Sunday, October 25, 2009

Getting it together slowly-before and after

I thought I would show some of the work we have done in our home.  It took me a long time to do anything in our living room.  When we moved in 4 years ago, the house was decorated in a very traditional manner.  The living room had wall to wall cream carpet, looked almost white.  I don't know how you live with white carpet when you have kids and pets!  Anyway, got rid of that, had all hardwood floors redone on the first floor.  Then it came time to paint.  For me, it was agonizing picking the colors for each room.  I think the reason was because we didn't have much furniture to pull a color from.  Actually had nothing for this room.  It sat vacant for 4 years.  My daughter loved using this  room to practice dancing in.
Before....


I had painted swatches all over the place...I really love gray.  Now that I look at this picture of before, I kind of like the light walls.  Looks better in this picture though.  Was very worn out and needed some color.

Living room after...

The color we went with is called Camouflage by Benjamin Moore.  We finally purchased some furniture.  We had a designer help us.  It turned out to be a long, expensive process.   However, the designer really helped us with the arrangement in the room and with furniture selections that would work best.  The ottoman was costum made.  It is this beautiful "mossy green/brown".  Notice beautiful fringe detail on it.   It is my favorite piece.  It really isn't supposed to be in the middle of the room.  However, we still have 3 more chairs to buy.  Two flanking the fireplace (the wing chairs you see aren't in the right place) and one next to the sofa.  We still need a coffee table and 4 more lamps.  We are taking it a piece at a time, due to the expense.  Or, I am going to get very creative with other pieces.   I have arranged the furniture for now to make it look like the room is finished.  It still feels plain, needs more furniture and places to sit for entertaining.  And a more personal touch....




  Still missing much of our furniture.  Room looks empty.  The large painting we picked up in San Francisco at the Hespe Gallery .  We had a hard time finding a proper place for it due to wall space.  That is why we hired a designer.  She was able to give us ideas and best way to arrange furniture and fabrics to work with the painting.  Whenever I placed furniture with too much pattern on it, it really didn't work in the room.  The painting by Eric Zener really dominates the room.  (Always thought we would have a bigger house or larger walls for it, not the case here).


This picture looks really nice.  I love my sea grass rug.  It is from Meridian.  We had it custom sized.  The fireplace is really beautiful and has great architectural details.



I am nuts over roman shades.  These had to be custom ordered.  Look better in person.  The shade is made with linen and has a decorative trim.







Sofa is from O Henry house at Boston Design Center.   Notice different styles mixed together.  Still a very serene design.  I need 8 pillows for living room.   They were very expensive at about  $400 to 500 a piece.  Decided to forget that right away, too expensive.  Went to Restoration Hardware and got these pillows on sale.  Still looking for more pillows!

This is a very pretty pillow, looks great against neutral material on sofa.  Also works with painting.  I don't mean to match it, just compliment it.


This is how the two wing chairs are to be arranged.  When you walk into our living room, this is the reading area positioned at the end of the room.   The chairs are Manor Wing chairs from Icon group, at the Boston Design Center.   The fabric is linen.  I love linen.  The fabric has light brown ticking stripes in it.  Need two kidney pillows here.  We need two reading lights here.  The light you see is something I picked up at Restoration Hardware during a store closing.  Just using it temporarily.  I have seen many floor lamps that I like on Circa Lighting.




Here are three reading lights I am considering for this spot from Circa Lighting .  They have gorgeous lights.  What lamp would you choose?  I need advice.















Aren't they great?  I have been searching, however for a particular floor lamp I saw in a magazine (image below, reading lamp next to chair), but have had no luck.  Darn!  Has anyone seen anything like this?  I have searched every lighting web site, looked in all the local lighting shops in the Boston area.  Not using a designer anymore, so trying to finish home by myself.



This is a good looking room.  Notice the all the textures used here.  I think image is from Traditional Home or House beautiful.  Not sure though.  Sorry!   I would like to find a basket for next to my fireplace and the white little ceramic table is very sweet.  Need to find that lamp.  It is probably too expensive anyway!!!!



Here is another scanned image from Traditional Home or House Beautiful magazine.  I am only looking at the lamp here.  Looks just like the one in prior image.  Of course magazine doesn't mention where they got it from!  I really don't like when they do that!  The lamp is behind tall wing chair next to large bookcase.


I hope you enjoyed looking at photo's of my living room.  I still have a lot of work ahead in finishing my home.  With the living room, it came out a bit more sophisticated than I wanted it to be.  I need to cozy it up a bit with treasured finds and unique objects.  That may take a long time, but it will be fun and a journey I will enjoy.
~Jamilyn~
*images from Living It At Home*

28 wonderful comments:

the gardener's cottage said...

i really love what you have done. everything looks very soothing. love the ottoman. i also like the floor lights from circa. i think any of them would look fantastic. i know i'm not much help but just wanted to let you know that i like what you've done!

~janet

A Seaside House said...

Thanks for the "tour", you have done a great job in here, I like the grey walls very much. The second lamp is my favourite here.

Have a nice day!

PS! The plant is Irish moss(in my blog)

LindsB said...

Love your family room!! Everything looks so beautiful, you have done a really nice job with everything so far. I cant wait to see more and what else you do with your home- it is just lovely!!

Michelle said...

Wow...original art, great furniture, lighting...it's really stunning! Love the inspiration pics as well!

Best,
Michelle

Visual Vamp said...

Love what you are doing. Check Olly for a cool table with similar texture to ceramic one you like.

Also please email me.

