A Tired Greek Revival Family Room is Revived – Big Time!

June 28, 2026
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Posted in: architecture, family rooms, interior design

Hi Everyone,

If you missed my Hot Sales email last night, I’ve been sick all week with a terrible cold. So, between that and the wrist, I decided to give in to it and veggggggg. The wrist still has a long way to go, but it’s getting better every day.

Can A Stunning Greek Revival Home Survive A Hideous Kitchen Remuddle? (Parts 1 & 2)

This is actually part 3 of the Greek Revival home with a dated too-orange kitchen and an adjoining family room. Parts 1 and 2, which you can see here, address the kitchen, before and the stunning after.

This part is focused primarily on the adjoining family room.

Below is a view of the back staircase from the kitchen, and in the distance is the family room.

Above the exceedingly choppy architecture is shouting out–

HORRIBLE CONTEMPORARY ADDITION.

Right?

Please do not pin these yellow and orange rooms. Thank you.

This is why people hate orange.

However, orange is a wonderful wall color– if used correctly. Above, it looks way too contemporary and cheap.

Below is a beautiful post that shares many orange interiors that I adore.

The Color Orange – Love it, or Hate it?

Next up– The vastly improved Greek Revival family room!

This is like being outside for an hour on a blisteringly hot day (They’re on the way!) and stepping into some delicious air-conditioning! It doesn’t look like the same house.

Painting everything one beautiful creamy white (Benjamin Moore White Dove oc-17) puts the focus on the beautiful architecture, which Lori created by adding period-appropriate mouldings.

They did a spectacular job with the mouldings.

This is one of the smartest renovations I’ve seen. Lori spent her money wisely by changing the eye-sores and using paint and mouldings to make this addition look as if it’s been around from day one!

Below, you can see the beautiful Georgian-style crown moulding. It’s wonderful!

However, the doorway with the paneled treatment is what takes this space back to the early 19th century!

Yes, it’s very reminiscent of Furlow Gatewood’s masterful extra-wide paneled door jam. (below)

If you recall, it was this door jam that inspired the embrasure doors I have downstairs.

Furlow Gatewood, A Creative Genius For The Ages

Oh, the post below is sure a fun one for those who followed my renovation!

Interior Doors from Plain to Not-So-Plain

Above is the embrasure “hall” that leads to both the bathroom and bedroom.

from the bedroom

Furlow Gatewood’s exquisite dining room in Cuthbert House.

Now, Lori’s Greek Revival family room feels like it’s always been like this.

I adore this view of the library on the right side of the image above.

Above is the same library from the real estate listing.

The warmth of the wood feels refreshing.

You might enjoy a few of my favorite architectural posts below.

The Guaranteed Way To A Beautiful Room (It’s Not The Wall Color)

Please Help The Rest of Us With Low Ceilings!

Wainscoting Done Right (and the One Thing You Must Never Do)

Below is a look into the newly expanded dining area.

Let’s compare this view above to how it was before.

I am focusing on that hot mess that is the entire area around the short flight of stairs. The view below is even worse.

Is that a ledge over the stairs? I’m trying to understand why anyone would do that.

Seriously. That’s where my boys would’ve set up their fort.

Now, it’s so much better, and they created some much-needed additional space in the dining area.

Lori says that she would like to change the table and chairs. Oh, a round table would be wonderful. The rug would need to change, but I think that would be nice.

Lori wants more ideas to finish things off.

However, she doesn’t need much. And let’s remember that this was all from April 2018!

Still, I cannot get over this transformation, and it goes to show that through many architectural blog posts, The Laurel Home Paint and Palette Collection, and Laurel’s Rolodex, plus her own obvious talent, she’s truly revived this beautiful old Greek Revival home.

Above is another shot of the kitchen with the warm glow of the morning sun shining through.

Thank you, Lori, for sharing your magnificent Greek Revival home with us!

I didn’t share an exterior shot to protect Lori’s privacy. But here’s a shot of part of the wrap-around porch shot before she and her husband purchased the home.