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~Jenni



Friday, September 17, 2010

In the living room (again)


{Just a little reminder that if you haven't entered our Autumn giveaway, there's still time! Click here for details.}

Getting it organized:

So I hauled out a lot of the decorations and some of the furniture so you could more easily see the room itself. Because the walls were just painted there were no curtains or wall hangings to move, so this wasn't so hard. I finally decided I'm going to keep the "simply white" I painted the walls. I think it's the right color. :)

Warning: I am showing several pictures, to give you an idea of the room's layout. This is the part of the room you have seen so far, in my fireplace post:



And despite the things removed from the mantel, and all of the work ahead to make this fireplace beautiful, believe me when I say this is the best side of the room.

We will now move on to the even less attractive...

( I am working myself up to revealing the most absolutely horrid side of this room.)


This is the table we have: a great deal snagged a garage sale that I primed and painted.



(disclaimer: I threw a canvas drop cloth on top to get a feel for how this fabric/color would work in the room.)


I have plans for a farmhouse table that will look similar to this one in the picture below (minus the red chairs). However, I am probably going to have to make it. The ones I am seeing are so expensive! I am thinking a "plank boards" look for the top of mine would be good, but I love the legs of this table and the contrast of the white with the wood top!




Now taking a deep breath and summoning all fortitude, I add this picture for you to see:


(I'm wincing a little.)


This is the room, as if you are coming in from the back hall, fireplace off to the right. The piano has been claimed and will be off on its way to a new home tomorrow! We will be replacing it with an upright, which will not need so much space, and can push up against the wall. Five out of five of us play the piano, so not having one is really not an option! :)




I am hoping to take it from the way it is now to a little like this:





And below, the picture that makes my heart skip a beat...





I first saw this beautiful picture when Jami at Freckled Laundry showed it in a recent post. I gasped when I saw the floors! This is exactly what I want in the kitchen! (Yes, I am eventually covering up the painted vinyl floor!)

But for the living room, I picture this floor...



There is just something about wide plank floors...
(by the way, do you see the cute little "bin" cupboards in this picture? I think it's love.)




And now you are looking at the most unhappy side of the room. (It's kind of a shock to your system after that last picture, huh?) If there is any furniture I dislike in our home, it would be these bookshelves. BUT...I hope to paint these a soft gray color. I say "hope" because I am still trying to convince my husband that this is a good idea. If I cannot convince him~ or until I can!~ I will either put white linen or bead board wallpaper on the back of the bookshelves. But for now, just imagine them painted! ;)





This is our armoire, a little on the big side. But I got it for a steal last spring, and could see the potential. It is definitely going to be painted a beautiful gray!




I like this lamp shade (found at IKEA) but think I will only use one of these lamp shades. Otherwise, the room might look too modern for my taste!


It has taken me years of us owning this home to figure out what my style is. Ultimately, I discovered it while working on our kitchen this past year. I realized I {love} soft, dreamy whites and grays with pops of color, ever so sparingly. I love the way white makes a room seem so open and spacious, which in a small house, is a very good thing! :)

{Before closing, I want to say thank you to Mari Eriksson for kindly lending me her pictures for this post! Her photography is simply amazing! I have so much enjoyed looking at her website, Mari Eriksson Photography! And she has a blog, An angel at my table,
that is beyond beautiful! When you see it, you will know exactly what I mean! It makes me want to see Sweden for myself!}

But for now, I will just be content to bring a little of Sweden here to my home, in the soft whites and grays I have come to love...

Well, I hope you all have a beautiful weekend, and thanks for stopping by for a visit! :)

Blessings~

Jenni


16 comments:

Kathy said...

All these photos are great, even your "worst side" so much potential, I can't wait to see what you do, with your good taste I know it will be very special...I have that same grand piano and I know what you mean about taking up space...good luck with this project

Turley Times said...

You have a lot of great stuff to work with in your room! The "simply white" walls and your vision of having a farmhouse table reminded me of a different blog post I saw recently in case you want some more inspiration: http://acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/dining-room-after.html

Hannah

Erin said...

Jenni, you are CRAZY!!! This isn't horrid at all, just not up to your standards:) Having the guided tour, I think it will look smashing once you work your magic, and the main thing is you have a lovely, lovely vision. Timing babe, timing. You rock at the changes you've made thus far and it will look like one of the photos once you are done(already on it's way!)!!

Katie Olthoff said...

It is going to be a beautiful room! I love the inspiration pictures you posted!!!

Robin Beck said...

It is beautiful as it is~! Nice and bright, perfect for the area we live in! I look forward to seeing all that you do.
I hope you and your family are doing well-All is good here!

Robin~♥

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

I can see your vision. It is going to be beautiful! I think painting those cabinets is a great idea.

xox
Jen

Unknown said...

The "bad" side isn't bad at all. Some relaxed Romans (pulled to the top as not to block your light) will look beautiful...along with the rest of your ideas. Tell hubby that Jami wants you to paint the shelves. Ha!

Hugs,
Jami

About Southern Belle said...

Oh Jenni, you home is just beautiful! I can see your vision and its going to be breathtaking!

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Anonymous said...

Everything will looks so beautiful when you are finished! I agree, paint the bookshelves!

Burlap Luxe said...

Hi Jenni,
I don't know what the heck is wrong with me! I have been busy working and getting things done around here with signs and such.

Oh and it is this months Romantic Homes Magazine Octobers Issue page 12 I am featured in the setting you sites. My blog was featured and you can read about me a post down on my site :)

Thank you dear one for your visit, so now I can comment you on your place. I love the inspiration pictures an am well aquainted with the photo's and I to have been inspired by them. Th farm table is what I want as well, we are so much alike with the things of desire.

The armoire and book cases are your source of headache, but I can see them white in fact I did not see any dark stain on them I only saw white! Piano is a must if you all play and I have a friend who has a beautiful one beautiful sound and we painted and ditressed in in white...need I say she is in love with it!

Tell that hubby it is only paint, and painted piece's will cost more these days in the design industry than stain grade will, its the art of the paint job we now pay for.
So go for your dream, I am dreaming right along with you.

Jenni I am going to add you to my blog roll, why have I not done this many times before, shame on me!!

I am INSPIRED with my visit, so I thank you for that...NOW what can I paint :)
xoxo
BLESSINGS BIG time!!!
Dore

Michelle said...

My hubby "thinks" I'm addicted to painting, and his Dad is worse, he says he has to keep moving around me so I won't paint him, ha!

I think the bookcases would be so beautiful painted!

I recently acquired 2 hutches for my sun room, from 2 different people, but happen to match. I had plans to paint one of them yellow, now that I have 2, I can't decide what to do!

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Elise said...

I am loving your space and your inspiration photos are so dreamy!! We went to Ikea the other day and gray seems to be the new "it" color and my husband was definitely diggin' it.
I got your comment about my Love from Lilly dolls and would welcome whatever you have. Just email me and we'll get to talkin'.
Thank you so much!!
Elise
athomeelise@yahoo.com

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Unknown said...

For the Farm table you want I would go to ana-white.com, she has wonderful how to for building furniture. And yes she has plans, that are free, for a farm table. I know because we have plans for one next summer.
Good luck!