And would you do me a huge favor and vote for me today?

http://contests.apartmenttherapy.com/2009/color/main/faceoff/56

Thanks,
xo xo

vintage whisper said...

Hi Jamilyn,
I just found your blog and your home is beautiful! I too am from Massachusetts, North Grafton...I have the same color BM paint in my family room and I love it! You did a great job decorating you home...Ann

Lauren said...

it's such a beautiful start!!! I love it!!! I think that you're right & with some accessorizing you can definitely make it a bit less sophistaicated if you want. (Not that I think it needs to be, just that if you want it to, you can.) I love the ottoman & chairs too!! (That reading area will be wonderful!!)

I like all of the lamps but lamp #3 is calling to me. I can't wait to see you add the finishing touches here!!! beautiful!!!!

xoxox,
lauren

nelya said...

I'm so glad you visited my blog as it brought me here. I love seeing into your beautiful home...I'm smitten. You are off to a winning start.

By the way, I'm crazy for Halloween, so I love all your posts. Beautiful seasonal decorating!

Unknown said...

This is fabulous. You are off the right way.
Is this your house in the blog header? What a view!
I have been working with many clients over the years, but I feel often designers push expensive items. I never do. Working with an realistic budget and sticking to it is so important.
The results can be as stunning as if you take only top of the line items. In my opinion pillows at this price range are not for a house with kids and pets...otherwise you start regretting any moment in there and begin to worry over everything spilled.

I love your colors and I think you could use some punch in there. Pull some of the tones in this gorgeous painting, you might like that. Maybe blues. Think of books and some plants maybe. Or an area rug layered on top of that beautiful seagrass carpet. The room is so light filled. Lovely!
The last lamp looks great, also when you consider lamps think of the finish. Brass looks usually more traditional, dark metals more contemporary. Also: Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams have great stuff.
The other day I saw a great side table at Crate and Barrel, drift wood base and glass top. Works with everything.
If you need help, send me an e-mail.

Have fun putting it together!
Don't be afraid to mix up things a bit!

XX
Victoria

Bethany Christensen said...

Your home is beautiful. You have such great taste. I love the shades, ottoman, lamp choices and artwork. I love it all. And YES the Oly Hanna chairs would be stunning in your room. Thanks for visiting my blog and introducing yourself. I will be back!

Brilliant Asylum said...

Great job. The serene palette and clean lines make the art pop. You have great taste.

Living It At Home said...

Thank you for your inspiring comments and compliments! They will keep me going when going gets tough!

I am even more motivated now!

~Jamilyn

The romantic query letter and the happy-ever-after said...

Oh my dear your blog is lovely and I will visit often.
All the very best,
Simone

Trish @TheOldPostRoad said...

LOVE the woodwork - especially above and around the mantles! Great house! Can't wait to see more!

Unknown said...

Jamilyn,
I have been looking around a bit and want to let you know, the floor lamp you so like is by Mattaliano - Holly Hunt (hollyhunt.com)
Hope that helps. I found the floor lamp again in House Beautiful mag., Nov. issue pg.92-93
XX
Victoria

Unknown said...

Jamilyn, sorry I tried to check out her website, but this lamp did not show up, even though it seems the one exactly in the resource list of the magazine.There is another one listed too.
Your original picture was in the HB Sept. issue, pg 118, design work of Rob Southern, he can be contacted under 212.924.1400.

Maybe you can find out this way!
Good luck!
Victoria

Fargerike Dagny said...

Wow, it looks absolutely fabulous! Love the furniture you've picked out so far, and the artwork is stunning!

Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm glad I found yours! Will definitely come back! :D

Shannon said...

Okay, I just want to say that this is one of the best blogs I have run across in a long time. You have fabulous taste and your Halloween ideas are out of this world!! I look forward to seeing so much more!

Unknown said...

The chairs are divine, Well actually everything is! Way to go!

Unknown said...

Jamilyn, can't wait to see your next room development.

Victoria :)

Crystal @ Plush Palate said...

It looks great and there is so much inspiration here! So glad I found your blog!!

xo,
Crystal

Design Esquire said...

I just found this post! I can completely relate. I'm in the process of decorating our living room (very similar layout to your's) and I finally bought some furniture after it had sat empty for 2 years. I'm trying to do a similar reading nook to your's. I'm still buying pieces little by little too. I think you've done a beautiful job with it.

Anonymous said...

OK Eveything is PERFECT!!!! I want to move in!! your house is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
xo
E

Living It At Home said...

MR. EDDIE ROSS! I am so honored that you stopped by! Thank you for your wonderful compliments about my home. So exciting to get to know you through blogging!

~jamilyn

Tammy@InStitches said...

I am in love with your sofa and ottoman ! Thanks for the tour.

Yvonne Blacker said...

Just found your lovely blog! I have Camouflage in the living room of my Colonial home as well. I would recommend using a bit of red to tie in with the hats on the painting (think red knit or some kind of textured pillows, maybe?) I use a lot of burnt oranges and red in my living room to add some spice to the grayish-green (which a few of my friends have fallen in love with and have since used in their own homes!) See how some of these colors look with Camouflage in one of my holiday posts:
http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-i-decorate-for-holidays.html

Deepali Kalia Interior Design Blog Filling Spaces said...

Yes,Love the roman shades. The contrast trim gives it a wonderful custom touch!
I did make some for a client in white Linen!Absolutely classic.
you have a beautiful house

Longuette said...

you have done a great job with your living room!
I would like to restyle mine, would you like to come over and do it??? ; )

; )
Ylenia
http://longuette.blogspot.com