Today, I want to share with you the evolution of decorating our living room.
I hear people often say that they don’t use their living room that much, that it is just an “untouched” room.
That is not the case at our house.
 "Living Room Decorating: The Evolution")
But before I talk too much about our living room now, I thought I would share the evolution of how we got here.
Starting here….no wait.
Let’s go waaayyy back.
This is one of the first rooms that we painted, and it was a very bold beige – I know, risky! My parents were getting rid of their pink, yes pink, sectional. We couldn’t fit it fully, so we pulled together pieces and parts to make a sofa and two chairs. I also took off the back pillows and replaced them with these large ones found at Homegoods. Honestly, I couldn’t stand the pink, but we couldn’t afford anything else. So this, was my compromise.
As unattractive as the room was here, I still love it. Because this was the time in our lives when we had wee little ones. Where Christmas involved rocking horses and play vanities. Life was harder in some ways then, and so much simpler in so many ways. As much as I thankful for where our family is now, where our journey has lead us – these times were good and hold such a strong hold on my heart.
When we finally had the money to afford a real sofa, we got the one we have now and I still love it. It is a small houndstooth from Kincaid. The chairs were a garage sale find and reupholstered locally (I have since sold them). The coffee table is the same, the rug is now in our dining room (but needing replacement compliments of some visiting puppies) and the large canvas is now on top of our entertainment center.
The pretty piece between the windows belonged to my step-mother’s grandmother. It is currently in my office, but will soon be moved and is in search of a new home (hopefully within our house). I actually think if I painted it, it would work really well in our dining room.
There were no moldings on the windows, just pine sills and we had just changed out the light fixture to the vintage one that is there now. This also shows some peeks of our old stair banister.
When we first moved into our house, I tried to figure out a way for us to build built-in bookcases on the main wall – I always believed that was what belonged there. Besides the fact that all of our books were in boxes in the basement 10 years after we moved in.
Although we are actually about to take on a built-in project for our office, we had to admit we didn’t have the time or the ability and it never happened – until we hired our amazing carpenter as part of our renovations.
Our home was a basic builder’s grade and served our family really well for 10 years. And now the changes serve our family really well now.
Now, our books have a place to live and be found. Our mementos have a place to be displayed and enjoyed.
We added two comfy chairs, and if you ever talk to me on the phone, chances are I am sitting in the one by the window while talking to you.
And if this Momma ever needs a ten minute time out, it is usually spent under a blanket on our comfy sofa.
And when our girl’s come home from school, and something major happened – and there is a lot of that when you are 10 and 12 – they say, “Mom, can we go talk in the living room?”.
And I know that means, drop everything and give them my full attention.
And if Hubby and I need to talk through and attempt to solve all of life’s problems, it usually happens in this room.
And there is usually wine as well, because sometimes life’s problems call for wine.
Thanks so much for reading.
Sharing at Savvy Southern Style
P.S. I would love if you followed me on Instagram – get all the latest sneak peeks of projects and lots of life’s happenings – LPatFindingHome.
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Laura, I just love your living room it has such beautiful light, and the bookshelves….love them..want them! What a wonderful welcoming room!
Have a great day.
Susan
I( can see why that is the ‘go to’ room. It is luvly Laura. The bookshelves are stunning!
Cheers, Gee
It is such a beautiful and warm room – I loved seeing the backstory! I just visited a friend’s brand new house and immediately swooned over her similar built-ins in her living room. Similar size room, too. Such a smart idea.
I just adore this room Laura! Everything about it speaks to classic design and it is elegant yet so warm and cozy. Right up my alley! Reading about your bookcases got the wheels turning in my head about my own living room. My husband isn’t always thrilled when those decorating wheels get turning! LOL! Thanks so much for sharing this gorgeous space with us!
Vanessa
Oh I love the trip down memory lane. I have often wondered what your house looked like before you reno’d it, especially after seeing the before, during and after of your kitchen. I love the back story as well. Your living room is so beautiful, homey and cozy. I too can see why it is the go to room.
I had to chuckle at Vanessa’s comment above mine…. my hubby isn’t too thrilled with the decorating wheels here either. LOL Oh the things I would do to this place if I had a good chunk of money!!!
You have made a delightful room. Is that wallpaper or stenciling on the walls; whatever it is, I love it. What is the wallpaper pattern/stencil name if you don’t mind sharing.
I think this is such a beautiful room. The built ins make it so custom! But mostly I love the way it is used, no electronics just real relationships with real people!
What a lovely space! I adore that built-in bookcase — and your stairs are just amazing! And I know all too well about those 12 year old girl talks!
Fun post!! Things are always evolving here too…our kids are still kinda little. I still have to hide the toys in my photos
laurel
Laura,
Great “evolution” of your living room. I see you use your family room for day to day life and the livingroom for moments of time. It can be nice to leave behind the everyday and get away to a different place in our own homes.
My livingroom has the sofa placed in the bay window with a great view of the front lawn and the cul-de-sac we are on.
It is also a great place to take phone calls. or just take a minute to relax. During family gatherings when the house is full there is always a group in the livingroom talking up a storm.
Always enjoy your projects.
rick
What a beautiful room, love the sign over the door as you enter. The chandelier and the flowers are lovely. Great room and transformation.
Cynthia
Beautiful room…is that wallpaper or did you stencil they walls. Love em!
