Double Parlor The Victorian House

The Double Parlors, Shortly After Moving in

A lot of our furniture is working well in the new house. I’m OK with furnishing slowly and taking my time to find just the right piece, but I sort of went nuts with new stuff in the living/family rooms, double parlors, whatchamacalits.

I ordered the much-waffled-about teal sofa before we moved in. No regrets there.

Second Parlor

The child-sized wooden rocking chair belonged to Brandon’s mom when she was a kid, and she gave it to us for the new house. Yay for good hand-me-downs!

Antique Rocking Chair

I feel like that second parlor is coming together pretty well, even though there’s still a lot to do.

The first parlor wasn’t looking so hot though. So here’s where I’m all “I’m a blogger! I must document everything!” These look awful, and I know it.

First Attempt at Arranging Furniture

Welcome to brown and gray town. We had that rug in our bedroom at the old house, but it’s probably going to go in August’s room soon. It’s a little small for the front room, and the color isn’t working for me.

Brown and Grey Town

I tried arranging the couch along the window wall, but thought it would be weird to see two sofas aligned. Confirmed.

Failed Floor Plan

The TV stand was a little dinky on that wall. I also tried it on the adjacent wall, but it didn’t look any better. I put it on my ‘replace eventually’ list, and I had in mind a faux printmaker’s cabinet (something like this or this).

Not Looking so Good!

I wasn’t in a hurry to buy, but when I went out to the Land of Nod outlet to pick up a bed rail for August, I stopped in the Crate & Barrel outlet next door and found the Blake Media Console for half-off.

Blake Media Console

The outlet box underneath needs to be hidden better and I want to stack some nice big art books up top, but I think it looks great so far. But then I also ordered a new rug — the one I asked about on Facebook. Buy all the things! That’s my new motto! (I’ma need to stop buying all the things.)

Hello, new rug! I’m not sure about you yet.

Double Parlors

It works with the blue sofa in the next room, and I like having that visual connection, but it does not work as well with the crazy floral chair. And I like my crazy floral chair.

Crazy Patterned Rug, Crazy Floral Chair

(The cats and the dog do approve though.)

Kili

Elsewhere, I seem to have a lot of this going on.

Teal Plus Black and White Stripes

I feel like the stripes may not go all that well with the rug either. And I like my stripes.

It was on sale, and I used my Anthro birthday-month discount for a further 15% off, but it still wasn’t cheap. I think it would look great upstairs in our bedroom, but then we would still need a rug downstairs, and I’m not planning to buy many more big-ticket items for a while. What do you think? Keep the rug where it is, move it up to the bedroom, or just return it?

This might be a whole lot of crazy right here, even for me.

There's a lot going on here.

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

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  • Monica
    September 19, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    I love the rug . . . but it’s not “you” and it doesn’t really work in that room. I’m sorry! It is lovely, but I would return it.

    Didn’t you have the ubiquitous black and white stripe ikea rug at some point? I think that would work really with your existing furniture and give the room a little more of the “punch” you want – maybe not as cushy underfoot, but if that room will get a lot of traffic a flatweave might be nice and easy.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 1:10 pm

      I did have it, briefly. It was in the basement, on the playroom side, but my cats took that basement to mean free-for-all-litter-box! and they trashed it.

      • Monica
        September 19, 2013 at 1:18 pm

        Whoops – nevermind, then. Cheerfully withdrawn!

      • Making it Lovely
        September 19, 2013 at 1:20 pm

        Lousy cats. ;)

  • Andrea
    September 19, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    I’m loving watching how it’s all coming together Nicole! Any possibility the rug would work in the second parlor (the one with the teal sofa?) or are do the blues of sofa and rug not work well together?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 1:18 pm

      The blues look great together, but the fireplace in the second parlor is set at an angle, so a large rectangular rug won’t fit.

      • Laura
        September 19, 2013 at 7:48 pm

        Could you switch the sofas?

  • jenn aka the picky girl
    September 19, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    Return it. It doesn’t work with the things you love, so you won’t love it there. I think you can do better.

    Believe me, I get the urge to want everything set NOW, but I’d live in the space a bit. Seems like you’re unsure about what you have in there anyway, so maybe give it a few weeks.

    Your living room, though? Oh my gosh. It looks amazing. I can’t believe how pulled together it looks already. Also, any source for that lamp? I love it.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 1:23 pm

      The floor lamp? I bought it from Crate & Barrel two years ago. I saw one at the outlet when I was there, also half-off!

  • Carrie
    September 19, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    I think the rug looks great and it definitely ties the two rooms together. It also works with the floral chair and stripes! (Maybe I would feel differently if I saw it all in person?)

