The furniture came with the house and does not belong to us.
Before & After
Green and white boxes: IKEA
lamp: ACE Hardware in Jakarta candles & candle holders: IKEA
Wall Decal
I purchased my wall decal from NouWall on Etsy site. (You can also see other NouWall’s products here and the profile here.) I looked at hundreds of wall stickers and then I saw this photo. I fell in love with this wall decal. I found other vendors who sold the same tree decals. I liked the way NouWall’s sticker looked in the sample pictures and also it came with 10 free flying birds which was a big attraction to me as well. I am very happy with the end result of our wall in the living room. Since we know that we will be in this house for 3 years, I am bummed that I don’t get to take the stickers with us, but I will enjoy this wall every single day while we’re here.
I had a little issue with PayPal and I didn’t know if I would be able to buy the product or not. I tried to buy without using PayPal because of the issue, but because PayPal detected that I have an account, it didn’t let me purchase without using PayPal account. I actually had to cancel the order I placed once, but NouWall was understanding. They were prompt in response and nice. After I resolved the issue with PayPal, I went back to NouWall and purchased the wall decal. This was my first Etsy shopping experience and I enjoyed having an interaction with the vendor. Even though you can’t see the face, the communication you have with the vendor makes the whole shopping experience personal and special I like that you get of know who made the product.
The wall stickers are a bit shorter than the height of the wall, but it is okay since if you sit in the couch area, you can’t really see the bottom part of the wall.
What’s hidden behind the sofa?
I initially I thought about putting toys behind the sofa, but I really wanted to have a kids play room, so this area remains toy-free. I might bring a few toys for the younger kids so that when I host a play date, my friends with babies and toddlers can stay downstairs instead of going upstairs to the play room upstairs and stay there with them.
If you see any items in the photos that you would like to know where I purchased them, please feel free to ask me in a comment section.
Thank for visiting!!
These photos of my girls on the book shelf were taken by my friend, Meredith in Okinawa.
Hi Kaho, hope you had a good weekend! you have done an incredible job redecorating the house 🙂 I never ever thought I could repaint the walls in the apartments I have been renting… although I am 100% sure that the current landlord would not allow it. Anyway I am loving the wall stickers that you chose. I have told myself to opt for this as we are not allowed to drill in the walls, but I haven’t got it done yet. I am just not so sure about the IKEA boxes by the TV side… maybe something in a darker color and a bit more classy would be better.
Btw I haven’t posted comment last week, but you have done wonderful with your daughters playroom… I too would be super super angry if a playdate would turn nasty with pens on the walls.. ARGHH… cauchemar!
Have a wonderful week… can’t wait to see more before/ after…
xo
Marie, thanks for taking time to leave a comment! Thanks also for the suggestion about the boxes in the bookshelf by the TV. I can see dark boxes look better with the book shelf. I want to buy an entertainment center instead of using what we were provided, but I don’t know when it’ll happen. When I get an entertainment center, I plan on hiding the boxes. We’ll see. Having those boxes helped me unpack fast and I highly recommend it for those who will move in the future.
Hehe. Cauchemar. J’ai bien appris ma leçon.
I love the wall stickers Kaho! Your living room looks like one of those really cool living rooms you see in the ikea store, modern and comfy all at once.
Hi, Julie!! So nice to see you here. Thanks!! I miss IKEA.
WOW! Kaho-san, you did a WONDERFUL job transforming the rooms!!! I wish you could be there at our next post so we can ask you to be our interior decorator!! What you have done is so creative. I know it is hard to make it look so nice using government furniture. I LOVE what you did! I will for sure be asking for your advice when we move to our next post.
Thanks, Ichiyo-san! I would love to give you ideas when you need to decorate your room. I think you did a great job transforming your current house. I love that you have a Japanese room.
WOW! Looks great! さすがだわー☆
I fell in love with wall decals sine your recent post on the kids’ room, and I’ve been surfing the web looking for 2 or 3 I need!
One question; I am wondering if I should get my own rug or carpet in the living room at our place here. Are you planning to change the carpet there? or do you think it’ll be too much with possibly more colors?
Argato~!
I’m glad you decided to do wall decals as well! It’s easy for us since we only live in one place for a couple of years.
I think you should if you find something you like. IKEA and NITORI are two great places to find inexpensive rugs in Tokyo. The rug I have in our kids play room is from IKEA and it was only $19!!! The best purchase ever. NITORI has those with tatami looking rugs for Asian taste. I can’t find the carpets I like here and I’m pretty sure they will be expensive if I did, so I’m going to keep what we were provided with, but if I can find something I like here for our girl’s bedroom, I might invest in it.
