Welcome to our living room {beware : I went a little crazy with the photos}
You may have noticed that the link to this room on the our house page is inactive. That’s because I’ve never done a post about it.
While it is the main room in our house and the one we hang out in the most, it is not yet ‘finished’. And so I’ve been waiting and waiting until it is done before taking photos and sharing it with you all. But truth be told, I’m not sure if the room will ever be completely done, so I might as well show you how it looks in its mid-finished state.
When we first moved in, the walls were all the same relaxed khaki color – which is a nice color, but we wanted a bit of definition. And because the room is one of those with walls that never end, we weren’t sure how to paint just the living room without having to continue the color up the second story, into the hallway and around the corners. Plus we are a teensy bit lazy and painting two stories sounded like way too much work.
So Ryan installed trim at about ceiling height and we painted the bottom half Slate by Restoration Hardware. He also trimmed out the doorways so that we didn’t have to deal with rounded corners and how to paint a straight line on those terrible things.
When I say the room is unfinished, I’m mostly referring to the fireplace. It is a perfectly fine fireplace {I like the white mantle and love that I just have to turn on a light switch to start a fire} but I’ve never been a fan of niches and we have a large irregular one on that massive chimney.
On Christmas Eve this past year we decided Santa should buy us a ginormous tv. What a nice Santa to oblige. So we installed it overtop the cut-out with a plan to cover it somehow, but as you can see, we haven’t covered it yet. Or hid the cord.
So our thought is to clad the fireplace chimney {is that what it’s called?} with old barnwood, or maybe horizontal siding painted white. We’re not sure. And we’re not very good at making decisions like this, so we’ve left it alone. I need Layla to do one of her fancy presto-chango things for me so that I can visualize what it would look like. But I’m pretty sure either would be better than the hole-behind-the-tv look.
This is the view of the room from the front of the house. Ryan’s great idea is to install a roll up garage door where the windows are which would open to our back yard. I LOVE roll up garage doors and would totally go for it if not for our itsy bitsy backyard that backs up to another house directly behind us. We’ll save that one for our someday house where we have an expansive yard with a pool to look at.
The hanging thing is from Potterybarn and used to hold hanging star votive holders. I am waiting for inspiration to strike to figure out what to hang next – something sort of Anthropologie-ish, I’m thinking. I wrapped the wrought iron with jute rope to add texture a few months back and I like the change.
When we moved in, there were cabinets on either side of the fireplace that were terrible, horrible, no good, very bad ones. So my dear husband built me some new ones which I love.
I am not sure how to style these shelves, so we currently have a random assortment of things I like: books, photos, plants, silver things.
See that computer tower hidden back there? That is hooked up to the tv so that it can also be used as a big computer screen. My husband is cool like that.
On the shelves live a few baskets to hide the everyday essentials that I prefer to keep out of sight.
Like dvds, diapers and wipes, toys
and more toys.
As you well know, I am a neutral girl. I try to add some color with throw pillows, most of which I sew myself. There are currently blue and yellow ones on the couch, but just a few weeks ago I had a funky print with some green in it and the month before that I went with simple white. I don’t think I’ll ever live in a house that remains untouched for years and years. I just can’t commit.
We have splurged on a few basic pieces for the room. A linen sofa has forever been on my wishlist and when we found this one, I was sold. It is Lee Industries {I think} purchased at Crate & Barrel. For us it was a splurge {but worth every penny} but then when I see that some sofas sell for thousands and thousands of dollars, I don’t feel so bad about ours.
Our tufted chairs are from #1 Allen upholstered in a durable mohair-like fabric. I’m a bit protective of the furniture in here and I fully realize that it is silly to have a linen sofa and fancy chairs when this is the living room and you have four kids. Not practical, but oh so pretty!
The curtains are from IKEA {what a shock}. I recently visited a new friend while in Texas and she had her curtains done with gathers at the top and I fell in love. I came home, sewed on strips of gathering tape {who knew there was such a thing!} and gathered them until I liked their ruffliness.
When taking photos I noticed a paper airplane that has probably been stuck up there for weeks.
So there it is : our living room.