    • Caitlyn
      September 19, 2013 at 2:40 pm

      I’m with you 100% I think it looks great in the room and is really fun with the chair and the stripes. I would keep it, but I tend towards the eccentric. That said, it’s clear you don’t love, love it and for such a big ticket item, I think you should. So whether it works or not in a design sense, if it doesn’t work for YOU than you should take it back and wait until you find something that makes you smile as soon as it’s in the room instead of questioning it.

      • Making it Lovely
        September 19, 2013 at 3:01 pm

        I want to love, love it. I like it very much.

      • Alison
        September 20, 2013 at 1:17 pm

        That is very well put. I agree if you don’t love it and are questioning, then maybe you have answered your own question.

  • Ashly
    September 19, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    Everything is coming together beautifully, but I am crazy jealous of your red Gainey planter. I had the opportunity to visit the Gainey factory last month and purchased their last large black planter like the one you have. I was also allowed a self-guided tour of their now-empty warehouse/factory – which was heart-wrenching. Your planter pops beautifully. Love it. That’ll be an heirloom one day, too.

    • Ashly
      September 19, 2013 at 1:37 pm

      + I don’t think the new rug works well with the patterned chair. It’s a little too bohemian for me. I think the room would look better with a rug that references the new sofa.

      • Making it Lovely
        September 19, 2013 at 3:01 pm

        That’s kind of what I’ve been thinking.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 2:41 pm

      Aren’t those planters amazing? I would have loved to see the factory.

  • Miranda
    September 19, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    I dunno, it’s hard to say, but if it were me, I’d probably return it and wait it out until I saw something better that I loved and knew would work with that killer chair and everything else you really love about your previous purchases in the room.

  • Helen
    September 19, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    Ha, I’m watching what you do because our house was built in 1902 and is somewhat similar to yours. I love all the wood, transoms, pocket doors, big windows… but I never know how to arrange the furniture with all these things. And I can’t decide on wall decor to go with 12 feet ceilings.

    Love your house and happy to see you getting settled.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 3:02 pm

      12 foot ceilings! Holy cow. Mine are a paltry 10 feet. ;)

      • Helen
        September 19, 2013 at 10:49 pm

        Then whatever you hang, I’ll hang 2 foot higher!

  • Rebecca H
    September 19, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    What about putting it in the second parlor since you have blue and red there already? Or is that too matchy match?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 3:03 pm

      The second parlor can’t take a large rectangular rug.

  • Darnelle
    September 19, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    You’ve got white walls and lots of woodwork. you need warm colors to warm up the place. Not sure about the mid-century furniture everywhere, but you need rugs with much more punch. See how good your chair with the floral works. The grey rug doesn’t IMO go with the wood and makes it look drab. The white and diamond is too light. Try Kilim rugs, and you will be surprised how it will pull everything together. Just try it, you can return it if it doesn’t work.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      The gray looks awful, agreed. I do like the lightness of the new rug though — that’s what I was going for with it. Otherwise I am fond of kilims and have been considering something with a more ornate pattern and saturated color.

  • Nitya
    September 19, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Love Love Love the teal against the brown wood tones.. Well done. Cannot wait to see more! Happy decorating!

  • Lauren
    September 19, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    What about moving the flower chair into the back parlor?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 3:06 pm

      I feel like it shifts all of the color over to that room though, and then the other is just bland taupe.

      • Lauren
        September 20, 2013 at 12:40 pm

        Ah, that means more shopping! Which would be more fun if it didn’t cost money…

  • sarahs - redlinedesign®
    September 19, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Nicole: Its a beautiful rug…I would try it up in your bedroom as you were thinking and find something neutral with pattern in a similar style to compliment the room you have completed. (It will tie it all together that way)

    Some options to spark your creativity:

    http://www.westelm.com/products/kasbah-rug-steel-t520/?pkey=climited-time-rugs-sale&cm_src=limited-time-rugs-sale||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_–_-

    http://www.westelm.com/products/snow-peak-rug-t282/?cm_src=AutoCatRel

    http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/all-rugs/chester-cream-rug/f53319

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 3:07 pm

      Those are beautiful, but Brandon is against a too-white rug. I chose the one I did because it had a little more color in there for him.

  • ANDEE
    September 19, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    How do you keep your fig plants looking so lovely? Could you do a post about caring for them? Mine seems really finicky and difficult.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 19, 2013 at 3:09 pm

      I’ve only had the smaller one for a week, but that larger one I’ve had for almost a year now. It didn’t do well at first, but I called the shop where I bought it and they told me that I was not watering it frequently enough, and that when I did, I overwatered. Great combination! It took a little experimenting, but now I water it twice a week and it’s thriving.

      • Ellis
        September 19, 2013 at 4:32 pm

        Do you not want water coming out of the base of the fiddle leaf? Is that too much water? I water until it runs out the bottom (and the bottom is elevated about the base of the planter, so it doesn’t sit in water). Thanks!

