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.

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Welcome Part 1: the Foyer.

The day is finally here. The day many of you have been asking about since last July when I moved in to my first house. The day where I show you where I spend my days, my nights and my in betweens.

I’ve decided to break it all down into posts about different rooms. Bite size pieces are much more manageable than one lump some, or so I think. They’ll be spread out over the next few days for your perusal. As with any house things are always changing and being updated, so this is really only the starting point.

This is basically the extent of what goes on in the foyer. Easily one of the most boring areas in the entire house. Peanut and Roxy think the bench is theirs and use it all of the time. Sun-bathing being on the more important in their lives and all. Peanut also likes to keep watch over the front yard from this vantage point.

The big picture plan is to eventually tear up the white tile and carpeting and install something like this bamboo chestnut flooring throughout the house. The tiles are textured, which makes them really difficult to keep clean, especially in the kitchen. The oatmeal colored carpeting was brand new when I moved in, but I’d love to get rid of it. Although I’m suspecting anything else wouldn’t hide hairball stains half as well!

On a smaller scale, I’d love to replace the light fixture. Then ditch the bench and clock and lean a large scale mirror against the wall.

Next: the Living Room

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