Living Room Layout

The husband gave me a surprise......

I love surprises, especially ones like this!!!  I'd like more furniture in the living room so there's extra seating (and to fill the empty space).  So with cash back money, my Discover Card will be "buying" me furniture!!!  Woohoo!!!

Here's a full view of the living room (and the empty space)....

To help figure out what furniture would be a good fit for the room, I decided to draw a layout of the room and add different pieces of furniture.  First, the current layout of the room.....

....and now a few arrangements with more seating.... maybe two sofa chairs, a side table and an ottoman?

.... or maybe one sofa chair with a side table, an ottoman and two bench seats (or one long bench seat)?

Or maybe I should move the couch and make a completely different arrangement.... hmmmm, so many options!  Which arrangement is your favorite?  What type of seating would you add to the room?

Loads of Laundry

We've been back from vacation for a while now, but just like my mail and catalogs had piled up, so has all the laundry from traveling.  I'll be taking the rest of the week off from blogging.... I think I have about 2,163 loads of laundry to catch up on and lots to do around the house to get ready for incoming guests.

Any of these rooms would be a fun space to wash, dry and fold all my laundry piles....

House and Home

Apologies, Source Unknown

Better Homes and Gardens

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Cottage Living

So, wish me luck as I attempt to conquer the loads of laundry (and suitcases still lying around).... I'll see you next Monday :)

One Question: Reading Nook Part 2

Today is a continuation of my answer to Jenny's question about her reading nook.  She asked how I would decorate a large, empty area on her second floor landing into a reading nook for her three school-aged boys.  Yesterday, I posted a few inspiration photos of reading nooks to gather ideas for her space and today, I've used a few of those ideas to "decorate" her space.

Here's Jenny's empty area.... it has a huge window opposite the stairs on her second floor landing... such a perfect space for a cozy reading nook....

After finding a few goodies, this is how I would "decorate" her space as a reading nook...

I added three bookshelves on both side walls to hold several of the books the boys are currently reading (more bookshelf/lookshelf ideas here and here).  Hopefully, seeing a book's front cover, instead of the binding, will encourage even more reading time for the little ones.

A daybed was also added as a place to sit, relax, lay down (and take a nap), or even set up as a guest bed.  The huge bonus about having such a large seating area is that there's room for everyone!  And as overflow seating, the pouf could be used as a seat and pulled close to hear the story (or used as it is above to hold books and the like). 

The soft throw and a few pillows were added for comfort (and color) and two task lights were added to brighten the area.  I also updated the window covering.... I would have a custom roman shade made in a bold pattern to bring a little edge to the room.

A reading nook doesn't need much.... just a seat to relax, a light to see and a resting place for books.  Of course, color, pattern and texture help to liven the room, but it's easy to start small and slowly add to a space like this.

A quick note:  The designs above are not to scale.... the accessories that were added may or may not be sized correctly.  This is planned for fun and to help expand ideas on how to dress up a room, but in case you are interested in the accessories added, here are the sources:

Bookshelves:  Ikea
Pouf: Urban Outfitters
Curtain Fabric:  similar to Dwell Studio's Bella Porte available thru Tonic Living
Daybed:  CB2
Throw:  West Elm
Wall Light:  Ikea
Classic Books:  Anthropologie
Brown Ikat Pillow:  Elegant Touch via Etsy
Coral Ikat Pillow:  Elegant Touch via Etsy
Floral Pillow:  Turquoise Tumbleweed via Etsy
Coral Flower Pillow:  Coco Rose Couture via Etsy

Do you have a decorating dilemma?  Read this to find out how to submit your question and be considered to participate in the One Question series.

If you liked this, you might also like to read the first question and answer in our One Question series.

One Question: Reading Nook Part 1

I've been answering a few of my cousin's questions as she begins the process of turning an empty space in her house into a reading area for her three school-aged boys (and maybe a relaxing space for her after the boys are in bed!).  Since I've been answering her questions, I figured I'd add this post to our 'One Question' series and hopefully inspire a few others who have the same dilemma.

* * * * * * * *

Hi Kristy,

I love the idea of having a lookshelf in my house for all the boy's books.  We're constantly rotating books in and out and I'd like to display the covers of the books they're currently reading, as an encouragement to continue reading.  I have a large space upstairs that I'd like to turn into a reading nook and hoping you would give me a few ideas.  How would you decorate this empty space as a reading nook?

Jenny

* * * * * * * *

Jenny has a large, spacious area with a huge window opposite the stairs on her second floor landing... it's the perfect space for a cozy reading nook.  Here's her current space....

Spacious, right?  Now we just need a few ideas to help turn this space into a comfy reading nook.  I saved a few inspirational photos that I thought would be a great fit and help us get started....