      • Making it Lovely
        September 20, 2013 at 10:00 am

        My planter doesn’t have holes on the bottom, so that was part of why it took a little experimenting. The dirt is sitting on top of some fiberglass/cellulose sponge-like material inside the planter, designed to keep the roots from sitting in water.

  • Laurie
    September 19, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    I love that you are sharing in-progress pictures with us. Sometimes I get tired of all the perfectly staged pictures of rooms you get across the DIY blog-o-sphere. Some of us never hit that stage! Share real life with us!

    I love the rug and I think red, white, and blue is such a flexible combination that it can easily find a home. However, if it seems like nothing works right now or in your future vision, maybe return it? Depends on how much you love it. I believe that if you absolutely fall in love with something, it will fit somewhere because it is “your style.”

    The teal sofa is great! I’m re-evaluating my own teal-less sofa existence. How have I gotten along without one so far?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:02 am

      I advocate teal sofas for all.

      I do love the rug, but I’m not so sure I love it in that room. And I don’t know if I would rather move it to the bedroom or just get my money back. Or keep it where it is! Waffle, waffle.

  • Kathryn
    September 19, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    I do think that steel kasbah rug would look good there. You can borrow mine if you want a visual. Pattern, but neutral, for the crazy chair and the possible couch thing. However I haven’t been super impressed with the quality, if I don’t “comb” it the right way you can see the base.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:08 am

      I might take you up on the offer to borrow. I was considering a color like that for the walls somewhere, but maybe as a rug instead? I wonder if it would fall flat like the other gray rug though. With paint, I would have skewed it a little more toward the inky/navy side.

      • Kathryn
        September 21, 2013 at 8:49 am

        The white in the pattern pops a little more than just the textural pattern.

  • Monica
    September 19, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    I think the floral chair and rug look REALLY cool together!! Can you paint the chair’s legs? Painting them black might help unify with the b/w stripes elsewhere.

  • kara
    September 19, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    so did you end up getting the comfortable couch company sofa?! that makes me super happy.

    we lived without a rug in our hard-wooded living room for about a year. it’s way nicer/cozier with a rug, but it seems like you have plenty of spaces to chill already. maybe throw some floor pillows in there and wait on the perfect rug?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:09 am

      No, I went with the Anthro sofa when it went on sale, since I already knew I loved it and could attest to the comfort.

      We can go without a rug for a while too.

  • Allison
    September 19, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    I like the crazy flower chair and the rug together. the colors tie together nicely. And the pattern of the plant stand next to the chair and that of the rug echo each other too. It’s a lot. But not in a bad way, to my eye and sensibility. The rug looks nice and soft too.

  • Shannon
    September 19, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    I actually really like the rug with the floral chair! I think they look nice together!

    And I LOVE that media console!

    Keep the rug!!! :)

  • sam
    September 19, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    I love the coffee table in you second parlor. Where did you get it? Also I think rugs are a big commitment, if you don’t love it, return it. There are so many great options out there.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:10 am

      It was from Crate & Barrel, but they no longer carry it.

  • sp
    September 19, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    sorry that rug doesn’t belong there. not sure what the bedroom looks like…

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:11 am

      The bedroom’s a blank slate right now. Same creamy white walls as the rest of the house, more natural wood, and a neutral taupe/brown upholstered bed. The rug would look great in there, but then I’d be limiting what bedding we could go with.

  • Asheley
    September 19, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    I think the rug and chair look AMAZING together.

  • Heidi S.
    September 19, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Have you considered moving the new sofa into the front parlor? It looks really nice in the bay window in the back parlor, but maybe that would work with the rug in the front room even better. I quite like the new media console.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:12 am

      That teal sofa is so long (98 inches, I think) that it fits best where it is. The other sofa is 86 inches, for comparison.

  • Katharine
    September 19, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    The rug seems too “primitive” for your usual design tastes. It’s puzzled me from the first time you posted about it.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:13 am

      I can see how it might seem like a departure. I do like it a lot though.

  • Catherine
    September 19, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    I also like the rug in there with the crazy chair. I agree it’s not your usual style, but you are branching out. If it doesn’t work for you and you still love it, I’m sure you’ll find a place for it somewhere in that gigantic house. It’s all coming together so well, and look at all that natural light! Beautiful.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:14 am

      I do love the light in this house!

  • Cassie
    September 19, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    Not to beat a dead horse but I love the way the rug looks with the Floral chair. I don’t think it’s to busy at all. You have the solid sofa in there to and when you look at the sight line with the solid teal sofa…sold! I love it. But the more important thing is, do you love it. You should live with things you love.

