Last week I showed you the wee bit of progress I made in our living room along with our Christmas decor. If you missed it, we got a new rug (a real deal at only $150!) and rearranged the furniture! Pretty affordable and easy makeover, right? I so appreciated all the nice comments on the room, especially since it was such a simple update. I received several questions on the room so I thought today I’d offer some answers and a bit more detail on the decisions we’ve made and plans for the space.
In a Pinterest and Instagram dominated world, I think it can be so nice to see how easy it can be to transform a blank room to one you really love right now with just a few simple changes, even if you have grander dreams for a future makeover.
Why wait for some future time or big makeover when you can love the home you have RIGHT NOW? That was my goal with this space.
A first step in transforming your space on a budget of time and money is to consider how to arrange your furniture and then bring together the elements every room needs to feel cozy and inviting.
For more detail on how a room can be transformed using what you have and can gather over time, you’ll find lots of information in The Inspired Room book. As I was working on this room I definitely incorporated those same principles. You’ll find helpful tips on furniture selection and arrangement, too, plus how to use colors and patterns in a room and much more.
You can get the book (or Love The Home You Have) for an EXTRA 25% off today only on Amazon, use the code “25OFFBOOK” at checkout under the “gift cards and promotional codes” section to receive an extra 25% off!
For this room, I knew the white backdrop of the walls would work just fine for now. In fact, I’ll probably keep the room white long term since this room gets lots of natural light (in a darker room white isn’t always the best choice), but we will be using the white we picked out for this house, Swan White by Glidden. The white currently this room is a bit vanilla/yellowy on the walls and pinky on the ceiling so I definitely plan to repaint at some point. But for the time being, it will do!
We also have the asymmetrical windows and fireplace to consider as we work on this room. The stone of the fireplace is pretty nice, but the design and coloring is not my favorite so it is something I can likely address at a future point. Meanwhile, I can work with it. Every room is going to have its challenges, limitations or stand out features so it helps to consider how you might be able to play up, incorporate, or minimize the various elements.
At our house, this first step before the holidays wasn’t going to involve paint or any changes to the fireplace, windows or floors or anything else significant at this point, so I simply needed to focus on the arrangement of the furniture and a rug to make the biggest impact with the least amount of effort.
We have a beautiful view out our windows as I’ve mentioned, so I knew I wanted to take advantage of that but also make the space itself inviting. This is our living room so while of course we want to incorporate and enjoy the view, we also want to feel cozy in this space in the evening when it is pitch black out there (there are no city lights to look at across from us) as well as being comfortable for lounging, working or having conversation during the day. The view is a great feature, but looking at the view isn’t the only purpose or use of this space.
Originally when we moved in, we put the sofa facing the fireplace (see above). That’s a cozy arrangement in many rooms, and was one of the arrangements we enjoyed in our old family room. I do love facing a fireplace. But here it just felt a bit like that arrangement closed off the room from rest of the house. Since this room offers the big windows with the view, I wanted the arrangement to invite people to wander in and enjoy it, not feel like it was a place set up for a private party by the fire. And of course when the furniture arrangement focused around the fireplace none of our furniture even looked directly out at the view, so it made sense to turn things around a bit.
Since we don’t have plans to buy new furniture for this room, especially right now, using what we have was our main goal.
Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 (similar) // 8 // 9 // 10
We didn’t want to move our cabinet to a different wall as it is too tall to fit under the windows and too long for any other wall. Plus it anchors the space nicely, provides needed storage and allows us a place for lamps! This room has no overhead lighting so we rely on lamps for evenings and ambience.
So with the fireplace at the end of the room, the cabinet placement on one side and the location of the windows on the opposite wall as our starting point, we had an obvious location in which to center the conversation area. The window placement on the wall makes the area to the left with the gold cabinet (right as you enter into the room) not as desirable to be part of a main conversation area as it wouldn’t take advantage of the view (but its perfect for cabinets and extra seating!).
We angled our bigger wingback on one side of the glass cabinet and another side chair on the other with the sofa across from it, providing a perfect conversation area nestled between the fireplace, cabinet and windows. This arrangement allows for seating with a view during the day and is cozy and comfortable near the fireplace, too.
I was pleased that the leather love seat fits quite nicely in front of the windows as it isn’t too tall and doesn’t block the view like the wing backs would have. Our sofa table (that previously had no home) suddenly found a nice open spot next to the sofa and fireplace, creating a perfect little niche for plants and a place where we can sit with our laptop or coffee and gaze out the window!
Once the furniture was in place, I realized all I would need to make this room feel more complete for the time being would be a rug. My furniture is very neutral and solid with the exception of the beautiful color of the ottoman. So without any other significant pattern, bold color or favorite architectural feature to carry the room, I knew the right rug would transform the space.
I wanted to keep this room pretty simple, but a neutral rug like a natural brown or even gray would not have had enough drama or personality for my liking in this particular room. I definitely wanted it to have more punch! As far as how I chose this particular color, partly it was a happy accident because the color online didn’t quite look like what it is in real life. Ha! At first when I saw how blue it was I panicked, but only for a moment. As soon as we laid the rug down we knew it was meant to be.