Curious about sources? Here they are:
paint: Slate by Restoration Hardware
sofa: Crate & Barrel
chairs: #1 Allen
rug and curtains: IKEA
ottoman: a hand-me-down from my mom
pillow with yellow flowers: Dwell Studio for Target
pillows on sofa: made by me. Assorted fabrics I’ve been collecting.
pillows on tufted chair: made by me. Chipper fabric in back, flower tutorial coming soon
Anything else?
oh, the silver lamps. They are great and are from Restoration Hardware.
I’ll keep you update when changes are made to that fireplace. It may be months from now, but it sure will look nice!
Hi Emily, I love this room! Would you mind sharing where the navy/black and white rectangular geometric pillow is from? I don’t believe that one was listed in the sources. Ty a million!!!
Love the paint color and the furniture! Thanks for the inspiration! Those shelves would look great styled Novogratz-fashion, books grouped by color. I love when they do that!
We are in process of building and will have a fireplace similar to yours. We love the idea of slate going all the way up, but can possibly be too expensive. Another idea i thought of, and was wondering if you thought of this for yours (since you said you wanted to change it), is to trim out in molding. Can place large piece of sheet rock over front,(or some other inexpensive paint grade plywood), and trim out sides, and maybe even area around t.v, in chunky molding. Could even trim out tv to look like it’s framed, like with another chunky molding in white. Just a thought. I’ve has quite some time to think about this ;)
i was just curious how you did your book page wall?i LOVE the idea and i was thinking of trying it and have no idea where to begin or what to use to put the pages up and protect them.
I LOVE your style!!!! I could use your fresh take on my home :) Love the colors of the sofa and the chair. do you recall the colors?? Thanks so much!! LOVE, LOVE your home!!!!
Do you think you will post updated photos of your current bedroom, and the current TV room?
Beautiful. How many feet high did you put the molding/line between the two paint colors? How did you decide on this height? What size molding did you use?
I love your living room! I especially love the two-tone walls and how open it feels. I did two tone walls in my kitchen but never gave it thought for my living room. Might have to reconsider that possibility after seeing what you’ve done.
I’d love to get a neutral/taupe colored rug for my living area. I have hard wood floors, so would like something thick and plush under foot. I love the way the neutral under foot is so soothing. Can anyone recommend one (8×10) for a good deal? Thanks!
I am in LUV with your decorating style…do you make house-calls? Would luv your take and re-do on my kitchen & living area…
As simple as it sounds, hiding the cord for you flatscreen is easy until you find a better solution. Paint the cord the same color as the wall. We did this with a piece of art with lights behind it and have it plugged into our pot shelf but the cord still showed.
Emily you so inspiring! I have been enjoying your website for months now and have passed it along to some friends.
You have a Lovely and beautiful house. :D
It looks amazing! Thanks for sharing even if it’s not “finished”.
can you please tell me the specific name of the curtain panels that you chose from ikea? i have looked everywhere for panels that are long enough to “pool” down at the bottom, on the floor. but, i cannot find them long enough anywhere without costing a fortune! i bought some 102″ at jc penny and they did not even touch the floor by about 6 inches!! please help!!! i am getting down to crunch time. i need to have these put in by the middle of may! thank you! and love, love your blog!
It’s lovely! We just painted our office RH Slate, and it’s such a pretty color.
I have been dying to see this room, and I can’t believe I missed this post!!! It’s absolutely perfection, just as I imagined it would be. Yep, every picture is going into my favs folder! And, boy can I relate to that darn Sonic plane. I was hit upside the head with it accidently by my husband (wow… that hard plastic bit on the tip hurts!) and had to send it to the trash when the little one went to bed!
What a great idea with the trim! I love it…our living room has super high ceilings and my husband said no way :) But this might be an answer!
Your house is amazing! I just picked a similar color for my kitchen, and I was a little nervous about it, but after seeing this…I am in Love! Thanks for sharing!
Debbie
Hi Emily!
I’ll ask another curtain question, how are the curtains attached to the rod once they are gathered? Is it by rings or clips? I love this idea! Thanks so much!