    And thank you to the commenter who said those plants were figs! I keep seeing them on people’s blogs and wondering what they are because I want one. I suck at keeping things alive and I know I am risking my dog’s marking tendencies, but I think my new house (cause I just bought one too) needs some plants with all its big windows.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:25 am

      Yep, fiddle leaf fig. The new one I bought was from IKEA, only $12!

  • Stephanie
    September 19, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    I vote return the rug. Ditto to the commenter who said it feels too bohemian, which I love in other settings, but doesn’t seem to jive with your style. Go for something with bolder colors! Can’t wait to see how the room evolves:)

  • Nicole
    September 19, 2013 at 2:38 pm

    I think the stripes look great! Your space looks eclectic, anything goes. Everything you love that is…

  • Carin
    September 19, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    Have you ever checked out Rugs USA. Great rugs, free shipping and often have a 50-80% off sale. I have bought our new home 4 new wool rugs for under $1000 (for all 4 rugs) and 3 of them were 8 x 10 or larger. And they often have great prints and up to date looks. Just another site to check out for an affordable rug.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:26 am

      They have a great selection over there. I’ve linked to them many times before!

  • Sarah F.
    September 19, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    What about switching the couches and chairs? Move the blue one and little rocker into the TV parlor, and move the beige couch and crazy floral chair into the fireplace parlor.

  • Kristen
    September 19, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    I think your plants really make the room with the blue sofa. What are they? where did you get them? return the rug

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:27 am

      They’re fiddle leaf figs. The smaller one may move upstairs eventually — I’m not sure. I bought my first one from Sprout Home, and the new one was from IKEA.

  • Laura
    September 19, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    The rug ties the floral chair and the teal couch together nicely. It also adds a lattice look that is turn of the century, yet is more spare and modern. Black legs on the chair and painting the side table black may be what you need.

    This is SO exciting!!

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:28 am

      I don’t want to paint the chair legs, but I’m not against changing the side table. Black is a good suggestion!

  • Nicole M.
    September 19, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    I LOVE the blue sofa….but, I am not loving that rug. I like it separately, but I don’t think it works with what you have. I would keep hunting. If you loved it, you wouldn’t be questioning yourself…you don’t love, love it. I can’t wait to see the progress, your house is lovely :)

  • Jill Browning
    September 19, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    I’m ok with all of the mixed patterns (and Jamie Mears certainly would be too!). But I feel like if you’re going to spend a lot of money on something, you need to LOVE it.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:28 am

      Ha! When in doubt, ask yourself, WWJMD?

  • Brooke
    September 19, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    What are you doing with your old media stand? I wanted that so badly and to this day I am still a little mad that I didn’t just get it anyway when my hubby vetoed it. I will pay a pretty penny and shipping to Texas if you’ll pass it on to me. :)

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:29 am

      Brandon wants to move it up to the third floor and set up a second spot for watching TV. Sorry.

  • Barb
    September 19, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    I like the rug with the sofa from the other room. But, I don’t like the rug with that flowery chair (which I *LOVE*).

    I did this on Microsoft Paint. Move the flowery chair into the room with the teal sofa. It’s perfect in there (and, you get to keep your favorite chair). See (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/moose53/PICTURES/flowery-chair_zpsf622978e.jpg).

    Keep the rug in the room where it is now … it does bounce nicely off the teal sofa in the other room.

    Now, you just have to find another *nice* chair to go with the rug.

    AND, I don’t charge for my design influence :GRIN:

    Barb

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:31 am

      Thanks for the free consultation!

      I do like the floral chair with the other sofa, but then the first room feels so flat. I can remedy that though with paint, pillows, a different chair, etc. I’m going to play around with the layout some more.

  • Amy
    September 19, 2013 at 4:49 pm

    I think if you put the floral chair in the parlour with the blue sofa it might work a bit better (totally agree the connection from the rug to the blue sofa in the next room is great).

    Buy all the things! :)

  • Jill
    September 19, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    So much blue – is pink a faint memory? I don’t know why but blue with all the wood, not working for me. As for the rug – I like the Microsoft Paint with no rug at all. I think the rooms need warm colors with so much wood.

    JD

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:33 am

      I still love pink. There’s a lot of blue right now because it’s the only color in play, thanks to that sofa. The floral chair has a million colors in it though, and once I finalize paint choices and other accessories, the color balance will shift.

  • Lesley
    September 19, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    Loving it all!. It’s great watching as everything comes together…just a question though (not sure if this has alreaddy been asked/addressed in previous comments) how do the wheel on the teal sofa go on the timber floor? Do you intend putting something under them so they don’t “dent” the floorboards
    GREAT HOUSE!!
    xx

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:35 am

      The floors are fine right now, and I think the wood is hard enough that it won’t be a problem. If I notice some denting starting to happen, I like the idea of a vintage flat-weave rug in a long, skinny shape. 12×4, or some other funny length that would work with the fireplace angle in the room. Or FLOR tiles.

