LIVING ROOM REVEAL (FINALLY)!!

Well, here it is, the project I have been agonizing over since the end of January.  What started with getting some new end tables and a coffee table snowballed into a new area rug and curtains.  Then of course you need to accessorize and soon you have a huge project and a lot of questions.  Thankfully, I had my interior designer daughter (for those of you that might be new here) to help, or rather give me that big kick in the bum to make decisions!

Starting out small, here's my old cabinet and in front is the Louis XVI chair I bought for the desk at the lakehouse.  I have adopted it as my own for this house...what can I say?  It's LOVE!

 

In another corner is the TV and new corner cabinet.  I like the wood top and the X glass cabinet doors.  These aren't really easy to find, especially in this finish.  Overstock had one but it had to be assembled.  To me, that usually means a rickety piece of furniture.  All of my new tables came from Emily's shop.  You can see one of the two end tables here as well.  The top is reclaimed wood and the base is metal with a bronze finish.  I love how we are mixing metals...that rustic/country/relaxed look.  The lamp I had, it's from Pottery Barn.  Emily wanted it here but I thought it was too large and I don't like the shade.  Every time she turned around, I switched it out with a Target lamp I had...I'll see if it's in one of these pictures further down.

Here is a full on view.  Most of you know that our house is old and designed sort of wonky.  The living room, dining area and kitchen are all part of an open floor plan that was a huge project not long after we moved.  Many older homes in our neighborhood have small boxy rooms and owners are knocking down walls.  So what I mean to say, even thought this is our living room, we treat it like a family room since it's divided from the kitchen by a a peninsula/bar.  For this reason I try to keep it pretty but relaxed.  It gets a ton of use.  On the other hand, the actual family room which is on the whole other end of the house stays rather unused and neat as a pin I must say!

You can see the new coffee table.  A big departure for me because I just love old, distressed wood. I never thought I'd have a glass table but my designer daughter convinced me that it would make the room look more open and the legs, which are iron with a hand painted silver finish would tie in with the rest of the metals.  In my next post I'll give you a few close ups of everything...I didn't want to bombard you with a zillion pictures.

Other than the new tables and some accessories, the only other things I bought were the curtains from Pier 1.  Oh, my gosh.  How I searched and searched and pondered patterns and colors and then one day I was there and went through the curtain panels and there they were.  It's hard to see, and I will show you another time, they are a creamy sheers with embroidered jute vines.  This is how I added texture to a room that is pretty neutral.  And they puddle on the floor, another new thing for me.  Now let me ask...does this look too cluttered?  I keep playing with things every time I walk into the room!

 

On the opposite side of the room where you can see how it starts to open into the kitchen (over there by those X counter stools).  I have my old faded floral sofa that I just can't seem to part with.  It's a half moon shape that makes a softer divider in this space.  You can see the coffee table better.  I'm still tweaking the top of it with different little pieces.  I think your coffee table is a  really great spot to show off your interests and personality And the space below the floating shelves irritates me.  I have a small chippy window I may hang there.

Here is some detail of Monster Fireplace.  And I took these pictures at night.  Again, I'll show you some close ups next time.  The metal orbs on each end are from Homegoods.  They have five glass votive holders in each and I have them lit.  And there is a little blue lantern near the left side with a candle.  I'm definitely going back for the flameless candles and remote.  I can't see myself lighting these every night! lol!  I did some layering with an old window and picture frame.  All of these things I had.

Oops, I do have a closer one!  So there you go. 

Now, you need to hear about all the mistakes I made along the way. :)  You know I ordered a big old jute area rug.  We cleared out the room, rolled up my cream colored wool rug and lugged it downstairs.  Then we hauled the jute one up and unrolled it, all 9 X 12 of it.  OMG!  It was way too huge and the color reminded us of cardboard.  It was a small weave so from afar it really did look like a huge piece of cardboard on the floor.  I couldn't take it.  We rolled it back up and reversed the whole process... down with the jute and up with the wool, 2 flights of stairs.  And now I have to re~wrap this beast and lug it to the post office to return it.  

And remember the painting?  I so wanted a floral painting to add some color and life.  I eyeballed the space above the fireplace and thought the painting on canvas I liked at Bed Bath & Beyond online would be perfect.  It came and it was humongous.  And as I sat and stared, cocking my head from left to right, I just knew it wasn't me.  So I'm off to return that.  

So there you have it!  Thanks for all your comments on my last post...all of you seemed so sweet and sincere about wanting to  see the changes.    Maybe because I've been doing the proverbial crying on your shoulder thing about how I am afraid of color and pattern and making big decisions.  I'll probably never change. ;-)

I'll be back later in the week with some close ups, probably my normal blah blah blah randomlings and a few pictures of some new rabbit food recipes.

Happy St. Paddy's Day, everyone!  The Chicago River is being dyed green as we speak.  I'll share a picture next time.  The parade is tomorrow but since we're in the 20's, I'll be a no show I'm sure.

Joining these parties:

Cindy at Dwellings~The Heart Of Your Home...Amaze Me Monday

Brenda at Cozy Little House...Tweak It Tuesday

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life ...Inspire Me Tuesday

Kim at Savvy Southern Style...Wow Us Wednesday

XO,

Jane