I thought I would share some summer changes in our living room…so come on in:-)
This room is truly a living room. We watch DVDs, listen to music, and the kids play here. It is open to the dining and kitchen areas.
I am a big fan of Cuban-born designer Vicente Wolf. I especially love how he often places furniture on the diagonal…especially in small spaces, like I have. I have done this before, but with the large leather furniture, it didn’t work as well. Now that I have only my antiques, which are smaller, it works so nicely and really opens up this room.
I am, of course, using found and family things. A lot of the pieces, including my great grandmother’s chaise lounge and table, have been in my family for well over 100 years.
The wagon wheel table my dad and I built holds a 100-year-old family photo album and some vintage cars he put together as a young boy. My kids love those cars:-)
The pink Asiatic lilies my mother gifted me with have been spectacular this year, and I am sad to see them go for the season. The brass candlesticks belonged to my grandmother, as did the blue Mason jar. One of the things I love to do when using a Mason jar to hold flowers, is to use just the canning ring to dress up the rim. You can use ribbon, twine, etc., but I like to see something there.
I do not ever want to see a TV unless it’s on, and I have had this pine armoire for years to hide the TV. I painted the orange-hued wood black about five years ago, then distressed it a couple years ago and really love it this way. I added crystal pulls this winter.
My mother brought this candelobra back from Lebanon in the early 1970s, and I dressed it up with chandelier crystals. Some of you will remember the vintage pink Chinese silk used for the runner was passed down from a relative who lived in China in the 1940s. In fact, the settee, chair by the piano, buffet, and glass lamp on the buffet also came from her.
I’m still loving the pink and loving the grey distressed walls.
Pillows I made can be tossed on the floor if the kids are watching TV or playing…
I think that I have been able to put together a room that is not only comfortable for my family but also has the vintage, time-worn look I love, but not old and stuffy. We love it anyway, and that’s what matters isn’t it?
I have been tweaking things here and there for a home tour I will be part of later this year or early 2014, so I’ll keep sharing those updates with you all. Just like the master bathroom redo, they are all low or no-cost updates that anyone can do. I really want to show that you can still have style and elegance on a non-existant budget. Really, you can–it brings out the creativity in you.
Thanks so much for stopping by:-)
Anita
I’ll be joining:
Your living room is so lovely and I adore your coffee table. It was a pleasure meeting you while shopping. Hope to get to visit again soon.
Regards,
dgmills
Oh Donnie, how wonderful it was to meet you!! Thank you so much for following along here:-)
Your living area is wonderful and beautiful! I also love the diagonal but sadly have the leather couch so it's not going to work in my small living room. I love how your home is so cozy and looks so livable.
At least give it a try Nancy…mine is really smaller than it looks only about 13 feet wide. Thank you:-)
Anita, your living room is absolutely beautiful! You have such a wonderful mix of antique and vintage pieces and it makes for a comfortable, inviting place to get together and relax. I especially love the armoire you painted…lovely! I'm looking forward to your home tour!
XO,
Jane
Beautiful!Family history, vintage , homey and comfy with a BIG emphasis on luvly! Eagerly awaiting the home tour.
Hugs, Gee
It is beautiful and I love it. So relaxing and inviting.
I love it. Your living room looks so comfy. Great colors, and a nice mix of styles that blend beautifully.
You have an absolutely gorgeous home, Anita! You have decorated/designed it perfectly – just wonderful…and full of so many special memories of loved ones. How awesome.
Thank you Anita for sharing your beautiful home. I love all your choices and antiques of course. God Bless your home and family. Love the soft colors and how you positioned all the furniture, bravo!
Wow..your home is beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing it……it is truly inspiring!
Beautiful Anita. I love your style!
What an absolute gorgeous living room! Looks like it came straight out of a vintage magazine for the wealthy!! Wow, I'm so impressed and yes, I do love the diagonal settings. Great job!
How romantic. I just want to sink into your chaise and read a book! What a beautiful room!
I love the look of your living room now. The peachy pink colours are soft and warm and all the vintage furniture and decor just brings it all together perfectly. Beautiful!
Your living room looks very relaxing. I am sure you spend many wonderful hours there with your family.
– The Tablescaper
I love the "low or no-cost updates" aspect, so I'll be watching your posts with interest. I want so much to update our home and am looking for as many ideas as possible. Our budget is less than zero, so it's imperative that I gather lots of ideas! I love it that you have created a living space that surrounds your family with things that represent your family and its past. That really makes it comfortable as well as a daily history lesson for young ones. I also like how you have cobbled such a pulled together look without going "matchy matchy" throughout the room. It shows true imagination and creativity. I'm not a matchy matchy girl, either. I'm with you on not wanting to see the television. We have armoires in both our family room and master bedroom. I'm afraid the need for additional floor space may win out in one or both rooms, though, in the near future. 🙁
Beautiful, Anita!
Trust me Alycia, I know!! After trying everything to deal with the laminate counters in our kitchen, we are going to make them from wood here so I hope to get that started soon and show everyone how easy it can be. I have seen so many versions that are not easy, or east to maintain, that I'm determined to do something a little more accessible. Yep, floor space here is at a premium too:-)
I'd step through that door anytime to see your beautiful room – stunning. Plus the mason jar is perfect with flowers.
Hi Anita! Oh, your living room is so beautiful! O love your olden pieces and how lovely that they have been passed down through your family! My mouth is still watering for your mother's biscuits! 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Your living room is lovely. I really like the way you have arranged on the diagonal and the white rug is perfect!
Hello love! So happy to visit as always, it feels so welcoming at your house and I love it all. The changes since I've been here last are wonderful and you know I love how you mix all your family pieces for a wonderful happy blend. Looking forward to stopping back again! Ps, I have some more cabin pictures that I will be posting soon, will email you when I do:)
Erin
Oh yes Erin, please do!! I don't want to miss those!! Great to see you again:-)
Looks beautiful Anita. I love all your summer changes!
You have such a beautiful living room, Anita! I love your family pieces – how special!
What a gorgeous home you have. Thanks for sharing and blessings to you, Patti
Your living room is gorgeous…there is so much thought and detail put into it and it shows….I love that you kept your families treasures all these years.
Anita, how wonderful to see a beautiful, traditional room with a personal style that is for a family. I love how you used your upolstery pieces and family ones to make a place of welcome and comfort. I love that there are colors, tradtional yet updated. How many of us have those but don't want a white room or can't afford a change. Thank you for sharing. Linda
Anita your living room is just beautiful and comfy and so inviting! Thank you for taking the time to share it with us today at THT!
What a gorgeous room – and it's so nice to hear that that's the room where all your " living " is done!
XOXO
Hi, Anita. You were one of our top 3 most viewed links at our Home{work} Wednesday link party and will be featured this week there and on my fb page. Thanks for linking up!
I don't know if you know it but all your hosts of the link party are from NC! I read your about me and we have much in common. My undergrad degree is in vocal performance and my husband and I did theater around the country before settling down. He is now a worship pastor and I've been a stay at home homeschooling mom for 20 years. And now I blog!
Have a blessed week!
Your room is gorgeous! And your feature at Homework is well-deserved.
Anita this room is AMAZING!!! Love all the layering and how you have created a comfortable, charming space for your family. You are so talented! 🙂
Vanessa
Anita,your space is amazing, just the kind of room I love! All the gorgeous vintage pieces all work to give your room a sense of history and home. The chandelier and candelabras add that touch of feminine elegance that we all want to attain. Can't wait to see more!
We'd love to have you link with us as well. Happy weekend!
Hugs,
Patti