Vintage Marquee Lights
House Tour: Living Room and Planning Center
You know, there is just something about a comfortable, plop down on the couch, furry rug…… living room! Don’tcha think?
Well, I do!
Folks, I can’t think of a more comfy space than the living room in my house. I really wanted it to be this place that was easy to keep clean but also a place where you could do just that…… PLOP! Just come in and sit right down. Kick up your feet and stay a while. Well, not too long, I suppose! LOL!
In order to do that, I knew I was going to have to put things that were easy to wash, were soft, but could also take the abuse that my family would give it.
Yes, I jumped on the white slipped cover “band wagon” . We went to IKEA right before we moved in and bought these couches. BEST DECISION EVA!
I really love how the white is so versatile, yet can be washed if it were to get dirty. When I bought these, I chose to get a second set that was a darker gray. My idea is to switch them out every few months. Hopefully, this will help with the longevity of the slip covers. If not, the good thing is they are not expensive to replace and who doesn’t like a good excuse to go to IKEA, right? 😉
My last couch was a wrap around and we literally had it until it began to dry rot. I am not one who likes to buy a really expensive nice couch when I know my kiddos are probably going to spill something on it , or, like my little man, use it as a trampoline or a base jump spot to dive off of. *What is it going to take to make that KID stop! AHHHHHH! That one is definitely going to be my ER baby!
I yell and yell at my whole family and tell them that we will not be eating or drinking on this AT ALL, but let’s be honest. That is like saying the same thing about a new car. You have really good intentions initially, and then that one day comes where you make the exception and suddenly it goes from looking like this:
to looking like THIS:
Well, hopefully not this bad. I mean, we don’t smoke so we shouldn’t have the cigarette packs and all. 😉
When we first moved in, we only had our fireplace on the wall here. I knew that I wanted to do built ins, so I called Steve Egloff from The Wandering Woodshop who did all the carpentry work in our house and together we came up with plan. He custom designed the built ins to work for my space.
If you notice, the thermostat was put on the wall very close to where I wanted the built ins to go, so made sure the design would work with the position of the thermostat and still look good and symmetrical for the space.
I think he did a fantastic job!
We went with a backing that has an unfinished horizontal boarding. At first, my plan was to white wash the backing, but after looking at for a day, I noticed that the backing was really picking up some of the yellow and tan accents I had in that space so I decided to keep it and I am so happy that I did. It also, to me, has a beach feel and since I have coastal accents in my house, I LOVE IT!
*Reference Purposes: The color of the blue paint that is used on the accent wall is Benjamin Moore’s Labrador Blue. Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter is the main color on the wall.
I really love the contrast of the honey tones on the back of the space work so well with the greens and silver.
We went with some of the same hardware that we have used in the kitchen and the baths throughout the house. They are from The Martha Stewart line at Home Depot. They are usually in the store and also in stock.
We went with a lot of the same squared off craftsman style cuts we have used on other detail projects in the house.
It’s really believe it is all in the details, and Steve really takes the time to do that.
On to the thing that was probably one of the biggest reasons we chose this house. For as long as I can remember, I have tried to create a “command center” or area that we can utilize for the kids things or things for the home that require planning. Papers always overflow if they do not have a home. Homework always ends up on the dinner table. I could go on and on……….
BEHOLD!!!!!!
THE PLANNING CENTER!
I am so happy we have this space. It is out of the way at the base of our stairs and holds all the homework items, important papers, and crafting items that one could need.
Everything is nice and hidden behind the cabinet doors and the countertop stays open for the kids to spread their homework out.
I made sure when we were adding electrical outlets, that I added plenty in this space for purposes of charging any phones, tablets, laptops etc. While we are using the cubby areas currently for scratch paper for homework or construction paper for projects and headphones, and staplers……. the first thought we had for the space was “WOW! We that space would be perfect for the tablets and ipods! The ideas are endless !
I decided to put a photo holder in the space for fun memories and and also put an IKEA organizing bar in the corner too. The extra hooks are there to hold up to two more buckets as the need grows to have them.
Even though the light above the space is casting a yellow glow, the granite is actually not that yellow. The color for reference purposes is Santa Cecilia.
Hardware for the space is a mix of Martha Stewart silver knobs and square cup pulls (Special Order) from Home Depot on the lower cabinet area and a glass knobs for the upper cabinets. I couldn’t find them online, but they are always in stock at either Home Depot or Lowes for about $3.50 each.
Probably the best thing about this area of the house is this. You can’t see the mess that might be made behind the wall that it resides behind.
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We have had the Z Marquee Light for a little while now and got this from our good friends at Vintage Marquee Lights. They are awesome!
Well, my dear friends, that is all for today! Thank you so much for spending more time with me as I shared the living room space and planning center area with you today. I hope you were able to get some great ideas that may help you with your own decorating journeys.
If you have some great tips to share, or if you have any questions, please feel free to do so in the comments! I would love to hear from you.
Please check back next week where I share how I turned what might have been a girly office into a shared office space for the hubster and myself! 😉
XOXO,
Esther
Holiday Home Tour: Casa Verde
WARNING!!!! This is a long post…… which you will love and not mind sitting and looking at. Women, prepare to drool. Men, prepare to hold onto your wallets, while your lady loves get more decorating ideas. In fact, Men, you might just go shopping too!
