Living Room Refreshed

Slow but sure I am making a few updates around my house.

We have lived here so long that things 

we did when we moved in were looking

a bit on the drab side.

I had trouble with some of the pictures.

The window is so big that even on a cloudy day it was 

really bright in the photos.

You are probably getting tired of seeing this living room...

but it looks a little better so I'm sharing it.

Here is a post I did a while ago where I was talking, 

actually more like complaining,

about how dark things were. 

It shows what the room looked like before...

Here is how it looks now...

I talked about ordering this rug when it was on sale.
I waited to put it down until I also got a new sofa.
Yep...I went to IKEA.
If you have any doubts about this couch
you can put them to rest.
It went together with only 6 big screws.
Really easy.

This end of the room is totally different.
I don't know why I never thought of this arrangement before.
I was in such a rut!

More on the bookshelves later.
 I had the best time putting them together.

I still want to paint this TV cabinet.

I just received my chalk paint from Classic Wall Finishes.

It was back ordered for a while but it was worth the wait.

They included 2 sample colors and a set of brushes to 

thank me for waiting so patiently.

I highly recommend them if you are in the market for 

anything "Annie Sloan."

This is the sofa table that was at the other end of the room.

The lamps were in the dining room and 

I had the shades in a room upstairs.

There is a thermostat buried in that wreath...

it was the only way I could think of to hide it.

I'm going to paint the wood tray on the coffee table too.

I have a Canon PowerShot SD 1400.
If anyone has advice on how I can take better
pictures with this camera I would be FOREVER grateful.
I must be using a wrong setting but I can't for the life
of me figure out how to get it right.


Thanks for visiting my home...
come back soon.

Linking to:
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

My Favorite Cupboard

I thought I would share a bit of my kitchen...I'm getting ready to start 

a small kitchen reno so these will make great "before" pictures. 

There won't be drastic changes...just updating and refreshing. 

This corner is my favorite.

 I actually think I might paint it blue but I haven't completely decided yet. 

 I have had these blue chickens for years.
I got them, of all places, at the Rutherford B. Hayes Estate in the gift shop.

This is from the other side of the kitchen.

 This space above is a little awkward and not very tall.
It took me a while to figure out what to put up there.

I move the cream pitchers around...and the blue Ball jars are a recent eBay purchase.
 Love them.

 This set of 4 plates was a gift from my family for Christmas a few years ago.
They're sort of Quimper knock-offs...but I think they are so pretty.

My "vintage linen" from IKEA.

 My little birds move around too. For now they are in the kitchen in "My Favorite Cupboard."

Linking to
Blue Monday at Smiling Sally

The Heart of the Home Party at Note Songs
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

My Take on IKEA

Hey there...as a new blogger I am constantly being introduced to new and different ways of shopping and decorating.  I have to admit that I have recently become quite intrigued by the phenomenon called IKEA.

I have been to IKEA once a few years ago when I moved my son to Chicago.  We spent 4 hours one afternoon buying him the HEMNES bedroom suite.  He put all 5 pieces together himself and I'm proud to say his room turned out really nice.  

Moving on...

So I decided a road trip was in order.  The nearest IKEA is about a 90 minute drive from where I live.  I talked my girlfriend into going with me and we went yesterday.  OK...yesterday was Saturday.  Not the best choice.  IT WAS PACKED.  But we managed to get through the whole place in about 3 hours.

We started  upstairs in the furniture.  I quickly found the object of my affection.

THE EKTORP SOFA

Now I have been reading and digesting what everyone has had to say about this VERY reasonably priced sofa.  Most sing its praises...some think "you get what you pay for."  My opinion is this:  for the money, how can you go wrong?  I sat on it.  It's quite comfortable.  I looked at the different choices of slip covers but I think I would go with the most basic color...blekinge white.  Not a stark white...sort of soft.  

Of course we got to looking at all the other pieces as well.  I would LOVE to have a couple of these chairs.  But that will have to wait.



I do think I am going to get 2 of these slipcovered dining room chairs.  I have a very traditional dining room with inherited furniture and I think these would be a quick and very inexpensive update.

I would love to get them monogrammed or perhaps do something like this:




I wasn't quite ready to make the big purchase though. ( I have a birthday coming up and I am thinking maybe I could score one or two IKEA gift cards.)  So my next step was to find the box the sofa came in and see if there was any chance it would fit into my vehicle.  I have an older Buick Rendezvous and I was hoping I would get lucky.

I found my aisle and my bin.



I measured the box.  It measures 80 inches long.  With my seats down I thought I could go to about
78 inches.  Very close...I think I can make it work.

With that good news, we took our purchases to the check out...the lines weren't too bad.  It could have been much worse.


It was while we were standing in line that I started smelling the cinnamon rolls they sell in the little cafe by the Exit doors.



What a way to end the experience!  I'm still thinking about the sofa.  I have to replace what I have...it's
17 years old and ready to be retired.  The slip covers would be fun...my kids are gone so it won't get a ton of wear.  I'll let you know what I decide.

Have a great day!