Living Room: The Latest
July 8, 2010
I can’t quite put my finger on it. I think my love affair with all things French may have begun when I was younger when I watched Gene Kelly in ‘An American in Paris’.
Perhaps it was when I lost myself in Peter Mayle’s novel ‘A Year in Provence’ that I devoured many years ago.
Most certainly, my l’amour was made permanent when I took my first trip to Paris in 1998.
Whenever it happened, it happened, and my decorating style was forever altered. I can’t help myself ~ I’m a self professed Francophile.
Despite my love of traditional French decor, I do like to inject a little modern flair, and the new mirror and trellis pattern rug in the living room certainly help.
Here’s what the room looked like last year.
And now . . .
Still a work in progress, but certainly lightened and brightened with the new paint, new wainscoting, and also a few new accessories.
The paint color started out as Benjamin Moore’s ‘Tranquility’, but then I had the guys at BM pull two drops of blue out of the Affinity formula to arrive at ‘Tranquility Tweaked’ ~ my custom color ~ the perfect gray blue.
The mirror was a lucky find . . . I was hunting for new light fixtures for my boy’s room a few weeks ago and found a floor sample of this Casbah mirror ~ I fell in love with the Moroccan shape and the 50% off price ! I was not in love with the dark coppery bronze color, so what’s a girl to do ? Spray paint in high gloss white baby !
Before:
After:
The candlesticks I found at a thrift store last year ~ the textured raffia pillar candles are from Pottery Barn.
These sandblasted manzanita branches are leftover from this project ~ the shell ball I purchased in April at this antique faire.
I also replaced the twin light fixtures in the room, one hangs over the sitting area and the sister chandy hangs over the piano. I ordered these inexpensive fixtures from Overstocks thinking they’d be golden, but when they arrived they were too dark bronze, so I spray painted them too, then accented the detail with a little Rub n Buff.
Here are my new chandeliers, after a coat of Rustoleum’s Heirloom White spray paint, and some antique gold Rub-n-Buff accents.
The black baby grand piano was a gift from our grandmother when our grandfather passed away. It’s a family heirloom and classic piece, so there was no way it was leaving the room. And call me sentimental, but I love to listen to my children learn to play on this incredibly gorgeous instrument ~ there’s nothing that quite compares to the sounds of a home filled with music.
Who really cares that some of the keys are chipped ~ it’s the imperfectly beautiful things that tell a story.
On the opposite wall, a few minor changes.
If you follow my tweets on Twitter, you know I found this antique buffet at the local thrift store last week. I couldn’t pass it up at $300 at 50% off, so I picked it up for $150 dollars. Solid wood antique with velvet lined drawers. Love !
I had to slightly rearrange the gallery wall to make room for the new seaside oil painting we picked up on our visit to Carmel-by-the-Sea earlier this year. We only buy fine art when it’s meaningful ~ Mr. CG happened to love this painting because it reminded him of the the spot where we played on the beach as a family together. How fortunate to actually meet the artist who painted it too !
I love the subtle burled wood and art deco detailing on this antique buffet. I can’t believe some of the pieces that I find in thrift stores ! This will suit me just fine until someday I save enough for the dream sofa to replace it. P.S. Pinch me, but my raspberry hydrangeas are insanely gorg this time of year.
With all the traditional style furniture, I definitely wanted a modern mirror and graphic patterned rug. Originally, I was torn between these two patterns by Dash & Albert. Aren’t they lovely?
But then the kind folks over at Rugs USA sent me this wool rug for my foyer to review, and I couldn’t help but notice that the trellis pattern would look mega fabulous in the living room.
You can’t quite tell from the photo, but this particular rug is too small for the space - it’s only 3.5’ x 5.5’. The rug’s trellis pattern and large repeat is absolutely fantastic, and for the price, a great way to inject some modern style into your home. But the rug itself is a little too thin for a high traffic area like the foyer – if I left it there, it would need a rug pad. So I’m going to exchange it for the larger version in the living room ~ I think it will be the perfect pattern for this space.
For now, there’s only a few things left to do:
So far, the space feels much better than before. I consulted with my future stylist-in-training ~ she thought her fluffy friends would enhance the space.
Give a girl some cred ~ she happens to love soft texture and color!