Your humble grateful heart shines through each word & each phase of living/ loving your home. You inspire me to give thanks today for my home, its stories, & the people who contributed to the story of our lives. We use our living room, too. Coffee and prayers in the morning…wine & problem solving some evenings.
it acts as our foyer as well since that is how houses in FL were built in the 50s so it is the first place people enter & begin to discover who we are. It does tell a little lie…we are not as neat & clean as it suggests!
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful! Love your walls, where did you get your wall paper?
Blessings,
Cindy
I have always admired your living room it is so peaceful. We also have a living room but it has been neglected somewhat over the years but has transformed none the less. When we moved in it was 70s blue, a light blue but brighter than baby blue…ugly! It is also a living room/dining room combo and has a lot of potential. We have a lot in common…our living room is where my husband and I have hashed out life’s problems, celebrated Christmas for many years, nursed my baby in a hideous navy recliner that I still can’t part with. I also have a 12 year old daughter and when she has an especially hard day, we hit the blue chair. I also worked in the interior design business 25 years ago but I really needed a dependable income and so my career took a different path. I loved watching how your living room has transformed and inspired to blog about mine!
Laura, your home is beautiful! I feel like it is timeless…traditional! So welcoming!!!
You have done a great job. It makes me want to sit there in your living room with you and have a cup of tea!
Love, Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
Laura – You are just adorable. I bet it is really wonderful to grow up in your house!!! Some lucky girls to have a wonderful mom and dad like you and their great dad!!! I have a 12 year old daughter and 10 yr old son…and there’s two more younger sisters too, but I know my 12 year would think your daughter is really cool….she’s trying to replicate some things in her bedroom!!!
The room looks so beautiful! I just love it all and that design on the walls just makes such a statement. I have a similar color on the wall behind our recliners and it needs something. I just haven’t found a stencil design that works for me yet.. Did you use a stencil? If so, I’d love to know where you got it. Love the color on the couch too and may start looking into getting someone to redo ours in a similar color. It goes so well with the room but doesn’t hold you to any particular colors to use around the room. Thanks for sharing your room. It’s very inspiring!
Love that you shared the story of this gorgeous room! The choices you have made with this room have given it such personality. So many of us overlook the “living room” and it becomes wasted space. Kudos to you for making it a functional part of your home. As always, love your posts! Have a great day:)
Laura… love your living room because it is so light and bright and yet warm. Positively LOVE the built in book cases. Great post.
Growing up my brother and I always called our living room the no-no room. We never used that room and to this day I don’t think my parents use it all the often. So when we built our house I didn’t want a living room. I wanted a house with a big open room that my whole family spent time in. That is what we have and I love it but after seeing your beautiful living room I kind of wish we had one. I love the story behind the room and how it has evolved and how you use the room. The bookshelves are amazing and so is the wallpaper. Your room looks so cozy and inviting just as a living room should be.
Great post. Any suggestions for never used dinning rooms?
It looks soooo pretty, I just love this room. Is that wallpaper or a stencil on the walls? I’m so amazed at how good it looks. I would have never thought that a brown wall would still look light and bright but it so does! I really love it. The bookcases are to die for. Great great room! ~Angel~
It looks soooo pretty, I just love this room. Is that wallpaper or a stencil on the walls? I’m so amazed at how good it looks. I would have never thought that a brown wall would still look light and bright but it so does! I really love it. The bookcases are to die for. Great great room! ~Angela~
Tis room is just plain homey and comfortable. You’ve made some nice changes with its bones, the dressed it to fit your lifestyle. Just perfect…..
Love the room! We are in the process of redoing our family room and I really like your couch/chairs. Details please! Where did you buy them from? Who are they manufactured by? Thank-you!
Beautiful! Did you change the stain on your stairs and bannister? I am overrun with tha 90′s honey oak color and would LOVE to be able to change it! Thanks.
I love that room … the bowl of vintage doorknobs is one of my favorite things! I also love that you truly live in the room … I think every space in a house should be lived in.
Love this living room! You have such an eye for design and I can’t wait to see your new built-ins!
Have an awesome day rock star!
karianne
I saw this post last week when I was on Spring Break and am just now commenting (better late than never, I guess!).
I loved seeing the progression of this room and reading your commentary. One of the things that I really love about your home and your blog is that your rooms are not only beautiful, they really speak to every day living and just life in general. The fact that you had a couch from your mom’s house, the house was builder basic and now you’ve added to it…I love that! We all start somewhere. We all live with furniture that came from somewhere else because it’s what we can afford now or at that point in our lives or (as is often the case at my house) it’s meaningful to a family member (aka – hubby) so it’s a part of our home. We make the most of it. All of it can be beautiful and cozy. Even the times when we’re not so happy with the state of our house, we do what we can and move forward! Thanks so much for sharing your story!
I have lived in my home for 11 years and we’re in a similar situation you were in a few years ago…do we stay or go? We’ve decided to stay so we’re trying to make a few fixes….not as major as yours, but enough for us to enjoy our space for years to come.
Have a great day Laura!
Julie
Laura, I’m so used to admiring your room the way it is now, it never occurred to me that the bookshelves and pretty wallpaper weren’t always there. I love the way you’ve put it together.
I am so glad you featured this room because it is this very room that made me first fall in love with your blog! (And then I saw the rest of your house spilling over with your good taste and I knew I was a forever fan.) Such a gorgeous room. Love seeing it again.
Oh Laura..what a fabulous journey in both life and your home. What a special room you have created and whether it is in your living room or in the car..what a gift for your girls to want to talk “life” with you in the comfort of your home. Precious!