The other thing I liked about this rug was that the shade of blue is distinct from my gray and brown furniture so it really livens up the color palette. Shades of blues, grays and teals all look so pretty together, I think, without feeling jarring. I also loved the bold but natural white pattern on this rug, plus the brown mixed into the the blue background gives it more of an antiqued look.
When I got home from the HGTV Dream Home (see the tour, here) I laid out the Glidden paint color palette chips from the house on my ottoman and instantly noticed that all the shades of blues and teals they used looked great my living room! I really love when several colors flow through the house and blend nicely together in a room, but I don’t want them all match. I think a nice mix of pretty colors throughout the house with an occasional color surprise here and there makes for a visually pleasing home!
At first I was convinced I would want a second wingback to exactly match my other gray one (or get two new matching chairs, the brown trellis wingback will be used elsewhere in the house) but when I grabbed a dining room chair to test out the arrangement, I realized I could make that one work for now.
Someday we still may add the window seat built in I talked about in my vision post, but we are surprisingly happy with the current arrangement for the time being. I love to curl up on the sofa and enjoy the ambience of the fireplace. Often during the day it is just me sitting in this room so I will sit in a chair and work and just enjoy the view.
Right now the fireplace works visually with this arrangement, but of course we have a Christmas tree in the corner right now that won’t always be there. I may rearrange a bit after Christmas and by then who knows what ideas might pop into my head! I am guessing I’ll probably try a little makeover to the fireplace after the holidays. I may at least just flip the two gray chairs after the tree is gone.
So that’s where we are at right now! For sure I’ll be adding blinds to the windows after Christmas (I’ll share more about our choices in January!). I am looking forward to making this space even cozier! It already feels so comfortable, I love spending time in this room.
GIVEAWAY!!!!!
To help inspire you to add some pretty new paint colors or do a little nesting in your home this winter, Glidden is offering a lucky reader of The Inspired Room a $100 gift card to Home Depot! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below :).
Winner will be selected on Thursday 10PM PST.
*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*
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More Posts:
Our Seattle House Tour {video}
Finding Joy At Home {when you’re feeling like you’re in a slump!}
5 Ways to Add More Cozy to Your Home
Looks so nice and cozy! Explaining why you put things where you did was so helpful. Have a Merry Christmas!
Wow that room is so bright and inviting, I love it. The colors all blend nicely, but they are different enough to add interest and make the room visually appealing. I love that ottoman! You’ve inspired me to shake things up around my house :)
That would be so helpful to purchase new paint for our living room! Owl Gray here we come! :)
Beautiful..very inspiring!
Beautiful room – love the way you arranged everything! Happy holidays!
I love your style!!!
What you have done so far looks very cozy.
Lovely space, especially the view. Thinking about that rug for my dining room.
It turned out beautiful! I’m in love with the colors and the candles in the fireplace are just amazing. It’s all very cozy and elegant.
Looks lovely!!
Natural light is such a joy.
Merry Christmas!
Your home is shaping up beautifully! Love the view, too!
I really love your room and I love the color pallette with the blue hues. With you beautiful view, I also like that you don’t have any “window treatment” there. I love the natural light coming into the room. Beautiful!
Wow…great deal on that beautiful rug!
I LOVE your rug. I think the room feels very cozy.
I would spend all day on your couch looking out the window at that gorgeous view. Thanks for sharing.
Wow,your room looks amazing!! I love it all lol
I especially love that round leather ottoman(I assume) beside the grey chair /fireplace. Where did you get that!? Thanks in advance! Also, thanks so much for the chance to win the home Depot card. Your room has inspired me lol
Oops.. I see its source #7..cool..very nice of you to include the source info! Thanks!
I am loving your living room. The home depot gift card would be perfect for post-New Year’s home improvement!
Thank you for showing how your room can be lovely NOW, whilst dreaming of how it can be in the future!
I love the long view you have outside the window.
Just a heads up about leather…..I have leather only 6 years old in the living room with a north exposure. In the course of that time our leather has faded so now we have dark leather with no exposure and very faded leather where it has had exposure even with a covered porch and the furniture set back from the window. ugh
I got wonked out about my leather change- lighter and oranger but the feel and look of the leather was softer and the colors looked more real. Now I say bring on fading, bring on evolving patina of life~~~~ well maybe not in my hair color (HA!)
Beautiful job!
The variety of candles in the fireplace is so lovely. I really like the use of different sizes and heights. I’m so symmetrical, I would ever have come up with that arrangement, but it is so warm and homey. If I ever have a fireplace, I will definitely give it a try.
Love the colors for the room, elegant. Thanks for the chance. jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
love seeing the progress
So pretty!!
Looks Great!
What a lovely arrangement. I am not certain I would have thought of it. Thank you for sharing!
it is looking great. Moving the couch to open up the room made a huge difference. love it.
The view is beyond beautiful! You and your family are very blessed :) Have a very merry Christmas!
What a deal on the rug! I will have to keep that site in mind
I love the shades of blue and teal! I hope I can be as brave as you are when decorating our new home next year. I have to remember… ‘coordinating’, not ‘matching’!
