My Living Room
For five years I fretted over the look of my living room. I piled in what I thought would mask the heavy sun-faced burgundy velvet lined drapes, the Victorian settee, the eight by ten dark burgundy area rug with an olive green border, and the rough floor. I staged picture frames, ferns, mats, books, tables, vinyl records, candles, and art. I updated the room with what I had on hand, disappointed that I let things go.
The Coffee Table
Undaunted, I pushed ahead and upholstered a square oak coffee table with an offbeat patterned fabric. On top, I displayed my Bon Appetit unique travel collection with grid-like precision, cleverly utilizing the covers as visual art instead of hidden stacks in the pantry. For a sense of grandeur, I centered a thickly woven basket with round chunky handles. I filled it with candles, an Italian pitcher, grapevines within, and sugared fruits salvaged from a damaged pinecone Christmas wreath. The beautifully photographed meals and landscapes enticed me to read about Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Provence, The Mediterranean, London, and Paris. I enjoyed having these magical-looking international issues close to me. I craved the food, imagined peoples’ lives, and soaked in all the details. The subscription-studded work of art embodied me and nourished my creative traits. Pleased with myself, I knew deep down it was only a stop-gap measure to feed my ego. Fulfilled by the articles but no longer content with my homemade design, I longed for a new adventure, so I decided to go out to the furniture store and remodel my living room.
The Furniture Store
Without a solid plan, I asked my husband if he would like to go and look around at Paul Rich & Sons, known for its high-quality furniture. We discussed a particular Swedish ergonomic design and looked online for more details. Modern and made of expensive leather, I was open-minded, plus the line was available to see at the store. Designer Steve greeted us as we entered the showroom and, after some discussion, walked us to the collection. I knew right away that Swedish design was not for my living room. It was sleek and stiff, not suitable for the cozy space I envisioned. We meandered about to the traditional leather section of the store and found a beautiful Bradford honey-colored sofa with a recliner to match. Knowing that the room needed a new rug, I was not content to stop. Designer Steve brought a sample cushion to lay over the large Pakistani 8x10s. Piled on the floor, we flipped them over to the halfway mark, each one prettier than the next. Colorful and wowing, I chose a rug that represented the colors I love, vibrant blues, orange splashes, creams, and taupes, which showcased the honey leather. I could see that the rug would be a beautiful foundation for the room. For a completed look, one more piece would suffice. I chose a comfortable swivel rocker in striking navy blue velvet, which allowed me to introduce blue to my house, a color that I always admired but never used. I was a yellow, burgundy, cream, and green Girl. I knew it was time for a change.
The Paint
I showed Designer Steve some pictures of my living room and asked if he had any wall color suggestions. The existing color was mushroom which always looked elegant. My husband liked neutral; I liked flair. I received two Benjamin Moore suggestions via email, Twilight Gold 1069 and Spanish Red 1301. Both samples were beautiful, and I had difficulty deciding between them as I continuously moved them around the room to gauge the light. Twilight Gold is a dusty mustard color that goes great with the rug. Spanish Red makes you want to linger. Either way, I knew I could make it work. Ultimately I chose Spanish Red for a much-needed change, fortunate that the south-facing room with four showcase windows and the 10-foot ceiling could handle the drama. Paint is an essential component and can make an impact. I painted two coats in one weekend, the eggshell texture reminiscent of leather-covered beautifully. I was delighted with the new direction, grateful for the color tips.
The Mantle
When we first bought the house, I was always on the hunt for furnishings. My mom loved to decorate, so we always shopped together. I found out that Tuffy, a local man, was removing fancy mantels and moldings from his 1790s built country house. The foundation was listed. So he was getting to the bottom of the problem and ripping out the walls to the studs. The word on the street was that the original homeowners had money. It was true. Goosebumps appeared on my arms when I saw the grand mantle. I quickly snatched it up for the asking price of 100 dollars and raced home to grab my husband and a pick-up truck. We hauled it out of there before Tuffy could change his mind - what a find! I hired Handyman Sal to install it on the largest expanse of the room. It was a faux piece, so I did the best I could to make it look natural. I graced it with an ornate gold mirror hung horizontally for a significant effect. Decorated with tall tapered candles, it became a conversation piece and a focal point for the room.
The Artwork
I decided to replace the ornate gold mirror. It was the kind often seen in large stately spaces, and it had its day. I realized that I would have to find a huge painting to adorn the Spanish Red wall. Not an easy prospect. From a recent trip to Japan, I remembered that my son-in-law casually mentioned that he would like to acquire The Girl in the Blue Kimono, an original oil portrait of my daughter painted 15 years ago by Hoosick artist Evan Wilson. At the time, Evan, a friend, offered a giclee print for us, but we never acted on it. Knowing that the original would be off-limits, I searched for the initial email offer and ordered a true to life-sized giclee on canvas, enhanced in oil by the artist, stretched on wooden stretchers, and ready to frame. The 24 by 36 masterpiece looked identical to the original. I called Peg Caron, a custom picture framer who crafted a handsome simple gold frame suited to the portrait. With its orange bent, Spanish Red picked up the deep salmon sash of the blue kimono, which picked up the swivel rocker. Both colors worked beautifully. The room was stunning.
