Today was the day! For someone who usually hauls their furniture from a thrift store, yard sale, auction or antique shop, it’s a luxury to have a piece that’s finished delivered right to my home and placed in the very spot I want it. I’ve only experienced that one other time – with the bed in the master bedroom.
(For those who are catching up, I bought the Brooklyn Sofa from Pottery Barn a few weeks ago.) Last night, I started getting nervous about it. It’s a huge purchase and I am fickle when it comes to furniture. Would it look as good in reality as it did in my head? I started to imagine that it would look hideously orange in my space or too big or too small or just all wrong… Or, that it was perfect, but had a huge slice in the leather or a leg was smashed to bits.
But it arrived safely and looks exactly as I imagined it would.
The warm leather plays well against the cool blues and coordinates beautifully with the other woods and brown tones in the room. The nail head trim, rolled arms and turned legs on casters bring the classic look I wanted.
The cushions are deep and comfortable. They need some breaking in, but that’s to be expected (and I’m working on breaking it in as I type!)
It’s just perfect and I’m so excited it’s finally here.
And I moved the French daybed back under the window where the Christmas tree was. Right now the walls are bare except for Gwendolyn, but Jeff just bought the wood today to make 3/4 height wainscoting and then I’ll hang pictures, plates, etc. and add the final layers to bring the room to life.
Today I had several meetings, including one with my milk paint team and the other with my lawyer to talk about the terms & conditions for the Mustard Seed Pages, so we can get that live! I know a lot of you were as excited about that as I am. We’re also working on turning “my” office into “our” office. I have never used it as an office, but more of a closet and it was time to clean it out and make it a functional space. We removed the wallpaper today, which was actually pretty easy, and repainted that wall. We also shuffled some furniture around to make room for a desk that Jeff will be building soon. A folding table will have to do for a while, though.
And also I did a bit more organizing. After Christmas and a birthday, the Lego’s were taking over the family room, so I needed to make some room for them.
I have tons of kitchen cabinets and I probably don’t use 80% of the stuff in them, so that was an easy place to find some room.
Clearly that’s a before picture.
I condensed the contents of four cabinets into two and used one of the emptied cabinets for the Legos. We already have Legos in one kitchen cabinet and the kitchen opens to the family room, where most of the playing happens, so it’s not as strange as it sounds – using kitchen cabinets for toys. I still have a lot of work to do on the kitchen, but I’m taking it one cabinet at a time when I have the chance.
With all of this organizing and shuffling, I’ve ended up making a mess of the basement, which is now my main work area, so I will tidy it up tomorrow and start listing things for sale in the online shop.
PS – This is not a sponsored post or review for Pottery Barn. If you’re curious, you can find out how I saved for the sofa without pulling from our household income HERE. Oh, and because the delivery was delayed, we were refunded our shipping costs, too!
It’s beautiful – congratulations!
Love it!!
It looks beautiful. Love the color. Would be interested to hear whether it is really comfortable. I’m only 5’3″ and the seats usually are too wide. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful couch!!
I love the bit about the Legos! They have taken over my house…I joke that if it was us against them, they would definitely conquer!
Ohhhh, it is lovely! What a luxury….a new leather sofa….
Congrats, it is wonderful, and you shouldn’t need another sofa for a long long time. I hear that leather is a charm in a busy household and many that have them swear they are indeed the best. You will have to keep us up to date on how it wears. (I have two labs that get on our couches, I don’t think leather would hold up to their nails…)
Good luck on the organizing…
Nancy
our leather furniture held up beautifully UNTIL,,,My husband has extra oily hair,even washing twice a day:( Wasn’t long before there was a permanent stain where he lays his head back. bummer,, just be aware, we now know a towel must be in place where he sits!
Julie, you needed an anti-macasser! Macasser’s hair oil was famous for staining furniture. That is why you started seeing doilies adorning the tops of chairs or the arms of sofas. And that is why they have such a strange name.
Beautiful sofa. Love the details of the legs with casters. Enjoy!
Ah yes, Legos. I see the Lego mine there – one of my son’s favs. Finding Lego storage is on my list for January 2014 too!
So exciting……love the casters too!
As you learn to live with your leather sofa I would be interested in hearing how your pillows do on it. We have had a leather sofa for many years and I have much trouble with trying to keep pillows on it – they want to slide down until they’re flat – maybe they’re lazy?!!!
For sliding pillows, try backing them with a suede like fabric (ultra suede or a microfiber fabric with some “tooth”). I did that for my pillows and now they stay put!
Looks beautiful! I have a leather reclining sofa and chair and love them because they are so comfortable and easy to keep clean. I love how the blue looks with the warm leather and it really picks up your rug beautifully as well.
