August seems so much like a toddler now, and Eleanor, a child. I love them so much, but moreover, I really like them.

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago. I tend to take photos when the house is picked up, not when toys are strewn about. I read other blogs and I think ‘in their house, the toys look artfully placed, and in my house, it looks like chaos and plastic.’ Looking at these photos though, I love the informality. This is how we live. This is what our living room usually looks like.

This is the environment my kids will remember, and it’s a pity I don’t document it more. If not for you, then for me. And for them.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as An Everyday | 57 comments

I’d always wanted one of these ceramic planters, so when they popped up for sale on Fab.com awhile back, I bought a small black one. Of course, that meant I then had to find a plant to go inside.

I bought a bird’s nest fern from Sprout Home, but I’m worried about my ability to keep a large houseplant alive. I’m worried that my cats will eat it (it’s safe, but they’ll destroy the leaves). I’m worried that Eleanor will spin around and knock into it. I’m worried that August will pull the whole thing over. But it’s so good, I’m willing to give it a shot. Basically, I’m so excited, I’m so excited, I’m so scared.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Bird’s Nest Fern | 32 comments

The two rooms are open to each other, so I’m holding off on showing too many details because I’m going to pick up some paint and get to work. That way I’ll be able to show you prettier before and after photos! Because it’s all about the pretty.

I suppose I really ought to finish painting the trim in the entryway too, eh?

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as All the Trimmings | 36 comments

I spent yesterday filling nail holes with wood putty, sanding, caulking gaps, washing, taping off the floor, priming, and painting. I have one more coat to go today on one half of the room, and then the trim in the living room will be done! After that I’ll begin the task of making our house look less like a disaster.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Living Room Trim Progress | 51 comments

I’ve been meaning to get around to painting the trim in the living room for quite some time now. It was on my 30 Before Thirty list, but it was one of the handful of things I didn’t accomplish (because I was pregnant and had no energy). So I rolled it onto my Lovely life List, and I decided it’s finally a good time to check that one off.

Painting projects (or any projects, really) happen so much more slowly now with two young kids underfoot. I let Eleanor help paint for the first time, and then she wanted to look through the fan decks to pick paint colors for the house. Did you know the exterior should be green? With sparkles? So it has been decreed.

I’ve only painted half of the room so far. There’s a door between the living room and the entry, and soon I’ll move on to the front entry itself. I haven’t decided if I’ll be painting both doors there, and if so, which colors. I’ll probably leave the front door unpainted, at least for now. White is an obvious choice for the other, but I do like the look of black interior doors. What do you think?

p.s. Here’s a refresher on why I’m painting all of this wood trim in the first place.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Painting the Trim in the Living Room | 26 comments

I got mine for a song (15% off, plus some store credit), but a couple of people pointed out this excellent alternative yesterday. The carved pattern is a little different (though still nice), and it’s a little more affordable.

Now I really want to finish painting the trim in the living room. And if I were feeling fancy I’d stage the table with pretty decorative objects and fresh flowers, but the reality is that it will be soon have coloring books and action figures on top, no doubt.

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as The New Side Table | 23 comments

It may just be perfect next to the crazy floral chair. I still love the little table that we have there, but it’s too spindly (and tippy!), and I’ve been looking for something with more presence. I think I have some store credit too which, as we all know, is essentially free money. (Never mind that I did actually spend that money once upon a time.)

What do you think?

© 2012, published by Making it Lovely as Carved Wood Side Table | 29 comments

I got my hipster Chia pets. (Local friends, Carriage Flower Shop here in Oak Park has them.)

I sold the orange chair (fare thee well, sweet orange chair!), and I have the floral chair floor sample that I repaired in its place. I was able to almost pay for the new chair with the old, and the chair paired with a floor lamp makes a nice reading corner.

You may recognize the pillows in the room from yesterday’s post. I should point out that August gave me that red/orange pillow for my birthday last week. Didn’t he do a great job picking it out? I suspect Brandon helped him, but good job all around.

The rocking chair is upstairs (because I am lazy sometimes and don’t like to cart it upstairs and back down for August’s monthly photo), so we brought back the other Eames chair and the elephant. It is possible that I have too much of an affinity for Eames furniture, but they’re classic investment pieces that I don’t tire of. Plus they’re sentimental for us. We got the LCW when we were married, the rocking chair when we were expecting, and the elephant for our first Christmas as new parents.

There are still some things I’d like to do in the living room. I took down the silhouette quilt above the sofa. It was funny to have that many heads in one space now that the busts are on the side tables! So we need some different art. Or a mirror? Not sure.

I’d also like to switch out the side table next to the floral chair. It’s cute, but the spindle doesn’t play well with the floor lamp behind it and something chunkier would look better. Oh, and I keep putting it off but I need to paint the trim white. I’m always too busy, but I don’t think there will be a time when I’m not busy, so I really should just force myself to tackle it.

What else? Maybe one more pillow. Maybe different curtains (maybe). Not much… the room if feeling pretty good now.

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as Changes in the Living Room | 41 comments

I’ll take better pictures soon (these are from my phone), but yes. I found a floor lamp. A little brass, a little bronze, and a little more expensive than I would have liked, but it’s really nice.

Adding a light to that corner makes the whole room feel better! I should have done it years ago. And I took the down the print that was hanging there. I’m not sure if I’ll replace it with something else yet. The blank wall seems strange, but that could just take a little getting used to.

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as Living Room Floor Lamp | 18 comments

The previous chair had been great, but the crazy multi-colored floral is where my taste lies these days. I still plan to paint the trim white, it’s probably time to switch out the art, and the chair needs a pillow too. I’ve moved the dress form down to the basement, so I need something else with some height there. The living room doesn’t get enough light for a house plant (thanks to the front porch and a large tree out front), but it’s an ideal spot to add another lamp to the room. The only problem is that there is no outlet there. I think we can run a cord along the trim, maybe along the other side so it’s less noticeable, and it will be fine.

I’m thinking brass might be the way to go.

1, 2, 3

That second one above would be perfect, but it’s expensive. I’ve not had any luck in vintage/thrifted yet, and I haven’t seen anything else in the stores that’s terribly exciting. I’m kind of into this one too, but it’s still pricey. Maybe by the time I get around to finishing the trim, the right lamp will have come along? Maybe.

p.s. Interested in the orange Astrid chair from Anthropologie? It’s in great shape and it’s for sale. Email me. Sold!

© 2011, published by Making it Lovely as In Search of a Brass Floor Lamp | 41 comments