Changing A Square Door to an Arch: Before & Afters

by | Apr 29, 2019 | Decorating Inspiration, My Kitchen, My Seattle House, My Small Kitchen Remodel

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

Back when we were planning our kitchen remodel, we wanted to pack as much character as we could into our little space.

We weren’t opening up walls or relocating them or adding on, so any space or character we added had to be within the existing structure.

One of the decisions we made was to soften the shape of two small doorways that led into our kitchen. Changing them from regular squared openings to arched openings brought more cottage character into our home.

AD

Our little galley kitchen originally had THREE doorways. Not ideal in such a small space, but they all made sense and were helpful so they all stayed. (You can see our original floor plan above if it helps to make sense of the space!).

MY LATEST VIDEOS

0 of 37 secondsVolume 0%
Next Up
Soul Tending in Spring
00:37
00:33
/00:37
Next
Stay

If we were going to have that many doorways in one little kitchen, we thought they should at least be a deliberate design feature.

The two interior openings weren’t bad as they were, they were just … well, their impact wasn’t anything to write home about. We couldn’t make the openings larger, so our options for redesign were limited!

Because our house overlooks the sea (Puget Sound), we decided a couple of simple arched doorways would suit the coastal cottage feel.

The arches would then be repeated in several design elements around the home (our round kitchen window, the two arched openings, the molding on our interior doors throughout the house, as well as on outdoor gates).

The exterior door (on the left in the above photo of our kitchen) went from looking like what I thought of as a jail cell door, to one that has a much more friendly personality…a.k.a. our Dutch door.

AD

Below is the new arched doorway between the kitchen and the hall! As you can see, the previous opening had a door on it which made the small hall extra crowded and awkward. Removing the unnecessary door made a huge difference in how the space feels. The gentle arched top gives the opening more shape and character!

The arches transformed the look of the kitchen, dining room and hallway, so we got a big bang for the buck! Now these spaces all feel more interesting, inviting and special. The arches also brought a sense of height to the rooms, which feels nice with our cozier ceiling height.

Now, I know some people want to REMOVE their arches to have squared off doorways, and that’s cool, too.

But if you are an arched door lover like I am and wish you had them in your home, I thought I’d let you know it is possible to make the change!

See the full hallway makeover details and sources HERE.

Related posts on The Inspired Room:

Click here for my original inspiration post for arched openings!

AD

My Kitchen Tour (the reveal after the makeover)

Kitchen Source List

My House Paint Colors

My House Tour

Details on the kitchen shiplap walls (what we used and FAQ)

My Kitchen Countertops (what we used and FAQ)

How We Chose Our Kitchen Appliances

Herringbone kitchen floor tile details

6 Tips for a Kitchen You Can Love for a Lifetime

Kitchen Design Inspiration (round ups of kitchen ideas!)

  1. Michelle on April 29, 2019 at 4:17 am

    LOVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME! Great idea to arch your doorways and it definitely adds more charm. Do you ever post photos of the view out your windows and the exterior of your home? I imagine it must be gorgeous!
    Thanks for sharing your talents!

  2. Peggy on April 29, 2019 at 6:10 am

    I’m always blown away by your before and after pictures. You had such a great vision for how to add charm and function. Absolutely gorgeous transformation in every way!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 29, 2019 at 1:46 pm

      So kind of you. Thank you so much, Peggy! It sure does feel like an entirely different space, I’m so glad we were able to add more charm without knocking down walls!

  3. franki on April 29, 2019 at 6:36 am

    I SO LOVE that improvement!! Arches are my fav!! Well done!! franki

  4. Sharon on April 29, 2019 at 7:35 am

    Such a small change really, but it does have an impact. Definitely improved the look and definitely worth doing. Also, part of what makes the arches work is that you repeated the shape in other areas. People don’t always realize there is a repeated element. They just know that things feel right.

