New Family Room Vision

If you've been following for a little while, you probably know the family room is next on the list for a makeover around here. I am SO excited about this one. We live in our family room, and yet it was always one of my least favorite rooms, decor-wise. So once the big sectional busted, we decided it was time to give it a brand new look. I couldn't decide what colors I wanted, what 'look' I was going for, and just kept pinning away...and then I saw this:

...and something about it just sang to me. "Here I am! Your new family room scheme!" Isn't she gorge?! This is from The Lettered Cottage (can I tell you how freaking obsessed I am with that blog?!! You have to check it out, if you haven't already. I pretty much want every room in that house). And the thing that really hit me was the pillow on the couch in the middle there. This one, from Ikea:

Such a funny story about this. EVERY - and I mean, EVERY - time I go to Ikea, I pick up this pillow. To the point where I physically place it in my cart and continue shopping. And every time I put it back, thinking well, Liz, you don't actually know the direction you're going yet with the family room. What if you decide on robin's egg blue and coral, like you love? This won't work then. I don't know why I always listen to that sensible side of myself, but I do;). And when I saw it sitting in this picture, on the couch, looking all beauteous, it was like it was meant to be. THIS shall be my inspiration from now on!

AND we already picked out the Svanby beige Ektorp sofa and loveseat (I may not have known the exact colors I wanted, but I knew with this natural color couch, we could go any direction we chose!)

They look different toned in these pics, but they're the same, I promise:) We love these couches - the entire thing is slipcovered, so when the inevitable happens (I do have a 3, 4, and 5 year old!), I can throw it in the wash, no harm, no foul. What mom's not gonna love that, am I right?!

So the couch and loveseat are here. Got the inspiration pic goin' on. Next up, needed a paint color. Oh the drama that is picking out a paint color! I used to rock at this - don't know if I just stink now, or have become increasingly picky as I get deeper and deeper into my love of design. Hmmm...ponder that one. Whatever the case, I have a heckuva time choosing the perfect shade nowadays. I go through several samples before I find the right one. So in the meantime, my family room looks a little like this...

...and this...

...and this...

...oh, and this...

Yes, I pick different walls all over the room to test out my samples. I gotta be thorough, you know? The corner behind the lamp might look totally different than the entry of the room wall...ok, I'm a little whacko, this is not brand new information. Oh, and in my defense, finding the perfect blue gray is very tricky. I didn't want it to look like a little boy's nursery, and lots of light blue can look that way. I needed more gray, to make it a little more sophisticated. But I didn't want it too gray. So I tried and tried (and tried), and eventually I found the right one. After 3 fails, I heard the angels singing...

Hallelujah! Sherwin Williams Misty, at 75% of the formula. Want to hear something funny? (Yes, this family room is all about the ironic stories, I'm realizing). I went in to SW for another color (Olympus White) and as the guy was mixing it, I was looking through my swatch book, and on a whim, asked him to mix Misty up while he's at it. And THAT's the one I ended up picking! Weird. I can't say enough about trying out samples. Lighting changes in your home throughout the day, and you might love a shade during the morning, and nighttime hits and you hate it. Trust me, I speak from experience;). Also, colors look sooooo different on the wall than they do on that itty bitty sample, and even from the can. I looked at the color in the can, and it looked almost white, with a teeny-tiny smidgen of gray. I put it on the wall and it's totally a blue gray, with plenty of color in it. It's crazy.

So that's a huge decision made that I can check off the list. Next up: finding the remaining furniture. Wanna see the plan? Here it is:

Sorry, I'd love to have it all drawn up all fancy-like for you, but labels are as tech-ie as I can get at the moment.

You might remember the post where I said we decided to take the wall down and make one big room, but the more I thought about it, I really love having our office private. And I really love the idea of keeping the computer out of our family room. So I mentioned it to Paul and he was thinking the exact same thing. While it would be nice and open, it made more sense for us to keep it as is.

I kept debating getting rid of the fireplace, and getting something new for under the tv. I even posted it on FB and Craigslist for a brief moment, and then I had the idea to move it to the long wall, flank it with white bookcases and paint it white. Add some trim to the bookcases and make it kinda look like built-ins. It will take up almost the entire wall and I think it's going to be awesome!! I love shelves, I think they can really make a room feel cozy and lived-in, so this I thought, was a great idea. I ran it by Paul and he LOVED the concept. So we're going with the Billy bookcases from IKEA (naturally;)

I think with some nice molding around it, it'll look great. And at $59 a pop, you can't beat the price! Now I just have to paint the fireplace to match. (Oh, and we're going to mount the TV a little higher, so I won't have the decorating issue that drives me batty - those 3 inches to decorate with are just impossible!) ;) I pinned some images like this one, that kind of emulate the look I'm going for...

A Brit of Happiness

Won't be quite that built-in of course, but you get the jist, right?

Onto window treatments...If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have noticed my obsession with woven blinds. Love 'em. And paired with panels is one of my favorite looks. Wouldn't you know it, my inspiration pic has them?!! Fate, I tell ya. So we're going with white drapes and woven blinds for the windows.

We have a perfect wicker trunk that's taking up space in our bedroom (literally - it pretty much blocks us from our bathroom!), and I thought it would look great as a coffee table down here. Always shop your homes, people! You never know what might work great somewhere else in your home.

Oh! And I just ordered a linen slipcover from SureFit for that gold striped chair. Fingers crossed it works - I'll keep you posted! I figured it would be nice in the corner near the TV wall, maybe with the floor lamp, and a large basket beside it?

And of course there's all the fun accessories...I plan on picking up some great throw pillows, to tie in all the reds, blues, greens of the IKEA pillow, some pretty throw blankets...maybe paint the end tables some fun colors, or spray the lamps...all of this will come as we pull the room together:) That's my favorite part! Look at this loveliness from The Lettered Cottage pic:

Gah! I love love love it.

So that's the latest on the family room makeover project...you like? I'm just excited to finally know what I want to do and get started! I'll keep you in the loop as things get checked off the list! Fun, fun, fun:)