My Mother's Living Room

My parents built their beautiful home about 7 years ago. Since moving in, my mom has been busy practically that entire time upgrading and renovating and decorating and redecorating. But recently she was ready to for something entirely new and asked me to bring in my perspective. She has always been drawn to the shabby chic look, so we wanted something that was still light and airy, but with a contemporary edge.

One of the first things we did was take out the heavy drapes that were hanging along the back wall, covering up her beautiful windows. Privacy was not an issue/concern in this space and my mom has a gorgeous backyard. We really wanted to bring the outdoors in. To help do that we bought two large black urns on clearance at Lowes and planted large hydrangeas, which we were assured would fill out and thrive in that shady spot on the back porch. The large urns really have a presence in the living room, even through the windows:




The piano was painted white years ago. We all love it so much that we didn't change a thing there. It just fits my mom. Though we did upholster the plain, solid wood bench with a little foam, batting, fabric and trim.



We replaced mom's old sofa and love seat with a pair of new sofas. Well, I guess one new and one old. The antique empire sofa was a $200 Craigslist find that my mom reupholstered herself.

To add some contemporary, clean lines to the room we ordered the Loring sofa from Room and Board in taupe.
We printed family photos in sepia tones and hung them over the new sofa using my favorite Target frames in white. The vintage secretary was another Craigslist find.



My mom loved our console table project here at my house so much that she made another one for her living room using the same inexpensive ikat in a different colorway.



The room was put together rather quickly and needs some tweaking (the rug is too small and we need more accessories), but overall I love it and my mom is really happy with the changes.

Stay tuned for more projects from my mom's house...
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47 comments:

  1. etty bettyAugust 21, 2009 at 7:00 AM

    Hi, just wanted to say the room looks great! Beautiful, and definitely a room for living. Can't wait to see more!

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  2. Maria JohnsAugust 21, 2009 at 7:24 AM

    wow, i love all of this, you guys share interior talents!! its all beautiful!

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  3. From the Old InkWellAugust 21, 2009 at 7:59 AM

    Enjoyed seeing your mom's room. It's very inviting. I like the sepia photos all framed in white. Gives me a idea. I have a hall full of family photos that need to be "cleaned up". Thanks for sharing.

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  4. AnonymousAugust 21, 2009 at 8:08 AM

    Love it! Where can we find that Ikat fabric?

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  5. VAugust 21, 2009 at 8:10 AM

    I swear by those frames. they're just right.

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  6. Fargerike DagnyAugust 21, 2009 at 8:18 AM

    Wow, you've gotten some amazing pieces of furniture! Can't wait to see the finished product!

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  7. Pam @ bibbidi-bobbidi-beautifulAugust 21, 2009 at 8:20 AM

    The room looks lovely. I really love the ikat on the console table. Who's the manufacturer?

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  8. KatherineAugust 21, 2009 at 8:26 AM

    Very, very beautiful. Very.

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  9. AnonymousAugust 21, 2009 at 8:30 AM

    Hi- I lvoe ow peaceful the room looks - great job. I have a blue and chocolate brown living room with oxblood accents and my ottoman is calling for that fabric. I'd love to know how to get my hands on a yard. it's perfect. thanks!!

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  10. AnonymousAugust 21, 2009 at 8:43 AM

    What is the pattern/ color for the ikat fabric? Love it.
    Krista

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  11. paulaAugust 21, 2009 at 9:03 AM

    It looks lovely... I would love to know how to reupholster. It seems your mother is a jack of all trades.:)

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  12. CLAIRE WATKINS, ASID ALLIEDAugust 21, 2009 at 9:05 AM

    Its all lovely, Jenny, but you're right about that piano washed in white- its is the star (well, that piano and your craigslist skills)!

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  13. AnonymousAugust 21, 2009 at 9:15 AM

    Yuo are so good; love it!!!

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  14. behind the fourth doorAugust 21, 2009 at 9:25 AM

    Oh my gosh!! Your mom's living room is amazing! I'm in love with how calming and inviting it feels.
    Can't wait to see other posts about her house!

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  15. WhisperWood CottageAugust 21, 2009 at 9:29 AM

    Love the sofas!! It all works together beautifully!!

    Amy

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  16. TereseAugust 21, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    That makes me really want to lighten my living room walls. We have the two couches those same colors and that looks so fabulous with the lighter blue walls. Great job. I love how fresh and bright the room looks.

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  17. HeidiAugust 21, 2009 at 9:37 AM

    i have been thinking of the upholstered console. What a great way to hide food storage. I have a bunch of boxes stacked sofa high that i have covered with pretty fabric. I just pinned it to the boxes and it is tucked near the couch and wall and I have photos on top of it, but it is just boxes!

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  18. AmyAugust 21, 2009 at 9:57 AM

    looks fab! we also have the loring sofa. it's great; perfect shape, not a bad price, and comfy!

