Living Room Re-design

Do you ever have those moments when you turn around and completely hate everything in your space?? This happens to me most mornings when I try to get dressed - tons of clothes in the closet but nothing to wear...

Well, it's started happening with decor now too - eek!

Our living room got a few updates earlier this year with a new rug, a gallery wall, and a dolled up wine hutch, but since then it has been at a complete standstill for many months.

I can't stand the lack of change, so the time has come to switch things up.

I made a laundry list of the things I want to change, and came up with an inspiration board for how I want this space to feel - lighter colors, more natural wood elements, and overall a more organic feel...

Living Room Wishlist:
  - New sofa
  - "New" Area Rug
  - Cowhide rug (for layering)
  - Lighter colored side tables
  - Weathered wood coffee table
  - Additional Seating

I'm desperate for a new sofa (it's about time!) and while I've been talking about getting rid of all the dark furniture (coffee table and side tables), it's time!

The area rug is an easy fix - this creme colored trellis rug is the exact area rug that we have in our bedroom, and I think the rug currently in our living room would look fabulous in our bedroom with all the white bedding, and navy chevron curtains... so the easy solution is to swap rugs.  Bedroom rug moves to the living room, and living room rug moves to the bedroom.  The annoying part of this??  Moving the mattress, boxsprings, frame and headboard out of the way first...

Ok let's not think about that... let's talk about my plans for a cowhide rug... RugsUSA has a fab 75% off sale running over the 4th of July, making this cowhide rug just $245! I think I need to have it.....

Obviously, I can't afford don't plan to splurge on a new rug, new side tables, a new coffee table, a new chair (or pair of chairs) and a new sofa all at once, I'm thinking of making some temporary tweaks to what we already have in order to feel happier with this space overall... how will I do this??

PAINT.

Yep - that coffee table and side tables are getting a mini makeover in the meantime before I replace them.  They have no idea what is coming their way! I'm thinking a clean creamy white, or even a pretty light blue like the side table in the inspiration photo... although notice the card catalog drawers??? That side table is high up on my wish list....

I'm also contemplating changing up the layout of the room, but I'll cross that bridge after making some of the initial changes to color palette.... stay tuned for more...........

Grey Trellis Rug: I Pulled the Trigger!

That's right!  The Homespun Moroccan Trellis Charcoal Rug is mine all mine in 7-10 business days! (Just wait until Kris finds out *devilish grin*) The decision to get this rug has been a long time coming and I could not be more excited!



My love affair with this rug started with a few rooms I stumbled upon online - several admittedly coming from A Well Dressed Home's blog.



A few Google Searches later, I was officially obsessed and needed a grey trellis rug in my house ASAP.  Unfortunately, this rug was on back-order indefinitely!  I hemmed and hawed over other colors, but kept coming back to the grey!  All the reviews said it was a very pretty grey with blue undercurrents - so perfect for our space!  I had accepted defeat, but on a whim, I decided to check the site last week.  What do you know?! It was back!  In less than five minutes, the order was placed, and I was sitting back happily at my desk, flushed with excitement!

(Side note: remember this post and Inspiration Board I created several months back?  This was completed just before I learned that I couldn't get my hands on that rug!)

Anyways, since creating the above inspiration board, I'd say that I've fulfilled about 80% of the ideas! Of course, as things have been hung, bought, and moved around, I have a few other ideas that I'd like to try, so the inspiration will need some tweaks.  The owls are on hold along with the star-burst mirrors.  I am actually now contemplating a gallery wall and a few sea fan art installations... more on that later!

We are also STILL looking at pillows (the seemingly never ending conversation) but I want to put any pillow decisions on hold until we get the new rug. I think it will really transform the space, and maybe I'll end up hating all my initial pillow options!

Also on the table?  A new sofa.  Macys is having a sale (again) and I am kind of loving the Chloe Fabric Velvet Metro Living Sofa.  Here it is in the sample photo and again from DecorPad.

Macys Stock Photo

DecorPad

The sofa is a great deal, and truth be told, I am dying to get rid of one of the love-seats we currently have.  A nice long sofa will be so nice to stretch out on.

Another secret? As much as I hate Kris' black love-seat from his bachelor days, I'm almost willing to let him keep it for now, and sacrifice mine because his provides better back support!  Wow, I've never sounded more like an old lady.  We need a new mattress, and a slew of other things before a new love seat, so I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Replacing the cushions on mine seems daunting, and re-upholstering his seems WAY out of my league.

Anyways, the rug will make me happy in the short term!  Stay tuned for updates on my little sea fan project :-)