Decor Pad

Apologies, Source Unknown

Apologies, Source Unknown

Our Westside

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House Beautiful

Apologies, Source Unknown

The Lettered Cottage

Apologies, Source Unknown

I saved my favorite for last... this space was designed by Ann Wolf and photographed for House Beautiful, right here in Houston!  This space is so inviting and I think Ann says it best "...it's a private, magical little space at the heart of the house, where your imagination can run wild".

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

All these spaces are great!  Reading nooks can really be carved out of anything.... under a stairwell, an unused closet, a bay window, stair landing, or even just an area away from noise... all you need is a comfy seat, a light source, and a resting place for books.... then you'll have the perfect spot to cozy up with a good book or even a blanket and take a nap.

Be sure to check back tomorrow, I'll finish answering Jenny's question and show you how I would "decorate" her empty space as a reading nook....

Do you have a decorating dilemma?  Read this to find out how to submit your question and be considered to participate in the 'One Question' series.

So, where is your favorite cozy and quiet spot to curl up with a good book and warm blanket?

Shoes, Grass & Plants

We're slowly getting settled back into our summer routine after a month-long trip up the east coast, vacationing and visiting family and friends.  While traveling, I picked up a cute, cute pair of Toms.... so comfy, so cushion-y (and of course I love the fact that with every pair purchased, Toms will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need)....

I love that picture with my brown and white striped Toms against the lush, bright green grass.... or maybe I'm just a little overly excited that our grass survived the beginning heat of summer here in TX while we were away!

I wish I could say the same for some of my plants :(

Not all of my plants look like this, but most?  Yes!  I am so far from master gardener, uh... I mean so far from beginner gardener.... I have so much to learn!  Any tips on plant care while living in a hot and humid climate?  Do you have any plants that'll thrive on their own... ya know, in case I forget the watering part?

House of Hepworths

Today I'm over at Allison's blog, House of Hepworths. 

She's relaxing on summer vacation and during her time away, she's been spotlighting several bloggers and all their creativeness.  I'm sharing a few of my favorite projects that I recently completed in my house.... stop over at Allison's blog to check it out!

A Farm-Life Chick's House

My family and I recently took a trip to the east coast to vacation and then visit family.  During my time in NY visiting family, my sister and I got together with two of our cousins.  We spent the day talking (and eating) at my cousins house, who we call the farm-life chick.... she lives in an amazing old, old farmhouse, which she says is still a work in progress as she and her husband renovate and decorate.

Cousin, Farm-Life Chick, Me, Pregnant Sister

Her house is beautiful..... it has a comfortable, casual, lived-in feel.... very warm and inviting!  She (and her husband) has definite skill whether it's refinishing a piece of furniture, building furniture from scrap wood, or just layering her thrifty finds.  The dresser below was her most recent find..... it stands in her living room and she found it just like this....

...perfect color, perfectly aged.... one of a kind!  Now she's debating knobs... so many choices.  Once she brought home the dresser, she added a few accessories to the top... dried hydrangeas and a stack of old books topped with antlers.

The aged jug props the door open from the main entry way into the living room...

This arrangement is part of her mantel in the living room... I love the layered silver platters....

This is an over-sized pantry in the breakfast area off the kitchen.  She found this piece in her barn when she and her husband purchased the property.... they refinished the wood and painted it black.... now, she has plenty of storage space for anything and everything that belongs in the kitchen!

The boy's room is decorated to reflect their interests... I love the style, especially the fireplace....

And last, is the mudroom.... this is a super, heavy traffic area (off the garage and the side porch).  She and her husband built the shelves from scrap wood, painted the shelves, then finished it off with a few hooks for all those winter coats (remember, they live in NY).  The bench under the shelves is the perfect size... size HUGE.  I think it might fit her entire family when they come in from the snow.... perfect for taking off those heavy boots!

Farm-life chick, thanks for letting me snap photos of your house and share them with others!!!  You've got some great style....and I can't wait to see you again :)))

Stack of Inspiration

We've returned home from our vacation/ tour/visiting (packing seen here, here and here; beach vacation seen here and here) and are missing our much loved family and friends, but really glad to be home and enjoy our first summer in TX (am I gonna melt?).  Since we've been gone, a stack of magazines and catalogs have piled up (along with the rest of the mail).... so, I'll be going thru my stack this week and tearing out images that catch my eye....

I'll put the tear-outs in my turquoise binders (a.k.a my style files), then place them back on the bookshelf so whenever I need inspiration for a room to decorate, I can flip thru my binders to see plenty of great ideas....

And there are plenty of rooms to still decorate so these binders are on and off the shelf all the time...