If you don’t like seeing pictures of my living room…avert your eyes. Pictures of my living room is all you’re going to get today. Whenever I finish a lot of work for other people, whether it’s custom stuff (which I really don’t do anymore) or making a lot of things to sell or writing a lot of tutorials, I get an itch to be creative in my own home.
See, when I’m busy preparing for Lucketts or working on “business” projects, I don’t have a lot of creativity or energy to spare and my own home suffers for it. The dust bunnies multiply and the vignettes get pushed out of the way to make room for photo shoots. I can hardly see my office floor and it’s a struggle just to keep my counters in a presentable condition and stay on top of the laundry.
When things settle down, I start to clean and arrange and rearrange and play and paint in my own spaces. I dream about what I want to do and add to my long wish list. I’m still doing the same thing I just burned out on…painting, decorating, moving furniture, staging photos, but for some reason, it’s restful and rejuvenating. I think because it’s just for me. It’s my hobby and not my business, even though they are really the same…if that makes sense.
I was out shopping a few days ago and I found some feather-filled Ralph Lauren pillows at TJ Maxx. They were a muted grass green…kinda mossy. I rarely go for green. I’m a blue girl through and through and green usually doesn’t catch my eye. I kept squishing these pillows…loving the idea of buying something pre-made. Could the green work anywhere in my house? I just felt like this shade would work with my blue and white. I put them in the cart and took them back out and back in again. “Just get them and you can return them if they don’t work.” That’s me talking to myself. “Well, I can’t return them if one of my boys does a face plant in one after eating chocolate pudding. It’s risky…do I chance it?” This is really the kind of thing I was thinking, but I finally decided to roll the dice and go for it.
When I got home I threw one on the living room couch. It was like life had been injected into the room. I was really surprised at it. It not only worked, but it looked great. So much for the “blue and green should never be seen” rule. Design rules can be silly, anyway. There should only be one design rule – you do not talk about design rules. (Anyone get that?)
Once I had the pillows arranged, I wanted more green. First, I needed a table. I grabbed the side table from our family room and set it in the middle of the room. It wasn’t what I would’ve picked at all, but it worked. The dark wood of the table was blending in too much with the dark wood floor, so I pulled the stenciled jute rug out of the guest room and spread it out. Perfect.
Before anyone gives me grief over the fake branches in the French enamel pitcher, I would have a huge armful of hydrangeas in there if I had my way, but my hydrangeas are just little buds right now. I rounded out the table arrangement with a mercury glass cloche on a glass cake plate and an ironstone bowl filled with apples and positioned on a vintage European linen towel and ironstone platter.
A while ago, a reader asked me to talk about what I have above my piano. It can be a challenging place to decorate. I’ve had everything above that piano; mirrors, sconces, groupings of family photos, a sign…lots of stuff. I finally hauled a huge bead board door out of my basement stash and risked life and limb to rest it on top of the piano. This accomplished a few things. It filled the space visually above the heavy-looking piano. The fact it was white, though, keeps things light. The texture of the bead board and old paint adds interest and provides a great backdrop for leaned photos and ironstone pitchers. Basically it keeps a formal room from looking too stuffy. If you don’t have a huge bead board door in your stash, try leaning up a variety of empty frames, hang a large DIY chalk board, or a large piece of architectural salvage (like an arch, shutters or a window.)
I’ve added a few things to the room, but the overall total spent (including refinishing the floors, accessories, paint, curtains, furniture, everything) is still less than $900. Not too shabby.
I also have a confession to make. I painted our home office yesterday. I know!! I’m supposed to be resting, but I really wanted to do it. I just can’t help myself!!! And I have thousands of enablers!! Now I’m itching to paint my kitchen, kitchen cabinets, family room, bathroom cabinets and finally get this bathroom makeover checked off the list. I also just got a new load of furniture to work on to take to Lucketts over the next few weeks, so I have to do lots of work in my house to build my creative momentum for these new pieces.
I know I’m sick.
83 Responses
Just beautiful as always. I would love to see a slide show of your living room over time-it's always changing!