  5. Corinna - TheBohoAbode on April 29, 2019 at 7:44 am

    I’ve always really loved the look of arched openings and was so excited to see you put them in this home. I’ve dreamed of opening up the wall between our kitchen and living room but it’s load bearing. I thought it would look cute though if it was arched instead of squared off. Too bad money isn’t limitless though ?

  6. Vicki on April 29, 2019 at 9:08 am

    So pretty! I’m a sucker for arched doorways! I have family who live in Washington in the Puget Sound area, such a beautiful part of the country! I’m new to your blog, as I discovered you through Proverbs 31, and I’m currently reading your book "Love the Home You Have"❤️

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 29, 2019 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Vicki! WELCOME! I’m so glad you are here. I hope you are enjoying Love the Home You Have. <3

  7. Jo Jo on April 29, 2019 at 9:48 am

    Every time I see pictures of your kitchen and dining room and hallway ( your whole house, to be honest! lol). I swoon. Love he arched openings as it truly does reflect the charm of you4 lovely home by the sea. Great choices and execution! I’m an arch girl myself! ?

  8. Karen on April 29, 2019 at 9:52 am

    Absolutely perfect!

  9. Jen Morris on April 29, 2019 at 1:47 pm

    Love the arched doorways!! Would love to do this in our house! Could you provide a ballpark figure as to how much a project like this would cost (each door)?

    Thanks!!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 29, 2019 at 8:54 pm

      I wish I knew but it was all factored into our remodeling costs so I didn’t actually get a cost breakdown. Plus ours were a little more involved because of the shiplap work on the kitchen side.

  10. Michele M. on April 29, 2019 at 3:12 pm

    I would never EVER remove an arched door – I think you added so much charm to your already pretty danged charming gorgeous home. Well done – I just love it!

  11. Carey on April 29, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Thanks so much for this post! I’ve been thinking a lot about doing this in our home. It’s nice to see the in construction photos to visualize how this works. I’m curious how many inches are from the top of the arch to the ceiling?
    Yours look great but I would want to make sure we didn’t go too high and it look awkward. Our ceilings are 8 ft.
    ❤️Your posts. I connect with so many of your views on life, decorating, and personality! Thanks for sharing!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 29, 2019 at 8:58 pm

      Yes, I know what you mean, I remember worrying about that too. But the top of our arch only came up a little bit from the top of where the door used to be, so it really didn’t add much height. I’d say it’s now about 8 inches or so from the ceiling? Hope that helps! Thank you so much, Carey! I’m glad you’re here. It’s so nice to have others who connect with the same things i do!!

  12. Bailey on May 1, 2019 at 9:17 pm

    I’ll take ALL of the arches! I know which ones people like to remove and they’re much wider than yours. I adore the changes you made and am curious if it was much work? It seems like it was fairly simple? Gives me hope.

  13. Justin on June 19, 2020 at 8:18 am

    What did you use to encase the archway? I am shiplapping a wall in my living room with an existing archway that I plan to shiplap around. But I have been unable to find a material that will let me encase the archway and hide the cut ends of the shiplap once the shiplap is installed.

  14. Jennifer Jarrett EVANS on June 26, 2020 at 12:03 pm

    What kind of trim did you use for the inside and outside of your arch?

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on June 26, 2020 at 4:38 pm

      The trim is a soft bendable wood, I think they bent it into a curve by soaking it in water. The arch is drywall.

An Elite CafeMedia Home/DIY Publisher

AD
GET FREE HOME DECOR INSPIRATION
First name
Email address
AD

browse categories:

browse archives:

AD

let’s stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox

Email address

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

I like happy drawers! Opening a drawer filled with chaos does not make me happy. :)

Trust me, not every drawer in my house makes me happy right now. But it’s good to have big dreams, though, right? One drawer at a time.

One thing I know about myself now (that I didn’t always know) is that if I am going to succeed or complete a project, I have to keep it simple.

Sometimes it’s fun or helpful to go buy a few specific organizers or containers for a project. But I’ve also found that if I just look around the house, I can often find something I already have that will work.