I have enjoyed watching your new home come together. I have been looking for an area rug for my library/office and seeing your new living room rug made me decide I am not going to settle. I will wait until I find exactly the right rug. Enjoy your first Christmas in your new home. May you make many happy memories!
Thanks for sharing your thought process here! Very helpful. Your new rug most certainly makes the space come to life! Thank you for all your inspiration – a blessed Christmas to you and your family.
The room is so light-filled and beautiful. I love the view and the candles in the fireplace. Take care and happy holidays!
I love SO many things about this room (and your furniture that you already had!). That chest with the geometric pattern is swoon-worthy!!!
I need paint! A LOT of paint! My entire living area is still white…after 23 years….ugh. I would love to try a brand from Home Depot and spice things up a little. My living room has a large window and 2 large interior doorways so furniture placement is tricky for me as well. Love the blue rug with that sofa!
Thanks for sharing your thought process as you change things-much food for thought. Thanks also for this chance to win a gift card!
What beautiful progress! Thanks for sharing
Furniture arrangement and paint picking are the hardest things for me to do. Lately I have been loving the look of the cooler colors and may need to change the paints in my house :-)
I love the placement of your rug here- I always feel conflicted if my furniture doesn’t have all 4 legs on the rug, but this is fabulous.
Aaahh!! I love the colors of your furniture and rug in this space! Good call on the sofa placement as well. That is one of the main struggles in our living room!
Love the new arrangement! It looks so cozy :)
Love the rug. It is a beautiful color. I’m slowly updating our family room\den. It is stuck in the 70’s at the moment right down to red orange shag carpet. The gift card would help with new flooring.
Thanks for the tips,I have a very odd shaped living room that I’m trying to figure out now. Help me decorating fairy out there. lol !
Love how cozy this looks!! Great place to curl up with a good book!
Furniture arrangement in our living room continues to be a challenge for me. I appreciate your tips which have helped me see the room differently. Your living room looks great and I love the colors!
Love all the natural light! Great job on the room!
Melissa ….. I’m enjoying watching you bring your new home together. Love the wall of windows and the view. Thanks for sharing your progress.
Restful!jj
So cozy and I love the new rug! Can’t wait to see more of the house!
Love your rug! n.
Thank you for sharing your decorating journey. Love the rug. You have inspired me to rearrange my livingroom furniture.
Looks beautiful! I love hearing about the process.
How pretty. I appreciate knowing your thought process as you are decorating. (and I also love the rug)
I really like the way you talk through the decisions you made. Your living room looks so cozy!
Things are coming together quite nicely and as always I’m happily following along! Thanks for the opportunity to win a Home Depot gift card. We’ll be moving after the holidays and it sure would come in handy!!
The new arrangement really works well in that space. I like the mixture of the blues with the green plants – very soothing but not too neutral.
It’s so much fun to watch you settle into a new home and make it your own! Love your honesty about the process as well.
Looks great! Merry Christmas!
Love the way you’ve arranged the room to make the windows a focal point, and the rug is beautiful. My walls are desperately in need of color, but I’m always nervous about painting. Your blog has really inspired me to experiment more.
Thank you for inspiring me! I always enjoy your blog and love your decorating style. Have a merry Christmas!
Your room looks so cozy and the view is amazingly! Love that blue rug too!
Love the rug, it really makes the room more homey ! Love your style . Marry Christmas ?
Thanks for sharing the rug source! I had so much fun browsing their rugs, and was AMAZED at the selection!
The room arrangement and colors look cozy and inviting. The view is amazing and I love how your home is coming together. Thanks for sharing your progress.
This truly is an INSPIRED ROOM!
Thank you for sharing your thought process!
Loving the new space. One step at a time.
I’m working on a room that we’d painted an Italian yellow. Can’t wait to start over! We’ll be using one of Benjamin Moore’s creamy white’s, and so looking forward to the change.
Sorry, I did the sign up thingy incorrectly. LOL
I love your use of textures in this room: wicker, leather, metal, tufting. It makes the room so visually interesting!
Thanks for the hints! We’re buying a new house and I would really like to try to use our existing furniture in new ways before going out and buying new things.
You’ve accomplished cozy and beautiful, as always. I enjoy learning from you.
Happy Holidays!
Love that rug!
I’m really enjoying watching your decorating journey. Love the room arrangement! Have a merry and meaningful Christmas!
It is fun to see how you are working with your home as it is. You have definitely inspired me. Thank you
Ps-i have the swine paint issue amd would love to repaint
Love how you’re using different shades of blue together rather than trying to match everything. Much prettier that way!
I love your style. Your room looks great, and I LOVE the rug!
I love that you utilized pieces that you had to make it feel homey for the time being until you get to know the space and see what will work and what doesn’t instead of waiting to have all the perfect pieces to do anything at all or going out and buying everything new right now and then not having it work. It looks cozy, enjoy your new space!
I love the way you have arranged your room and incorporated the view and the fireplace. I will be moving furniture this weekend.
I’ve always enjoyed pale paint colors so much more than a lot of dark shades I see most often. I love seeing those same pale, light shades in your rooms! You always make it all seem so simple. I’m learning from you with each post. Thanks for sharing your process!
I’m repainting my home as I write this, so I’d love to win!
