flooring). The craft room is kind of done but it too is holding bits and bobs. The living room is partly painted, and we won't talk about the master bath that got part way done until we realized we hate it. Really hate it.

    On a different note, I absolutely LOVE your floors. Your hallway is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the kind comment and boy, do I get it! Owning a home is a series of unfinished DIYs and neverending to do lists. We're smack in the middle of a bunch of those right now. I'm so sorry about the dishwasher flood. Water is bad...we had a pipe burst under the sink and it did the same to our kitchen floor. It can be so very frustrating...

      Delete
  8. I love it! Great idea to paint the floor! - Briana from Texas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Briana! He was a little hesitant, but now we're so glad we did it!!

      Delete
  9. Love love the painted floor. I have seen that so many times on Pinterest and love the look you get and you did not have to tear up your wood floors. I love the paint color and it is bright and pretty in your hall. I am excited for you to get the other rooms done and see how they come together. It is a lot of work but in the end it will all be worth it. xoxo Kris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kris! I love a painted floor and while I know it's not always great for resale, neither is a damaged wood floor...so we jumped in! The space is coming along, it's not "just right" yet, but it's getting there...I know you get it! xxoo

      Delete
  10. Kim you have completely turned the hallway into a dreamy beautiful space full of lovely light! I just love the painted floor, what a great idea! Your husband is amazing, all the details in the work he is doing! It is so exciting to see it coming together, and I know you are more than ready to go from halfway done to all done, but in time it will happen! It will be amazing, and you will be thrilled :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Marilyn! I really am blessed to have such a talented (and willing) DIY guy on staff! 😉

      Delete
  11. Kim ! What a transformation. You really do have vision. I love the floors. I just refinished mine and it was a huge job, not without some casualties including my daughter who insisted on staying in the guest suite over the garage and got so sick from the fumes. But it’s done. And you are so right one thing leads to another so this past weekend we painted the living room and the trim and stair risers. I’m pooped, but today we are installing a new hall and bathroom fixture….and so it goes….on and on. I can’t wait to see your new sofa btw!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no, Susan!! I'm so sorry, I feel for her. Those chemicals are bad, but it's the only way to get that job done. Trust me, the paint wasn't without some of the same issues. The poly we coated the floor with was a little tough and there was a lot of plastic and tape involved, but in the end it wasn't too terrible. I hope you'll share your photos of your renovations!

      Delete
  12. Kim, it looks amazing! That's a dramatic before and "after some of the work!" My specialty is incomplete projects - not necessarily DIY, but after 20 years in this house, some things have never gotten done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you, Amy! We were going to add a bathroom in our basement and finish the attic! Neither ever got started...

      Delete
  13. The painted floors look great Kim, and really add to the lighter feel of the hallway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary! Lately, I've been craving a brighter look...

      Delete
  14. It's looking great Ms. Kim!!! Can't wait to see the other end too :-) Have a good day, and blessings to you!! J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks J! I’m working on that now. I have the corner piece mostly painted and the mister just removed the doorbell so it fits in the space. Little by little…

      Delete
  15. The hall looks AMAZING Kim! What a difference new paint can make for an updated look in a house. You both are doing a great job with all of the updates!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Julie! It makes me smile every time I see it. I hope you're enjoying the sun today!

      Delete
  16. Do I have an incomplete DIY? Too many to mention, I'm afraid :-) But WOW to that hallway makeover. It looks completely different now

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, it's a big change for sure...and so many of us seem to be in that same unfinished boat!!

      Delete
  17. WOW! Kim, it is looking so lovely. And I like you, have a weakness to braided rugs as well. We have all the small stuff in the kitchen to do, trim work and more trim work.
    My list of outside projects is starting to grow. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Carla!! It was a lot of work, but I feel WOW about it, too. I think that means it was worth it. Good luck with that trim work and have fun in your garden. I know how much you love that!!

      Delete
  18. Do I have an incomplete DIY??? LOL Surely you jest, my friend! My life is all about incomplete DIY's. I'm now convinced that my list of incomplete projects will live longer than I do. One of my problems is that I constantly find things for my home that inspire me to start another project. Like the copper pot that I bought and placed in my entryway, which then sparked a repaint of the plant stand, which then led to a makeover of the wall coat hook, and of course then I had to do something about the horrid ceiling light, which I am replacing with a new light I'm now waiting to have installed, but the electrician can't install it until I get my ceiling fan, which is backordered. And this is only one room I'm talking about. Don't even get me started on the bedroom lamps, the dining chairs, the guest room, the bathrooms, not to mention the patio. But to answer your question, Nah, I don't know anything about incomplete DIY's. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancy, you always share the loveliest DIYs. Of course we only see the end product, not all the frustrating delays and revisions in between inspiration and completion. I think I block that part out every time I start a project, otherwise I would never start. ☺️

      Delete
  19. Kim, your hall looks fabulous, so bright and fresh. How do painted floors hold up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Linda! So far so good. I guess only time will tell, but we did coat the paint with a sealer. Hopefully that will help!!

      Delete
  20. P.S. The hallway is beautiful, and I absolutely love the painted floor. I've been considering BM Bright White for the trim color in my freshly painted entryway, and now I know for sure I'm going for it. Can't wait to see the hutch painted and placed in the hallway. It's going to look fabulous! Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And thank you!! The bright white trim really does make the whole room pop!! xo

      Delete
  21. Kim, welcome to my world, where things take way too long to get done. I love the subtle difference between the wall and trim paint. It looks really pretty and the floor just finishes it off perfectly. I may be stealing that paint color combination from you shortly ( which is another word for long time off)..xxoJudy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Judy! I knew I wanted the floor to match the walls and the trim to pop. I'm super happy about the way it turned out and steal away my friend. I did the same from Pinterest!! Happy Weekend!! xo

      Delete
  22. Do I have an incomplete DIY? Well now that's a loaded question! More like, do we have a completed DIY. LOL Aren't you gutsy and oh my did it pay off, your floor is gorgeous!! I can't wait to see that sweet corner cabinet in this space.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marie, I think we're both in very company with our unfinished projects. Seems like everyone has at least one!!

      Delete
  23. Our entire house is an incomplete DIY! ha ha

    We've lived here 32 years and there is still so much to do. And the things that have gotten done...now they need redoing since it's been so long! My kitchen and both bathrooms need to be redone. We need trim work done...baseboards, windows and framing around doors. We need a new furnace, roof, siding and wood framing around our front door. And the list goes on. Such is the life of a homeowner, right?

    Your hallway looks so much lighter and brighter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melanie, you are so right…once you a own a home, there’s always, always something to do!!

      Delete
  24. Kim,
    I love the look of your hall and I love the painted floors and rugs!! I envy you that you have built in's and I adore the milk glass!! Thanks so much for sharing!! Looking forward to seeing more!!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love the new look. Home improvements take longer when we do them ourselves.

    Love the rugs and painted floor.. I can't wait to see the cabinet. I know it will be beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  26. It looks fabulous, thank you for sharing all the photographs.
    Have a happy Friday and a great weekend.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh my word, what a great makeover!! Your hallway is now so bright and cheery. I love the paint colors and the painted floor. Your hubby is a dear to paint all the trim and woodwork, doors and built-ins. True love!

    ReplyDelete