My goal is to make a drawer feel tidier and prettier than it was, not make it Pinterest perfect. Really, anything that can "corral" things will often do the job, such as a box lid, a bowl, a teacup, a tray, a sandwich bag, a basket.

As long as the end result is a somewhat tidy drawer and I feel happier when I open it, I count that as a success!

One way I like to organize drawers is with shallow bowls, trays, baskets, or dividers. I realized the other day I do this in almost every shallow drawer in my house!

Sock Drawer Organizer

Similar pattern canisters with wood lids / Similar bamboo drawer organizers

Label Maker

Glass canisters

Do you have a drawer you could make a "happy drawer" this week?

If you make one, I’d love to see it! Post an Instagram story photo and tag me @theinspiredroom so I can see!

Find lots more of my Amazon Organization favorites on my storefront HERE!

Want more organization inspiration?

Check out these "happy drawers"!

How I Organize My House

10 Habits of People with Organized Houses

The Secret to Getting Organized

How to Get Organized in a Small House

Get Inspired: 11 Ways to Spring Into Organizing

My Entry Command Center

How to Eliminate Paper Clutter Forever

My Entry Command Center

Order my book Simple Organizing at Amazon!

If you struggle with clutter, I can empathize! Let me offer some insightful ideas for altering your habits while efficiently decluttering and organizing your home so that you can really enjoy living there. You’ll be inspired to create a place for the things you love and the breathing room to pursue your dreams and engage in life with the people who matter most.

Order my book Make Room for What You Love at Amazon!

  1. JenB on April 25, 2019 at 4:24 am

    In deep drawers and cabinets I often use shoe boxes. And you can cover them with pretty paper or just keep it simple and use as-is!

  2. Francesca Gunn on April 25, 2019 at 4:39 am

    You label the drawers, too? Wow! I need to step up my game.

  3. Lynn Bontrager on April 25, 2019 at 4:46 am

    I LOVE that you have used things that you already have instead of going out and buying pricey organizers. Often times what we need we already have but aren’t seeing it in a new light. Thanks!

  4. romeogirl on April 25, 2019 at 7:40 am

    Wonderful idea for little bowls! They are so cute.

  5. Ann C on April 25, 2019 at 11:16 am

    I started buying antique little bowls or dishes for jewelry. I like pretty things. I also like chocolates! And one of my favorites comes in clear plastic boxes. Some with little dividers. I save them and always can find a use for them.
    And you are absolutely right, when I open an organized drawer I smile.

  6. Dana Sata on April 25, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    How do you keep the containers/bowls, etc., from moving around when you open and close the drawers?

  7. Corinna - TheBohoAbode on April 29, 2019 at 7:52 am

    You’ve just reminded me that I recently found my label maker that had been "missing" since last summer. Going to put labelling all the things back on my to-do list!

  8. Ila Jeanne on May 17, 2019 at 11:12 am

    Melissa- Hi,
    You always make the simple way of organizing and beautiful one! I enjoy your example of photos to get the ideas! Makes sense!!!
    Thank you again ?

  9. Barbara at Mantel and Table on July 3, 2019 at 7:37 am

    Great ideas Melissa! Going to bookmark this page so I can come back here for more inspiration each time I organize something! ;) Plus I see we shop at the same stores – love those 365 products!

  10. Anita on August 3, 2019 at 4:19 am

    These ideas are amazing! I love the sock organizer, they always get lost in my drawer. Well, everything gets lost in my drawer to be honest… which is so frustrating sometimes! When I need something immediately and I end up searching for it for half an hour. So I will definitely try some of these ideas, thanks for sharing them.

let's stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox


My York Pottery Barn White Slipcovered Sofa – FAQ

by | Apr 24, 2019 | Decorating Inspiration, My Living Room, My Seattle House

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

If you’re thinking about ordering a York Pottery Barn slipcovered sofa, I’m here to share more about ours! I’ve had my Pottery Barn white slipcovered sofa for about eight months now. You might recall that I had a similar sofa with the same fabric slipcover years ago, so I was confident when purchasing this one that I would love it. And I do! Ours is called the York, you can find the exact model here.