I can see why you went crazy taking all of these photo’s! Your home is amazing!!!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
I love this room. You have amazing style. With 4 kids how do you manage to keep it looking so great? Where do you put all of the kids larger toys? Do you have a play room? I have 2 kids and struggle with finding a place for all of the toys. Would love to see how you organize all of the toys!
I swear it was meant for me to stumble upon your blog and this post! I have been debating for 3 years what to do with our living room walls because the “walls never end” and they lead into our second story (is this beginning to sound familiar?) Your idea to install trim is genious! I’m saving this to share with the hubby:) Thanks, I’m definately a new follower!
Gorgeous room! Love the built ins your hubby made and all the fun pillow covers. Could you tell us where you found your lovely black floor lamp? I’m in need of 2 for my home and not finding one I love. Thanks!
I.love.it.all. You have such a fabulous sense of style!
Kacey
Your living room is lovely. So pretty. I do love the lamps…. and the curtains, of course ;)
Loved the tour of your living room! I’ve experienced the mixed blessing of an open floor plan and vaulted ceiling before — lots of openness and light, along with challenges of defining spaces, painting, and keep clutter to a minimum as it’s seen by all!
I’m working on some bookshelves of my own in my office space, which is actually pretty open to the rest of the living areas of the house. I blogged about it today, including a link to a how-to video that I’m pretty sure is going to inspire the socks off of me: http://willowhousewelcome.blogspot.com/2011/04/spring-bookshelf-makeover.html.
And I don’t currently have a mantle, but I pretend the top of my piano is one and need to do a spring makeover there, as well, and check out my own advice here: http://willowhousewelcome.blogspot.com/2011/02/tip-6-make-some-mantle-magic.html.
Your living room inspires me toward the perfect mix of clean lines, crisp colors, and warmth. Time for me to get busy!
I LOVE THIS! I stumbled upon your site recently and have spent countless hours reading and looking. Your home epitomizes what I want my house to look like. Out of curiousity, what is the size of the area rug in the living room? I’ve been contemplating putting a rug on a carpeted living room. Thanks!
From one Emily to another, your home is stunning AND comfortable looking…how do you do it?!?! I am SO envious of your living room – that is the room I’m struggling with the most right now. My couch is chocolate brown, my kitchen cabinets are black, and my walls are rice grain by Sherwin Williams and you can see ALL of those things no matter where you are standing in the area. SO DULL AND BORING. =( I just can’t decide what to do to save it…I wish you would send some of your creative/decorating magic to Kentucky and hook a sister up! lol Love seeing all of the things you come up with – gorgeous!
LOVE everything about this room!! :) My favorite parts were the curtains and the dresser! Such fun touches! Thanks for sharing!!
It’s a very pretty room! The dresser is my favorite, so vintage-pretty! Also love the “light fixture!” Would love to what Layla would come up with for a presto on your fireplace. So I’m dying to know whether you used to live in an older home and how you felt about it-or whether you’ve always been a new home girl . . . definitely could picture you in an old bungalow or cottage! :)
Will you complete a tutorial on your ruffled curtains? I’ve been looking for something to add a little bit of spice to my living room & Those would be GREAT!!!! Thanks for all the inspiration!!!
Oh I love it! It looks so cozy and welcoming. I am so inspired by your style, it’s like the perfect mix of traditional and vintage. Thanks for sharing!
I LOVE the color palette…so gorgeous!! I absolutely adore the throw pillows you made on the tufted chair! :)
Ps. I read The Help a few months ago and also loved it…. I’ve let all of my friends borrow it as well. Such a great read!
I am in love with this room! You inspire me every day, and I’m really thankful that you’re willing to share your talents with all of us. We just bought a new house and I can’t wait to use some of your ideas to help transform our house into our home. Thank you, thank you!!
Love it! Can you give me some more detail on how Ryan trimmed out the doorways? We have a very open style floor plan and although I like it, I would love a tiny bit of separation between the breakfast area and our family room. I’m thinking like half-walls about a foot in on each side, topped with a sort of mission/20’s style beam on each side. Thoughts?