Sarah
Oh wow, I totally thought that the wall behind your piano was bead board itself not just a piece of it. Cool! I love our piano because it does give me another surface to decorate, currently I used an antique accordian as the visual interest piece.
Marian:
Love that living room! Also like the mossy green and blue pillows!
It looks fantastic!!!!
I lvoe the RL pillows Tjmaxx/marshalls/Homegoods have now! I bought a couple of light robin egg blue and cream striped ones not too long ago, as well as a red chambray lumbar. Love how they look in your room! It all looks so relaxing!
Meg
As Always, you motivate me!!! But now that my house is on the market, all I can do is Dream till the next place..so Thank You, for the opportunity to live vicariously thru you 🙂
Cheers!
Liza
Hey Marian,
What design idiot ever said no blue and green? They obviously forgot to tell Mother Nature…blue sky/green grass!!!
I love blue and green together. They make each 'POP'.
PLease rest in-between projects…as if!
Just painted my first chalk paint table…LOVE IT!!!!
Best paint ever…going to do a little post about Annie this weekend.
What an interesting and talented lady she is.
Have a great weekend
Janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
Looks great!! I love green and blue.
I'm not a green girl either. I like it outside but not in my house…that said…yes…the green breaths life into your living room…not that it was dead, it was beautiful before. I like that table in the center. I like a tall table as a coffee table…it looks formal and a little off in a quirky old lady way and I like that. I love that mercury glass cloche. Oh…that tempts me to paint the inside of one of mine with looking glass paint.
Rug looks great in there too.
I always enjoy looking at what you've done to your own space. It's always inspiring and I always need o good drool to get the creative juices flowing 🙂
Oh…I forgot…I saw a dining room set on Craigslist just the sort that you love to do over for like $50! I saw in yesterday but it's in OKC. I immediately thought of you…that you'd do it justice. It was very much like the one you just sold that you use to have as your's in your dining room.
I should go buy it and redo it and sell it myself except that after I finished painting all my dining room furniture I said…never ever again.
I enjoyed your pillow shopping comments. I think we all do that….talk to ourselves about whether to buy an item. That little voice inside says…"Buy it"…it will work. lol The new pillows inspired you to freshen up the space and created a wonderfully creative and interesting blog post. See? Totally worth it! Enjoy your weekend….
Marian I never get tired of looking at your beautiful living room! It looks wonderful and I love the blue and green together! Have a great weekend, Martina
oh my!! so very inspired…. as always….
i'm such a fan! xxo, kim
Your room is gorgeous!!! Love that touch of green, and who knew the plants were fake?
Enjoy your work and your weekend.
~ Julie
somebody's been playing with their new camera! I LOVE LOVE the green pillows-its fresh & clean-it woke up the sofa and said "welcome" 🙂
You are awesome! Question: If you paint your kitchen cabinets do you think you would use chalk paint? I am DYING to paint our kitchen cabinets in Old White, but our cabinets are solid cherry and my husband would probably kill me for even suggesting it.
I think there should be a bit of green in every room; it represents life, IMO. Of course, this comes from a girl that likes green 🙂 And your pops of green have elevated the blue and cream to another level.
Not sick at all…it's kind of like the '7 year itch' on steroids, just with design. ;o) If you're like me, you can't keep the same thing for long, else it gets boring.
I love the decor in your living room! I really think blue and green go really well together….they are such soothing colors…I've often wondered myself why decorating rules say 'no' to them together!
Love the striking blue enamel pitcher on the table! It really is a nice focal point to the center of the room!
Funny (fight club). You have a beautiful living room and green rocks my world so I'm glad you gave it a chance.
Lovely! Just lovely!
I like green and blue together. Your room does look great and there is a freshness to it. I totally get doing for yourself when you have to do for others. Now did you ever get your massage?
I love seeing any picture, living room or other! You make all things look good!
