Every home ought to have at least one room that’s a real standout, a space that’s so beautifully styled and appointed that people just want to gather there. And there may be no better place than the family room for a makeover that takes it from bland to grand.

That’s exactly what the owners of this family room had in mind when they worked out their renovation plan. The space had some strong features –– plenty of square feet, a large bank of windows, a fireplace, an oak floor. But for a room meant to be the heart of the home, it lacked character and warmth, and nothing about the builder-basic trim or the equally plain furniture made it special. It was, in short, the perfect place for natural wood to work its magic.

The owners wanted to fill the room with Mission furniture and plush, overstuffed chairs and sofas, so they searched through magazines for architectural elements that echoed Mission’s distinctive style. They soon found a few common themes –– natural wood trim, paneling, built-ins and oak, lots of oak –– all of which were worked into the final plan along with a new window seat for the recess under the tall casement windows.

After removing the room’s original trim and leaving only the fireplace mantel, it took just a few days to install the new wood. (See designer tip on page 46) Then it was on to the staining and finishing. After some fine-grit sanding to make it as smooth as possible, all the new woodwork was stained with Minwax® Wood Finish™ English Chestnut and then top-coated with Minwax® Fast-Drying Polyurethane in a semigloss sheen. The deep-toned stain added both depth and color to the oak and the polyurethane gave it a warm and welcoming richness.

The slightly worn oak floors were refreshed with a light sanding and a new finish. To create contrast, the flooring received two coats of Minwax® Super Fast-Drying Polyurethane For Floors Semi-Gloss. Because this finish is ready for recoating in three to four hours, both coats were applied in one day with no sanding needed between applications.

When the owners saw just how beautiful the room was going to be, they were determined to find furniture that would do it justice. After a little more searching, they found exactly what they were looking for; unfinished, Mission-style pieces that they stained and finished to match the walls and trim.

With the transformation complete, the new room is the one where everyone is more than happy to spend a lot of time together.