I’ve been eyeing this sofa for quite a while. I am cursious if it scratches when you run your nail across it. We have two small children and this is the concern that has me hesitant to seriously considering this purchase. Thank you!
Didn’t you just love getting a delivery from Pottery Barn. I ordered several pieces when we remodeled and got new furniture. The delivery guys were so nice and efficient. Anyway, I love your sofa. It looks just like you. Can’t wait to see all your final touches.
Btw…still loving my book you signed at Chapel Market. 🙂
Well done! It just shows that waiting for a “need” instead of a “want” has its rewards! I love your blog, and you are really inspiring!
Very pretty – I think I like your room better with the warm brown added. Enjoy!
Your sofa looks wonderful in your space – the colors work together so beautifully. Nice legs, too! 😉
It’s as gorgeous as I thought it would be.I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
I just love it. Those feet are the best! Glad you’re so happy with it. 🙂
I am in love with that couch! It looks amazing in your space, and I’m loving the new look of the living room.
Yay! Happy day! It looks beautiful! Don’t forget some shots now of the whole room so we can see the total effect of this beauty! When time permits of course!
Happy for you that you love it! We have a leather couch with young kids and it works beautifully to wipe off. We bought a more frilly couch for our “parlor” and I wouldn’t let anyone sit in it the whole first month! The kids call it “moms special couch” Love your updates and the inspiration you give.
Oh my, it is much more beautiful in person than in the picture! The color is absolutely perfect! Enjoy your new sofa!!!
Love the sofa! It is lovely, you worried for nothing, girl. Your decor style is beautiful. Blues and whites are such a great palette to work with but since so much of it is in the cool range of colors, adding that warm brown with the sofa and rug really do bring it together.
Love the soft camel color! Pure perfection!!
Just love your new sofa. The color is amazing. I also like the brown pillows you put on the daybed, draws it all together. Thank you for sharing Paula
Congrats to you! Looks wonderful! Yay for keeping it real with showing your cabinets before the organizing! So happy I am not the only one! You rock!
Marian….it is perfection! I agree with the posts that the brown color plays beautifully with your rug, ironstone, and blues. Please post a picture of you on the sofa enjoying it or better yet a picture of your whole family relaxing a bit. xox
Just gorgeous! We have a leather couch downstairs in the “Man Cave” where we watch TV with our two huge Bernese Mountain Dogs, and it looks just like it did before we had dogs. It’s dark leather, but it doesn’t scratch somehow! It’s a miracle couch. I love this look.
Marian, it’s GORGEOUS! Gah! The rolled arms and tiny casters are absolute perfection.
The new sofa looks great! I’m glad they were finally able to deliver it after all the mix up with the delivery date!!
I remember when we got our new sofa. I had the same anxiety you had about it not looking right, the color being wrong, etc. But like you, I loved it when arrived and was put where it belonged. Of course, I had to paint the walls after it arrived, because it they didn’t work with the sofa color, but the color of the sofa was perfect.
Well done,it looks amazing. Even better when you consider how resourceful you were in financing and saving for it.
I have just finished reading your book. Really great, will be a constant source of reference. Thank you for being so inspiring and straightforward.
Sue
Well done! you made a beautiful choice! don’t get me wrong I do still love the white interiors but I am so happy to see someone stepping out of it and doing something different! All though I am not tired of all white yet, it has been around for so long and something new needs to take it’s place and I think you have done that perfectly. I know you have probably been asked many times but where did you get the cow portrait? in love. thanks Gail
Congratulations on your sofa! We got a Pottery Barn Manhattan Chair & Ottoman off of Craigslist five years ago and still love it. I don’t know what I was thinking at the time, though – I had a baby boy, and since then we have added two more little boys – I’m glad we paid a fraction of retail for it because unfortunately our boys have left water bottles on it at times, mainly the ottoman, but I chalk it up to wear and tear / patina. At some point we will probably recondition it but for now it’s a really nice chair that most guests prefer to sit in when they are here.
My oldest is 6 and just started getting into Legos. And now the war for space begins . . . Legos on my countertop, in the bathroom, in my craft room . . . 😉
Looks beautiful, and I’m sure you will love it for a lifetime! I too have a battle with pillows standing up on mine , would love to know if anyone has a trick for that.
WoooHOOOOO! It has finally come and looks fabulous! Enjoy! The leather will soften over time and the seats will “ease” up a bit making it more comfortable as it ages.
Happy lounging….when you have the time!
Would love to see a full view pic of the sofa? I LOVE POTTERY BARN! There furniture is a little expensive, but the quality is excellent. I have a dining room table from there, among a few other things. 🙂 The quality of the table is excellent. It will never need to be replaced.
It looks perfect.
So glad that you love it! It’s beautiful!