I am soooooo excited about this Holiday Home Tour!
I have the sweetest friends who were nice enough to let me invade their BEAUTIFUL home the other morning and take a few pictures. When I first thought about doing a Holiday Home Tour, they were the first ones I thought of and I am just so happy that they agreed to let me come on in!
Machel and Jerrad are the very talented owners of Vintage Marquee Lights. They create the COOLEST Lighting Art you will ever see. If you get a chance, check out their site here.
They have a Charleston style home in a neighborhood near mine and let me just tell you, it is GORGEOUS!
Inside, the foyer welcomes you in with a stunning white Christmas tree, decorated with vintage style ornaments. Machel painted the wall treatment herself that stands behind it. The garland that goes up the stair case is adorned with the same style ornaments.
The grand light in the foyer is practically an art sculpture itself.
To the left of the foyer is the most adorable little playroom/den for their son. I’m so jealous of these sliding barn doors that Jerrad and a friend made themselves. At least I know who to call when I want to tackle the project in my own home!
Here is a view looking in to the room from the foyer. Seriously! They have more creative talent in their pinky finger than I have in my ENTIRE body!
I love how they decorate with their products throughout their home.
Towards the back of the house is the living room and kitchen area, with the most adorable little fireplace. The chalkboard fire casts the cutest little “glow”. 😉
Machel didn’t want to go for just ordinary white cabinets when she was decorating her kitchen. So, she took some of her favorite fabric and pieced it behind the wood trim, hiding the seam. The shelves also help keep it in place. The result is stunning!
I really love this idea, so grab those extra remnants of fabric people and DO NOT throw them out!
A set of old vintage lockers hold their stockings in the corner, while a surfboard still reminds you that the beach is only minutes away.
The industrial style light fixture (WHICH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE) hangs over the bar area, where a cute little table top tree stands watch.
Towards the middle of the house, a magnificent display of twinkling lights and paper stars hang.
View from the dining room.
A quick peek inside the downstairs bathroom, shows a chalkboard lined with garland made from ornaments, a DIY project of Machel’s. “Casa Verde” is the name Machel and Jerrad gave to their home. Mine would read more like “Casa Loco”. In case you are wondering what mine might translate to, it would be “CRAZY HOUSE”!
Another DIY project in the dining room, is the Chandelier. If you take a closer look, you will see that it is clothes pins that make up the body of the chandelier. CLOTHES PINS, PEOPLE! Why didn’t I think of that?
The letters that spell “Joy”, very appropriate for the Holidays, is a creation of Machel and Jerrad’s and can be purchased on their site as well.
If I ever convince my hubby to let me remove the carpet on our stairs, this is exactly what will go in it’s place. I cannot express how much I love this!
I love how the stairs continue to count up as you go. It adds so much character to the home.
It just goes to show you that you don’t have to buy an old home in order to obtain that character. You can have a new home and put some of that character into it yourself!
On to the baby’s room! This little boy is very lucky! This is one of the most stylish baby rooms I have ever seen.
Christmas books double as art pieces on IKEA shelves, lining the wall.
Who wouldn’t want to sit a while and read a Christmas book or two in this corner?
An upstairs bathroom gets in the spirit too with an “I Believe in Santa Clause” picture and a series of Nutcrackers keeping watch.
The Master Bedroom gets festive too. Lit garland drapes the top of the headboard, while the lit Peace Symbol can’t help but remind you of John Lennon’s “Imagine” song.
The vanity’s mirror is not forgotten. Nor is the modern reindeer head that shows so distinctly. Frosted garland and a festive wreath dress the two.
Jewelry is displayed in the corner, while a dazzling full length mirror helps Machel get ready for her Holiday parties.
I couldn’t finish up this post without talking about the Master Bath. The rustic peace symbol over the tub and the Capiz shell chandelier make such a great combo with their eclectic married look.
When Machel found out she couldn’t actually put a hanging chandelier over the tub, she didn’t let that stop her. She knew what look she wanted, so she decided to secure a non lit capiz shell chandelier around the existing standard light, giving the allusion of having a chandelier. BRILLIANT IDEA! *The girl knows what she wants! 😉
Instead of using interior lights to go over the vanity, she used exterior ones. I love how they both have such an aged look patina.
A quick look from the upstairs looking down.
Before we finish, take a look at their front doorway. It’s amazing what using some interior pieces outside can do for a space. They talk about bringing the outdoors in, but I say take the indoors out! This is such a cozy look and you haven’t even gone in yet!
I am such a sucker for chalkboards and I think I might just have to steal this idea! Too cute!
See! I told you, you would love every minute of this post! I think the only thing left to ask here is when can I move in?
*A special thank you to Machel and Jerrad for letting me invade “Casa Verde” and take these pictures. They are an amazingly talented couple with great design ideas. I pray they do more projects, which I will gladly come back and take more photographs of for you and I to drool over.
Check them out on Facebook and while you are there, give them a “like” so you can stay up to date with all the new exciting stuff they are working on! Don’t forget to visit their site to!
Happy Decorating!
XOXO,
Esther
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