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  19. High-Heeled Foot in the doorAugust 21, 2009 at 10:37 AM

    Oh Jenny it looks beautiful! I can't believe your mom reupholstered that empire sofa herself AMAZING!

    Great job to both you and your mom.

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  20. HeatherAugust 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM

    This room looks great! We just painted a piano in our living room and I love seeing how you guys made the piano work in this space.

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  21. kateAugust 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM

    i love your mom's house. everyone will love her dining room!


    (....i spy with my little eye... my pictures! i'm practically famous!)

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  22. SarahAugust 21, 2009 at 11:21 AM

    i am obsessed with these fabric covered tables!

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  23. AnonymousAugust 21, 2009 at 11:39 AM

    Wow, you (and now your mom!) are so inspiring! I hope you do a step-by-step sometime telling us how to reupholster a couch. It's on my radar to try...

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  24. IlianaAugust 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    love the Loring sofa and paint color. What is it?

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  25. Salsa MamaAugust 21, 2009 at 11:49 AM

    I love this room SO much! And the wallpaper in the dining room is divine!!! I want this airy feel in my house. Can you come help me? :)
    ~Sally

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  26. NicoleAugust 21, 2009 at 12:33 PM

    I love the pictures behind the sofa. Beautiful.

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  27. EricaAugust 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM

    Beautiful!

    Do you think you could post a tutorial on how to hang frames in a grid? I tried it once and it was a complete disaster; totally crooked and ghetto looking.

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  28. Christi August 21, 2009 at 6:57 PM

    it looks so homey and beautiful.

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  29. Allison and JaredAugust 21, 2009 at 7:26 PM

    really fantastic!

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  30. YansyAugust 21, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    You both did an amazing job! I love the Ikat skirted table.

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  31. AmyAugust 22, 2009 at 2:06 AM

    Maybe you could post a tutorial on how to create the ikat fabric table covering??

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  32. Down ComforterAugust 23, 2009 at 1:25 AM

    Simply beautiful! Love the room!

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  33. AnonymousAugust 23, 2009 at 12:04 PM

    what a beautiful room! Would love to live there and the Craigslist finds are great! Do you happen to know the name of the paint used? It's fabulous.

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  34. Haven and HomeAugust 23, 2009 at 1:02 PM

    Loos fabulous!

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  35. fric and fracAugust 23, 2009 at 6:16 PM

    Looks great! I love the ikat fabric you and your mom used on your tables-why can't I find fabric like that at my local fabric store? Great find!

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  36. PetertammensonAugust 23, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    I love this room - particularly the combo of couches. And I like the room's lightness - vaguely Swedish somehow without that austere feeling. What is the paint on the walls?

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  37. Miranda JAugust 23, 2009 at 8:52 PM

    LOVE!

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  38. Jenny at LGNAugust 24, 2009 at 10:54 AM

    Hi everyone,

    Thanks for all the comments! The paint color is Martha Stewart for Valspar (available at Lowe's) in 'Moonbeam.'

    I wish I knew who manufactured the ikat fabric. I might try to call the store that I got the fabric at and see if they'll spill the beans. :) If anyone else is anxious and wants to call, the store is called Home Decorator Fabrics in Mesa, AZ (on Baseline Rd, I think?).

    Jenny

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  39. UnknownAugust 24, 2009 at 6:11 PM

    Beautiful job, I love the colors. May have to seek out some "bedford gray", that color is gorgeous!

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  40. MelissaAugust 25, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    Is there any way you could get your mom to post a skirted table tutorial? I would love it!! The room looks amazing.

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  41. susan said soAugust 26, 2009 at 1:18 AM

    The whole re-do is fab, but the piano may be my Very Favorite Piano Ever!

    Love your blog! I hope you'll come visit me over at http://confessionsofasineater.blogspot.com/

    xox,
    Susan

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  42. Karen August 26, 2009 at 9:40 AM

    Is painting a piano a DIY project or should I hire someone to do it for me. I love the look, but don't want to destroy my piano with an amateur job.

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  43. Katie DarlingAugust 29, 2009 at 8:39 PM

    You and your blog are absolutely brilliant! After seeing this I went right over to craigslist and copied you..I posted it on my blog of course giving all props to you. (hope you don't mind)

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  44. L.Duncan@Home23DuncanBoysSeptember 10, 2009 at 1:11 AM

    I just found your blog and WOW!!! It is 1:07am my time and I can't seem to pull myself away from your page! I love the Duncan Phyfe sofa in this room.

    If you ever have a chance please stop by my blog @
    www.home23duncanboys.blogspot.com

    I would LOVE for you to be my new blog friend!

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  45. AnonymousOctober 28, 2009 at 12:06 AM

    beautiful room. and you totally nailed that swedish clock!

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  46. SiouxzyJanuary 5, 2010 at 7:54 AM

    The Minerva Teichert looks lovely in that space!

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)