I have to agree with Janet about the blue and green. Some years ago a very wise woman told me the same thing about blue and green. Kinda like its Mother Natures calling card. It can be calming and peaceful or quit invigorating. You took the room from beautiful to beautiful and fun. THAT is talent!
Your living room looks so peaceful and calming, such a fabulous place to relax. I love the colors you've chosen.
The pillows look beautiful, a third color in a room always adds excitement,if its the right color that is. Its good to be able to work on your own home right?
Very pretty! Rules can be broken when the results are great! I am a blue gal too. I just finished painting my diningroom a soft blue and I love it!
So glad to hear you're human (i.e. the burnout comment). Painting furniture is my new hobby and I've actually amazed myself by doing about 1 piece a week for the past 6 weeks or so AND starting a new blog (with out knowing anything about blogging). But there are times when I think I'm just not super woman-enough…like when I read your blog. I really enjoy it and you inspire me. Keep on being human, though! And thanks for sharing your knowledge so freely.
Looks great! I am a blue girl too, well actually a white girl with blue accents! But I like the green!
Just had to tell you that I am staring at my very first, very own can of chalk paint! A lady in my area just started as a stockist this week so I went and met her today. I sort of felt like I was meeting my town's version of Miss Mustard Seed! She does custom faux finishing by trade, but her passion is repainting furniture. She had lots of pieces in her new shop that reminded me of a lot of yours. Of course, she is a big fan of yours too so we talked about you and all your talent! It was great to meet her and see all those chalk painted pieces in person. Can't wait to get started on mine!
Never heard the blue/green design rule before. Whoever made that one up must have been color blind because they've always worked together! The green brings such a bright and fresh touch to your already pretty living room. Love it.
You are a very creative lady! I love your pictures and your blog. You inspire me to do something new in the "foyer".
Thank you for sharing!
Becki
I think the green brings interest and life into your room! Good choice! Don't you love that decorative lightbulb moment!
I know what you mean about the house suffering when we get wrapped up in something. Since I have been blogging, some parts of my house are worse for the wear and not better.
My daughter lives in DC and we go to Luckett's about 6 times a year. When I go next time, I'll stop by and say hi!
Blessings!
Yvonne
Oh, I just love the addition of the green pillows. What a great summer look. I really am inspired by how you "shop" your house for tables and carpets until the room looks just right. And it sure does. Great post.
Hugs,
Patty
I love blue and green together. It's one of my favorite combos!
Love your living room!! The green does brighten it up … looks great!!
Take a deep breath! Now take another one…girl, you are good but you work too hard. I so understand all you comments especially about being tired but then working on your own home. It seems to energize you. But please, take time to smell the roses.
I never get tired of looking at photos of that room, and the green looks great in there!
I have always loved blue and green together! Your room looks beautiful!
Love the new additions to your room. I am a "blue" girl as well but the green pillows really add a nice freshness to the whole thing. I really love the little round table you put in front of the sofa, that is gorgeous. I wish I could just go shopping in my house to create a new look to one of my rooms. You are great and always give me inspiration to go out and just do it. Sounds like a Nike ad, huh?
Thanks again!
The touch of green really makes the blues pop..Beautiful..Can't wait to see what ya have up your sleeve for the other rooms..Have a great weekend..And don't work too hard..
Janet
Soooo what's on the floor in the guest room ? 🙂
MMS's Mom
Your LR looks beautiful! Even more beautifuler than it did before! I'm really in love with that "side" table. What a gorgeous piece! Well, I don't think you're sick either, just the absolutely most productive person I've ever seen or heard of! Geez!
HA! You should have never said those were fake! I would have never known. They look beautiful in the blue pitcher. I am ready for my hydrangeas to bloom too. So far I just have daylillies, oak leaf hydrangeas and gladiolas. The whole thing looks great…And I LOVE the green. And you painted your office?? I am such a slacker. I have so much to do!!
Marian I actually love blue and green together, good job! I Really adore the mirror over your sofa …I am always on the lookout for unique mirrors!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Come and enter my Amazing $250 Giveaway from Tracy Porter!