Love this! It looks so warm and comfy with just the right amount of sweet and precious! Love all your rooms that I have seen so far! You have some excellent taste. I seriously tell all my friends about your site over and over like a broken record. I just love it all!
Hi Emily!! Wow!! I LOVE this room!! You listed the paint color as RH Stone? Is it Slate? I’m just curious because I looked at your paint colors page the other day and saw that you had it listed as Slate. I just painted Slate also and I LOVE it!! We are having the living areas in the new house painted today a beige and I am super nervous about it, but your post gave me some validation on the color I chose to go up to the Slate! So, thank you!! Love your style, love the curtains too. Reading your blog makes me wish I owned a sewing machine {and also that I would know what to do with it}! xoxo Amber
oops … it is SLATE not stone. I’ll go fix that on the post.
I REALLY like it! Now I am repeating what I already posted to fb, but you couldn’t see my thoughts there (i guess) so I am sharing my thoughts with you. Love how you did the lower walls in a darker color, it makes the room look so warm and inviting, when I usually think of cathedral ceilings feeling cold. I am a fan of neutrals with pops of color and you did it well. Love how you can throw any color with If there is one question I could ask it is this: how often are you picking up and fixing your pillows??? The sofas and chairs look so inviting with them on! And I love tufted furniture….it is so cute! I couldn’t even begin to copy this becuz we have no fireplace…so I know I can just enjoy looking at yours…
Hi Emily…lovely living room. I am not surprised as you have impeccable taste. I almost bought that yellow pillow myself at Target for my living room couch, but i actually thought, i bet Emily will have a tutorial soon so i can make it myself! (already have a lovely ruffle pillow i made out of a dusty blue linen following your tutorial, and a few with flowers on them (also yours). So???
:) Thanks for all your inspiration…..cheers,
Amber
WOW! love it! Ok so i have an very similar two story living room. and I actually painted a sample of the RH’s Stone on my walls and it looks much much lighter than yours. Is yours lighter in person? It is such a yummy color but im afraid it looks “too beige” on my walls-im wanting a *tad* more gray. two story rooms are a bugger to paint & get the right color. But Im loving yours!!
Your home is gorgeous! What a great idea to put the molding in the living room to cut off the first floor from the second. I love all your throw pillows, too!
Emily, you are so talented and have a true gift for creating welcoming spaces. Thanks for sharing more ideas I am sure to copy.
SO fun to see your living room! i LOVE it!!!
Adding the trim was a perfect solution and I love the gray color! My husband is a techy guy too, so we have the big tv and computer hook up as well. Did you know you can buy a plastic piece that covers the wires and sticks to the fireplace? I know plastic doesn’t sound cute, but you can paint it the same color as the fireplace and you really don’t even notice it then. Cheap and easy. My family room is “not finished” either, but I do have a pic of it up on my blog. http://steenkbug.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-1980s-house.html
I love your house and your living room is so cozy. I am inspired by your neutral palette. We decorated with color but I am thinking of repainting and adding slipcovers to our furniture to create a neutral base. Your pictures have given me lots of ideas. I was always scared to do neutral colors with four kids but I am thinking that just might be the way to go. Thanks for sharing your home with us.
I luv the framed out painting to cut the wall length. Genius. I also was really digging the tickling striped pillows. Double genius. It was very nice, you do neutral well.
I love love your living room! how cozy and stylish at the same time! gathering of the curtains at top is a great idea and i would love to see how you did them! thanks so much for sharing, emily! i adore your blog!!
It’s beautiful even if it is unfinished. Sometimes I see my home as a metaphor for my life–a work in progresss. I like so many of the elements you used in your living room. I want to make some big changes in my living room this summer. I’m bookmarking this post as inspiration. By the way, I received the prints I ordered in the mail, and they are wonderful. My 4-yr-old loves the “Rise and Shine” print. I plan to hang it in the boys’ bathroom.
Love this room! Incredibly cozy and stylish! What about that cool skinny mirror on the corner? Do you remember where that is from?
Thank you for your blog! I posted on the giveaway comments, but again I have to say: reading your blog is like reading the best book you cannot put down! Clearly you are using your talents and blessings, and so generously sharing with others!
