The purge 2019 - and why I am still buying things

My ideas of  'New Year, New You"  and making my life easier and better....don't just include getting rid of things. My idea also includes acquiring new items that either work better than my old ones or upgrading things we already own, or new items that we really need.  I will never be a minimalist... nor do I want to become one. I like my things. I like 'stuff'.  It just has to work for me and fit my vision of how I want to live and look, and my vision of how my house works and looks.

To that end, I sent the Mr. out to an auction this past weekend to see if we could buy some REALLY cool MCM patio furniture (which we did not get,as it went SKY high) and two 1970's upholstered chairs that I thought would look great in the living room.  He bought the chairs ( 2 for 9.00, yes, 4.50 a chair) and brought back a fabulous industrial telescoping lamp as well...but that lamp is for another day.

Here was the issue, I hate my living room. Always have, and it's been 15 years now. It's a rectangle, with a corner cut off, it has 3 HUGE windows, one small window in a silly location, a pass through to the kitchen, a large doorway into the kitchen AND an outside door. There is literally no room for furniture...but I have worked with it. The issue is, with the sofa and the day bed, we needed more seating for when we have people over so they don't crowd onto the sofas...and we have tried many, many chairs.... but I think we finally have the winners ! My room has morphed from a MCM decor, to a clear 1970's vibe, with thick chunky comfortable furniture , organic colors and BOHO elements. It's us finally, and although the room is still problematic, I no longer hate going into it.

                                                                  one of my new chairs



                                                    And the piece that started it all......

                                                     The Lane Pueblo dresser I just bought


There is more to do. The art needs to be changed a bit and hung lower. There is too much nick knack clutter hanging about.... but soon there will be an photo shoot and it will be done.... by Spring if I would hazard a guess...... so more soon. Hopefully, I will get in the hang of writing again too.....




The living room in early attempts....

Because I just don't have enough projects......

I am considering painting the brick wall in my living room.

Pros-

1. it's fake. The wall AND the brick.
2. There is a non working fireplace behind that sofa.
3. We are going to remove that wall and redo all the walls, the ceiling and the flooring. Just not this year. Or maybe not even next.
4. I have hated it since we moved here......almost 9 years ago.

Cons.
1. It really is fine the way it is.
2. It's a lot of work to paint brick...even if it is just brick facing.
3. I would have to paint that door the same color I think.
4. I am lazy.

Ideas?  And yes, that mantle is too high. BUT, to lower it, or remove it would muck up the wall and again, that wall is not being removed and/or fixed this year. It must stay.  But, I could paint it the color of the bricks (if I painted) to try to make it blend into the wall more....

Living room ideas- and my own space!

Over the Christmas break I had a lot of time to be on the computer widows shopping for decor ideas-my son got that horrid flu over break. I came up with few ideas and ended up getting more and more frustrated as the days went by. I don't know if that was because I was trying to do that while cleaning up little boy puke, or if that room is just my decor black hole. 

This first picture is from desire to inspire...  I love the large horse art, the olive green wall color and the off white sofa. It looks comfortable to me, and somehow boy proof at the same time....

This picture below is uncredited on my computer... I'm guessing it's English too- maybe I got it off of Living etc....? I would credit it if I could. I love that furniture. I love the art on the wall. I am less enthralled with the cow udder like light fixture, but overall, that space is fantastic.

This mess is my living room. The fireplace is fake. It used to be real, but it set the house on fire, so it was removed and the roof covered over. The firebox is still there though, and so I have electric logs in there right now. The brick is real brick, but just a facing so it's thin. I hate this wall. It's the bane of my existence. The wall is at an angle, by the unused pass through and on the right is the door to the back deck. It's useless. I hate it.

The table is a family piece, it's the top of my MIL's real parents dining room table. It's HUGE but it's needed as this is where the boys have snacks, do homework, read and draw and do legos etc.... The sofas are on their last legs. The plycraft chair is uncomfortable- but I love how it looks. The only thing I really like is the curtains.

I need a change.

just a corner of my living room.....

the mr. and I have a bet on how long I can keep the ferns alive....

my new little corner of the world....

in my living room, that is. The picture is a very old chalk that we got for about 2 bucks at a garage sale. We had it professionally framed- the frame though is another very old piece I've had with me for years. Together I think they look spectacular. Less modern that my usual taste, but in keeping with the rustic look our house is acquiring.

The curtains are also new, 3.51 on super clearance from Lowes. Yes, that's 3.51 per panel. They are Waverly and very heavy. I love them, and think the orange color goes well with the green/tan paint. I always put up different curtains in the winter (and then again in the summer). It's a family tradition- and the heavier weight curtains help with the cold windy winters we get up in the great white north.