I own real art, local art, and family art. Evan Wilson, Jenny Holzer, Harriet Winston, Blair Winston-Primack, Joyce Decker, and Mary Donohue are part of my living room. The thought-provoking truisms etched in the 300-pound marble footstool, and brass plaques are humbling. I am delighted by the hand-crafted pottery bowls with gold leaf; amazed by the Sephardic blue and occasional green tables; proud of the nostalgic picture of the Girl at the beach. On the northwest corner of the room, I hung two beloved vintage radio posters from my grandfather’s original radio store founded in 1934, the Eveready Hour and the RCA Radiotrons. I thought a bar would be suitable for that space. I remembered a piece in the attic that my husband used to house his stereo receiver and college albums. The backside was cut-out, and it looked frumpy, so I quickly relegated it to storage. It turned out to be an old radio cabinet from his grandfather. It was just the size I was looking for, not too big, yet tall enough for bar service. I polished the pretty laminate doors. With a thick glass whisky decanter and gold-trimmed martini set, the corner bar became an art display that represented both sides of my family. I was hitting my stride.
The Windows
Years ago, inspired by a Victorian holiday shoot in Traditional Homes magazine, I set out to sew burgundy velvet drapes to achieve the same elegant, festive look. My mom and I shopped every couple of weeks at the now-closed Waverly store in Adams, Massachusetts. I purchased 20 yards of upholstery weight fabric. It was heavy, luxurious, and challenging to work with in bulk. But I was determined to do it. The windows were enormous, so I separated the fabric widths and added a liner to create a fullness and a sensual look. I broke several sewing machine needles. The fabric was so thick I had to hand-stitch some of the pleat segments with heavy-duty curved hooks. My husband installed long brass rods secured at one ceiling point to prevent the center from sagging. I meticulously hung them, so they opened and closed properly. These drapes were the backdrop to many special holiday occasions. They were gorgeous, and I was so pleased with the results.
Because I chose Spanish Red for the remodel, the faded burgundy drapes would not work and had to come down. They are stored in the attic but not for long. Knowing the ombre-faded look is in vogue, I plan to reuse them in my dining room. I have beautiful trim and moldings. To make the elaborate woodwork stand out, I chose not to do draperies at all. Instead, my husband measured and installed white, sheer Comfortex shades, motorized with remote control. We used this local company before and were pleased with the look and quality. I love the remote control option and highly recommend the convenience. With the sun shining brightly onto three tall, deep-seated windows, I knew these sophisticated protective shades were the right choice for the room.
The Lighting
I kept the existing lamps but updated the shades with a creamy white for a softer effect. Gifted to me by my parents, a pair of 40-inch tall pineapple lamps stand on cast metal pedestals at either side of the mantle. A tall brass standing reading lamp with a unique clam-shell patterned shade invites curiosity. I commandeered a Stiffel light from my son’s room to match the silver and glass bar decor. For a soothing mood, my husband suggested four strategically placed uplight floor lamps to illuminate the art around the room further. This light is just the trick to make the living room come alive.
The Accents
I added a few more things to finish the look. On each narrow wall beside the French doors, my husband carefully spaced four deep blue and rust, Chinese plate runners, for a sense of balance. I placed a Salvador Dali pillow on the blue swivel rocker, reminding me of my mom and her love of travel. It was from the Bilbao museum in Spain. I replaced the lumpy 22” insert, so it sat perfectly. I purchased a pair of Crate and Barrel silk velvet Ikat pillows for the leather couch, five long-stemmed blue roses for a plant stand in front of the window, a Chinese stand to house a Bose system with a turntable for my vinyl collection, a pair of souvenir Dutch wooden shoes near the mantle floor, selected books, tapered candles and a vase filled with birch twigs. Lastly, I thoughtfully laid a luxurious Pottery Barn cream faux fur throw on the back of the couch for more layering and texture.
The Finish
I relocated my Bon Appetit travel collection to my dining room bookshelves and carried the oak coffee table to the curb. Scooped up within the hour by a new owner, I replaced it with a dark mahogany Butler’s table topped with Dolly Parton’s new book and several Architectural Digest subscription magazines. I had moved on to my new interior decorating passion.
The room was finished, or was it? Designer Steve told me that I kept moving things around the room for five years because I never finished. I wondered if I could ever finish decorating the room? I want to think so, but I know that my serendipitous fussing will be a part of me forever. It’s how I move forward; it’s who I am.