For now, we’ll stick to the blue/white/gold color palette.
So that’s the tour so far ! I still need of some fantastic art for above the settee, I’m thinking a series of framed botanicals, and I’m sure in time I will find it somewhere.
For now, the ‘new’ room is a breath of fresh air compared to what it was, but still a work in progress. Thanks for following along ~ hope you like it too.
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I lovelovelove it! It is really superbly put together :)
Beautiful. You are so talented.
It’s gorgeous. Heck, I even loved your before!
I’m so in love with this room, I’m almost speechless. I love it!
Beautiful! As a musician, I love the piano there… no need to apologize for that instrument! :-)
You have an incredible eye and I love what you have done in that room.
I was looking for those Manzanita branches for a friend’s wedding who is doing a winter wonderland theme! I am might have to get a few extra to use in my house!
I forgot to mention how I am seriuosly pining for your new mirror!!! It is DEElish!!!!
OMG!!! Thank you so much, you have solved a mystery for me!!!
I found your blog just a few months ago and have really enjoyed following it since then. But today, your post made my week, heck maybe even my whole summer! Let me explain….I saw a rug in BHG a few months ago and of course it was not listed in the “where to find” at the back of the mag. Well I put my super slooth hubby to work, searching the web endlessly but he had no luck, so we gave up, much to my dismay. Until today!!!! There it was (plain tin slate) in your pic of dash and albert options!!! I am soooo excited, this time I was the super slooth. I can’t wait to find a sample and test it out!
I love everything about the room, but that mirror is to DIE for!!!!!!!
First off, I LOVE this room. This is what I want in the dining room! Right now it is painted to look like red leather…very dark. I loved it many years ago when I did it but now I’m wanting light and bright instead.
Tell me more about the paint color. I’m wanting a blue/grey that can go throughout the house. Do you think this would work? Do you happen to have the formula handy so that I could get it duplicated at my BM dealer? I’ve been looking and looking for the perfect color.
Love the room and the mirror looks so much better in white! The trim details stand out so much better don’t they?
It is truly beautiful. I LOVE the mirror! As others have said, I like your ‘before’ picture too.
wow beautiful. I love the pattern on the rug and it goes great with the mirror.
Beautiful!
CUTE! Hey CS; just a quick question. I noticed on the mirror that it has a small scratch on the R side (at least I am assuming it’s a scratch in the paint…) I recently bought a mirror from Home Goods that has a (larger than yours) scratch on it and planned on spray painting the entire thing. I was curious if I should sand the existing paint down to the scratch level, paint over the scratch (to bring it to the same level as the existing paint), or just prime and spray paint it? How did you do yours? Did you prime it? Hopefully this doesn’t seem confusing. I just need some direction… thx!
It looks SOOO good!!!!!
I love what you’ve done here, Kate! We were just “gifted” a baby grand from my parents and I’ve been trying to find the best arrangement around it. I think pianos are pretty just as objects so no complaints there. I think my favorite part of this room is the buffet and art wall (I’m so predictable!). I can’t believe you snagged that for just $150. Well done! Oh, and your little assistant is a doll! Thanks so much for your comment and support yesterday. It meant a lot to me to hear from you!
I love your mantle!!!
Did you and your hubby put it together yourself? I remember someone said they did (I apologize if I have the wrong person). If it is you, can you tell me the steps involved? I would love to finally get a mantle for my BORING living room. :) Thanks!!
Gorgeous! I love every little bit of it!
Um that mirror is my favorite thing I have seen in a long time!!! I LOOOOVE it! What a great find and it looks so much better white.
Oh, I just adore this room!!! I love everything about it. That mirror is on my wish list! I want it now, but only if I can paint it white like yours. Great job with the transformation.
Love the mirror but love the rugs even more. I’ve been looking forever for a great long runner for my entry. I might need to hop on over to RugsUSA to check out if they have something long enough in a great soft buttery yellow (loved your pattern, my walls are all grays and darker grays and heirloom white accents so we’re doing the gray/yellow thing). Then the length thing… We never use our entry really (we always come in from downstairs or the garage) so I don’t think I’d have the high traffic issue. But I’m always scared to order rugs because after shipping for the size of rug I’d need…and I’m undecisive…it’s just tough (Smile).