Living room inspiration

James Braund

I love the wood in this room, the pop of green and that sofa!

I love the leather sofa and the white brick fireplace and all the windows...

again, I love the white fireplace and the wood floors...

oh, look. Another white fireplace. wood. Green. I think that I have a style showing up here.

See, fall and winter is coming soon and I have to do something with the living room. I like the greenish tan on the walls, and the sofa I can't do much about... but I can change the fireplace wall if I wanted to. It's brick- but not good brick. It's tan and brown and kinda nasty. Plus, in a year or two it's going to be gone. SO- now is the time to experiment and I believe it's going to be with white paint!

Maybe not my style, but we all need to stretch a little...

these are all from country living  not a normal place for me to find style ideas, but as I said, we all need to stretch and re think our spaces and what our style really is.

This is just a fantastic eclectic living room space.. I love that art propped on the wall...

Although I would never choose this for myself, I think that the rustic skin and the gold framed denim sofa look fantastic together...

I so want this chair....

I can see myself in this space- even with the trippy turquoise chairs!

Two small changes.....

One of my on line friends Jennifer sent me some window cling "wallpaper" for my new back door..... I have always had curtains over that door- I don't like open windows for one thing, but the biggest reason was the draft from the old door. In the winter the frost around the door sweep was 1/2 inch thick at times!   Now that the door is new and tight- and the window is covered- I can remove the curtains. I love the look of this- and with the trim painted white and the screws covered up with the white buttons, this will be very nice.....

This past spring I removed another set of curtains behind the tv and replaced them with a fabric screen over the window, so now, my living room only needs 4 curtain panels. My current summer curtains were over 10 years old. White cotton tab tops, washed and bleached for that many years and now all different lengths. I went to Lowes and found these on sale....

7.49 a panel down from 29 bucks a panel!  I'll post a proper picture of the living room with it's new curtains when I get them all up this weekend!

This below is what it used to look like....

It was fine, but very plain and not in very good condition.....

So now, I have to finish the living room trim, remove the old curtain brackets, and refinish the coffee table..... it's always a work in progress.....

a living room mood board

a living room mood board by lojo43 on Polyvore.com

I just love that sofa from room and board... and I don't think I can ever do a room that doesn't include just a touch of vintage taxidermy.

Living room renovations....

Like every long weekend, we start talking about the work we need or want to do around the ranchero. This weekend is dedicated to gutter work- but we started talking about the living room last night. After a few adult beverages it started going down a path that will never work for us, but we did come up with a few ideas- like removing a wall and re-doing the horrid ceiling in wood. Of course, the flooring MUST be re done. 30 year old carpet is past it's normal life span- no matter WHAT anyone says.....

Inspiration and envy follows...

as always, I love antlers and that fireplace is to die for...

this picture and the next two are from Coastal living I believe. I love that the rooms look functional and, well, real.  You know- do-able.

I adore the wall of bookshelves!

The chair! The ceiling!!

I wish I knew where this picture came from- I love denim sofas- it's a downfall of mine I know, but I love them...

It's a white living room

Why can't I have a white living room?

Living room by Candice Olsen

This was a house that Candice Olsen did for a bachelor on her show "divine design" . I love everything about this room- from the fireplace with the fantastic tile to that orange chaise lounge. I am not even going to talk about all that beautiful dark wood!  I want this room!

white rooms

This is my dining room. It's not finished yet, this is primer only because I can't find a white I love. I'm giving myself a day off tomorrow not to worry about paint colors and go shopping.  Inspiration will come to me.


These are my pictures of my favorite living room of all times.

These pics have been everywhere- apartment therapy, home and garden, etc.. I just think this room is perfect. I love it. My Mr. does not. We are at a impass...

green living rooms

an older pic from Elle Decor  I love the huge art behind the sofa and the vibrant greens and red in this photo.

Very modern green living room. I love those chairs and that floor lamp. Yummy.

Niemeyer Lounge

I love furniture, but I especially love chairs. This oscar niemeyer lounge chair  is so perfect in this room, in that location. Plus, there's bamboo. You can't go wrong with bamboo.

Modern classic living room

again, I think this is from Living etc... but since I was bad and didn't tag it I have no idea.

I love the sofa in this picture, the one cushion, the lower arms that are still arms, the rug, the painting over the fireplace... it all works together so well and it's charming. Modern but in a way that it would work in a traditional home.

Organic modern living room inspiration

I don't know where I grabbed this picture from- my guess would be living etc... but I don't know.  love love love the sofa color and the dark wood floor with the white walls and that rug- oooooh to die for!