What a gorgeous living room – but the absolute best thing about it is the clever idea y’all had with the trim and the paint!! I would have NEVER thought of that, that is so pretty!
It looks great! What a creative idea to trim out the room and break up the tall walls! I am totally voting for a pick my presto by Layla – I love those! She has the best ideas!
Here is my question for you – how do you keep Audrey from destryoing all your nice decor that is at her level? Decorative items, plants, picture frames, etc? I have an 18 month old and I’ve had to put almost everything away because he destroys it all. My house looks so empty and plain now! Maybe it’s just because he’s a boy? Do girls destroy as much?
GORGEOUS. Thanks for sharing. You have good taste, and you’re very original!
Your living room is beautiful! Thanks for sharing! I love that Audrey is in a few of the pictures too… so precious!!
Your living room is gorgeous!. Thanks for sharing it. x
your home is so beautiful! i love your sense of style and you have a real talent for interior design. you should become an interior designer as well!
Brilliant way to treat a two story room.
I think it’s beautiful. I understand how a room can feel never quite finished but mine really aren’t finished. Yours looks great!
Hi Emily,
Love this space! And I think we could be friends because I can’t commit to colors either. And I sew my own pilows too :-)
But seriously I think this comes together really well. Nice touches of color and it’s modern yet comfy!
Gorgeous! Not sure what else to say! After seeing all the pictures of your home it all ties together when you see the picture on this post that shows LR, Kitchen and where the entry is. Beautiful, beautiful home! I guess I had more to say that just “gorgeous” afterall! haha!
I have definitely been clicking the inactive link over the past while, in vain hoping it would magically work if I clicked in just the right spot. Haha! Everything is so lovely! The paper airplane made me smile. :)
The table runner with those flowers that I told you about (like the one on that pillow) from Haley’s Cottage was just in some photos in 425 magazine. Do you get it? I think you would like it. Also, will you come do the gather thing on my window treatments in my living and dining room? I’ll watch the kids. :)
Emily,
Your blog is one of my favorites! Your style is so classic and your living room is gorgeous even if it is still not “finished.” I am sofa shopping for our family room and your sofa is beautiful. I checked the C&B website and didn’t see it. Did you purchase it recently? Also do you like having just one cushion on the seat portion? I’ve never had a sofa with just one.
We bought the couch about two years ago, so I’m guessing C & B no longer carry it. I actually love having only one seat cushion. It is down filled and super cozy.
I am so glad that you showed it to us (even though it is not done in your mind). I love everything about it. Now I am ready to go home and re-do my own home.
Your living room is wonderful! It’s fun to see your wall color because last night Mike and I painted our dining room walls stone by Restoration Hardware too! I love that color. Our living room will be painted next – in graphite by Restoration Hardware. Thanks for sharing photos!
I’ve been hunting for beautiful living rooms with carpet, as we’re stuck with ours for awhile. Thanks for blowing the competition out of the water! Your living room is tremendous.
Amazing! I wish I could just copy and paste it to my living room!
I love your home. Thanks for ALL the info and detail. I don’t have a blog but am a follower of MANY!!
One suggestion about your fireplace niche is possibly an old door or maybe two “tall” shutters that are painted a coordinating color with your walls. I think I saw this on Layla’s blog or another one where they had a big square hole above the fireplace and she used leftover tall kitchen cabinet doors to hide the hole. She even painted them at different times to change the look for a pop of color in different seasons.
Can you take a photo of the “gathering tape” on the back of your curtains? I love that idea and love it better than what I used on my bedroom curtains. I just bought those little curtain hooks at Hancock Fabrics and clipped them on the curtains but I like this idea little better. Would love a better look at your’s to know how you did it exactly though. If you can send me a message by email that might be good. But there might be others who would love to see that up close and personal too!!
Also, I have a log home that I have had to become creative with painting my living room, stairway and upper floor because it is all open from the first floor up to second floor. My little sister thought I should treat it like the “whole” space were a wainscoting and thereby make the upper floor mimic the upper part of the wall when having wainscoting or like when doing board and batten. So, that is where we are at the moment. I’ve gone up the stairway but we haven’t done the upper floor either. Such a big job!! Way to go with all the trim, bookcases, furniture and painting.
