I’m sure you are glad to be back to your old self. Thanks to some much needed tweeting from my good friend, Melissa, I hung your red check mistreatments back up. After a brief email exchange full of laughs and advice seeking, she wisely told me in very firm words to “go put your red drapes up right now”. She knew me and it was so invigorating to hear that. It is good to have a friend who knows my style and quirks in times of design need. And I’m sure you are glad to be cozied up again.
I knew the moment I had the first panel hung that I was glad they were back. I decided that as much as I truly love, LOVE the whole textures, white on white and neutrals thing, and as much as I think it’s timeless {of course this is coming from a person who also believes that toile is timeless} and wonderful and reminiscent of you when our family was young, for me, the way to change is not drastic all at once-I’m-painting-everything-white-today. I think you look lovely and serve our family well just the way you are. You may not get us in the next issue of Southern Living {oh how it pains me to admit it} but you are real, paid for, visually appealing, full of history and even quite functional.
I do have a feeling that over time I may begin to incorporate more neutrals for you but it’s not worth spending precious time and money on for me to change you up every time I lust after a new/old style. I’ve decided instead to embrace my inner color loving, imperfect farmhouse style. It suits us. But I’m glad to say that I’ve worked through it and after a little tweaking I like you even more.
Thank you for putting up with me.
I love, love, love your imperfect farmhouse style. Mine is very similar, although not nearly as charming as yours. It is an anomaly here in Hawaii, however. Recently, a friend came over to my house for the first time and said, “Wow. Country. That’s something you don’t see here very often.”
Disclaimer…it ain’t really country…it’s more farmhouse. Maybe I’m just arguing semantics?
Anyway, toile and checks and plaid is this family’s true style. I just can’t do tropical/Asian/south Pacific because we live in Hawaii. There is just way too much Okie in us bursting to get out!!
Love the two chairs nestled together by the fireplace! I love the changes! Sometimes the little things make all the difference!
Embrace the color love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do too!
Love the curtains, chairs, everything; the room looks like it feels nice. Sometimes I think the all neutral rooms look nice but don’t “feel” as nice. Know what I mean?
I like the red plate above the armoire, but I think it needs some friends, it’s lonely :(
Like the little set up with the two black checked chairs with the table and three pictures, really pretty arrangement.
(Just wondering though about the one orange plate above the cabinet…..it looks kind of lonely and off-center, could we maybe see a pic of it from another angle?)
Oh honey this house is not a finished house–and that photo is not staged, the plate is totally crooked, and was left there after I moved something else–when I feel like climbing up there again I’ll add to it.
who needs southern living when you could easily have your own mag?! this is NOT just lip service, either :)
That cozy sitting area with the lamp and pictures makes me so happy.
What is it with great lamplight that can make a girl so cheerful on the inside?!
I redid my bedroom yesterday and posted pictures. I love the cottage style and this year I am going for it, one baby step at a time :)!.
(sigh!) All is right with the world again. Thanks. (smile) That room is lovely. Warm. The kind of room you can crunch on a biscotti in. The kind where dancing is allowed. The kind where life actually happens.
Some how I feel happier for having seen it!!! I love your blog!
It looks fabulous! It’s funny, my home is a neutral color scheme, vintage cottage, and lately I’ve been wanting to add color! I’ve come to the same conclusion as you! I’ve decided I can add a splash of color here & there with out having to change everything!
Blessings ~ Lisa Marie :-)
Boy, this is so true! It’s hard not to be influenced by all the great blogs out there doing white and wish I could change everything around here too. (Have you seen the amazing new blog, Dreamy Whites? Things are buzzing online about her. But then I have to realize that she did this over a long period of time.)
Thanks a lot Isabella, now I want to paint everything white again http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/
I was asking for paint color advice and two responses I heard were “ooh, orange is REALLY popular right now” and “that’s an old-lady-green color” – and I just wanted to say, “I’m going to paint the colors I like, not what’s popular or not, right now!” And I’ll be much more happy with the results – and luckily for me, my little (adult) brother is coming next week to paint (after removing wallpaper) for me!