I like what you’ve done here. The room seems cozy and nicely put together without being matchy-matchy. Thanks for the resources too!
Work with what you have – we can do wonders when we challenge ourself, just as you do all the time.
The room feels so welcoming. I can see you sitting by your fireplace with a cop of cocoa, ejoying the view in the daytime and the fire in the evening.
Still surprise me that what a difference paint can make. Love the bright room.
That all just looks lovely! I would love the paint card! We love Glidden and have many white walls in desperate need of a tune up with two little ones at home!
Love the new arrangement! Those windows are gorgeous!!
I love the new arrangement! Makes the room so cozy and inviting
Beautiful room!!!
Love seeing how your furniture and accessories work in this house .
Beautiful view and abundant natural light! What more could you want?
Love the arrangement now and the blue is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the changes you make to your new home!
Love watching the transformation of your home!
I just started following this blog and I appreciate the idea of starting inspiration with what you already have! Sometimes we just need a fresh look or a rearranging of what is already present. Thank you!
Seeing your sofa confirmed the placement of my sofa under the window with a magnificent view. I’d been struggling with the right piece of furniture on the opposite wall, between the chairs. Now I think I’ve got it after seeing your big glass cabinet. Thank you for the inspiration.
I didn’t even notice that your wingback chairs didn’t match until you mentioned it! ? Thanks for the inspiration and giveaway.
I’m finding it to be a very helpful thing to just live in our new home for awhile … new ideas spring to life as the weeks unfold, as we see what works and what doesn’t … and begin to dream big dreams of what our space will look like someday.
You’re such a fine companion on the way, Melissa …
Merry Christmas to you, to yours!
I do love how you are settling into your new home Melissa! And hearing all of your thoughts along the way is helpful even if I’m still in my same tiny house!!!
This room looks amazing! I love the furniture arrangement and such incredible light that comes in from those windows!
I appreciate how you are taking time, using what you have, and letting the room speak to you a bit before making drastic changes. As a realtor, I notice a lot of buyers making hasty impulsive design choices as soon as they move in, then changing it again later.
I have a ranch home with a large window as well (not as beautiful view, however), so it’s nice to see your arrangement.
I just discovered your blog! I am already feeling hopeful about our home. Thanks for the inspiration!! I can’t wait to delve into your site & book for more ideas.
Just bought your books for my mother in law – I think she’ll appreciate your philosophy and sense of style as much as I do! So important to realize that we should love what we have but sometimes it just needs so minor tweaks!
Love the use of blues! I’m not usually a blue person, so am enjoying their application with the natural veiw outside the window!
Love this room! Thinking I need a sofa like yours :)
100.00 to spend at Home Depot? Oh the things…!
Gosh…love your cozy room. The view from your windows is stunning. I’m afraid I’d never get anything done in that room! One direction is the beautiful window view…the other is the beautiful fireplace!
We also just moved into a home that needs work, so it’s reassuring to see you make this space cozy without a lot of money… Hopefully we’ll get there soon too :) thanks for this post!
Your room is just lovely, and so inviting. I love the rug you chose…
I think your living room looks great and your rug is perfect
The room looks great. I so need to do some painting and changing up of decor. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love the cozy feeling of this room, especially with that beautiful view. I have always painted my rooms in neutral colors but you are inspiring me to try the white colors! I would love to win this giveaway to try it out!!! I love keeping up with your progress in your new home and can’t wait to see more to come :)
What a lovely view!
Love the blues so much and the view is fabulous!
I love your Christmas decor! It is simple yet makes a statement. I’m gearing up to decorate my house and will use your amazing style as inspiration! I look forward to reading your posts and this one has outdone itself!
We have so much natural light in our new home as well and have been thinking of doing some painting… The Home Depot card would be wonderful to use on all our Christmas projects! I would love a colourful feature wall, but the more I think about it and discuss with my color-fearing husband, white might be best. Then I can go to town with accent colours haha! I do love how you have an asymmetrical fireplace like ours- I have been searching for ideas on how to pull that into the room.
You’ve done an amazing job making your new home look cozy. Now I am inspired to redecorate my living room.
Your style and process is so refreshing!
Thank you for sharing your decorating journey. It has helped me to “relax” and enjoy the creative process.
My favorite part of your living room is the view. It’s stunning.
But I did recently experience the power of a large rug in my own living room, and it is truly inspiring–really bringing together the whole space (which is fairly small to begin with).
One of the top three projects on my list for our 1930’s craftsman bungalow is to sand down some awkward drywall patches and repaint several rooms (including th living room). It’s so fun to develop a whole-house color palette over time.
One of my favorite leather colors! And I’m totally crushing on that rug. I may need to steal this idea. Love everything so far. Cozier and cozier with every post.
You have such a great eye! Room does work best with sofa under the window with a view. So warm and inviting! And the tree looks perfect, I love it! Going to check out “white swan”, looks great in the hall
I am changing my home colors to the blue and browns/natural colors, thank you for such inspiration! And your view is beautiful! Enjoy!
I love how you miss your blue colors with the other neutrals. I am always too scared to mix shades of the same color and your post gives me inspiration! Thank you!