  • laura
    September 19, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Wow! I actually love that rug a LOT. I even like it with your crazy chair, but I love a little crazy/bohemian action. The blue sofa looks so fantastic in that parlour! Such a good decision to buy a blue sofa! Thanks for the pics.

  • Lauren @ A Lovely Lark
    September 19, 2013 at 7:14 pm

    I vote to return the rug as well! Beautiful, but it doesn’t seem to fit your new home or your style. Branching out is great and exciting and fun, but I think this is square peg, round hole for sure. I would love to see a crisp black/white patterned rug or maybe a really saturated modern take on a Persian? Something less furry for sure.

  • Lauren @ A Lovely Lark
    September 19, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    P.S. I also love that you’re sharing things in-progress. I find it mildly depressing when some of the blogs that I follow just decorate an entire house in like a few months and share the before and after. How many people have the time or budget to do that? It seems so unrealistic and out of reach. (Plus I think the process is sometimes just as fun as the end result!)

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:36 am

      I love seeing the process too! It feels more natural to me to share it all along the way, so that’s how I approach it.

  • erica
    September 19, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    I really like the rug and floral chair combo! I love a mixing of styles and patterns – just look at fashion these days. Looks cozy, happy, and chic to me!

  • Melissa
    September 19, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    I also vote no on the rug. But I must say I am LOVING the Victorian house! I just know you are going to have happily ever after there!

  • Heather
    September 19, 2013 at 9:49 pm

    Return it and look on craig’s list!! Don’t keep anything you don’t LOVE!!

  • Marissa
    September 19, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    The teal sofa room looks amazing, and I’ve always adored that floral chair. I’m not crazy about the rug at first sight, though it looks cozy and perfect for sprawling on the floor for family movie nights. I might consider these alternatives, though I have far less of an interior design eye than you:

    This first one is a little crazy, but if anyone can pull off a fox rug, it’s you. I love the brown fox with all that lovely woodwork, and the blues to tie in with the sofa.
    http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-rugs/27647163.jsp?cm_sp=Fluid-_-27647163-_-Regular_0

    Or, if you decide to move the floral chair into the teal sofa room (where it would look AH-MAZING!), you could bring in a very colorful rug to maintain the colorful-balance between the rooms (as well as colorful artwork and throw pillows)…
    http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Fashion-N-You-Alliyah-Metro-Circles-New-Zealand-Wool-Blend-Cream-Area-Rug-6-x-9/7639234/product.html?rcmndsrc=2

    OR

    http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Handmade-Rodeo-Drive-Patchwork-Multicolor-N.Z.-Wool-Rug-6-x-9/2944250/product.html?refccid=PGAEKADKSS5JLXKMTZTU3MW3TQ&searchidx=13

    If you keep the rug, I’m sure I (along with all of your readers) will grow to love it.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 12:44 pm

      That fox isn’t right for the room, but it is very sweet! I’m not sold on the others. I think that if this one goes back, we will be rugless for a while… waiting for just the right one.

  • Emily
    September 19, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    I vote with others about returning the rug. What about a groovy braided round or oval rug in a mix of colors to go with your awesome flower chair. If you wanted something more subtle, I’d do a dark brown sisal/jute rug with a shade of blue or even red (wild card) border.

  • Hally
    September 20, 2013 at 1:22 am

    I love that rug, but just not in your living room. And not next to that chair. :(

  • Stefanie
    September 20, 2013 at 3:07 am

    Return the rug. In November, several online rug stores have their 70% off sale. You could get two rugs for the price of that one and likely a better quality.
    I agree with some of the the others, the floral chair and the blue sofa is a love match. They are longing to be together.

  • Katrin
    September 20, 2013 at 3:15 am

    I just wanted to say that I really, really like that how that rug looks with the blue sofa in the other parlor. Could you maybe use that floral chair in the other parlor? I think it would look fine together with the blue sofa.

  • blacklabel
    September 20, 2013 at 5:41 am

    I actually dont mind the new rug. I quite like the juxto of the crazy chair & the geo rug.
    I personally dont think the problem your eye is picking up is the rug, i think its the wall colour.
    If you painted the walls in that room the same shade (or one lighter) to match the taupey border of the rug, youd have a winner!
    I LOVE that teal sofa!!!

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:39 am

      The wall colors will be changing, and yes, that might help with the rug. And I LOVE the teal sofa too! So happy with it.

  • Flunatje
    September 20, 2013 at 6:50 am

    Oh I love your teal sofa! Absolutely gorgeous!

