The Console

It's always fun to add a surprise element of furniture to a traditional space.  This mid-century styled console/buffet is a very heavy piece of furniture. The single most dreaded piece when moving. The top is solid granite. We have surround sound in this room so it makes a great to house my stereo system. (I've yet to hook up stereo so excuse the wires shining underneath.)

I won this little postcard on ebay.

It was postmarked March 5, 1913.  Isn't it interesting how the addresses were not very specific in those days?

View from the sofa-

console: consignment shop
mercury glass lamps: Tuesday Mornings
red finial bowl:  Sears
mirror: Hobby Lobby
books, antlers and trophy: antique/thrift stores
croc tray and silver candle holder: Home Goods
candle: gift
leaf candy dish: Goodwill

Posting to:
Mod Vintage Life 
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style


I'm extending the Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway for a couple of more days.  If you haven't signed up, please go here. 
Winner will be announced Wednesday.

The Little Chair

Introducing the "little chair."  You saw the man's chair, now here's the lady's chair in all her petite goodness.  The animal print pillow is from Target- $29, chair from a flea market- $15.  

She cleaned up quite nicely with fabric cleaner. 

I don't remember why I was in a flea market days before moving. Must have been an escape from packing.
Never go to a flea market or thrift store when:
-you don't want to buy anything.
-you can't buy anything.
Murphy's law: you'll find the best bargain at that exact moment. 

How could I even think about another piece of furniture to move?

This one wasn't so clean but I loved its soft curve. Even though both pieces had been recovered with the same fabric, I don't think they are original mates. Close enough.

I bought the chair first, went home, then returned the next day to buy the sofa- $55 after a bit of negotiating.  A bargain is always justified right?

Hopefully re-upholstery will be done before my next move.

Thinking about the color.

I so love the peacock blue velvet.

Via

Via

Or a light blue/gray leather.

Via

Gray velvet is nice too.

Via

But really, neutral always makes the best sense.

Via

Via

You know the routine. Add the pillows.

Via

Don't forget about the GIVEAWAY!  There is still time to enter!



Posting to:
My Romantic Home
At The Picket Fence 
Common Ground 
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
The Vintage Farmhouse
No Minimalist Here

The Recliner

This is another one of my chairs- the recliner.  When I ordered a Queen Ann recliner in white leather with nail heads back in the 90's, I got some looks.

But I knew what I wanted. It has held up well, other than having one of the sides re-bolted a few years ago.  

 I don't know what the doc would do if we didn't have a recliner. It's sort of his go-to chair in the living room.  I keep warning him that some day it'll have to go.  He's clinging to it as long as he can.

  
But recliners have come a long ways.  I may not be opposed to getting another one.

Lazy Boy

Horchow

Love the blue color of that one!

I could see this cowhide in a library.

And in case you missed it, look what Mimi of Blue Roof Cabin did!

 Isn't that the most adorable recliner ever?


Yes, recliners can even be dainty and pretty.

Via

Lazy Boy

Do you have a recliner?

Posting to:
My Romantic Home
At The Picket Fence
The Charm of Home
Mod Vintage Life

Louis Chairs

I love chairs. If I bought every chair I loved, my house could not contain them.  But some are worth making room for.

These two Louis XVI chairs have moved from room to room in every house I've owned for the past 13 years.

I was fortunate to find them at an estate auction for $40 each. They are in the exact great condition I found them. To this day, I still love the fabric and details.

They have a formal look and are probably not the most comfy to sit on so I usually put them in a welcoming area or a spill over space for guests.

To keep them from being too serious, I added the circles pillows and modern sphere lamp from Target, the wrought iron tables with heavy glass from a yard sale, vintage books from Goodwill, and bookends and a vase from Marshall's.

The difference between a Louis XV and Louis XVI chair is the shape of the legs. XV legs are curved while XVI are straight. You probably already knew this but, if you'd like to read a little history, go to this neat blog, I Dream Of Chairs.  La Dolce Vita has a great summary on the chairs as well.

Via

Louis XV

Via



Pinterest



Louis XVI

Via

Pinterest

The Louis ghost chairs are chic right now.

Via





And I do love them.

Via





I saw some ghost chairs at Tuesday Mornings a couple of weeks ago for about $100 each. I'm sure that was an excellent deal but I had to keep walking.

Via





My blog is turning 2 years old!  Stay tuned for a giveaway!

Posting to:
 Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
 Savvy Southern Style
 Charmed Bracelet Diva
Sugar and Spice

Wall Art Gallery

Need to fill up a large area on a small budget? 
Make a wall gallery.  

I bought these book prints at Winterberry Cottage on etsy.

The matted frames were puchased at the Christmas Tree Shop. (Caution- cheap frames are hard to hang straight. Some of them are different sizes and hangers are in different places. Nothing like a photo to help you see things. I've since gone back and straightened up some of these.)

For less than $100, a big wall is amply decorated without a lot of fuss.

In case, you missed a previous post, the houndstooth ottoman came from Target.

I'm a little unsure about the durability since so many prop their feet on it but... that's what an ottoman is for so we'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Three years ago my living room looked like this-

We moved and leased out the house. Tenants destroyed it, especially the floors. So we came back and continued the wood throughout this room too.

(stain is a blend- 1/2 pecan, 1/2 ebony.)

I'm amazed at how much larger it made the space feel.

More details to come.
Other sources in these photos-
Sofa: Craigslist
Rug: JC Penney's
Vintage Style floor lamp:  The Christmas Tree Shop (only $16!)
Red tray on ottoman: Ross
Circle pillows: Target
Chevron pillow: Tuesday Morning's
Silhouette pillow: A Cozy Cup of Tea
Paint color: Sherwin Williams Pediment

Posting to:
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Living Room Reveal

Done. After 3 months of unpacking and sorting, I'm finally able to show my living room. It's 98% complete.

If we stay in the house, the ceiling fan and wall speakers will be first to go. I took the advice of the majority and kept the mantel and doors white for resell purposes. I still haven't hung window treatments because I can't decide whether to go neutral or punch it up with red.  I have some gorgeous red on red cheetah print fabric but with the door being the only outdoor light source, it may be too dark.

Shopping for antlers to go over that mirror. 

The equestrian style decor in this room was in a den/study in one of my former houses.  I pulled out my 15 year old fox hunt oil painting and for very little money changed things up a bit.

Details and sources coming in a future post.

I'm delighted to attend these parties:
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Open House at No Minimalist Here