Making it Lovely

Tag: Living Room

  • A Vintage Wooden Coffee Table

    A Vintage Wooden Coffee Table

    We’d had our old coffee table for six or seven years. It was part of the Thomas O’Brien line for Target, and I still really liked it. Brandon had actually been the one who was interested in us having a new coffee table, because the old one (as cute as it is) was starting to concern him with its wobbliness. I think it’s still got some life in it yet, but I agreed we should probably look for something new.

    Making it Lovely's Living Room

    See ya, old chum! (Actually, it will probably be useful in the basement, if I ever get around to setting up the playroom area.)

    This one below is my ideal coffee table, but I’ve been looking for one for over a year and a half with no luck.

    Vintage Wood and Travertine Coffee Table

    But then I found this one at the Renegade Craft Fair the weekend before last. I prefer a round table in our living room, but I had to give this one a try.

    Vintage Wooden Coffee Table in Making it Lovely's Living Room

    Not bad.

    Vintage Wooden Coffee Table

    I think there’s too much wood in the room now though. I’m thinking of getting a travertine top cut for the table to replace the wood, but I’m not sure if the legs could support the weight. I could paint the top, but I don’t think it would hold up as well with the kids, and I’m not into the distressed look. My other thought was to get a laminate top made for it because that’s what the old one was, and it held up to a lot of abuse. I’ll get a quote on the stone top first, and go from there.

    Making it Lovely's Living Room

    Update: I played around with it in Photoshop. I’m even more convinced now that the table needs a lighter top.

    See how awesome a stone top would be?

  • An Everyday

    An Everyday

    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.

  • Bird’s Nest Fern

    Bird’s Nest Fern

    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.

  • All the Trimmings

    All the Trimmings

    The living room’s trim is now white. Our house feels lighter, and all is right. Oh, wait… now the need to paint the dining room ceiling is more apparent than ever.

    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?

  • Living Room Trim Progress

    Living Room Trim Progress


    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.

  • Painting the Trim in the Living Room

    Painting the Trim in the Living Room


    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.