Remember, this is what it looked like with the nesting tables in front of the sofa as a coffee table.
Now, perhaps some would think this is just fine. But something about it was just bugging the heck out of me.
Last night when I went home, I tried a few other solutions. I tried out the basket that I keep under my china closet to hold linens.
Too small. Drat. But I liked the warmth of the rattan in the living room.
So I started thinking again about a wicker trunk I had in the lower level. I had thought of it initially, but when I measured it I thought it was just too large.
We had a tiny Christmas tree on it over the holidays, in the girls' family room downstairs.
Hey, I never showed you the new floor down here, did I? It came out amazing, I'm so happy with it!!
Isn't this such a cute family room? The girls are so lucky. Seriously. So why do I have to toss them out of my chair by the fire when I want to sit down? Hmmmmmm.
Anyway, I emptied the linens out of the trunk and carried it upstairs.
And guess what?
I don't hate it! I think it will do just fine there....at least for now. I may find something else someday that is truly perfect, but this will do nicely until then.
The best part of all? It didn't cost me a thing.....because I shopped my house!
Win/win!
Now when my family is gathering in the living room with beverages they have a convenient place to set them down.
No more spills on my nice rug!
The whole time I was taking photos this morning guess who was snoring so loudly I could barely hear the wind chimes outside....and it was a crazy, windy day - they were LOUD!
Yup, you got it. That rascally Monkey strikes again.
You did it! That basket looks great and it's so big! Your living room looks so pretty. Oh, I love your den too. What a nice house you have and I just love getting to see it.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia :)
I love my home, Shelia, can you tell? :)
DeleteI think it looks great. You really needed a piece with some bulk to pair with your furniture and I think it looks wonderful. Love your family room, too. The new floor looks really nice. Hope you have a sweet weekend. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, you are so right, it was the size of the nesting tables that was getting to me - they were just too puny!! And the dark wood made them stand out too much!
DeleteYour little dog is so lucky to find a spot of sunshine to nap . No wonder he's snoring..he's happy. I like the trunk. Some times it's okay to try things out for awhile. Both rooms are very nice. xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteThat's her favorite spot to find the morning sunshine....and the warmth of the fire in the evenings, Susie!
DeleteI think it's universal that unless you have a huge new open concept home, living rooms are awkward to furnish. Ours is long and narrow with a big offset archway into the foyer. I've put off buying new furniture because I'm so afraid of making a mistake! Your living room actually looks cozy and I like the way you've made a nice conversation grouping around the fireplace. I like the woven trunk as a coffee table and I also like the tufted ottoman you featured in your last post. My girls joke that I made them use sippy cups in our living room until they were teenagers.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, well my girls are in their 20's and I'm putting them BACK on sippy cups!! :)
DeleteShopping your house is the best!! It looks fabulous. Enjoy...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim! You're right - shopping the house is FREE so it's the best!!
DeleteI love the trunk there!! It's wonderful. I love shopping my house too!! Save $$$ and learn to re-love my pieces placed somewhere else in my home.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Jan! I don't move things around as much as I used to....the older I get, the more I hate change!
DeleteGood for you for shopping your own home and I love your solution! Your home is so cozy and welcoming. :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww, thanks, Debbie! That's the best compliment!!
DeleteThe trunk look perfect. Great choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marty! I'm slowly getting used to it!!
DeleteThe whicker chest works perfect.
ReplyDeleteThe black stools were too random.
Lisa
Random....ha ha, Lisa, I guess you're right!
DeleteBrilliant idea! You really have a gorgeous home! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donnamae!! Now if I could only get my girls to keep their space downstairs CLEAN I'd be delighted!
DeleteLooks great. I love the texture of the wicker chest. Very pretty. The girls have a great family room space too. Beautiful.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Kris
I like the warmth of the wicker and rattan accents in my home - I think because I was a child of the 70's! :)
DeleteThe trunk looks great there...best of all, no $$$. The texture just adds oomph to the room. I seriously love that little rascally Monkey. Riley is sitting with me but he doesn't mind me admiring another dog...ha!
ReplyDeleteOh, we don't want to make sweet Riley jealous!! Tell Riley Monkey sends stinky kisses!!
DeletePerfect!! The right size and color. Mission accomplished. What's next?
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, AnnMarie....a few little updates here and there, and I'll be sharing them when I have time!
DeleteI think it is perfect. The color blends in really well. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura! It feels peaceful in the living room right now, as I removed a lot of color after the holidays!
DeleteIt looks great! I love anything wicker. Charlie Ross is my loud snorer. Which he's doing as I write this.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Ha ha, oh sweet little Charlie, he's such a sweet rascal, isn't he?
DeleteI love it there. It's perfect. And yes, we should always shop at home first.
ReplyDeleteIt's honestly the first piece I thought of, but I honestly thought it was going to look gigantic when I measured it!!
DeleteThis looks great! I love the roundedness of it and it looks wonderful with your sofa and chairs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorraine! I like the fact that the girls have no excuse to put their beverages on the RUG ever again!!
DeleteBoth looked very nice but I too prefer the basket in front of the sofa. I especially like shopping my own house too. Sometimes I just forget to even think about changing up things , but when I do and it works, I am soooooooooo happy ! I can see you are too.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get, the less I like change, Kathy. At least BIG changes, like moving furniture. Pillows and accessories....absolutely. But, once I get my home to where I want it, functionally, no more big furniture changes!
DeleteIt looks fab! Such a beautiful space, very homely and warm yet neat. Love it :)
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you very much! I kind of love it myself!!
Deleteit looks great and works out as a practical solution!
ReplyDeleteAnd I can store throws/pillow covers in the trunk, which is even better, Deb!
DeleteI love it too! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!
DeleteI meant ask you earlier if you had seen the fold up storage ottomans by Valerie Part Hill on QVC? You can place four together to use as a coffee table and they are great for storage.They also hold 250 pounds each so therefore they could be used for extra seating when needed. I just looked them up to make sure they were still available. The ones I have are fabric, but now they are faux leather. There's a nice assortment of colors.I love mine and just thought you might be interested.Hope you have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phylis - I had actually considered them, not through QVC but somewhere else....maybe Wayfair or Hayneedle. In the end FREE won out!!
Deleteyess!! you did it.. You made a very smart solution..:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Krishna - who knows, I may change it around again if something else comes to mind but for now it's working out just fine!
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ReplyDeleteLove the big basket as a coffee table. My room is too narrow and a coffee table takes up to much walking space but I have not used one in years since every thinks it is a great place to put their feet. The room looks great by the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam! The girls can put their feet all over the big, old coffee table downstairs....as long as they keep their stinky feet off this one! :)
DeleteI really like the trunk and girl, you cannot be free! Good choice...love the floor and the way you have the furniture arranged! Looks beautiful!! Love and hugs!
ReplyDeleteYou're so sweet, Benita - I did what I could with this weird space....and it works for us!
DeleteThat is a really cute basket. Great idea shopping your own house! I love doing that. Often we find we already have exactly what we needed.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Heidi, and I need to do that more often!!
DeleteGood idea. The color and the texture go well. Yeah!
ReplyDelete