Hi Kaho, thank you for your lovely comment on my blog.
It looks as we have similar situations 🙂 I miss seasons and changes here in Singapore, but there are other advantages.
Your ‘about’ is also very interesting!
I love your before and after of your house – great decorating ideas! It’s a challenge to work with what you have got, I know that as well, living in rented places all the time.
It was good to hear from you and looking forward to keeping in touch.
Anna, xxx
Thanks for visiting! You live in Singapore!! I lived there many years ago when I was in high school. Thanks for the sweet comment.
Hajimemashite Kaho!
I happen to stumble upon your blog!
You have a great sense in photography and writing! (I wish I did)
So happy that you’re enjoying life in Jakarta !
Actually I’m Indonesian and not long from now ( 3 weeks for exact), I will get married to my Japanese boyfriend here in Jakarta…
It’s so hectic esp. between the wedding prep and office work, but reading your blog, helps me to to get back on track on wanting to have a family….haha
Thank you for the decor idea! After we’re married, we will live in a tiny apartment in Pondok Indah area, and I have no idea on decorating such small space!
But now I’m desperate to get those stickers!!
Thanks for visiting, Tazki! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!! Thanks also for saying that my writing is good. I never considered myself a good writer, so I appreciate the compliment! You will live in Pondok Indah! I love the shopping mall in Pondok Indah. I wish the traffic to get there wasn’t as bad as it is. I’m sure you are super busy between your job and preparation for the wedding!! Good luck and enjoy decorating your new home!
You are really amazing! I love what you have done to the living room, everything from the trees to the pretty pillows. It’s SO more cozy now. Great job!
Hugs from LA
Koi looked amazing by the way! 🙂
Thanks, Nina!! Yes, KOI is amazing!
You’ve done such a wonderful job at adding your own stamp and personal touch to this room. I think the wall decals look amazing – such a great focal point for the room and I like those grey cushions. Now I can picture where you sit and blog from 🙂
Thanks!! I found those gray cushions just a week before I took the photos. I am glad I did!
Hi Kaho, these are great, I need some light coloured stickers to offset my brown walls! I just discovered your blog, I will hae to go and have a look around now, Pam 🙂
Hi, Pamela! Thanks for stopping by!! Etsy has a ton of selections! You’ll love browsing through, I’m sure. I find Urban Outfitter great as well! Enjoy finding wall stickers and please post your photos after you’ve done it!! I want to see the end result!
I absolutely LOVE your wall! Did you have to paint the wall first? Thank you for the web site info.
Hi, Eri! Thanks!! Yes, I painted the wall with gray paint first.
The trees look great! I think they’re my favorite type of wall decal. Thanks for sharing your Link on Design R!
OMG I’ve always liked that floor lamp. If you don’t mind me asking, how much was it in Ace?
It was something like Rp. 590,000 if I remember correctly! I was very surprised!
Whoa!!! That’s an amazing deal!!! Too bad they don’t have it anymore! Sigh.
Great interiort……
Hi Kaho,
I really love your home decor idea!!! (^-^)/
I’ve always been wanting that wooden alphabet decor like the one you have in P & K. May I know where did you get them?
Thank you so much…
Thanks! It was a gift from my sister-in-law many years ago. She bought them in the States, but I don’t know where. They were actually towel hangers, but I removed the hanger part and use them as decoration. 🙂 I will ask my sister-in-law where she got them if she can remember.
Wow, it’s really amazing how decal can really change the atmosphere. You are so talented, Kaho!
Thanks, Fenny! You’re so sweet. The people who made the decal are talented. I’m lucky to have found them!
It’s a world of difference.. Awesome job!
Thank you!
i had the same floor lamp, i thought it was new product but u already have it since 2010, nice living room
Thank you!! I loved that floor lamp! I bought it at ACE Hardware in Jakarta 3 years ago. Later on my friend, The Diplomatic Wife, told me that all metal arc lamp was available at ACE in Jakarta, so I went and bought one and switched that white shade one with the new one. The white lamp you also have moved to our hallway. You can see it in this post. I loved the look of it! You can see the new arc lamp I bought in my post New Arc Lamp for Our Living Room. I still have this one in my living room in our new apartment in Mumbai, India. Thanks for your comment!