Real Home: Decision Made!

Last week, I showed you some options for the nook.


After a successful stripping, priming, and painting of a bookshelf (that post will be up shortly) and the fact I'm halfway through a (so far) successful refinishing/staining table project, I've decided that I want to tackle reupholstering those two chairs. God help us all.

So if that ever actually happens, I'm thinking black high gloss paint for the wood and a bright pattern for the cushion (that post will come later with several fabric options).

Here are the chairs. Please ignore le mutt in the foreground. 

What this means for the nook is that I'm going to need to hold off on purchasing a bench/chair for it.

I still, however, needed additional seating for my living room. A few of you weighed in, in various ways, with your picks and opinions and you are all wonderful and smart and fashionable. I decided to go with...(drum roll please)...

The Gray Armchair!

 

  Here was the little picture window corner before:

 I had my plant, my little vintage table and the slipper chair. It was fine, but not like...AWESOME.

 And here it is after!

 I moved the armchair into the corner, moved the table to the side, and added some additional treasures/tchotchkes to the table. I also put two of my red picture boxes with stationary and other craft supplies underneath. Perfect storage opportunity, for the win. And...AND...I got to introduce some red into the mix. So, you know, big moves were made there.

Boom!

Good call on this one. It really is very comfortable. 

In the window, I'm seeding some of my little plants. 

(Front left to right: Red Peppers, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Strawberries)

 I moved the slipper chair to the other side, and added a folding table on the side. 

I now use it to pile my stuff on top of when I get home. 

BAM!

 And here's a view of living room looking into the kitchen. 

Ignore the disaster in the rest of the room. 

(You can see a sneak peek of the beginning of my wall gallery and newly painted bookshelf there on the left!)

xo.

Real Home: Decision Time

 Hey, remember this photo?
This is the nook. Remember the nook? 

 

And it is sooo beige right now. So vanilla. Which isn't terrible. But it isn't great. 

I'd like to get a few things here. 

1. Bench 

2. Comfy Chair

I don't actually need both. Maybe one or the other. Or maybe both. Whatever. It's fine. Stop yelling.

Here are my limitations:

1. I have to lift and move it by myself 

2. It has to fit into the Pathfinder

3. I'm poor. 

4. Seriously. I'm so poor, you guys.

So, here is what I did. I went to TJ Maxx. I took pictures of things. Things that I liked. And things that were terrible. The former, so I could think each item through. The latter, so we could make fun of them together. 

 Here are two armchair options. 

Gray armchair, Cream armchair, and Ottoman.

 

 So Gray Armchair is up first. 

Pros:

It's gray. 

It's a darker color, so it won't show dirt or stains as much in the future. 

In my next house/apartment, it could go with anything, even if I change my mind on brighter colors. 

It matches the living room rug PERFECTLY. (cream, gray, sage green, robin's egg blue) 

Cons:

It's gray. 

It doesn't go with the rug I have in the nook right now. 

 Your turn, Cream Armchair. 

Pros:

 It's a lovely cream color

Goes well with the rug I have in the nook now. 

I can bring in any other color by adding to it 

It would match the red leopard bench. (we'll talk about that later)

Cons:

It's cream, and will show dirt, stains, etc.(especially with how often I move)

It's cream

It does with that cute ottoman...LOOK AT THE OTTOMAN.

 Here's a little thing. A little chair with a little something.

The thing though: I have a slipper chair already. With a modern leaf-type pattern. 

This is robin's egg blue (which I do like these days)

The floral looks old. 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

OK...so probably not this one.

 Alright. It's bench time. 

The Contenders:

Red Leopard with Nail-head Trim

Pros:

It has nail-head trim. I love that ish. 

It's leopard. And in another life I maybe was some sort of big game hunter. So I dig it. 

If I get it, I can finally introduce some RED into the room. 

It's a pattern (see: not beige) 

It would go with the Cream Armchair

Cons:

I mean...it's leopard. 

Nothing else in the room is red right now. 

It doesn't go with the living room rug (If I end up using that one for they gray chair)

It doesn't go with the gray chair and I like the gray chair.

 Leather Bench

hahaha. Just kidding. What am I - a bachelor in the 1980s? 

Although, I wonder if it comes with the empty plastic bag...

Here was the other bench option. 