Thanks for sharing!!
You’ve helped me gain a little more courage to keep on going with our painting and such!
i should comment more often; i read every post! just wanted to let you know i love the room, and I appreciate that you shared it “unfinished”…mine is in an eternal unfinished state. almost there…but not quite! and i’m sure that once I’ve hung the last picture, i’ll redo the entire thing. i’m lusting after some white ikea living room chairs…but 3 boys…eek. so i know the feeling of warring between style and practicality!!
That is one bad-a** tv! It makes it look real people live there. People who watch ballgames and spill popcorn and red punch on the carpet. Nice.
Your idea of sectioning off the wall is genius! We have the exact problem with our living room. I will have to show this to my husband. Love your throw pillows as well!
The room is beautifully loved and I appreciate your candor about what you perceive as “unfinished”. I think it all demonstrates how thoughtful and intentional you are about your space and how you want it to function.
I had to smile about the niche above the fireplace…we have one heck of a niche above ours too. I recently did a temporary fix to accommodate our over the fireplace tv ( http://www.containchaos.com/?p=609 ) but I love your idea of covering it with a rustic board look. Layla would be the presto queen to show you!
I have a similar style room (2 story) and have never thought to put up molding and paint halfway up. That is a great idea–whether from laziness or not–it makes the room much more cozy, something I struggle with. Its gorgeous.
I enjoy your blog so so much and am crazy about these last photos. What a gorgeous room. I love everything about it. You and your hubs are a great team. Blessings! ♥
your living room is just darling! can’t wait for the flower tutorial…i need to make a pillow like one on your tuffted chair.
so sweet!!
So glad you shared even though you didn’t feel like it was “done”! : )
Now hurry up and finish your room so we can see that. Hehe.
Oooooh, so pretty! I love your use of silver tableware as candle holders! I have a few little silver pieces I’ve picked up here and there because I thought they were pretty but wasn’t sure exactly how to display them. I am SO popping some white candles into them when I get home.
I’m very impressed. Thank you for sharing.
I totally understand how you decided to go with linen furniture and four kids – it’s beautiful!! We’re contemplating a fireplace redo over at our house too! Photoshop is fun for playing around with before and afters. Love your space! And your blog!
LOVE!!!! The trim to break up the high ceilings was brilliant!!! I love your pillows, the linen sofa. The rollup garage door idea is fun! Just a bit of industrial. And I so can’t commit to permanent pieces (thus our couch dilemma). :) I always wondered why the living room link didn’t work. ;)
xo,
Shannon
What a great solution to your tall ceilings! It really does a lot to make the space look more intimate and human scale. It’s amazing what a few architectural details will do for a room.
It is beautiful! It looks so peaceful and calm. Love the colors and all of the character in the room. I’m pretty sure I could just come and spend hours drooling over your house but don’t worry, I wouldn’t drool on the furniture! ;o)
Such a pretty room- love your style! The lamps are beautiful, and I would love to see how you did your curtain gathering-tape also. Maybe a white ottoman is what I need in front of my leather sectional to break up all the brown- does your Mom have any more?…
Hooray! I’ve been patiently waiting to see your living room. I needed inspiration for my own living room, and yours definitely gave me a spark! Time to go to the paint store… (Ok…and the furniture store…and the antique store…and…and…and… ;)
So, I’ve been waiting for more pictures on your “our house” page, because I knew you’d have the perfect inspiration for me! I’ve tried to get all I can out of that one picture. :) Really, your style is flawless, elegant, and beautiful. I also love that you have toys and family necessities within reach but out of sight. I am SO HAPPY you shared! Now I’m off to see what I can do to help my own living room…
Seriously, one of my favorite living rooms! I may need to pring some of these images for my inspiration board. LOVE IT!
Fun to see this “hidden” corner of your house. The silver lamps are my favorite and I love those tufted chairs.
So beautiful, just like the rest of your house!! Where is the lovely white dresser from?