Since I get a lot of comments and questions about it, I thought it was high time I do a little update to answer some FAQ! I hope you find these answers helpful as you are trying to decide the features that are right for you in a new sofa.

What are the benefits of a bench seat?

I personally love the bench style seat. It makes it extra comfortable as an extra bed or nap spot! And if you have a lot of people needing to squish onto the sofa at one time, no one has to sit on (or avoid falling in) the crack.

Are the York Pottery Barn cushions and deep seat comfortable?

The cushions are a down blend so they are soft! Our family is on the "smaller side" with shorter legs, but we find this sofa very comfy. If you choose the deep seat, you will likely want to put some pillows behind your back, unless you are super long-legged! But that’s one of the things I love about it. It’s the kind of sofa you want to curl up on, so I think the depth, the sloped arms and silhouette makes it all the more cozy and inviting. An added benefit is the dimensions make it a perfect sized twin bed! We use regular twin sheets on it for guests and it works great.

How do you like the denim slipcover?

The main reason I chose this sofa and the cotton denim fabric was due to the versatile style, quality and ease of maintenance. Our slipcovers are the Warm White Denim and the color is lovely–a soft white (not cream!). It goes well with our casual coastal style (I think in general this style of sofa with the sloped arm versus rolled arms would look equally at home in a farmhouse or contemporary room!). Our last white sofa had this same slipcover so I was confident in this decision before I even got it! It is still so soft, durable and machine washable. Of course, you can get this sofa or a new slipcover a wide range of fabrics!

Similar leather ottoman source / Rug source / Blanket ladder / Woven side table

How do you keep a white slipcover clean?

It has been very easy to keep clean in between washings and simple to wash the slipcovers in the machine. For in-between washings I spot clean with Thieves Household Cleaner. We also use thin reversible blankets on our sofas and chairs in seasons when the dogs might be prone to coming home from a walk with muddy paws. The blankets look great with our decor, and are easy to wash, so the slipcovers stay clean longer. You can see a few of our blankets for slipcovers here.

Unlike my experience with IKEA sofa slipcovers, the denim fabric on our Pottery Barn sofa is so much softer to the touch, and it doesn’t attract as much hair or fuzz as our white IKEA Ektorp slipcover did. It doesn’t get as wrinkled, either! I just take the covers out of the dryer and put them back on before they are completely dry.

However, in our new home we also have Ektorp furniture and found these affordable white slipcovers that are just as nice as the white denim Pottery Barn but they are made for our IKEA pieces.

Round Accent Table Source

How does the slipcovered sofa hold up to your dogs?

It’s a white sofa, so it doesn’t hide everything. But that’s one of the things I love about it. I like my sofa to be clean, so trying to hide dirt or gross messes isn’t really my intention. I’d rather just do the spot cleaning when I see a need.

If you have a dark haired pet you might prefer a darker couch, but our dogs don’t shed so that really isn’t an issue for us. The machine washable slipcovers do make it easier to keep feeling fresh, though. No white fabric is ever "no maintenance" so that’s something to keep in mind.

When my dogs were puppies I gave up and got my leather sofa (above). Since it was our main sofa and we had so many puppies, I loved how easy the leather was to keep clean!

I’ve tried to uphold a no dog on the white sofa rule in this house, but Jack chooses to defy my rules. He still leaps up here on occasion, tosses the throw pillows on the flow and tries to dig the fluff out of the seat. But so far, I’m happy to report there has been no lasting damage!

(Read more about how we keep our house clean with dogs here).

All things considered, I still find it quite easy to keep this sofa clean. Of course, our dogs do love to sit on the back cushions so they are always a bit smooshed. But it just looks cozy and lived in! It’s easy to fluff up the cushions, and you can even add additional inserts to firm the up if that bothers you.