  • Ali Burtt
    September 20, 2013 at 7:32 am

    Hm. That rug. At first I was like, “That’s not so bad.” I don’t even mind it with the floral chair. However, the collage of black and white stripes did me in. Sorry to say this, but it should probably go back. I mean, right?

    Can I say again how much I love this house though? Even all hodge-podgey like it is now, it’s still totally charming.

  • ajay
    September 20, 2013 at 7:48 am

    Now that decoration is very pretyy and i very much like the sofa..

  • Laura
    September 20, 2013 at 8:16 am

    LOVE the rug, but it does go a little cray cray with the chair. My two cents: Traditionally with double parlors, the front room is more formal, right? So, new sofa in the front room with the new rug. TV mounted over the fireplace (this is usually gross but your fireplace is really low and, let’s face it, Victorians have weird layouts that are not tv-friendly (you’ve got doors and windows and radiators everywhere)), with the neutral sofa, floral chair, and maybe a natural-fiber rug that is kid friendly and won’t fight with the (awesome) new rug. Any plans to paint?

    Congrats on the house, you aren’t just owners, you’re custodians!

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:40 am

      The first room should be more formal, but yeah, Victorians didn’t plan for incorporating a TV. I don’t want to mount it over the fireplace, and there isn’t a great spot for it anywhere else in the second parlor. We can take it out of the first parlor completely and move it upstairs somewhere, but then the first floor starts to feel a little museum-like.

      One of both rooms will be painted. And yes, we’re stewards of the house now!

    • Nancy50
      September 20, 2013 at 10:41 am

      I agree. Also – don’t know if it would fit but maybe placing the old sofa in the second parlor at an angle in front of the fireplace to avoid the visual of two sofas in two rooms in front of the windows.

  • Sara
    September 20, 2013 at 8:38 am

    I really don´t like the rug at all. I LOVE the teal sofa and the stripes. But I think the rug looks cheap and very much i found i at the back of a garage- sale but not in the good way. Return. I think you can do sooo much better in your new wonderful victorian. Congrats on the new house by the way!

  • Jon
    September 20, 2013 at 8:47 am

    May I ask where you got the gold floor lamp behind your teal sofa?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Crate & Barrel, but it has since been discontinued.

  • Terri
    September 20, 2013 at 9:17 am

    Surprised at the negativity on the rug! I think it looks great with the floral chair and ties the 2 parlor rooms together beautifully. The stripes don’t even bother me…every room needs a little something-something to make it less than perfect.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:47 am

      Some people are very against it! I wouldn’t have bought it if I didn’t like it — I’m just not 100% on it in that space.

      And I like a little imperfection too.

    • Constance
      September 20, 2013 at 10:59 am

      I totally agree! I actually love the chair + that rug together and it ties the two parlors so well. The chair + rug shot is my favorite pic in this post. Then adding the teal sofa to the mix is like frosting – just extra goodness.

  • judy
    September 20, 2013 at 9:17 am

    I love the new décor but I’m also curious(having moved numerous times with horror stories for each one(3 boys flying on commuter plane in order to bring cat and
    Great Dane to new location. Oldest brother gets off in order to take younger brother to restroom, they miss the plane and we all drive for 4 hours in a sedan, Mom, Dad, three boys ,a Great Dane and a very angry cat that screeched practically the whole way.

  • Andrew Schultz
    September 20, 2013 at 9:23 am

    How are you feeling about the grey sofa? I wonder if the room wants a smaller main sitting piece, like a mid century daybed with a low back or a pair of matching 1930s club chairs? I get that this is the TV watching side, but could the blue/teal sofa parlor became that? And I love the rug! Keeping it as THE rug may depend on what else you decide to do. I also think in general the rooms need some pre-1950’s pieces to drive home the look I think you’re moving towards.

  • Evelyn W
    September 20, 2013 at 9:54 am

    I’m on team “replace rug with different awesome rug” because I love the blue sofa and flower chair and combined with the console, there’s a nice boho/relaxed feel already. The bluish red colors work well with the woodwork. Are the ceiling lights getting replaced? The existing ones are cute but so tiny for those big spaces!

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:55 am

      Much of the lighting throughout the house will change eventually. The fixtures are lovely, and I know they are nice, and appropriate for a Victorian. As much as I love this house, I’m just not a fan of Victorian lighting.

  • Nancy50
    September 20, 2013 at 10:33 am

    I’m confused why the new sofa isn’t in the first parlor – isn’t that the way it works – put your best stuff in the first room guests see when they enter your house?

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 10:57 am

      That is the way it works, traditionally. The TV is in there, where it shouldn’t be if we kept that as the most formal room, but we have to do what works for our family. The front parlor will look as good as the second — it’s just not there yet.