The white dresser is an old one from my mother-in-law. We used it as our check out stand for the Summer Boutique when it was painted green. I painted it white several months ago and love it in that spot. It holds Audrey’s hair clips and shoes and video game controllers and games. Very random.
It is fabulous Emily- I love your couch and chair and the ottoman is precious.
Thanks for sharing with us.
xo~
T
freakin’ cute!
I love all of your neutrals with little bits of color. Looking at your pics makes me want to repaint and refurnish everything in my living room. I loved what you did with the molding on your walls/ceilings. I have the same problem and dont want to paint 2 stories. Ugh!
Looking forward to more pics with all of your beautiful updates!
lovely!…I was just wondering the other day what your living room looked like. You could see just a snip-it of it in the pictures in the guest “day in the life of” article you were in the other day. ….I also keep seeing that yellow flower pillow pop up. My mom has it too. We take it on photo-shoots to use! How fun!
We recently revamped our fireplace that had a hideous niche as well. We
planked it with barnwood like planks and love it. We had trouble finding the right type of selvage wood so I just distressed 1×8’s myself and did a stain/paint mix to make them look like old wood. Take a look….here is the link:
http://tannermanor920.blogspot.com/2011/03/fireplace-revamp.html
Love your living room and your classic style meets everyday living. Your home is so easy on the eyes and must be incredibly easy to decompress in!
Love, love, love. You need to come to my house. I have four kids, too :)
Oh your home looks so cozy! I love the colors! Just beautiful!
Oh my Emily, if this is unfinished…. you would probably faint if you stopped by my house. We built ours 2 years ago and we still have zero trim in the house…..
You have a beautiful living room…..I love the idea of the trim to break up a 2 story room. Perfect! Oh, and I have to know….. real, or faux plants?
Plants … most are real, but the ones on the bookshelves are fake. I love greenery and I’m getting better at keeping things alive. As long as it looks natural, I don’t have a problem with faux greenery.
I love your style! Beautiful! And, THANK YOU for keeping it real and showing your storage solutions as well! It makes me feel like it is possible to have nice things and kids!! (My house still looks like a toy store exploded, but at least I have your home to look to for inspiration)
Ok, so I love it all, but what I love and noticed right away are your plants.
I think that plants in a room make it feel so finished and so polished and fancy. But not in a threatening way. I inviting way.
Muy bien!
I really like the trim idea to break up the space. I need to figure out how to do that in my great room.
I’m sure that you’ll love that linen sofa for years! I put a taupe linen sofa in our family room, and it is surviving quite well. The fabric will actually get stronger with use, and stains actually do come out fairly easily. And in this house, they happen quite often:)
I’m eager to see how you deal with the niche. I do like the idea of horizontal siding painted white. It will help to bring down the ceiling a bit. Good luck!
I love the neutral colors! It’s a great room!
You might want to change the tv placement altogether. I know its popular to put Tvs above the fireplace, but that’s quite an extreme angle for tv viewing! And I like that little nook in the fireplace.
I like that you framed out the doors and added ceiling molding!
I know … now that I see it in photos, I think the fireplace would look much nicer without a giant tv hanging off of it. We go back and forth about tv vs. no tv – we’ll see what we decide.
i’m so envious right about now! you have such a beautiful house, it’s absolutely gorgeous, i have no idea how you manage to have the time or energy to maintain it, your children and hectic schedule, i’d be seriously hyperventilating, but i guess i would look at all the pretty and be better again. now i see.
much love
Miss Em
Your living room is lovely! I think that’s the first living room with a vaulted ceiling that I’ve ever been able to say feels cozy. I think rooms like that can be such a challenge to decorate but you have done a wonderful job. I’m inspired to go make some fun pillows and perhaps gather my white curtains. Do they still stretch out to cover the window, or are they permanently as they look in the photos?
Love choices! Lovely job!
Our curtains are stationary. You could use a double-width {or sew two curtain panels together} if you needed them to stretch out.
Umm, I cannot believe you have been holding out! I LOVE this living room! I love how you framed out the gray paint color, and I love the mixture of all the fabrics on the couches and your display of love and living in this room while it is so styleish! I love it! xox!