First Look at Living Room Project.......

Such a busy summer we are having.....and, in the midst of it all, I finally stumbled across some new pieces of furniture that I loved enough to "pull the trigger"!!!

We bid a fond farewell to the gingham and floral sleeper sofa (inherited from my sweet momma) and the rust-toned 60's style sectional (purchased dirt cheap at a tag sale).  I cannot tell you how nice it felt to see them go out the front door!!!

Next to go - the black curtains and white mini-blinds....but, better already!

The room is still a work in progress, but Mom came over and helped us get it to a point where we can sit down and enjoy it a bit.....and not freak out every time we walk through there!

In addition to letting go of the two sofas, two other items went to a new home with my youngest, Sam, last night - an overstuffed chair & ottoman and the primitive wooden chest we were using as a coffee table before.  As you can see, we are trying out this low round table in front of the sofa.....and I like the way it opens up the area.  I still think something with a glass top might work even better.....but, for now, I am loving the way this looks!

Loving the round table with the pattern of the accent fabric in pillows and chair!

The hutch, minus the top piece, has found another life as a home for the tv.  At some point, we would like to wall-mount the flat screen and free up the surface of this piece for a cleaner look.  

I love the colors in the fabrics on the upholstered furniture - soft teal, green and a creamy gold and off white.  For now, I want to keep the walls the same color and live with it for a while.  However, the black panels on the windows MUST GO!  And, I still think a lighter bamboo woven shade would work well, with curtains in a color and/or pattern that compliments the new furniture.

Most of all I love that I have less "stuff" (read "clutter") on the walls and sitting around on every surface.  Everything is contained in the glass-fronted bookcases and all other decor has been filtered and pared down.  Everything that isn't being used is being sorted into plastic storage bins labeled either "garage sale" or "spare decor".  Items I like can always be recycled in somewhere at a later time.  Anything I am not crazy about, goes away at this point.

Removing and repurposing some of the items opened up the space tremendously!

And, some of those saved mountains of magazines in the baskets under the table are going to go bye-bye, too!

We are nowhere near being finished yet - there are piles of cast-off's and items piled all over the floor of Eddie's office......and the top of the hutch and larger pieces of artwork are leaning against the wall in the hallway.  But, we will get to it - even if it is a little bit at a time.  Already, it feels so much better!!!  And, I am totally inspired to keep going on through the house, room by room, to cleanse and purge, lighten up and declutter!!!

Stay tuned for updates as we make more progress......

Planning a Makeover in the Living Room.....

Like most of you, I have pieces in my home that I truly love.......

And, some?  Well, not so much.......

For months, I feel that I've been on the verge of making some major changes.....pinning pictures of painted furniture and color schemes to which I am drawn - some beachy, some cottage, some shabby chic.  Making lists, browsing websites, looking for ideas.....and, generally trying to "rediscover" my decorating style.  I've been all over the place on this!

While I still haven't pulled off any major changes, I have identified some things that really need to go!  Now, it's just a matter of shoving them out the door somehow and replacing them with things that I really like.  Simple enough to say, but kind of hard to do when it seems that I sometimes have a conflict about what I really like! 

Anyway, among the items that MUST STAY in the living room.....

The antique barrister bookcases - my mother had this piece in our home for years!  I've written about it before (READ ABOUT IT HERE) and it holds not only cherished items, but lots of sentimental value.

This beautiful piano which came into our home when I was a young child.  I spent lots of hours practicing on that instrument and still love it dearly.  You can read about this special piece IN THIS POST.

 
And this hutch I bought from my mother nearly 20 years ago....and that was after she owned it many years.  Here it sits, decked out for Christmas a few years ago.  This is a piece I have debated painting.....but, just can't bring myself to do it! 

As for the items that are going......

One slightly tattered gingham and floral print sleeper sofa, inherited from my mother, but never quite fitting in.......

And the rust colored retro sectional purchased at a tag sale three years ago.  It has a sort of versatility in that you can arrange it different ways, but it's not actually very comfortable with those high, straight arms and back.....and there's always this little "crack" right under my rear when I try to stretch out and watch TV with the dogs in my lap!

I'm still debating on the shade of Laura Ashley Gold 3 on the walls.....I think I still like it, actually.  And I think if introduce some other colors in here, it will still have the warmth and look I love.  As for the carpet, I am really thinking it is going to have to go and the hardwood floors beneath need to be spiffed up a bit.  (Honestly, with three dogs in the house, one of whom sheds profusely, the carpet is a losing battle....and I one I really don't care to wage anymore.....)  But, I really feel like the western decor and "stars" need to relocate to another room.....

I am leaning towards a simple solid color fabric upholstered sofa, with nice clean and simple lines, and perhaps bringing a touch of soft leather in via easy chairs and ottomans.  Pops of color in olive, cream and red and a mix of patterns in pillows and simple floor-length panels on the windows.  Oh, and some sort of woven or bamboo blinds at the windows, instead of mini-blinds.  

So, what are your thoughts?  Any suggestions for me???  Speak up and let me know!