Over the weekend, I took down the Breeze playard in the living room and with a few changes, it truly made it feel like a new space. Little things can make such a big difference in a room.
So, I thought this was a good time to share the living room, in its current state. I also updated the house tour tab with before and after images, so was a good time to get updated photos of the rooms in our home. Here’s the living room, in all her glory.
The living room is where we spend most of our time, so it’s important to us that it’s comfortable and clean and important to me to still look presentable for company. I think this is probably the most I’ve liked this room since moving in over a year ago. It just feels like “us.”
I also like that this room is unique, in my opinion. It has lots of colors and patterns and beautiful woodwork (including the “board and batten” ceiling, which I’m obsessed with). We use the fireplace almost every day and play on the floor constantly. We watch movies and read and surf the Internet here. There’s also plenty of storage between the television area, the end table and baskets.
What’s that? You’d like to see a before picture? Okay … twist my arm. Here’s the room in 2010 when we purchased the house.
Better, right? Although this was actually one of the best looking rooms in the house (hard to believe), there were still lots of updates to be made. Changes include painting walls and trim, adding board and batten to the ceiling, adding a fireplace insert, building a built-in area for television and storage, ripping out the (non-working) boiler system and radiators, replacing windows, adding tile around the fireplace, adding bamboo shades, new lighting and other decor.
Just a bit of an improvement, right?
Now for the details …
I’m really loving these pillows right now. (The blue check is IKEA fabric, sewn by me, the floral pattern is from TJMaxx and the bicycle is from LLBean.)
I planned to use this basket for something else, but it’s really perfect for magazines. I don’t subscribe to many magazines anymore, but I still have enough to fill this basket.
Having Henry has changed our decorating a bit. I still like things to be picked up, but I also don’t expect to bring all the toys up and downstairs to his room every day. So, we have a few of his most- played with things in that basket (from Target) and his wagon gets parked right next to the chair. (We also have his musical table downstairs most of the time, but it’s stored on the other side of the room.) I store some books under the television, too. Overall, this setup is perfect. Toys and books are close enough to use regularly, but very easy to store away.
Cords are also something we’re dealing with right now. Henry is attracted to them like moths to a flame. Because we have two laptops and various other devices, this end table has become a bit of a charging station, where the majority of the cords are out of reach.
You may remember a big reason for our new coffee table was adding floor space for Henry. We took that a step further and moved our massive leather club chair to the end of the room. It was taking up valuable rug space and it was more important to us to have space to crawl (Henry) and play (all of us). We have a lot of oversized furniture, which is a bit of a layout challenge. But, for now, the room is large enough that it works. (Although I am saving my pennies for a new sectional, so stay tuned. I may have enough saved by the time Henry graduates from college.)
And here’s the bottom of the staircase, which is one of my favorite features in the house.
Check out the staircase area before. Love those dining room colors …
And that my friends is our updated living room.
Where did you get your dark blinds in your living room? I love them!
JCPenney. I love the look but they are not something I’d recommend. The back strings are constantly coming undone, making the up and down motion uneven. Drives me crazy.
I’m wondering what wall color you used in your living room? It looks great!
It’s a Martha Stewart color called “Bedford Grey” and I had it matched to Behr paint.
I love the before and afters! I think you kept to the true architecture of the house while making it updated and loved again! Great job!
Ok I have to ask…that huge collage picture with the W..I need to make this! Do you have another post with the DIY? Thanks!
Thanks so much for the kind words. The collage is actually an original window from our first home. I saved it and added vinyl to it. Here’s a post about it: https://newlywoodwards.com/2008/08/visions-of-windows-dancing-in-my-head.html
For the photos, I just made a make-shift collage behind the glass. I posted about it here: https://newlywoodwards.com/2013/02/instagram-window-collage-and-valentines.html
Your house has such fabulous old bones! I checked out the tour… love what you have done. Look forward to reading more about the kitchen (I’m subscribing now). Thanks for sharing your beautiful space:)
Krista
I have this dream: one day JEGs and I will travel out to God’s Country, IL to visit you. JEGs and Ryan will go do manly, woodworking stuff and you and I will sip wine and do crafty things while the monster’s play quietly on the floor.
..but then I realize my child would rip this room to shreds in an instant. Seriously though, how do you keep Henry away from the fireplace and the stairs? We currently have a play yard stretch from one end of the room to the other to keep Hunter out of these things ( literally).
LB
I love how your living room looks. It’s so homey and welcoming. Glad I found your blog…going to follow you on Instagram! 🙂
i love your living room!! and so glad that you have kept it functional and cozy. so often i get home envy from people whose living rooms look like something straight out of a magazine – yet it’s clear no one really lives there. yours is both 🙂 we need a toy basket like that – might have to go to target soon. and again, that coffee table. sigh.
I might be minorly obsessed with your ceiling as well. And your staircase. I SERIOUSLY LOVE IT. Have a fantastic weekend!
This gives me hope that I can have a functional living room and play area for Reagan! Looks great!
Oh you know just a little bit better than when you bought the house. ha! I’ve always thought your living room looked so cozy. I’m sure lots of fun family time is spent in there, I love the balance between kid and still adult space!
I like it Kim! It’s inviting, warm and the right touch of personality. I love the whimsy too that Henry’s toys add. 🙂
looking good! I like how it looks like adults still live there. 🙂 very very cute.
~Leah
What amazing improvements overall to the room. I love how removing some baby stuff makes you feel like you’re getting your house back. I need better solutions to the toy dilemma. I like what you have done. My living room looks like a Toys-R-Us threw up.
Your living room is so stinking cute and cozy. I love the baskets with chalkboard labels. And your house was definitely toe up from the floor up when you bought it. You guys are crazy talented.
I love your living room! It seriously looks so cozy and relaxing!
It’s a thing of beauty. Y’all really brought it along. Enjoy!
Your living room is so cozy. I heart it. (hipster lingo).
your walls and ceilings are amazing! I am keeping them in mind for when we move (still 3 years away) to a new town and a project house. I could use a Roomba right now…………….we have a big hairy Golden Retriever so vacuuming everyday is a must. Which model did you get????……I am at this moment campaigning for one.
Your living room is so cozy…….also Henry’s room is perfect…..lucky little guy!
I absolutely adore the tile you put down in front of the fireplace. So gorgeous.
Do you happen to know why your living room has different wood in the center area? The house we bought in Ohio has the same thing and no one seems to have any (real) clear reason as to why that is.
I said this on IG, but that coffee table is amazing. And the difference between the original and now? Unbelievable. And yes, the cords. Nell thinks they’re fun, too. Oh babies. I love those Target baskets, too.
I love your living room! It’s so cute and cozy. You have great style. But I have to know, where did you get the bike pillow from?? I have to have one! So stinking cute.
It looks so cozy! I feel like I could just drop in and make myself at home…
Your living room is so wonderful and cozy! And your ceiling?!?! OH MY GOSH, amazing!!!
Loving these little updates – and you TOTALLY have a gallery wall 🙂 Love the black and white prints – they look like landscapes – did you take them yourself? I just want to sink into the leather chair with a good book and the fire roaring!