I love watching your new home more “you”. My husband and I just bought our first home last year, and it was hard for me to be patient with decorating. I wanted everything to be perfect right away – and that is not realistic!
Thanks for inspiring constantly learning for you!
We are in the middle of re-modeling & re-arranging so hearing your thought process on your room is very helpful. Thanks for all the details you share. Your rug is a nice addition.
I love your explanation. So good for understanding room flow!
It really looks great. I would have started with the sofa facing the fireplace too, so its neat to see it can be cozy in both locations.
We are looking at DIY vinyl “wood” flooring and am inspired by your colors :)
I love the arrangement of candles in your fireplace!
Your room is amazing. Two focal points can be so hard to work with, but, you have definitely conquered the challenge. Thank you for all of the inspiration.
It looks fabulous! Especially love how the fireplace is still integral to the room, without being the primary focus. Beautiful!
This looks great! Merry Christmas!
Your discussion of furniture arrangement is so helpful. I have similar asymmetrical room and have found arrangement very difficult. Your words have given me many ideas. Thank you.
Thanks for the tips on color. It’s great to see how you use contrasting shades of the same color.
I think I could do this in my living room! Very inspiring and a great spring project for me! Thanks for all the ideas and the way you put things together. Inspirational!
Love it!
You are a breath of fresh air… and I enjoy sharing your blog with friends… and I am a smidge jealous of your beautiful windows and view. . .
I love how you have made your “old stuff” look new and fresh!
Always inspired by your posts! Thanks :-)
Beautiful Room!!!
it looks amazing!!! Just like you have been there for years. The view is worth the move!!!
Looks amazing…love it!
Of course it looks amazing, as I knew it would!! What a gorgeous space, I could sit and look out at that view forever. I’m so happy to see you settling nicely into your new home – have a very Merry Christmas!
I’ve been enjoying your new book so much. You are indeed inspiring! Can’t wait for more house progress posts. Merry Christmas!
I feel your pain over colored ceilings – I have sage green, mint green, light blue, white and off white ceilings in my 2 bedroom apartment! I found it’s best to just roll with it. I’m not painting it myself and I’m not hiring someone to paint right now so green ceiling it is.
Gorgeous! Can’t beat that view! Love what you’ve done with the space.
Looks great!
Love your cozy room inspirations. Merry Christmas!!
Hey, I could use that $100 gift card. Thanks for the give a way!
Bonnie
Beautiful! and so cozy!
Love reveling your personal updates as they are so motivating. You have done a beautiful job with this room and it looks like you’re ready to welcome
A lovely holiday!
Best wishes!
Angela
Having just moved into our first home, I love seeing what you’ve done with your blank canvas! It definitely inspires me to begin the transformation in our home up in Canada! I also love your understated Christmas decor. So cozy :)
I love the windows in your living room! Such a great space to work with.
The rug is one my favorite parts of the room. I like how the color was not as expected and worked anyway. I love it when things work out like that.
The room is just lovely! And you don’t just make it seem easy to have the same things for myself, you actually make it easy with your descriptions of your choices and what led to them. I just inherited the house I grew up in, and making it feel like my own instead of my parents’ is a real challenge. This gives me renewed hope when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Thank you!
Wow! I love that you haven’t changed anything except the furniture and it look so cozy and inviting!
This room looks great!
I love the way you pulled the room together and I have the same ottoman! Love it!
Melissa, what I love about your attitude is your patience! I’d be freaking out, wanting to get every room painted and every “to do” thing done, but you have such a calm (and sensible) attitude of “what will be will be.” Your house looks great so far and already has your distinctive stamp on it. I can’t wait to see what else you do! Merry Christmas!
Love the light in this room! Beautiful
Your rooms look so cozy!!! I love how you show us before and afters!
Love the glass door cabinets-and the overall look of the room. Cozy!
It looks like the room has been pulled together over a period of time with a number of things that have special meaning to you. I like the look!
I love the colors and have fallen in love with the tufted ottoman!
Love how you arranged your living room! And I love your message about being happy where you are :) Bought your book and it’s being delivered today, I can’t wait!! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
I do believe I will be getting that rug…
Love the restful colors
Love your blog! Your kitchen makeover was fantastic. Such nice light with all the windows in this room!
Your home is coming along nicely.
I love your new house and am enjoying your journey of making it a home.
Very pretty layout without being too busy! Everything blends together so nicely.
Especially like your wingback chair placement, I could do that arrangement in our home. Thanks for the idea and the giveaway opportunity, need some more of their great Behr paint! Merry Christmas!
Love the current arrangement!
Nice job pulling all the colors together with the new rug. And, of course, your new home and its views is lovely.
Beautiful room! You are so talented at pulling things together:)
That long cabinet is just the perfect thing for almost any room! I can see you moving that around and using it forever. And I love that your couch doesn’t block the view. Serendipity!
I like your thought process on the room arrangement. Very inviting room. I know you shared some of the paint colors in the house tour blog but could you share the colors in the fan deck that you pictured by a number on the card or one paint name on each card so that I could find them at the store? Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Love the way your house is coming together – a true inspiration to re-look at my color palette in 2016! Thank you
Love your blog! Love the rug!
it’s very pretty! I luv that it was just a rug and rearranging. I luv your Christmas tree – is it artificial? if so could you please share where and the model name of it?