And if you have kids, I think you’ll love how easy it is to wash the slipcovers and keep them looking clean!

Overall, our York Pottery Barn white slipcovered sofa is very comfortable and easy to care for. It’s a classic sofa that should last for years (I also love that it has a hardwood frame!), so I am very happy with it!

Similar leather ottoman source / Round wood accent table source / My favorite leather sofa

Shop My Home

  1. MaryLisa Noyes on April 24, 2019 at 11:25 am

    I just used the 25% off on the Cameron slipcover sofa bed. They had it in the Palm Desert store to look at last month so I waited and bought it last night. It arrives in June. I have the PB comfort sofa and my slipcover is 9 years old. It’s the way to go…

  2. Hillary on April 25, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Your Instagram story with one of the pups knocking all the back cushions off the sofa one by one made me chuckle! I’m curious if you often eat snacks or meals sitting on your white couch? Especially since we don’t have any kiddos yet, my hubs and I like to eat our meals on the couch and watch a TV show together a couple times a week. I want a new couch and am drawn to lighter colors but I’m worried about that!!

    http://www.paperandvine.com

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 25, 2019 at 7:36 pm

      We do! If we fear making a mess we’ll just put a sheet or blanket on the furniture, something we can just toss in the wash! <3 Glad you enjoyed the Instagram story, Jack sure keeps us busy ... and laughing. :)

  3. Dennine on December 5, 2019 at 9:14 am

    I love Pottery Barn sofa but I’ve seen so many of the cushions become very sloppy/frumpy. Do you have a recent picture of your sofa now? I’d like see how it’s holding up please

  4. Rachael on September 27, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    My York Grand sofa just arrived yesterday, I’ve had my eye on it for almost 2 years!! I was looking for inspiration on how to use my the pillows other than the standard way & instead add different ones to add character & color & came across your page. Great tips!! I love your use of pillow options! Totally gonna use that.
    By the way, I adore your boho stool:) Where may I ask did you get it?

let's stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox


This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

Hey Friends! I hope you had a wonderful Easter! We went to church as a family and then had all of the kids and dogs over (ha!) to our house for an Easter brunch.

It’s always a wild party with all the doodles here. :)

Courtney / Lance (Kylee’s husband) / Kylee / Luke / Doodles / Jack

Trying to get all of the dogs into one photo is a bit challenging if not impossible, but this method worked pretty well.

The pups look almost bigger than the kids!

Our dogs range from 30 pounds to 45 pounds, so they aren’t really as huge as they might appear. Especially Lily being held by Courtney (on the left). Courtney is just a petite girl, haha, and Lily looks like she was trying to escape.

You can see more of our doodles on their Instagram or Facebook page!

We had the simplest decor on the table this year. My vase was a HomeGoods find awhile back, but it is almost exactly like this one! I filled it with these pretty velvet flowers that feel oh so springy.

White Slipcovered Sofa 25% off right now!!! (I chose the deep 80 inch with warm white denim, more details here) / Striped Stool

It was a pretty relaxing day, other than any of the dog commotion. :)

Rattan Daybed Source / More daybeds here

I tried unsuccessfully to wrangle dogs so I could sit down and chat, ha!

Mostly the dogs just like to be the center of attention.

Rug source (behind Leo) / Rug Source (in front of Leo)

Similar Striped Placemats / Hammered Gold Flatware (similar)

To simplify our food prep this time, we ordered gluten-free vegan quiche from a local restaurant (Celest Cafe in Seattle) and baked it at home. It was delicious (but expensive)! The crust was yummy, too.

I need to find a good gluten-free vegan crust or a recipe (any suggestions?). I’m still learning how to navigate the fully gluten-free plant-eating life, although it hasn’t been quite as hard as I thought!

Kylee made this delicious salad with kale, arugula, radish, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado, basil, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. She also made a dressing with olive oil, lemon, white wine vinegar, salt, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup. Mmmm.

Kylee always makes such yummy (plant-based) meals! If you follow her on Instagram, she often posts what she’s making on her stories.