LOVE the new sofa! The warm leather is just perfect 🙂
Hi Marian!
Congrats on the arrival of your new sofa, it looks beautiful!!
I’ve been checking your online shop daily to see if you have new ironstone pieces for sale, and what a bummer I missed out!!! I saw you posted some new fabulous things and they are already sold out!!! I cannot wait to get some of your ironstone!!! 🙂
That’s awesome that they refunded your shipping!
Looks like it was worth the wait!
Yay! Beautiful! Happy birthday new sofa!
It’s perfectly perfect and I LOVE it! Well done, Miss M!
Love, love, love the color of the leather with the blues in your room. can’t wait to see the room complete! I have these two vintage small blue & white chairs that would be a great addition in your space.
It’s a beautiful classic choice Marion. Congratulations! it’s absolutely perfect! Vanna
Great sofa choice. Know you and your family will enjoy and use it for many years.
You deserve it!
Wow! Heavy sofa on WHEELS! Now THAT’S living!!! Looks great, Marian!
I love your style and try to emulate it in our home. I currently have been looking for a cream “linen-look” slip cover for our sofa that looks just like your new one! So I am putting it on hold (probably off) to see how you “Mustard-Seed” it. I know it will be fabulous!
We need a long shot so we can see the whole couch! Love the color. Great choice.
There isn’t a price on book set #5. Will that be posting soon? I’m very interested. Thanks so much!
The sofa is fabulous and will definitely blend seamlessly into your room. I know what you mean when it comes to spending a lot of money on something that you will be keeping for many years. I sadly made a mistake with my lounge sofa and now having to pay for it but it was because I hadn’t thought about what works in small rooms.
I have just featured pantones 2014 Spring colours and sand and blue work beautifully together and your sofa is basically a deeper version of sand. I am in the middle of re-doing my bedroom and my office, my bedroom carpet is a beige sisal look and will have to work with the blues and greys I am bringing into the room. I feel more confident now seeing your sofa surrounded by the lovely blues you have.
Love the look, can’t wait to see your makeover of the office and I wish you well with your new website.
Lee
Marian – I love how your room is transforming! A lot less “frilly”. Your husband must be enjoying the transformation! I love the ruffles, etc. but I know most men don’t.
CONGRATS on getting your prized sofa and it looks FABULOUS! So happy for you! You make me tired just reading what you accompish in a day but it is terrific that your hubby is such a big help and now has a bit more time to help even more. Happy New Year, God bless, and keep the great news flowing!! I LOVE your posts!!
Woo hoo! I am so excited for this couch, I couldn’t wait to see it! It looks awesome! I love the legs. I’m so glad that after you had to wait so long that it worked out in your room. We bought leather when we moved into our home, and pregnant with our 2nd. I’m so glad we did!
I love the arms and legs on that sofa! The leather color is not exactly “my color,” but I think it works in your space.
Can’t wait to see what you post in your online shop tomorrow!
The sofa looks beautiful in your home! We purchased 2 of these sofas for our home last year. We still love them but have a problem with the back legs turning. It may be due to the fact that they are on hardwood while the front legs are on a rug. I would be interested in knowing if you have a similar problem in the future.
So happy for you!
Good for you for treating yourself! The new sofa looks lovely – I can’t wait to see more of it!
Beautiful sofa!! You will love the leather. Enjoy!!!
Could you please tell me about the beautiful denim colored blanket or afghan in the first picture? Is it hand knitted? Is the pattern available? Love your new sofa. Perfect!
It’s the diamond knit indigo throw from Pottery Barn. I received it last fall as a part of a promotion they were doing.
Hooray!!! I’m so excited for you. Now, pull back on those shots and let us see the whole sofa within the room! Ha ha, so what are you hiding?
What I really want to say, however, is what I believe it is that makes your blog so different from others. It’s the reason I never, EVER skip it.
You tell a story. It’s your story of :
1 how and why you do what you do
2 how your husband helps you
3 what your children are playing with
4 what you screw up
5 and what you get right the first time
6 how the screw ups foster creativity
7 how you feel about your weight, makeup, fashion
8 the best “how to” tutorials I’ve come across
9 how you learned to shoot such great photos
10 how you grew up
11 what your grandmother was like
12 how you saved for that sofa
I could go on and on and on, but the fact that you let us in on your story – your feelings, your joys, your frustrations, your family – is what makes your blog so special. It’s like a mini TV series!
It’s also incredibly rewarding that we get to see the transformation of your home, not just one piece of furniture after another. Other blogs can be useful but I never continue reading them because they are more like classes than stories. We get to watch every step of your home’s many makeovers so we get to invest in your home and the time it takes and the process of making it all happen. We get to invest in you! We WANT you to find those perfect dining chairs!
It’s brilliant, Marian, because it’s simply you. It’s who you are.