LOVE it! The pics of your boys look fab!!!
I love your home so much! I’m so glad you’re staying true to your style. I would be so bummed if you removed all your beautiful fabrics and replaced them all with white and beige linen and burlap! I’m also attracted to that look, but I just think your style is so beautiful and welcoming- southern living would be lucky to have you!
I love the colorful part of you, it’s inspiring! Don’t cave!
What a difference those few changes made to this room. I love it.
Blessings,
Debbie
Aren’t you glad family rooms are slow to anger and quick to forgive :)
yes I am! I could learn a lot from my family room!
you crack me up! can’t wait to see you next week! xoxo
Why is white on white on white so popular? Really? When, really, we all look better with a little color in our cheeks?
And I’m not so sure that neutral is classic. I think it’s actually a pretty much johnny-come-lately look. Now toile–that really is classic. Read your design history book. I bet there’s a lot more toile and color than neutral on those pages.
Welcome back, beauty. :)
Red drapes. There is truly nothing better. And, yes, it looks so nice, as always.
I love the pillow with the bird print! Did you make it??
i need to know where you got the blue armoire! i have been looking in every furniture store and on every site to find an armoire i could use as a tv cabinet. i must know where you got yours, i haven’t seen anything that cute. please don’t tell me you got it at a yard sale!
loving your style!
Yard sale $75.
Then I did this to it http://www.thenester.com/2009/07/painting-pine-furniture.html
Just thought I’d tell you that I admire your living room so much that I am modeling mine after yours. I can’t afford a new couch, so flax slip covers with red toile down pillows for the back…..and the check curtains, I thought they were brilliant and a wonderful way to add another pattern to the toile. And I would have never thought that the blue armoire would go with the red? But I love it…….so my old armoire is going blue too! Just remember “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”
Thanks!! ~L
I agree with Colleen P. Your house is where you LIVE, not where you want to impress by it looking as if your home is not even lived in. I think having everything plain ole neutral is just boring, cold, and uninviting. If others don’t love my house and the colors as much as I do, I don’t care!! They don’t LIVE here! And I’m not selling our house, so I don’t have to have it appeal to just anyone. Oh, and I have those same wall sconces as you, but in red (Southern Living?). Now I know what I can do with them! :)
Thanks Nester, your taste is impeccable!
well I love your family room and the wise words from your girlies who have said put the curtains back … how lucky you are ato have such great mates .. best le
ps I used a nester principle today – the shop your own home :) thanks
Oh, thank the Lord and Melissa for talking you down from that high wire. I love the white on white too. I appreciate it in others’ homes. But if I don’t have color I feel I’m in an asylum. So thank you for hanging those curtains back up where they belong. It’s fun to experiment. But you know that you know that you know when it’s really you and when it’s just fun experimenting and the experiment is over. Ahhhh . . .
Oh, and I’m a huge believer that toile is timeless. It really, really is!
Okay I am glad I am not the only one who noticed your chairs are holding hands! I thought I might be crazy and not quite sane because it IS 3 am and all. I love the cozyness of it all.
Now I want to chairs that are all snuggling together.
Pout.
:)
You are absolutely adorable!! I loved this post and can relate more than you know. I look at my friend’s decor and think, I want THAT look! But why do I end up with THIS look? I’m addicted to thrifty shopping and although I love her posh taste am drawn to fixer uppers and creating things on my own. I can’t imagine trading in some of my favorite finds and stores for a more “coture” look from a designer store. I think you summed it up best that if the end result makes us happy, why fight it? Check out Blair at Reasonably Swanky.blogspot.com… you’ll see!
Love, love, love your red toile sofa!! I’ve been digging all over the internet and can’t seem to find anything similar. Do you mind telling me where you purchased it from? Is is a custom order? Thanks and I love reading your blog.
at the end of the day you have to do what’s right for you and your house! doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate other styles (should be telling myself this, too!)
What a beautiful room! I just found your blog and may be in love. :) I think your drapes are very country chic. They fit perfectly.