It’s amazing what can be accomplished just by rearranging furniture! Merry Christmas!
Love that you make do for now and wait till you get the feel. I am wanting to do my living room but the holidays came to fast. After Christmas,I will start in earnest.
Gorgeous room! It’s been fun to watch how you are remaking your home! ;)
I love how your home is coming together.
Inspiring!
I just ordered the new book for myself for Christmas. I cannot wait to read it and help put my new place in to order. Thank you for sharing your Seattle views. Having grown up in Seattle, I miss them very much.
I love reading about your design process – – hopefully a couple of nuggets will take root in my future plans!
I LOVE your windows! Just a beautiful room!
Loved hearing the thought process behind your carpet purchase. Thanks!
Such an inviting room; thank you for the ideas!
Too bad that power pole and lines are in your beautiful view. Can anything be done about that!?
My fiance and I just bought and moved into a midcentury house that hasn’t been touched since it was built. I am using what we have from both of our households that we are merging and bringing the houses forward in time in baby steps just as you did. The biggest challenge is going from orange and browns to cleaner softer blues and greens. Agreed that nothing major can happen before the holidays as there isn’t time to do it right, but just you wait New Years here we come…
I love the decision to move your sofa in front of the window. It makes the space much more inviting.
I think that you are so much loved because you are like most of us in having to use what you have and slowly transition as budget allow some~AND you so wonderfully help us all think through how we might accomplish our own transitions to beautiful spaces for ourselves and family. I know that I love how you literally walk us through each design thought and process and it’s incredibly inspirational. It’s no wonder you are experiencing such success with your blog and book(s)! Thank you for all of it! Winning $100 gift cert. would be wonderful, too! ;-D
It is amazing what can be done with the items you already have. It takes a little patience to see everything in and the potential that it has to pull a space together rather than running out and buying all new furniture…as much as we want to :)
I love the way you moved the furniture around, it opens up the space so much more and it is just inviting people to come gather and be cozy!
I love how paint color can change the whole feel of a room! Also, I love the new rug, I might just look that one up too!
Your room turned out beautiful! I’m in the market for a new area rug also. Hopefully I can find as good a deal as you did! Merry Christmas!
I love what you’ve done just by rearranging and adding the rug. My favorite thing to do is redecorate by using what I have!
OH THOSE WINDOWS!!
I love the simple and neutral color theme.
Just beautiful! Love watching the progress in your new home with the awesome view.
Great use of colors. Nice blend and use of natural light. Inspiring view!!!
I love that you’re not afraid to use white in your family space – often white can be cold, but your room is so cozy and inviting!
I love this room and the view, so warm and welcoming.
Love this! Beautiful!
I envy you that wonderful view! Happy holidays in your new home!
I just bought a new home, so a gift card to Home Depot would be amazing to win!
always a fan of Homedepot!
Looks fantastic! Merry Christmas!
Your space is looking so comfy, warm & cozy. =) Merry Christmas! Thanks for the giveaway!
Everything looks great!! Wish I was so good at decorating.
Absolutely beautiful. Love the view as well. You did good.
Such a pretty cozy living room. Adorable!
Your room looks so cozy and beautiful! I love the layered blues. It’s very calming. :)
The view out your living room window is beautiful. You brought all of those colors right in.
It felt so relaxing to read this post! beautiful living roo without stressing out trying to make it perfect….
You have a real gift for making a space feel so comfortable and elegant at the same time. I also love your tree and the adorable animal ornaments, I have a few of my own that I love to put on my tree at Christmas time as well!
I’ve had [ambitious] paint swatches up in our master bedroom for about a year. Let’s finish that project off!
Bravo! Lovely. I always enjoy your blog!
I am enjoying the progression of your new home! You have great style, and I like that you work with what you have. My very favorite thing about this room is the incorporation of COLOR! I am sooooo over the 50 shades of white that seems to be everywhere! The blues and teals make the space so inviting and INTERESTING… Can’t wait to see what you do next!
PS The gift card would be a big help to my home updating budget too. Merry Christmas!
Color my world!
I love what you’ve done with the room. You definitely inspire me to rearrange and try new ideas. I love the blue rug. Absolutely perfect for your room.
I love how the room has come together!
so pretty!!!
So love the view!
Love how well the various shades of blue come together – it’s so much more interesting than a total match!
Your living room is beautiful. I can’t wait to see what you do next.
I LOVE the new layout and the rug! I am loving this space even more than your last home. :) Merry Christmas!
I would love that gift card to freshen up our basement! It’s the part of the house that still has that “swine” color!
Thanks for sharing . Love hearing and seeing the process. You always inspire!
You are making this new home feel so home-y! I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas in your new home.
You’ve done a great job cozing up your living room space with what you had on hand and the addition of that beautiful blue area rug. Enjoy, and like forward to what you say you may be doing to your fire place mantel!
I love the rug colors. I’ll be excited to see what you do with the fireplace in the future…..paint perhaps? I always look forward to the email for your blog. Thanks for sharing
Lovely decor and furnishings. Thanks for the giveaway!
