Where the Becoming Begins: The First Steps of My Tudor Revival Living Room Renovation

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Just Pass Me The Hammer Already

Once I got moved in, I couldn’t wait to dive into the Tudor Revival Living Room Renovation—painting, tearing out, and yes, de-popcorning (we’re going to go ahead and make that an official word here at Becoming Delta).

If you missed the first part of this Tudor Revival journey, you can read Before the Becoming here.

The first thing I wanted to tackle was getting the exterior painted. But painters have schedules that apparently do not revolve around my personal renovation timeline, so while waiting for my turn, I decided to shift indoors and begin with the living area—because I already had a clear vision for that space.

The Great Bookcase Debate

But actually… before any painting could begin, I had to deal with the giant built-in bookcase.
And I mean giant. Ginormous. Jurassic level… okay, maybe not actual Jurassic, but definitely a beast with its own zip code.

Originally, the plan was to rip the whole thing out, because this Tudor Revival living room renovation was all about opening up the space and letting in some light. But then one morning I woke up—after wandering too long in that deep, hypnotic Pinterest black hole we all know too well—and thought,
Wait… I’m kind of loving this thing.

It had great bones and tons of character, and I realized it could be an amazing focal point—perfect for a bold pop of color and, of course, a home for my new 75” TV.

So I rolled up my sleeves. First, I removed all the adjustable shelves, then tackled the vertical stiles. That meant taking off the quarter-round and 1×2 trim pieces before the real demolition began.

Let’s just say this:
I grabbed that hammer like it owed me money and went to town banging those stiles into oblivion.
Deeply. Cathartic.

Once everything that wasn’t staying was gone, I patched holes, sanded everything smooth, and added fresh trim to finish it out. Suddenly, it looked less like 1970 and more like a fresh canvas.

Ceiling Repairs, Taping Days, and the Blessing of Skilled Hands

Before the first brushstroke, I had to deal with a badly repaired ceiling patch. I thought about doing it myself, but Marcus sent his sheetrock guy, Ernie, over and his bid was too good to pass up. Plus, I knew his finish would be smooth and seamless.

Once the ceiling was beautifully repaired, I removed the old fan and the dated recessed light trim, then began the glamorous work of taping every inch of that room.

The Joy of a Fresh Coat of Paint

With the ceiling repaired, it was finally time for the fun part: painting.

Because the room is paneled, I used oil-based eggshell on the walls and oil-based semi-gloss on the trim, doors, and bookcase, and flat on the ceiling. Everything—walls, ceiling, trim—is drenched in the same clean, warm white.

Picking white paint should count as a spiritual discipline. You think it’s easy… until you’ve taped 47 swatches to the wall and you’re rebuking undertones like they’re demons.

Two of my favorites are Greek Villa and Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. I wanted warm but not yellow, bright but not stark. Check out Greek Villa (SW 7551) and Alabaster (SW 7008) on the Sherwin-Williams website.

The room originally felt dark and heavy with its dark stained trim, built-ins, and fireplace. I knew a warm white would make everything feel open, fresh, and light.

To Paint the Beams or Not to Paint the Beams

Ah, the beams. The iconic Tudor detail.
I agonized over whether to strip and stain them or paint them.

Ultimately, painting them felt right. Once finished, they added a refined, airy beauty to the room—still true to the Tudor style but softer.

The Prep Work That Takes “Four Forevers”

If you’ve ever renovated anything, you know the real work isn’t in the painting—it’s in the prep.
The four-forevers kind: patching, sanding, caulking, cleaning, masking off…
and wondering why you ever started and if you’ll ever get to the fun part.

But here’s the thing: prep work is the soul work of any renovation.
It’s the part nobody sees… and the part everybody wants to skip.

And honestly? It mirrors the becoming in our own lives.

We love the “after” photos.
We love the transformation.
But the sanding-down seasons?
The pruning seasons?
The “Lord, are we still doing this?” seasons?

Those are the ones we wish we could fast-forward through—toss into the rearview mirror and never revisit.

And yet, just like with this Tudor Revival, the beauty comes because of the prep… not in spite of it.

Sometimes I find myself praying,
“God, I don’t mind the pruning and the growth… I really don’t.
But can we please be done with that part?”

But He does His best work in the unglamorous places:
the sanding, the smoothing, the stripping away of what isn’t needed.
The quiet, steady preparation for what He’s building next.

And somehow, even in the messiest stages—on the ladder, covered in dust—I can feel Him doing the same work in me.

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Ready for What Comes Next

Now the living room is bright, warm, and ready for the next phase of this Tudor Revival living room renovation. Every day it feels a little more like home—and a little more like the becoming is finally revealing the beauty that’s been long hidden..

Next up in the Tudor Revival series:The bookcase makeover — do I play it safe with classic white or go all in with a bold, beautiful blue? Stay tuned.