The best definition of intimacy I ever heard was:
“Me being me and letting you see me.”
You have brought that element into your relationship with us, your readers, and it’s amazing how powerful it is!
Thanks so much for 2013 and for inviting me in.
Alexis
Oh the new sofa looks great! Yeah get it all nice & broken in for me 🙂 So what’s that gorgeous blue sweater thing you’re teasing us with in the 1st photo?
Love the new sofa… I want one too! Just not in my budget this year… We’re renovating my husbands childhood family farmhouse… Which isn’t a money pit… But close. I did bead board paneling 3/4 of the way up the wall in the kitchen and dining room. I was watching a Sarah Richardson program and she said that she put the bead board 20″ from the ceiling because wallpaper is usually around 22″ and with the right pattern, you can run the wallpaper horizontally… That’s exactly what I did, and the result is just beautiful. So if you’re thinking wallpaper… Blessings. Dixie
I LOVE the new sofa…love the color and the beautiful nailhead trim!…Great choice…congrats Marian!!!..
Yay! Good for you! It looks wonderful. 🙂
That leather looks sumptuous! Love the color, the roll arms, the legs. Think the legs make it look like it could be an antique, and love that look. Will be interesting to see how you work it in with your existing pieces!
What a treat to have a beautiful piece of furniture delivered to you! You worked HARD to save for it, and it’s lovely. Enjoy!
I love the new sofa from Pottery Barn. The leather color is perfect and will work with any changes you makes with your painted pieces. I have the Manhattan leather chair and ottoman in whiskey color from Pottery Barn in my bedroom and love the comfort and feel of it. You will have a lot of years of enjoyment as it gets better with age. Nothing is better than a good core piece of furniture to anchor a room. Thanks for sharing.
Everything looks fabulous! I wrote a post last night about the same thing, to post next week. I hope that you do not mind but I used some of your new sofa an;d added a link to your landscape design firm Sentimental gardens. perfect-place for sweet sofa
It’s so pretty! I had a leather sofa some time back and over time, the leather changed color slightly. It was dark brown and I didn’t keep up the ‘recommended leather care’. It was very durable and repelled all stains, food, etc. I have three boys myself, so that was great. We used it for years and then I gave it away to a needy family.
Congrats! Great looking sofa…
You new sofa is gorgeous. Congratulations. I’ve never done this before but please, please, tell us about the blue afghan. It reminds me of my favourite Blue Willi’s sweather I bought in Copenhagen.
Thanks
love it!!!!! so pretty!
I have coveted that sofa for awhile. LOVE it! Congratulations! Still saving for mine. 🙂
On an unrelated note. I was curious about how you decide to mix and match dining chairs?
I am struggling… I have been able to envision every other project and re-do in my house, except for these darn chairs. (I currently have the PB Napoleon side chairs) The table is a large, but not too “heavy”, pine farm table and it’s in a greatroom, not a formal dining area. I think I would really like slip covered chairs on each end, but cannot narrow down side chairs. I would love any suggestions.
Everything looks great and I love the way the brown sofa, pillows, wood tones,etc. play off the blue and white. Perfect!
I love that sofa–I have been thinking about it since I saw it in the catalogue this summer. I am so jealous. It looks wonderful with your blues. I have blacks and reds in my den where I would love to have it. My old leather camel back sofa is faded and tired looking. Love your blog. Can’t wait to see more. Thanks!
I am the same way everything is thrift store or hand me downs. Well my new pottery barn sofa was delivered on New Year’s Eve! What a way to start the new year! I got the pottery barn basic in honey!!! Love it and so comfortable! We deserve it for all of our frugalness all these years!
I love your Pottery barn sofa ! It was worth the wait in making your home look more finished, I think.
Could you PLEASE tell me where I can get the preserved boxwood wreaths you own.
I have looked every where and all suppliers are out of stock . Disappointing , becaus they always look great and I want one or more too! Please respond , I love your blog !
Kathleen
I have a sofa the exact same color with nailhead trim but a different shape. I’ve had it for about 10 years and I don’t see myself ever getting tired of it. I love the color! I wanted to tell you that I dust and clean mine once a month with Wiemans leather wipes. They come in a canister like Lysol wipes. It helps keep the sofa clean and sofa. Looking forward to seeing the entire new room when finished!
Hi there! We have been considering purchasing this exact same sofa, but it is on the pricey side for us and we are a bit scared that it may not work once it arrives. Have you had a chance to break it in, how do you feel about it now?
pretty color for a leather sofa. I am thinking about buying new sofa. Is this one comfortable for laying on and watching tv? Do you still love the color and sofa?
I’m in love with this sofa!! Do you happen to remember the color? It’s exactly what I’ve been searching for!