Beige. Safe. Nail-head trim. Goes with stuff. Yawn.

 

Velour Purple Bench!

 Earlier, when we talked about the ridiculous things I took pictures of? This is my favorite. 

It is a velour purple bench.

Velour, friends. 

And there are two of them!

Here's this pillow. 

It's regular leopard. It's smaller than a normal pillow.

And this one has a pattern. It's embroidered, which is nice. 

Sorry. I got fatigued near the end there.

I have a lot to think about.

I'll probably go back tomorrow night or Friday, so if any of these things were sold, I guess that makes my life easier.

Crossing my fingers the purple benches are still available!

Love: America

This weekend we celebrate America's birthday!

The 4th was once one of my very favorite holidays. I say "was" because when I taught 2nd grade, I had to explain Independence Day to a classroom full of Native American students.

It went a little something like this:

Student: So what is the 4th of July?
Me: Great question! We celebrate the 4th of July because that is when we became independent of Britain.
Student: ...
Me: So, the Americans were living here, in America, before it was the United States of America...and, uh, well I guess so were the Native Americans....Yep, the Native Americans were living there, actually before the colonists got there. Anyway, the colonists didn't like the British telling them what to do. Wow. And, so....hmm...but, uh. Huh. Sooooooo, yes, the Native Americans were definitely here. But, uh, the British colonists moved here and uh, well....huh. Freedom?

Fin.

This was nothing compared to the Columbus Day Discussion or, my personal favorite, The Thanksgiving Story! Hooray!

Anyway, America. AMERICA. Bald Eagles! Fireworks! Walmart! Pushing uncomfortable truths about our country deep deep deep into our  collective psyches so we never need to speak or think of them again! Missiles! GDP! Swimming Pools!

I mean, who am I kidding? The Fourth of July is fantastic. It means, sun, water, sand, grilled meats, fireworks and family. I also think of fresh fruit for some reason. Also, my older brother, younger sister and I trying to drown each other?

OK, we're back. Let's talk about some good ol' Red, White, and Blue inspiration!

The patriotic displays seen this weekend can also be used throughout the house. It'll always looks like summer. 

Look at these whimsical paper things!

 Tablecloth.

I think I love everything about this room. So crisp. So clean. 

Primary colors without looking like a box of crayons.

This is perfectly Red, White, and Blue without looking like you were too lazy to take down

your Independence Day decorations. Cheers!

 

 Alright, you guys, let's ignore that this is a kid's room. 

The rug. Old Glory. The white sunburst mirror. Red couch. Bordered crisp linens (do I spy a monogram?)

 Everything about this is pretty terrible, except for the little America banner. How droll!

But, seriously, the other stuff?

I look at this and see a bunch of wooden geese with handkerchiefs around their little necks being sold

at a county fair. Thank you, no.

I don't know what the hell is going on with the backboard there. 

Also, I hate monkeys. 

BUT, what I do see is some crisp red, white, and blue action. Also, Boston University?

Everything I found below, I found on etsy. 

I searched in "Vintage" and just typed in "American Flag."

Framed Vintage Finds:

Old Flag print + Vintage War Poster

48 Stars. Perfect for rental walls you cannot paint. 

 

Coffee table. Side table. Table. 

 

Look at this great vintage book, and the pages therein!
I'm imagining choosing maybe the title page and 3 others and FRAMING them, guys. Framing them.

Together? Or maybe just choosing your favorite. And framing them separately.

Happy 4th!

Reading Nook

So, in the living room, I wanted a place to be able to lounge and read where the TV wasn't the focus. The living room itself is super small, so I thought it would be nice to have to separate areas, each with a different feel (the other side, I'll post soon!)

I got a really gorgeous and comfy plush beige rug and put two thrift store chairs on either side of the window. I had the bookshelf from when I lived in Boston and piled in as many books as possible. (Along with, my FAVORITE, photo boxes to store stationary and other tchotchkes in an aesthetically pleasing way.) Add some Ralph Lauren woven pillows and we've got a little something going on here I think.

I'm thinking about putting a large overstuffed chair or maybe a loveseat between the chairs. I really want to put some floor cushions down, but I'm afraid my dog, Henry, would immediately fur them. Either way, it needs more color.

bookshelf - ikea, chairs & candle holder - thrift, rug - target, dog, pillows - ralph lauren