The big room.
Also known as our TV room. Also known as the fireplace room. Also known as the room that I hope Paul can figure out how to work the fireplace in. Also known as a super large space that needs more furniture somewhere down the line.
I've shared bits of this space already. This is the room that came together in a HUGE way when the media cabinet was built. I mentioned in that post that the media cabinet really elevated the space for me.
When our stuff got delivered, one of the first things off the truck was the big black bookshelf we had used as a room divider in our old townhouse. (You can see a peek of what it looked like for the few months I had it above.) I told the movers to just drop it into place right at the start of this room so when you walked in the front door, the first thing you saw was the bookshelf. The mover's looked at me with relief and did just that.
And then the rest of the furniture was settled around that decision.
I really tried to make it work. I decided to fill it a bit lighter than I had in Oxnard. I stuck with mostly greens and blacks and whites, taking care to have space where the light could shine through. It worked. Sorta. Until the media cabinet was built. And I loved the super clean look. My bookshelf looked cluttered and totally wrong in comparison.
Orange & Park California print, pinwheel painting, ampersand string art, Paris print, siiso print. frames by ikea, target & pottery barn.
And then I hung art around the TV. And I loved that even more. And suddenly the bookshelf was an eye-sore that was always in my peripheral vision while I was watching TV. But of course, blessing in disguise, I was pregnant and without help, so I couldn't do anything about it for a month. I had to really think on it and be sure I hated it enough to justify moving it.
Sure enough, I did.
When my family was here, they kindly disassembled it and transported it into my office where there is now plenty of storage for all my random shipping and craft supplies. (I'll be sharing the office once the baby is born and Paul is home and I have figured out how it's going to work for us.)
TA-DA! Suddenly this room could really breathe. It's bigger and brighter now.
I'm still thrown off when I turn the corner from the hallway and look out into the whole space each morning. I've got plans to fill it in... I'm thinking about a long but low bookshelf (maybe with a raw wood top?) that defines the space a little more to go behind the chair. NO rush though, I am more than happy to let some ideas percolate for awhile.
The rest of this room is pretty simple. The canvases were all painted by me this spring to bring some color in. The rug, coffee table and couch we had in Oxnard. (The rug was my parents, purchased in the 1980s). Paul and I made the coffee table a few years ago and the couch is West Elm. The lamp is this one from Target (reviews are not great, but I am totally happy with it).
That chair was a craigslist find from the first week I moved in. It was not the best deal in the world ($280) but it's real wood, real leather and insanely gorgeous. Plus, I'd never seen anything like it which is something I like in my used item hunting.
In the front corner of the room is another empty space that we're still thinking on. My dream plan at the moment is a hanging chair (inspired by Elsie) and a bookshelf and maybe a fun rug. I want to get that mirror and art (both craigslist finds) hung up too. And plants, of course. "Put a plant on it" is this home's motto.
The entryway also needs work. I ended up leaving the mirrored table there temporarily because even though it's not quite right for this house, I need a spot to drop my stuff. We are going to build a wooden bench. Something simple and fun for resting a diaper bag and a bowl with keys, etc. There will be art hung on both entry walls. There might be a coat rack. Oh and the rug... there will be a rug that is not the black doormat that came with the house.
But all in good time. Right now, this space is complete. It's whole. It's ready for a family of three to move in and sprawl out and enjoy. (Hurry home, Paul. Sit tight, baby girl.)