Courtney made Maple-Sweetened Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Recipe (gluten-free and vegan!). We served it with the vanilla bean non-dairy So Delicious coconut milk ice cream. Oh my goodness, the crisp was SOOOO good! It will definitely be a new traditional favorite. I would eat this every day if it was acceptable to do so.

After brunch the kids (and Jack) played a fun card game called Dixit. Such sweet times watching them play together.

Blue Rug Source

Dixit Card Game

Stone fireplace paint details / Round Gold Mirror

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you had a blessed Easter weekend and that you were surrounded by people (and pets) you love. :)

More on The Inspired Room:

How I Keep My House Clean with Dogs

Find sources and Frequently Asked Questions here.

Find more posts about life at our house here.

Dwelling: The Heart of the Home Maker

  1. Jo Jo on April 23, 2019 at 10:16 am

    Happy Easter! You have such a beautiful family, Melissa! Thanks for sharing your day and family in pictures! I loved seeing them and your pups are the sweetest looking pups on the planet! Our Easter as spent with some members of our Church family ar our home. Our families couldn’t be here ( they all live in other states, so we celebrated with other members of God’s who were in the same boat. It was wonderful and Joyous Ressurectiin Day! ?

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 23, 2019 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you! Sounds like a wonderful way to spend Easter! Happy Tuesday, Jo Jo!

  2. Sue Hitchcock on April 23, 2019 at 10:28 am

    What a beautiful family! You are so blessed:) and the pets, they seem like family too!:)
    And I love your home, I wish you could come and pull together my home… trying but it’s still a work in progress, learning from you and I thank you for that!
    Happy Easter Blessings to you and your family!

  3. franki on April 23, 2019 at 10:44 am

    You have a LOVELY FAMILY!! Easter sounded perfect!! franki

  4. Addie on April 23, 2019 at 10:55 am

    That is "oodles" of doodles!!!! They are so cute.
    Everything looked wonderful and all had a blessed time. May the meaning of Easter remain with all of us for longer then a weekend….Amen!!!
    Addie

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 23, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Amen, Addie! And thank you, oodles of doodles describes our clan perfectly, ha!! :)

  5. Linda on April 23, 2019 at 11:02 am

    What about a rug source for the rug in front of Leo?

  6. Richella J Parham on April 23, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    Oh my goodness, Melissa–what fun photos! So glad you were able to spend Easter with your family. I’m guessing y’all never question the decision to move closer to your kids. What a blessing for you all to be together! But all those doodles. . . the icing on the cake! Absolutely precious.

    A wonderful Eastertide to you and yours!

    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room on April 23, 2019 at 8:32 pm

      Thank you dear friend! We are so glad we moved closer….even with any challenges faced, we never questioned the blessings of it. It’s been a sweet time!

  7. Kari McMillan on April 23, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    Everything is so adorable, family,doodles and your house!!

  8. Debbie - MountainMama on April 23, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    What a gorgeous family – furry and not so furry included!! Happy Easter!

  9. Jan on April 23, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    Love your stories and decorating ideas. Your family is beautiful. I also love your dogs. We have 4 – a Japanese Akita, Cocker Spanial, a mixed PitBull/Terrier and a chaweeie. All rescue and great buddies. So glad I signed up for your blog.

  10. Corinna - TheBohoAbode on April 29, 2019 at 7:56 am

    I’m always regularly inspired by the food Kylee shares on her Instagram. She’s unknowingly been encouraging me to try incorporating avocado into my diet. A vegan who doesn’t like avocado- I must be an anomaly! It’s always a joy seeing more plant-based meals being incorporated. Happy belated Easter!

  11. Su on October 29, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    HI!
    Love viewing your unique decorating
    style.
    We have the same large Pouf like the
    one in your LR. Same color in leather.
    And a beautiful addison in our room.

let's stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox

© THE INSPIRED ROOM | DESIGN BY CONTEMPLATE DESIGN