  • rosemary willman
    September 20, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Hi, I live in a home with a similar layout, do your pocket doors work? are they panelled? I think visually the sofas need to relate in style. Your new sofa’s shape relates well to the age of your home,its color speaks to your modern vibe. The grey sofa just doesn’t work as an equal partner. Until you can replace the grey sofa (realize you’ve just moved and with a young children the grey sofa is a necessary fixture and work horse!)positioning it beneath the window in my opinion lessens the contrast between the two pieces. I’m not certain how much of the two spaces are caught in one glance? but the focus really should be on your new piece, the grey sofa straddling the doorway at least in the photos rob one’s attention away from the front room? I agree with a previous poster: the second sitting room might need a sofa with a slightly different scale. Your new rug works well with your new sofa, I’m not certain I would want the rug in the front parlour but the rug works as a bridge joining the chair, sofa and two rooms. The grey sofa might be benefit with a few pillows instead? I agree with the first poster that a taupe wall color might bring the rug and chair together. I quite like the floral chair and the rug together, it’s a surprising mix and I think that’s the vibe you are striving towards? The child size rocker is lovely, it brings a combination of traditional and whimsy to the space.

    • Making it Lovely
      September 20, 2013 at 11:02 am

      The pocket doors work, mostly. There is a gap of a couple inches where they don’t fully meet.

      Agreed, the old sofa isn’t pulling its weight as much as something smaller in scale (and different in color) would. Pillows will help though, and I’m still playing around with the layout and grouping of things.

  • Jenny B
    September 20, 2013 at 11:05 am

    I see where you’re going trying to spread the color love around with the blue sofa and floral chairs in different rooms, but it does seem like the sofa and chair were made to be together. Maybe make the TV room more about dark walls (navy, gentleman’s gray, something like that) and light furnishings (get a light colored comfy chair to replace the floral) and you could keep the new rug in there with it’s light background but colorful pattern to pull it all together. I can see that really making the rooms defined and each something special in their own right.

  • Michelle
    September 20, 2013 at 11:10 am

    I love your house and your style! And the rug is gorgeous! But, I think maybe a more neutral Moroccan rug (like, maybe, ivory and black) would tie your couch and floral chair together better and still work with the view of the other parlor.

  • Chelsea // farm fresh therapy
    September 20, 2013 at 11:25 am

    I loved looking through this! It is always interesting to see how others are mixing different styles. I think you did a great job of eclectically bringing together the midcentury pieces with the victorian style house which can be challenging to do. Your mix of colors and patterns is great! I like that you are furnishing over time, that is sort of the way we went about our home and I think it allowed for us to find more meaningful pieces. Thanks for sharing!

  • Meggan
    September 20, 2013 at 11:33 am

    It’s really starting to come together! (and those front windows are fantastic!)

    But I’m really writing to comment about your Serge Gainsbourg pillow. Is it embroidered? Hilarious.

    An unsolicited recommendation: If you’re a fan of his songwriting, or at least mildly curious about his life, the movie “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life” is rather interesting, if not only for the biographical aspect, but the quirky animated scenes.

  • erin
    September 20, 2013 at 11:46 am

    I really, really like that rug with the chair and the stripes.

    And how sweet to have that little rocking chair. I also have a child-sized rocker that was my dad’s when he was a baby. My kids love it.

  • mary
    September 20, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    We bought the Blake media cabinet for our upstairs “Gaming” room (don’t ask) and love it. I wish we would have gotten it half off but it is a nice piece of furniture and figure we will have it forever. I like the rug. Does it stay in place or do you have to keep straightening it?

  • Karen @sugarspicelivin
    September 20, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    LOVE that rug. Keep it in place. I love it. Ship it to me if you don’t!!

  • Erin
    September 20, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    I actually think the rug doesn’t look that bad with the floral chair. But I don’t like the rug at all. It makes me think of Country Home style which does not seem to be mostly what you are going for or what fits with the rest of the Victorian house.

  • Layne
    September 20, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    I love your furniture choices!! Looking at your pictures made me wonder, though…have you ever written about living with cats? I’m noticing your beautiful plant that doesn’t appear chewed up, and the lack of cat hair on the floor and rugs and how you manage to have a fabric sofa. I know you must clean before taking pictures but still, how do you manage? I’m thinking I just have to accept that I have to have leather/vinyl furniture and hang my plants from the ceiling, but I would love to know if you have any good tips! Your home is beautiful, even in before pictures. :)

  • Jane
    September 21, 2013 at 1:23 am

    Decorating dilemmas are fun!

    I think wall color is gonna help a lot. I love the idea of having one of the rooms painted with a dark color (teal?, dark gray–something that relates to your new sofa) and one lighter, with the sofa.
    http://abigailahern.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/adding-a-punch/

    I don’t love the rug and think you can do better. I also think that the beige sofa seems out of place–it’s too square, the wrong color with the warm wood, and too spare.