If you're sick, it's in a good way!! My master bedroom will be decorated in blue bedspread from West Elm, blue carpet, white sheers on two walls and two chartreuse green velvet wingback chairs next to the fireplace. I can't wait to finish it. I'll post it on my blog when it's done.
That little round table is gorgeous! Love it on your newly painted rug.
All this time I was thinking that your whole wall was that cool beadboard!! It really works well for adding casual texture. And the green pillows sing "Spring!" Looks great, Marian!
LOVing the chairs and the dress form….and no, you are not sick 😉
I love the green pillows… the color made my mouth water a bit!! Like a bit of "tart" injected into the room… it's perfect!!
I love it! I also LOVE your style. I have just recently started refinishing vintage furniture and I am learning so much from all you much more seasoned experts. Thanks for sharing your talents:)
ahhh Sigh…. I LOVE your house! Those curtains are AMAZING! I also love your jute rug in your previous post….. I will look at "those" jute rugs differently now lol 🙂
Marian,
"Blue and green should never be seen" rule? Obviously HE didn't get that memo. Consider how beautiful the sky, land and water look together.
Your tweaks are lovely. The green adds more life to the room and a reflection of the season!
Your Friend,
Deborah
The soft green is a nice touch. It gives the light blue some life. It picks up the color in the light blue pitcher on your table. I like the top of your piano, it reminds me of a fireplace mantle.
The green is perfect! It really makes the room pop! Keeps it from getting monochromatic. Hey whoever says blue and green can't coexist, shouldn't come to my house! I don't use a lot of blue, my mom was a blue person, kinda burned me out on the color, but I do use it to accent, and I love it! Wow, that was a bad run on sentence! Anyhow, your living room looks great and refreshing!
The amazing thing about green is that it looks good with just about any color– red, pink, yellow, navy blue, ivory, peach, black, you name it. I guess that's why nature is so full of green! Love the character in your house. I will also say I follow your blog closely; you are my favorite blogger 🙂
Alana
Green is life! And it looks AMAZING! Love the little table display too. Very, very pretty!
if i'd looked at your lr before the green, i'd said it didn't need a thing. but the addition of the green is amazing! now it sings!
btw, could you bottle a little of that energy of yours…i could really use some. 🙂
Love the freshness of the green with the blue! Also like the dark coffee table which corresponds with the piano, and the way your rug pulls out the quilt and grid pillow pattern. It's always so much fun to see your changes.
I am a huge fan of blue and green. My decor is neutral, creams and taupes, with soft hues of apple green(linen slipcovered chair) and blues…robins egg to tq. Love this soothing combo. Fresh and soothing.
WOW! You have great stuff to play with! I love how you take things from each room. When I do that, then I end up redoing a little bit in each room. Love it!
Well, maybe just a little sick!! Ha! Love your living room. That beadboard really makes a difference. Love it!!
Hugs
SueAnn
PS I use blue and green all the time.
This room is so charming; a perfect place for a relaxing cup of tea!
I love green but recently went to a pale blue/ white palette in my living room. I love seeing your pops of green and think they work great together. I was watching an HGTV show the other day where they created a neutral/ blue/ white kitchen and they used a fresh, springy green as the accent.. so rules be gone!! Keep up the mazing inspiration you provide to us would be decorators 🙂
Marion beautiful as always. I would love for you to do a house tour on your blog. lol
Personally Im a green girl..lol But Ive been coming over to the bluer side (ive always love turquoise & robins egg blue, but Im trying deeper blues)
Your room looks so cozy and calming..Im waiting for my mother to give me my childhood piano. I think its such a great piece to have in a home. I'd take it over a fireplace
MJ
Lucky 7 Design
Time to go to the Craft Corral, or whatever it's called to find another rug to stencil. It all looks great! Pillows are the most wonderful design accessories to update a room! No rest for the wicked!
Barbara
Transitions Home Design
In my house, the dominant colors are sage green, brown and cream. So relaxing. The green in your room looks great. I love how the green of the pillows picks up on your greenery too. Who knows, the next time we see your living room, it might have more green — I think you'll like it!