I bought the rug myself after seeing it in your living room! I’ve been looking for a large blue rug at a reasonable price. It arrives this week!
Love looking at your updates your doing to your new home. Thanks for the giveaway.
I really like your living room. The new rug really ties everything together. Can’t wait to see what you have in mind for the fireplace. Merry Christmas. Thank you for all the inspiration you give us.?
I love, love that ottoman! Your room looks very cozy and welcoming. The view would be so relaxing to me.
Thanks for the opportunity to win! I could do a lot with this ~ :)
xo
Pat
I love the wing back chairs! They look nice and cozy for reading or enjoying the view! Thanks for the giveaway! : )
Thank you for the generous opportunity! I LOVE your vision. The greenery in your space makes it so alive. Thank you for your continuous updates and your creative mind.
I am loving watching the process and reading how you are making decisions in your new home! Even seeing the difference in how the room looks with the sofa in two different places is really inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
Looks so lovely! The colors work really well together with your new rug.
I’d love the chance to win the gift card! We’re hoping to list our condo in the spring, and the gift card would help us make those last minute changes and new neutral colors.
Thanks for sharing your thought process and the evolution of your cozy space from bare to lovely!
I am learning to love the tonals too- shades that play off each other as you have. Blues are a great way to start. Now this is coming from someone raised with matching shoes and purse as well as twin sweater and skirt sets (oh my). I was at first jarred by the color of your rug but then I settled down and remembered my mind stretch and then it was okay. I ams doing it throughout both houses, going the extra mile to gain those shades to add depth and warm as you said. On to re-loving brass again tooooooooooooo
Brilliant! I love that the sofa is no longer blocking the path into the room and it is so open! Fabulous use of this charming space!
Love the way you pulled this room together. Wouldn’t have thought the blue rug would work so well but it definitely does.
Love the coziness, the blue and the large windows! We have 17 feet of window in our living room, and I absolutely love them. Thanks for sharing your house journey with us!
I just love your view out those big windows! Can’t wait to see what you end up with for window treatments.
I love seeing how this room (and your entire house!) is coming together! We just moved into our first home as homeowners and it’s great to be inspired as I watch your house transform, too! :)
Love the rug – thanks for sharing the link. My style is so similar to yours that I love gathering inspiration from your posts! Already has my wheels churning!
Love the eclectic look – wish I could be as creative!
The living room looks so nice. I liked the first arrangement, I like this arrangement… Could you please list the Glidden paint color palette chips from the HGTV house for us (me). I see a green there that may be similar to a color we have in our family room and I’m looking for other colors that will blend nicely together. That would be very helpful, thank you.
I just replaced all the floors in my house so the gift card would be wonderful for updating some other things to go with the new flooring!
The room looks so fresh and inviting now, and that rug – I love it!
I love how cozy and inviting you made this room and the color story you used throughout are some of my favorite colors.
It is always interesting not only seeing but understanding the choices people make. I could use a gift card and some paint for my poor panelled walls …lol
You do such a nice job of collecting colors that work together-and not in a matchy cookie cutter way-and that makes the room inviting. Love it!
I love what you have done with your room already. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Your living room is beautiful and definitely inspiring. Also thanks for sharing about the choice of Glidden white paint you are going use. I know what colors I like but so many times they don’t work on my walls. I will be trying the Swan White by Glidden soon!
Love how you break up the “elephant” into bite sized, do-able portions!
Things are looking great! I am sorry you are not crazy about your fireplace and shelves. I love them!!
Love the rug and the ottoman! They really liven up your room!
The room is lovely. I am painting several rooms and would certainly love to have $100 for paint.
Thanks,
Diane
Very nice! Open and refreshing!!!
Wonderful giveaway, thank you! I am so enjoying seeing the progress around your new home…love your aesthetic and especially the way you remind me to go slowly and work with what I have!
The rug nicely pulls together all the many shades of blue! BRAVO!
I love seeing how you pulled the room together. Your posts really do inspire me.
Great choice on the rug! Really pulls it all together. Merry Christmas. :)
What a lovely view! And nice work you’ve done.
It looks great! Sometimes it works to think outside the box and do something unconventional. I love the rug.
I like the way you used what you had and worked around your room. Your fireplace is great–so quirky and interesting!
Merry Christmas, Melissa! It’s been great fun watching you make the new house into “home!” Kelly
I’m so happy I found you!!! I’ve been inspired ever since!
I love focusing on what we have and enjoying that – you have done a great job! :)
Merry Christmas!
love the colors in your living room! I am hoping to kick off 2016 with a freshly painted white living room too! a giftcard would help that along for sure!
I love that blue rug. What a lovely room and beautiful view!
I love how a rug makes such a difference in your room! We just moved in April, and are first time homeowner’s. It’s hard to not let all of your grand ideas get the best of you, so when I found your blog the timing couldn’t be better. I am definitely already benefiting from the idea of using what you have to create a space that you love. Just ordered your book today, I can’t wait for it to come in! Thanks for sharing your home!
Enjoy escaping to read your blog and get great ideas. Love too that you are budget minded. Love the rug too!
Love the new rug and the soothing colors in this room.
