Welcome Part 2: the Living Room.

The living room is where I spend most of my time. Even though I have a studio/office I normally do crafts on the floor here. I just love all the space!

The fireplace is the focal point. I’ve always wanted a mantle and love showing off little things on mine. My bird collection sits perched in a line front and center. The tarnished mirror candlesticks that were one of the best gifts ever are on the left. A tall, wide-mouthed recycled glass vase with sticks sits on the right. And of course, my beloved For Like Ever print backs everything up standing tall in the back. I’m considering painting the mantle itself black to match the fireplace screen, right now the white is just standing out a little too much for my liking.

On the left, my bird collection. On the right is one of my favorite purchases – a long wooden tealight candle holder. I always get a ton of compliments on it.

I eventually want to replace this couch with something long, low and modern. What I do love is the coffee table – black lacquered wood with copper panel inlays. And it’s a hand-me-down! Score. So is the copper leafed floor lamp on the right that I can’t seem to part ways with. Although I do plan on replacing the table once I get a new couch in place. The two canvas piece on the wall behind the couch is my own work.

When I got my first job this TV cabinet was my first purchase. I got it at Pier 1 and talked the manager down to 50% off for the floor model. It houses my behemoth 32″ TV that is not a flatscreen. I’d love to replace it soon than later, get rid of the cabinet and mount it above my mantel. Then follow suit and re-situate my entire living room towards the fireplace. Another option is to still ditch the cabinet, but in its place put a long console to set the TV upon. The green bowl that sits on the ground was a gift from my mom and is one of my most beloved possessions.

The two sets of shelves are part of the same collection as the cabinet (since discontinued) and house the majority of my book collection. (They look a little tilted in all the photos, but it’s just my camera going fish-eyed without my consent.)

The Mandarinetto print has been with me since college and was probably one of the very first pieces I bought that reflects what my style has become. As you can tell, I much prefer to lean large frames that actually hang them on the wall. I’m slightly obsessed with the Eiffel Tower and have managed to collect quite a few. I stacked a bunch of my coffee table books, then set the figures on them to vary their heights. It also manages to show off the books at the same time. Two birds, one stone.

If I’m not sprawled over the floor working on a project I’m most likely in this chair. This faded chair that badly needs to be reupholstered. It’s another hand-me-down and was bright and vivid paisley when I got my hands on it. I’m hoping to go with something really graphic when the time comes to give it a makeover. Behind it is my gallery art wall, which is one of my favorite things. It shows off pieces from some of my favorite artists as well as some of my own art. Next to the chair is a cute little tray table. The top pops off – the actual tray – and the legs fold up. There’s also a ring hanging off of it for a bar towel. This is really my favorite corner in the entire house.

The prints on the wall are from Uptown Minneapolis’ fusion restaurant Chino Latino. They were menus from a few years back. At the end of the hallway is a movie poster for The Endless Summer. I love the bright neons and pop art feel.

13 Comments
  • southern daze

    June 25, 2009 at 6:12 pm Reply

    What a great cozy feel it has! Your favorite chair looks like one I could sink into and spend hours upon hours reading – love it!

    I have the same For Like Ever poster and ours is in our entryway. Every time I pass by it I always find myself smiling. The colors are just fabulous!!

  • oneshotbeyond

    June 25, 2009 at 6:20 pm Reply

    great space!

  • jenni has her head in the clouds

    June 25, 2009 at 7:06 pm Reply

    I love that you have organized your books by color. I also love hand-me-downs. When I first got a place, the majority of my stuff was from dumpster diving. When I moved in with my (now husband) boyfriend, he was trying to figure out if I had paid for *anything* in my apartment, hah!

    p.s. I've always admired The Endless Summer poster, I love it for the same reasons as you.

  • JJB

    June 25, 2009 at 7:45 pm Reply

    Man, do I love that Clairemobt table from Crate&Barrel… I just wish it was a quarter of the current price. A girl can dream.

  • Kelly

    June 25, 2009 at 7:46 pm Reply

    tell me about it! gorgeous table though, isn't it? i'm crossing my fingers for a 75% off sale at C+B!

    xo
    kelly

  • Alya

    June 25, 2009 at 11:27 pm Reply

    your home is amazing! its so light and airy and comfy at the same time πŸ™‚

  • [Tara]

    June 26, 2009 at 12:01 am Reply

    I adore the pink poster on your fireplace mantel; I've had my eye on that for a while! Your color-coded books look great, as well! I tried that but quickly realized most of my books have big, ugly stickers on the spine from the university bookstore, LOL πŸ˜‰

  • caroline duke

    June 26, 2009 at 6:12 am Reply

    i love it, kelly! love your books and your (!) art above your couch and especially your eiffel towers. my room at my mom's house has all my eiffel tower stuff. except for that clock! that's at my apartment.

    looking at this makes me want a house bad!

  • J

    June 26, 2009 at 1:22 pm Reply

    I love that someone else color coordinates their books! Great Space.

  • Christine

    June 26, 2009 at 3:07 pm Reply

    I love the poster over your fireplace! Wher do everybody get it? It seams to be only me who cant find it:)

  • Kelly

    June 26, 2009 at 3:58 pm Reply

    there's a link in the post where you can purchase the poster.

    kelly

  • Courtney

    June 27, 2009 at 4:33 am Reply

    I love the canvas pieces above the sofa, and I am impressed that they are your own work!

  • Rebecca

    July 10, 2009 at 10:39 pm Reply

    I have a glass/metal coffee table like the one on your wishlist (but with darker metal). I love how pretty it is, but I thought I'd share my two biggest issues with it.
    1. Wobbly. I took it apart and tightened everywhere possible. Less wobbly, but still not great.
    2. Metal edge on top. Conveniently keeps glass in place. Inconveniently digs into my calves when I want to be a slob and put my feet on my coffee table. So a plus if you're not into that. πŸ˜‰

Post a Comment