Each season, when I take down the holiday decor, I am left with a clean slate that is my living room. It's so energizing. A clean canvas ... permission to do anything I want. Well, not really. I'm married to someone who is very discriminating when it comes to the decor. It's gotten easier over the years. I'm not sure if it's because he likes what I do or because he realizes I'm much easier to deal with when I'm happy and anyone who knows me knows that I am dependent on my environment and surroundings for happiness.
Truth be known, by the time Christmas is over, I am ready to get rid of the Christmas clutter. Yes, it's warm and cozy by the twinkle of the Christmas lights but I relish in the lack of clutter when it's all over. I've decided to revisit the aqua accent color of the past. It looks lovely with my Sherwin Williams "Portabello" colored accent wall and brown leather chairs. I've accumulated a few aqua pieces and although, it's not completely done yet, I'm on my way to refreshing our decor.
The coffee table and the mantle are always challenging. This year, I'm going for a more clean look on the coffee table. I've acquired a basket-type tray for three bucks from a thrift store and it seems to be a perfect foundation for the first coffee tablescape of the year. Paired with a lovely candle that my daughter's friend gave to us for Christmas in a glass vase repurposed from a floral delivery, a small little aqua bird from Michael's that I just HAD to have because it made me smile and a vase with some pretty faux hydrangeas in it. It's all simple and I'm inclined to just leave it this way. What do you think?
The mantle. The mantle is never easy but when I perfect it, I'm so pleased. I'm not there yet. I've learned a lot on Pinterest about layering on mantles. I decided to pull out some silver candle holders that I purchased from Salvation Army for Christmas. They looked so lovely in my Christmas decor that I couldn't bear to part with them when I put away the Christmas stuff. I bought them at different times from different stores. Two of the three are Nordstrom metal candle holders. I scored them for 3 bucks each! Shawn's urn of ashes has a permanent place on this mantle and goes quiet nicely with the silver candlesticks. I think he'd be pleased. I took one of the gorgeous aqua vases that my mother-in-law gifted to me for my last birthday and placed it strategically and took a little eucalyptus from a vase elsewhere in the house for a little added height. I had made a cute little sign out of a picture frame with our name and the year we were married and I never did anything with it. It found a perfect place on this mantle. I'm so pleased with its addition. I also included this blue bottle that my father gave to me when they were digging up the ground beneath his former company. It appears that these bottles can be found in the ground here in Chicago if you dig deep enough. Blue glass has always intrigued me. I believe, although completely unrelated, that ice water tastes best from a cobalt glass. Not sure why, but it seems to make perfect sense. In any event, I'm not done with the mantle yet but I'll be sure to post a picture when I am.
The side tables are usually pretty bare, just a lamp and a picture or two usually. I decided to change that up too. I took two of my favorite silly poetry books and stacked them with our annual photo books on one of the tables and put a lovely aqua pitcher that was the vase for an edible arrangement we received from a friend. It looks lovely, I think!
On the other table, a salvaged candleholder from a thrift store with a lovely aqua candle that I bought on clearance at Home Goods. The lamp on this table is one of my favorites. A find from thrifting last year. It is one of those old double chain lamps with the two bulbs. It's metal. I'm forever looking for a finial to fit this lamp, it didn't have one when I bought it. Also on this table is one of those cute wine cork cages. A way to showcase the corks from all the wine we drink! I picked this up at Home Goods on clearance recently ... a different way to use the corks as decor.
Lastly is the sideboard or butler or whatever you choose to call this piece of furniture. The runner is something I picked up while thrifting as well for 2 dollars. It goes perfectly on this piece to protect the finish. My husband's prized humidor claims permanent residence here. I love the bulldog ceramic that we bought at Home Goods. Reminds me of our bulldog, Ella. I love the tall ginger jar with pinecones in it. I saw it on a decorating site and just had to replicate it.
Then there is this wall. I hate that we don't have a "real" entryway. I'd kill for a mudroom at our entrance but we don't have one. I'm happy that we kept this little half wall and put the granite on the top of it. I'm currently in search for a great rug for this tile. As for the wall, I have big plans for this wall. My husband is going to take down the little coat hook board and make our own more rustic looking piece ... longer and more stately to bring more dimension to the entryway. I'd love to find a little bench for next to the mirror as well.
I'm excited about the first livingroom of the year. What do you think?
Great room! I agree with you about having the clean slate after Christmas decor is taken down. The house looks so fresh and clean but I do miss the holidays! I have an old lamp that's missing a finial too. Seems like those finials would be an easy thing to find but they aren't!!! I also use a lot of blue in my decor as an accent color. I have all shades of turquoise, robins egg and peacock blue. Love it! Everything looks great, Denyse.
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