Sunday, September 11, 2011

Formal Living Room Unveiled

The formal living room at our house has been a long time in the making. I've previously written about my finds for this space--a mirrored chest scored for $200 at Homegoods, a pair of mirrored tables snatched off of clearance at Pier One. But not until a few weeks ago did I finally feel like the room was finished. (A relative term, of course, since I would love to have hardwood floors in there, a different piano, and maybe even taller crown molding, but it is finished enough for now.)

Here's what the space looked like shortly after I moved in. We'd already painted the walls Sherwin Williams Pearl Gray. The sofa had recently been recovered--breathing new life into a piece I bought for my first college apartment. I originally thought my scheme would be brown, white, and blingy. But I kept finding better things in black, so the brown rug moved to the study, the brown pillows moved to the great room, and the antique side chair, covered in brown and blue tapestry, made its way to one of the guest rooms, and the walnut end tables got a makeover in black and silver.

And here is the after. The painting is one of my favorite pieces. Since the piano is in this room, I wanted an abstract with a subtly musical motif. I scored this one at a furniture consignment store in town. The coffee table is the old end tables--a weekend project that turned out beautifully. The pillows are custom made, and the lamps are another Homegoods find. (I just love black lampshades!)


The window treatments are off the rack from JC Penny. I took their roman shades and added the ribbon detail with a little stitch witch. I'll eventually add some sort of embellishment to the drapes--a Greek Key tape on the leading edge or some fringe. The scroll arm chair was a find on a trip to High Point, and the architectural prints over the mirrored chest once hung in my high school bedroom.

The view coming down the front stairs. The upright piano isn't as out of place as this picture would indicate, but when it was last tuned, the technician told us that it couldn't be tuned again--so it will be replaced in the not-to-distant future. The mirror-framed mirror is flanked by two mirrored sconces (another Homegoods steal) that are still waiting for the perfect objects to grace them.

As always, I am linking to the Metamorphosis Monday part at Between Naps on the Porch. Every week, BNOTP brings together some of the best before-and-afters on the web. Click over there to check out more!

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13 comments:

  1. Yes, I agree, it's elegant and so up to date, but cozy and inviting too! Great job and love those pillards, they give your living room such old world elegance. I just came from MM at Susan's. Hugs, FABBY

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  2. I love the music theme, and even the scroll armchair has a musical vibe about it. Beautiful and timeless--I know you will enjoy it for years!

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  3. Oh yeah, love the grey's black and white. A room that just says style.
    Pam

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  4. Looks lovely, great colour combo and your room looks so fresh and upto date :)

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  5. Love the black and white...so classic! Beautiful room.

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  6. Love the 1st picture that shows the couch, tables, gorgeous lamps (I LOVE Home Goods too!) and beautiful framed art! Although my thoughts are that I think I would have switched the arrangement around. I think the couch & all of the pieces surrounding it should be on the where the piano is, that way it's the first thing you see when you look into the room:) Beautiful!

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    1. Thsnk you for the comments! Its one of my favorite spaces! We wrestled with which wall to put the couch on but ultimately decided on that arrangement so the piano player (not me!) could see out the window!

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  7. Beautiful room and I LOVE the large art piece over the couch!! Although you bought it at a consignment shop do have any idea what the picture is titled? Possibly some info on the the back of the piece? It's exactly what I've been looking for!

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    1. I purchased it from Consign and Design on Augusta Street in Greenville, SC. The last time I was in there they had a very similar piece. (They have an awesome mix of new art and consigned furniture and antiques.) At the time I bought mine, they had a third similar piece on display. Give them a shout, and feel free to email them my photo, if they don't have one in stock, I'd bet they could get you one.

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    2. Thank you so much for the information! I will definitely contact the store that you mentioned and hopefully they'll be able to help me out. Enjoy your beautiful room! Many blessings to you.

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  8. Love, Love , Love this room!!!! Can you tell me the name, maker or number of the striped pillows or where I might be able to have them made as you did? They are exactly what I have been looking for. I'd so appreciate any information you can give me, what a fabulous creation you made of this room!! Thanks so much!

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    1. Thank you for the compliment~ unfortunately, the stripe was a discontinued clearance fabric at one of my local fabric stores...and I don't even know who made it! Im no help at all!

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