Take Two

So yesterday I mentioned my TV wall dilemma, and this morning I found two incredibly timely posts to consider...

As if we were reading each other's minds, Jenny posted this:

Her own swoon-worthy TV wall... Storage cabinets with a skirted stand in between... And most importantly, it looks like her cabinet also comes out over a window.

While this is totally do-able in her open, loft-style New York apartment, would it work in our small, not-so-open North Carolina house? 

An option that would undoubtedly work in our space, despite the lack of storage options, is this incredible idea from Brooklyn Limestone:

I just adore the simple, uncluttered feel.  And right now, I'm leaning toward this idea... with the thought that we can always add cabinets or bookcases down the road when storage becomes an issue.

As my professor said last night, there are times when you just have to commit and go with it!

Shelving Dilemma

What is it about spring that makes you want to grab that to-do list and get it all done?  For me, that to-do list mostly includes rearranging furniture and painting everything I can get my hands on!

I mentioned before that Sarah came by a few weeks ago to offer some suggestions on a few 'problem' spots in the house.  One of the the places I've struggled with the most is our TV wall. 

The space has looked like this since we've been married, and I've never felt 100% satisfied with it.  Mostly because I can't stand the unbalanced look of a bookshelf on one side and then nothing on the other.  I could hardly contain my excitement when Sarah suggested achieving some symmetry with built-in bookshelves around a TV stand.

Unfortunately, the hubs has vetoed this one.  Apparently, he is not game for adding the built-ins and shifting down the off-center windows behind the couch.

So now I'm considering adding another leaning shelf to achieve a similar look.  I did a quick mock-up of the idea... And would also consider adding a pretty linen skirt to cover the TV stand.  Thoughts?

I just can't get too excited about the double leaning shelves for some reason... If it were built-ins or even a pair of Lack shelves, I'd be running out today to get started!  But this just doesn't do it for me.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if I want to eliminate the great storage that comes with shelves flanking the TV stand (especially when we're looking for places to stash toys down the road).

What do you think?  Go for the leaning shelves, or keep brainstorming for that problem corner?

This or That?

After careful consideration and about a million different options, I have finally narrowed down my choices for spending the remainder of a few Crate & Barrel gift cards.  Sarah recently gave me some great advice on breaking up all the square/angular lines in our living room... So I've decided to use the funds to replace one of our current side tables with either...


Option 1:

{Jules Accent Table}

Option 2:

{Quarry Side Table}

I am kind of obsessed with both… I love the classic look of the Jules side table, but am crazy over the marble top of the Quarry.  Which one gets your vote?

Decision 2011

I bought a couple of paint samples for the sunroom... Okay, five.  But I'd highly recommend the process.  I generally just tape a paint card to the wall and go from there.  However, with my recent itch to change the wall colors in our house (yes, almost all of them), I decided repainting for a third time would most likely be out of the question.  So I better get it right!

Here is the line-up...

And while these two were cut pretty quickly, I think the color on the left will be the perfect smokey blue for our bedroom!

Despite all the choices & my general lack of decision-making, the winner was easy to spot!  Granted, I still need husband approval, but my vote is with Chantilly Lace (color furthest to the left in the top picture).

It's a little hard to see on the primer, because it's a crisp white.  I've been thinking about white walls since last summer... And all the bright windows in this space have me even more excited about the choice.  Plus I think white would look incredible with the dark floors I'm currently begging for...

{source unknown}

Can't wait to get the paint and trim up this weekend!

Face-to-Face

I have a new obsession (surprised?)  Sofas facing each other... Love.it.

But I've also read that people can feel like this is a 'confrontational' room arrangement.  And if you know me, I try my absolute hardest to be opposite of confrontational.

{via Lonny}

{via Effortless Style}

So what do you think?  Intimate, conversation-enabling arrangement... or the set-up for confrontation mediation?

Two Weekend De-Clutter

Last weekend, I started the de-cluttering process by cleaning out my closet, dresser, and guest room closet (which was packed to the gills!)  With two huge boxes filled already, I hit the kitchen this weekend… I briefly considered having another yard sale, since we had so much.  But quickly realized many of the items were ones that didn't sell at our last sale in September (why did I bring those back inside?!)

So I packed up an entire car full (literally... including the trunk) and headed to Goodwill.  Needless to say, getting rid of it all felt great!

But what felt even better was moving out a few big pieces… Remember the china cabinet with kitchen items in our guest bedroom?  It found a new home at my in-law’s lake house, along with the yellow carpet that was in the same room.

I honestly really liked the china cabinet, but it was so out of place in a bedroom!  Especially given the fact that everything fit into the kitchen, with a little scaling down and sorting out.

By moving out the yellow carpet (purchased a few years ago at Habitat), we finally have a spot for the 8x11 rug that used to be in our living room! Yep, that baby has been rolled up and stashed in the corner of our bedroom for almost a year… True hoarder style.

With every room, I used the 'one-year' rule... If we hadn't worn/used/thought about the item in one year, it went!  All of the clearing out also got me thinking about 'cleaner' looking rooms... So stay tuned for a quick guest bathroom makeover (and paint job!)

Whew! Now on to the week… Hopefully picking out a paint color for the sunroom and getting at least a coat done one evening after work.

Lonny Love

Right after I posted my thoughts on living 'smaller,' the March/April Lonny came out with total inspiration...

I adore this space... The neutral palette, navy rug, side tables and gallery walls on both sides (yay symmetry!)  A perfect example of how a smaller space can still be everything you want!