A New Coffee Table

This year, with most of our Christmas gatherings being after Christmas, I haven't felt the need to pack up every single bit of Christmas on Boxing Day.

With that being said, our tree was beginning to look tired, as we had enjoyed it for over a month, and the fresh greens around the house were hardly fresh anymore. And after dinners and visits and brunches, the house was in need of a good clean.

Yesterday I spent the day in the living room. The tree was dismantled, decorations tucked carefully away for another year. Floors were vacuumed and furniture was moved back into place. Slipcovers were washed and replaced all fresh and bright. By the end of the day, the room had wonderfully settled back into place with only a few small hints that Christmas was here. 

For Christmas I had received some money, which I tucked away to save for a future antiquing trip. I wasn't planning on using it so soon, but while browsing kijiji, (a regular habit, along with MLS), I came across this beautiful old trunk. 

It was a great find for $35.

I've been looking for a new coffee table for quite some time, not really loving the feel of the Ikea one we had. It felt very new in a room full of old. But it was quite practical, with it's large surface.

Here you can see the old coffee table. I won't be getting rid of it, it will just be going down in our family room in the basement.

This old chest, which was likely used as a blanket box, or possibly a hope chest, has so much character to it. It's worn and used, and that makes it a lovely piece. The original dove tailing has been reinforced with screws, and it's been fitted with hinges so that the front now folds down. The previous owners were using it as a television stand. I love the simplicity of the feet, and the worn latch.

While it has half the surface size of the previous coffee table, there is still plenty of room for cups and saucers and things.

I think it adds nice warmth to the room. In the past couple of years, I've been drawn to more wood pieces, and while I have a few darker pieces in the room, I didn't have any light wood. It's a nice contrast.

Putting freshly laundered covers back on is always a wonderful feeling. I am constantly asked "How do you keep your white furniture white?" The answer is, I don't. No matter how hard I try, eventually they will need to be freshened up. I try to keep food out of the room, but occasionally we entertain. And every now and then, Oliver is let in with dirty paws. And of course, where else would he go first but my white chairs? They are lived in. But that's the beauty of slipcovers - they can be removed. And white? It can be bleached.

And completely unrelated, I wanted to share my favourite Christmas gift. Ever since I was pregnant with Hudson, I haven't been able to wear my wedding bands. At least not comfortably. Finally, after 3 years, they're back on my finger. Ryan surprised me with having them sized. He wrapped them in a sheet from an old dictionary, which was actually the laws for husbands and wives, and tied it with twine. He's creative like that. I also got one thin band for each of the boys for on my other hand. I've missed them so much.