    I would almost recommend selling it and getting another arm chair–their’s something classic about a pair of armchairs, and do you really need two couches? You could move the TV to the other room.

  • laura
    September 21, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    it is looking great! Love the teal sofa and you should def keep the rug! I just love all the shutters and the openess of the house! It looks very bright and airy but also the woodwork and shutters make it feel warm and cozy!

    Laura
    House Envy

  • elle
    September 21, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Return it. It has too much of a Scandanvian vibe that is not working with your other cool stuff (I love scandi – but it’s not a match here). However – I love your other choices and that blue couch is a winner!

    I think the gray couch will not work in that room no matter how much you try. Maybe it can be in your new office? I’m not sure why but the color, scale, right angles on it… it’s beautiful but it’s not happy in that room!

    I’m so excited to check in and see your progress. You are so sweet to share with us. I love every room in your new home!

  • Sam
    September 21, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    I love the black and white stripey cushion you have with the pink tassels – can I ask where you got that from?

  • Suzanne
    September 21, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    We had the same dilemma when we moved into our Victorian house. We originally used the front parlor as the TV room and the second parlor as a hangout room. But it didn’t really make sense to have two seating areas so close to each other. After many years we decided to turn the front room into a music room/library. We put bookcases along one wall and a piano in the front bowed window. We moved the TV to the second parlor.

    Our houses are very similar. We also have unpainted woodwork and huge pocket doors, as well as a love for Anthropologie furniture! You can check out some pictures of the front parlor and living room here http://backonfestiveroad.blogspot.com/2012/10/musiclibrary-update.html
    http://backonfestiveroad.blogspot.com/2013/01/beni-in-living-room.html

    Can’t wait to see what you do with your home.

  • Teresa
    September 22, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    I ADORE your teal sofa. It is retro – comfy – homey all at the same time. It makes me want to walk right in, curl up with my hand extended for a latte. (Just call me Goldilocks, except I prefer caffeine over oatmeal.)

    Gorgeous, welcoming home!

  • sarah
    September 22, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    Nicole,
    I love the new rug with the floral chair and that TV was such a great find. loving your new home so far.
    Sarah

  • Julie
    September 23, 2013 at 1:40 am

    I love the rug with the chair. It is funky, but YOU love it. Sometimes I play it safe and choose the option I think is universally appealing only to regret not embracing the funky design aesthetic I love. It’s your house so do what you want :)

  • Melissa @ HOUSEography
    September 23, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Ok… Like everyone else, I LOVE the rug with the chair, etc. Seems so “you”! Perhaps it just reads well in pictures and not in person! I would keep it though – seems like it would work in a variety of rooms over the years.

  • Alex - Hydrangea Girl
    September 23, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Would you consider doing tandem rugs just underneath the colourful chair? If you were to layer a second smaller rug at a 45-degree angle/in line with the chair, maybe it would be that little bit of a border between the two pieces?

    Just a thought. I’ll be tandeming the rugs in our apatment, but that’s just because one specific spot gets very high traffic.

    xx A

  • marjorie
    September 23, 2013 at 3:22 pm

    Is that a fig tree in the red planter b y the teal sofa? what kind of plan is it? and how well does it do indoors? i would really love to know what it is it’s gorgeous!

  • Paula
    September 23, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    I love the rug and love that it ties with the teal in the next room. My only bit of feedback is that we bought a white rug for our TV room / front room. One year later it’s dirty and worn in front of the couch. Yes, cleaning is an option. I see that your rug is wool. Colors are good, but if you don’t love it, I’d take it back or put it in another room. Light colored rugs in heavily used spaces with kids (we have one) are just hard.

  • Marisa
    September 24, 2013 at 7:44 am

    Would the new rug work in Eleanor’s room? Then you could try Eleanor’s pink rug in the tv room. Hard to tell the scale of things from the photos but just an idea. No matter what I’m sure you will make it lovely!

    • Making it Lovely
      September 24, 2013 at 9:03 am

      No, it’s 9×12 and Eleanor’s is 8×10.

  • kathryn
    September 24, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    any tips on keeping the fiddle leaf looking so good? mine is dying a slow, actually rather fast death.

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  • Elizabeth Leach
    October 2, 2013 at 6:44 am

    I love the new rug. LOVE! It looks great in your bedroom. Enjoy!

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    October 8, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    Crazy flower chair and new rug would totally rock in the room with the blue sofa, can you try it just to please me!., ha ha xo

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  • Tiffany
    January 2, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    Gorgeous blue sofa! where from?

  • Kate
    January 7, 2014 at 7:23 am

    I adore the rug! I love the pattern and colors. It’s awesome!