Rest, rest, rest!
Ruthie
That was therapeutic to read, and your room looks so gorgeous!! All my current painting projects are in my own home just for me, as well…I can't sit still!
marian,
first, i LOVE those pillows! i bought a long narrow one (lumbar, i guess it's called)on clearance because it had a tiny flaw. the color was calling to me too. in fact, i did the pillow to cart dance as well! i really don't have anything that it goes with but i took it home anyway. for now it sits in my vintage office chair for the comfort factor until i switch things up to fit it in.
second, i know "mom" always said to keep your illness to yourself(you know, cover your mouth when you cough, wash your hands, etc.) but i'm glad you shared yours…becuz it's contagious &
gives us inspiration!
can't wait to see all your projects.
judi
It's a good thing no one told me that "blue and green should never be seen." WHAT? Green is a neutral! Look at nature. Green goes with EVERYTHING. Green and yellow, green and purple, green and pink, green, black and white.
You go with more green, girl!
Let me know if there is a house for sale in your neighborhood…I need to be close to your energy and ambition.
Yep, I get it! I love the green pillows! I love blue and green together! I saw some gorgeous pillows at Tuesday Morning last week in a blue and green pattern. So fresh and so pretty! I ordered your rug! Thank you so much! I can't wait to get moved and put it down! You're a doll. I'll take a pic when I get it in. 🙂
Hugs,
SHeila
I love seeing pictures of your living room! I especially love the blues and greens, and I adore the dark floors!
Stacy
when my living room grows up i want it to look a whole lot like yours! beautiful!!! AND i was at lucketts store today…saw your booth. you must have been wiped out at the fair a few weekends ago!! WONDERFUL store…i'll definately will be back!
and by the way…it took everything i had not to leave with that union jack dresser of yours…how is that still there???
Fight Club is about the best movie ever 😉
I am in love with that table.
Actually, I am in love with the entire room. You are such a hard worker, but such a visionary. I'm so very found of you and your blog.
I'll be only an hr from Luckett's in July. I'm trying to convince myself to stay away 😉
Marian,
I love the green and blue…as always, such a great eye for fabulous design. You are amazing.
Karen
What a sweet room, Marian! Blue and green always look great together! 🙂 It's so much fun to shop your house, isn't it? lol! And that beadboard over your piano adds a true cozy farmhouse feel to the room. LUV it! Now….go rest…. ♥
xoxo laurie
I've always liked high tables in the middle of semi-formal living rooms like that – so pretty. And that curtain fabric is just beautiful. I suppose you tell where it's from somewhere? Oh, dear, i could while away my whole life at this blog.
two things: 1) my mom always says if the combination is found in nature, it can be found in decor… the grass and the sky. 'nuf said. and 2) i completely understand how painting a room or refinishing furniture can be restful. it actually clears my head because my body is on autopilot. it's very restful indeed!
now go get a massage!
Ok, so the branches are fake…I am on a need-to-know basis on where I can find those! I love having life in my house, but i kill anything alive. Please help a girl out!
I never get tired of hearing about or seeing your living room! I showed it off on my blog yesterday. 🙂
Hello Marian,
I have only been blogging for 3 months. I really am enjoying the process. I have been a designer for 14 years, however I do not have any formal education in the area of design. My degree is in elementary education. When I came across the name of your blog, I knew immediately that you were a person of faith because of your reference to a mustard seed. It’s such a powerful message. My father was a minister and so I can relate to you on several levels. I used your living room picture in my blog because I was writing about the beauty of pairing blue with green. I did a search for blue and green rooms and yours popped up. It fit beautifully with my post. I had taken a picture of Mt. Hood and I wanted to show readers how they could use nature as their design inspiration. I will be perusing your site from top to bottom so that I can learn from your experience. Thanks so much!
An idea for your french enamal pitcher, or any other rusted-out-bottom container…simply slip in a glass bottle or mason jar to contain the water…then you can put anything “live” in it!
Smiles,
Kathleen