Home - Living Room
When I was little, every home I ventured into had a living room. This house was built in 1968, so it too, has a living room. Ours had a tv in it for years and was used as a second room for our family when we wanted to watch different movies or shows at the same time. For a while now, it is tv-free and offers a quiet, peaceful room to cozy up in and read or nap or chat. I still like having separate rooms in a home. Unlike my childhood days, it’s informal and offers a “change of scenery” and place to enjoy our gentle late afternoon light and stunning winter sunsets, as it’s facing west. For me, it’s also a chance to fill another room with special mementos, art and colors we love and enjoy!
looking in
We’re so thankful for original hardwood floors and tall windows in this room. When we moved in 27 years ago, the walls were a dark hunter green. We painted them a cranberry red not long after moving in. Years later, the walls changed to a khaki shade and most recently, we chose “Simply White” by Benjamin Moore. The ikat drapes and ottoman are from Ballard Designs. The piano is from my childhood home and I can’t part with it. The gray ceramic lamps with the burlap shades are from Walmart! The blue linen chair sat in my parent’s living room and was covered in a pink and blue stripe originally. It’s extremely comfortable! The jute rug and faux sheepskin rug are from Amazon.
collected over time
These sweet little French-style chairs were in my childhood home, upholstered in a pretty blue velvet, sitting in our living room. I always loved them and when they came to me, I had them reupholstered in a gray linen. They’re very comfortable and I am very sentimental about them and cherish them. The wood had yellowed over the years but my upholsterer recommended using lemon juice to lighten them and it helped. The antique table is from my paren’t home and lived in their family room. The green glass lamp is from World Market and a recent addition. Green is my favorite color and I thought it was perfect. The pine carved mirror is from a beautiful shop, now closed, in our old neighborhood. The carvings are of leaves and vines and ties in with my love of nature. The brown and white transfer ware bowl is part of my small collection.
memories make me smile
So many memories and special pieces in one photo…the beautiful lion painting was created by our youngest daughter when she was in middle school. He has green eyes, which I love. She is now in her mid-twenties and an amazing artist and graphic designer. When she revealed her finished piece, it took my breath away. It was one of the first times I realized what a truly gifted artist she was. The charming secretary desk is from my daddy’s home. We’ve had the buffalo check chair for decades and it holds a newer Ballard pillow, which matches the drapes. The couch is decades old and was formerly covered in a lovely floral linen. It desperately needs stuffing and recovering again but it’s sentimental to me and I want to keep it. The basket on the ottoman is from Target and holds a pretty “z” plant from a friend and a stack of “English Home” magazines from another friend who passes them to me.
what’s on the desk?
I love to collect vintage books in colors I like. Old books have the coolest, prettiest covers! The ceramic angel is from my childhood church choir days.
The oil painting is by my daddy and I adore it. It’s of a place called Regal Dale Tavern he and my mom went to back in the day. The photo is of his mother, my Mema, holding me on her couch in her house. I love her green dress!
This sweet little lamp is from Target! I stalked it for months on-line during the pandemic. It was sold out forever but alas, I prevailed and snagged it eventually. I love the green chinoiserie scene of birds and flowers, the gold accents and white linen shade.