After playing around with my mantle yesterday I decided on using my vintage mirror and my gate.
I love the simplicity and look of this room now.
Because the look I am going for in my home is a simpler look.
I have been putting lots of things away,some will be up for sale in the shop…opening next week!
I added that lace to my fireplace opening….. it’s a temporarily fix until I figure out what else I can do.
But I think it looks nicer than my black hole….which is what my fireplace looks like all taped up.
By the way I LOVE my posts on my mantle.
It gives my builders grade mantle some character and charm!
I took the blue rug and blue table out of this room.
Instead I added one of my favorite chippy farmhouse tables to that corner.
I am not loving my sofa and chair set in this room….actually thinking of replacing it.
Adding a slipcover to this furniture that is nearly 8 years old is not an option anymore.
If I am going to spend that much money on slip covers,I may as well just buy new furniture.
This is what I call working with what you have.
I can’t just decide to go out and buy new furniture it’s not in our budget.
So guess what I am doing…yep I am saving up for new furniture!
I added a vintage lace tablecloth to my sofa to break all that brown up.
And to soften it a little.
The pink chippy door is now paired with an old ladder I found several years back and has been moved around my home.
When I found this ladder it was actually a lighter color.
I added a dark stain then I took it outside and splattered paint on it to give it an aged look.
Keeping it simple with a bouquet of dried rose’s wrapped in twine and a lace towel.
On my painted cedar chest I added just two books, they are two of my favorite books.
And an old shaving mug filled with flowers fresh from my farmers market.
And because I moved that mirror off of my mantle in my dining room….I need to make a change in that room.
A mirror….yes indeed…sharing soon!
Joining:
Very pretty Anne. I luv the ladder against the door.
Hugs, Gee
Love the gate and mirror so pretty. I too love your ladder in this room too. Gorgeous.
Kris
Thank you Kris 🙂
Oh Anne, that mantle looks beautiful! Sure do wish you lived close, I’d teach you how to make your own slipcovers and seat pillows…you could make your furniture good as new again! My furniture in our living room is going on 12 years now and I love it slip covered. That’s one reason why I taught myself to make them because I about choked at a quote to have one made years ago, lol. I thought the same as you…I could buy new furniture if I wanted to pay what she was asking for.
Thank you Melanie I wish we lived closer too 🙂 . Is it really that easy? Maybe I need to invest in a sewing machine instead of new furniture.
Anne, for about a year now I have been purging my home to give me a sense of calm and simpler living. I must say that I LOVE that my eyes can “rest” in every room. It wasn’t difficult letting some items go once I FELT the mood change in each room. I love your mantel’s new look 🙂
Isn’t it wonderful to have less Jackie!I am thinking more about each purchase now.Instead of clutter I want a simpler calm look and feel to my rooms.Thanks so much for your sweet comment.
Really like what you do with what you have. We have a couch we purchased in 1964 (yes 1964) and it sits better than any new one. I’m getting ready to paint it with red chalk paint. I will let you know how it turns out! Found some cool pillows at a yard sale (toile ones) which will dress it up after I get it painted! Keep up the good work. I just love junking!! Blessings, Sharon
Love that idea Sharon! I would love to paint mine…but I want white and I think I would rather have a slip covered new sofa.But I have painted a few fabric chairs and you will not believe how they look and feel like leather!
The gate and mirror are gorgeous and the ladder a beauty. I would like to find an old smaller ladder.
Cindy
Check antique shops or garage sales in your area Cynthia I find them all the time.If shipping one would not be so costly I would send one to you.
Well,the suspense is over and a very good job. It looks great.
Thanks so much Marlene!
I love your room! I have been doing some changing up at my house too. Can someone suggest a source to learn how to make a slipcover . I have a machine and can sew. Thanks for any help. Hugs, Sandi
Thanks Sandi! I know Miss Mustard Seed shared a great tutorial http://missmustardseed.com/2012/04/how-to-make-slipcovers-a-six-part-video-series/
Hi Anne, I love your blog and wanted to make a suggestion regarding your vintage sale. In our former home, I held what I called a Home Show for 18 years with much success. I began by using the mailing list from the craft shows I was doing. You could use the email list you have been gathering. On my invitations, I put ” Bring an uninvited guest and receive a 10% discount.”
I gained many new clients because of this. My Home Show was my second best show every year. Sadly I have moved far from those awesome customers although I continue to do craft and vintage shows. I hope this is of help to you.
Linda K
Great advice Linda thanks so much for sharing!
i love the mirror and gate together, anne:) and the rustic ladder paired with the lace and roses is so sweet!
Thank you Lynn!
I put away money for 3 years in my Christmas club account to go towards new furniture, but instead we used it to buy 3 windows for the front side of our house that are just like the originals. They look nice, but I would much rather have bought new furniture for the living room! I like the way you’ve softened the look of yours, Anne. Maybe we’ll win the lottery. 🙂
Ha isn’t that the way it works Vickie!I am hoping I don’t end up replacing anything…bummer!
I loved the table that you said you took from the room. If I remember correctly, it was the beautiful color of bird’s egg blue with roses and floral toile painting. Did you paint that table? It was truly an eye-catcher. Hopefully, you have prominently placed it in another room. Love it!
Thanks so much Linda,yes it was a blue table…but not paint with roses….but I love that idea! I hate to say it but it’s just tucked away in storage for now.
I sure know what it is to want new furniture or at least new couch. I didn’t get a new couch but was new to me from Habitat for about 1/4 price of a new one. No budget for new one but was able to manage the Habitat price. Had to do some rearranging of finances for couple months but was so worth it. Makes such a difference in l/r since we painted and redid other things in room. Now we need a “new” chair for hubs. His is pretty darned old and looks awful. It’s green which doesn’t go in room at all now. I’ll keep an eye out at Habitat for chair for him. He won’t buy it but I will to make myself happy and get rid of his very old one.
Our daughter got chair for him year or so after we moved here, was from a client of hers. At time it looked pretty nice but it’s several years older now and time to retire it. I tried a slip cover on it, ugh, looked worse.
Can you rearrange furniture in your room in new way? Might help you feel better about things for while. You do such good job changing things from room to room. Our living room can only be rearranged in couple ways due to 3 doorways in our room. The way we have it now is best for looking bigger. Happy with it for while anyway. Good to be away from window when it’s winter.
Happy weekend
Thank you JaneEllen! Oh I wish I could rearrange things.But what’s not shown in my photos is our TV.It’s quite large and it’s on an entertainment center.I hate it,as it does not go with my room.But I am not painting it.I really don’t think painting it will make it look any better.Eventually I would love to replace it with something vintage.So unfortunately I cannot rearrange the furniture in this room 🙁