The Living Room

We have had a whirlwind of a week, and before the week is over, I wanted to share some photos of what the living room looks like now that it's finished.

Now, let's be honest. By "finished", I don't really mean finished, finished. Is a room ever really finished? I don't think so.

But, for now, it's as finished as it's going to be.

You'll notice my large empty frame is missing. I intended to hang it above the loveseat, but I'm afraid it might be too much on that wall. It's still undecided.

As you can see, the layout has changed around a bit. Our love seat has been moved to the right wall, and the display case where the love seat used to be. Because of the narrow depth of the display case, we were able to squeeze in an arm chair in front of it by the bay window. I've been on the hunt for a smaller occasional chair, and I've come across some good options, but until then, this one adds an extra seat.

The general opinion is that this layout is the most flattering for the space. 

Here are a few photos of different variations of this same room. It's actually quite ridiculous how many times it's changed... But it's been an evolvement of personal style, and finding what's most efficient.

Our living room when we first moved in. It was very dark.

After a year or two, I finally tackled trying to put my own stamp on the space.

Theses couches are actually burnt orange, and because they're a camel-back shape, you can't buy slipcovers for them. I did find generic covers though, and I tucked and tied to try to make them work on a budget. I still have these couches in hopes of one day recovering them.

Also, I had painted the entire space grey. This was when grey started to become quite popular. I regretted it as soon as I put away my paintbrushes. I forced myself to live with it for a few weeks, but I didn't love it. So out everything came again, and I repainted it white - the colour I really wanted to paint it, but was too scared to.

Five years later, I've never repainted a different colour, and am just as happy today as I was then with the look.

Here we have the white walls, and you can see that over time, my style is becoming less cluttered and more focused. However, this layout provided us with only three seats thanks to the piano. Soon after, the piano left, and while I loved the look of it, I was thankful for the extra space.

A new coffee table was purchased, as well as a darker slip cover, and any clutter that was in the space was now completely removed.

Today, while I wouldn't call the room cluttered, I do feel it's more curated.

There is now comfortable enough seating for five, with an occasional chair to the side of the room for the possibility of seating for six.

This is the view from our master. The main bath is to the right, and the front entrance is the french door behind the pair of arm chairs.

It's funny how different the space looks, and how quickly you forget.

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.

Red Transferware

Anyone who has known me for a while - okay, maybe not even that long - probably figured out fairly soon in our relationship that I love white.

White walls, white furniture, white china.

I simply like white.

So it kind of goes without saying, that aside from fresh greens and mercury glass and maybe a bit of rust and wood, that nearly all of my Christmas decor is a shade of white.

Quilted cream stockings. Kraft paper packages with white ribbon.White Poinsettias.

There is however one bit of Christmas decor that isn't white. 

Over the past couple years, I've collected bits of red transferware to display during December.

They have a lovely traditional Christmas feel to them.

 I've actually sold quite a bit of my collection, as it was simply too much to display. What remains were a few of my favourite pieces, and place settings for four.

These Mason's teacups came from an older lady who brought them with her when she immigrated from Europe. She only had one saucer in tact, so they're paired with a newer version.

The dinner plates are Johnson Bros., and are a fair bit newer.

But that's the beauty of transferware. Different patterns mix well, and in my opinion, look more flattering together.

You can see in the photos above that another hint of red that comes out at Christmas is a beautiful stitched tablecloth made from old European grainsacks. It's three lengths stitched together, and it has that thick, worn-soft from use, feel to it.

The Living Room and Vintage Wool Shawls

 

The rest of the living room is finished and ready for Christmas.

 

I didn't do too much in the rest of this room. This area of our living room is opposite to our tree. Actually, we have a very poorly designed living room. It's very long and narrow, with our front entrance and staircase right between. Originally, this part of the living room was actually a small bedroom. The house was quite tiny at that point because right now we really have no proper dining room (we use the sunroom off the kitchen which is an addition), the kitchen isn't nearly big enough for an eat in kitchen, and at that time, the upstairs was still attic and not yet converted into two bedrooms and a bath. So the living room would have been more of a small sitting room.

 

Luckily for us, that's not the case anymore. And though it took me a very long time to find the most efficient use of space for maximum seating, I've found it. We also have a family room in our basement, so this really is more of our formal living space.

 

 

I moved one of my alabaster lamps from our bedroom in here for now. We do a lot more entertaining at night this time of year, and the extra light helps. I also think the aged marble is complimented by the couches and throw pillows. 

 

A simple white Poinsettia and some pine cones are just festive enough. After all, from here you can see the Christmas tree so I didn't feel the need to go crazy. I would still like to find a large white Poinsettia for in a large basket beside my arm chair, but white ones are very scarce this time of year.

 

 

 

Back in the summer, while browsing an antique mall a little ways away, I came across these two vintage wool shawls. They're a beautiful oatmeal colour and 100% wool. They're gorgeous, and very soft. They're also in nearly perfect condition. I set them out on my arm chairs as light throws.

 

They were a steal at only $15 each!

Garland and Greenery

My mom graciously dropped me off a box full of greenery, and over the past two weeks I've slowly been making garland and small wreaths for around the house. Adding bits of greenery is a simple and natural way of making a room ready for Christmas. 

I think a room feels so much more festive with small garlands draped over picture frames, and bits of pine and cedar tucked into vases. And the natural greenery is so fragrant and fresh.

The small garlands are made from Pine, Cedar and Spruce cuttings. I have them on my flourished mirror at our front door, and on my frame above our couch.

I also made small Cedar wreathes for on my brass candlesticks.

The largest garland is on our banister. I actually use fake garland as a base and then I wire my greenery to that. It's a cheaper way of adding fullness and structure. It also helps the garland keep it's shape when I've bent it around the railing. 

This is another little bit of Christmas that I've had for a while. It's an old postcard I bought at an antique store years ago. I think that the picture is so quaint. I tuck it into my flower frog, which I usually use to hold my recipe cards.

I also tucked some cuttings into a vase with some faux Magnolia flowers. Obviously I would prefer fresh flowers, but these are pretty, and they last forever.