Enjoy your new room!
Bernadette
That room looks fantastic! Such a great job and it seems like you finished it so quickly. I love the colors too, I think you should post the paint formula :) Great finds, looks amazing!!!
Wow, your room is beautiful I love everything. I especially love the wainscoting, I was trying to convince my husband that we should add it to the bedroom, but as we are on the move maybe I can show him your room and have it in my next house.
I love this room. The colors are to die for. My question…do you still have the 3 part mirror up? The one you took apart and painted white? That project is what got me totally hooked on trying a refinishing project of my own (which is still waiting in the garage, for cooler weather).
I just discovered your blog and had to say thanks for sharing all the beautiful photos of your home! I love your style – everything in your home is gorgeous. I’m also impressed by your sewing skills – that slipcover looks fantastic! Great job : )
BEEEEEE-U-TIFUL! Your former living room was lovely but I admit a huge bias toward blue, especially the lovely shades you used here. LOVE!
Beautiful as always
Love it – it is so beautiful!!!
Love the new rug and mirror! Gorgeous- as usual!
your room is beautiful.
Everything you do always turns out beautiful! This room looks like it could be in a magazine!
Check out my new blog!! http://youngancrafty.blogspot.com/
Hannah
Everything is so pretty and posh. I adore the blue rug and the white mirror.
Love! I’m in love! I rarely want to steal ideas from other places, but honestly I’m coveting that mirror and rug. I might just need to invest in one or the other myself. Beautiful job!
Luuurve the whole room. Your stylist is just precious. ;) The rug is really really pretty. This room seems like “you.” :)
PS. We tried your grilling marinade last night-YUUUUM! :) Two thumbs up!
I really love the new look, it’s so fresh and crisp. Your “styling” is awesome-the mirror, candles, flowers. The buffet and gallery wall are just great- and your daughter is Adorable!
Precious & oh what a cutie pie your stylist-in-training! :-)
Blues…whites…French…dark woods…we speak the same language.
it looks amazing in there. love that mirror. love that rug. love that paint color! i think i am going to use that in my bedroom redo, i am looking for a blue gray that is just like that. thanks for the tip about adding to tranquility.
It’s so lovely. That antique buffet is To. Die. For. I cannot believe you scored it for so cheap, you lucky girl.
I love it!! I’m super jealous of your grand piano. I just saved a ton of these pics for inspiration. I love the new buffet too. So lovely.
Beautiful, stunning room! I’m drooling especially over your beautiful baby grand!
WOW. This is just fresh, open and lovely. The previous was also very smart. Just shows at the most baseic….what a change of paint colour can do.
I have very neat little light shades that just clip on over the bulb. Those are rather nice and can be dressed or undressed [cheeky] to match the decor as well. Just a brainstorm vs. a brain fart!
Enjoy your lovely fam and room Kate.
Cheers,
Brenda
Great job! I still can’t believe you made the sofa slip cover. I think your new painting is lost over the buffet. I think you should put it over the sofa with perhaps the long rectangular painting with the gold frame and the gold framed picture that is on the little table to the right of the fire place. The new painting deserves a special place so it can be appreciated. Keep the sun off your piano. You might have to put that special film on the windows. Those old pianos had amazing, detailed, handrubbed finishes. I think you are a genius to cut out the cane on the armchair next to the fireplace. I grew up in the fifties and sixties and hated those chairs then, and am still not crazy about them, but they are a good buy and yours is the best “after” chair I have seen.
I love what you have done with this space. The lighter color is fabulous!
im in love with this room! Something I noticed were the legs on the settee! they are pretty and they REALLY stand out in the new room…i dont know if it is the slip cover or the fact that everything is lighter & brighter but they kind of blended in before. NOW they pop. i heart them. :)
I love how you have an “eye” to see potential in things. How did you train yourself? I’m studying your blog and House of Turquoise (I JUST discovered you, and then H.o.T. because of you!) I just can’t look at my same old rooms and imagine different!
Beautiful room! I love the soft colors. What did you use for you curtains? I love the color and texture.
Thanks.
love the modern touches in your living room… mixing styles is so much more interesting!
xo,
cristin
so beautiful!!!
I absolutely love the mirror transformation! It goes great with the rug!