Love the blues and neutral colors!
I dream of an ottoman like this one day! It is the perfect piece for coziness. Thanks for your continued inspiration!
I love how clean and crisp the decorations are. It’s festive and beautiful.
I love how you teach us to love the home we have, work with small budgets and be flexible in our designing and decorating! My husband and I are in the middle of gutting our new house, so thinking through where to place furniture in our room with a fireplace & a view was helpful! Also, we will need plenty of paint and resources and Home Depot, so that gift card would come in handy. Thanks again for all of your ideas and thoughtful blogging. ?
I love how you keep your larger pieces neutral, then add color in accessories. As we will be renting a home for 2 Years starting in May, that is what my plans are. Have fun with your new home!
Love what the blue rug does for the room.
I love those lamps!
Love it. It looks real cozy!
I just love your style! Thanks for sharing with us!
I love how you really considered the multi-function aspect of this room, especially with consideration for the daytime and evening-friendly arrangement.
I love the way you incorporated what you have with a few new elements. Looks so beautiful!
Love that the walls are neutral and the colors you brought in the room. It is looking very open and inviting . Great, peaceful view. Can’t wait to see the window treatments. You inspire me to make changes. Thank you .
Great explanations of what you did and instructions for the rest of us with rooms with interesting arrangements. My living room is the only access to the garage and powder room with an angled fireplace to the right of the hallway to the garage and powder room … so strange for furniture placement. I think I love your living room because it is a destination! You gave me a new idea to consider the room when it is dark outside, and I look forward to seeing how you cozy up your windows. I love that you think through all angles of your space and share with us and allow us to offer feedback (you are both brave and gracious to be willing to hear strangers discuss your work!).
I love the bookcases. We recently built our dream home. It is log sided inside and out and I am not in a hurry to decorate. Being on a limited budget and not sure what I really want is the reason. That is why I love your blog. I am reading, thinking, and learning on techniques and ideas.
Perfect arrangement!
I love what you’ve done to the living room. You had such a blank slate to work with but your eclectic mix of furniture and accessories totally transformed the room. Tree’s also cute, BTW. ;)
So cozy! I love this room…makes me want to get started on my own living room!
Gorgeous room! I love the rug!
Your motto of “everyday on display” has changed my life!!!!!! Thank you so much!!! Merry Christmas!
I’m thrilled to see you work on a house that is more like MY house. I don’t often see my type of home on the internet. These first few tweaks you do will be my favorite because I will be able to see what can change without a bigger budget. Thank you!
I always appreciate hearing your process in doing something to a room. Thanks!
Your room is shaping up nicely, Melissa. I’m enjoying watching it take shape.
How cozy and inspiring!
What a lovely room – I love the whites and blues!
I love the new arrangement — and dang, that view!!!
Hi! I am really interested in the rug and how beautiful it looks. Do you think it would go with dark grey sofa and medium blue-grey with cream accents chair? My fireplace is white with marble slab center. This room is so difficult due to the soaring 80somerhing foot ceilings! I have yet to have it painted- it’s builder beige and prior owner never had it pained 16yrs ago so it needs paint fiercely! Thank you!
Looks lovely!
Your room is looking terrific! I particularly appreciate the realness (is that a word?) of mostly using what you already had. It is so relate-able and it helps us see the impact of ONE new thing (the rug) in bringing it all together. Great job!
Love how you use what you already have. Thanks for walking us through your process!
I am a Seattle girl. Love the blue. Looks so good.
I love the fireplace. I am having a hard time with our fireplace and furniture placement, but I love what you did.
Love your ideas. Seems like I’m always changing things around in my home, striving for the best possible feeling.
Your house is looking beautiful!
Beautiful room! Beautiful view!
I love all the simple touches you are adding and making your house so fresh. And the view! Oh my!
Love the combo of leather sofa with fabric chairs. And that view of course!
I love the transformation of this space. It really is an inspiration.
I so want to come over for coffee…and somehow steal your rug. It all looks great.
What a beautiful and warm room. The gorgeous area rug really pulls every thing together. Stunning! Truly a gorgeous room!
So beautiful!
I love seeing how you are transforming this new house! This space is wonderful. I agree, that rug really did the trick!
I’m really enjoying watching the transformation of your new home. You’re such an inspiration and even more so now that we’ve just closed on our retirement “forever” home! Thank you!
love the colors of this room. Asked Santa or your book this year hope I get get. love the rug!
Love your ideas and watching you create rooms in your new home. It takes some thinking to settle into a home and make it your own. May your familys Christmas in your new home be full of love,peace and joy.
I love how you can make a home seem so cozy and warm! And now that you know how well the HGTV home paint colors blend with your furniture, you will have lots of ideas for decorating. I like the idea of having the paint chips for your house on a ring. Boy would that make shopping for your house easier and safer.
Such a beautiful room and home!
Always like seeing how you create your wonderful rooms…always so clean and calming. I need to be more daring and move things around more. =)
It is so nice to see to see a real home, real furniture and some realistic decorating ideas!
Real Pretty….!!!
The colors are very soothing. Can’t wait to see what you do with the rest of the space!
You’ve given a basic living room so much warmth and character.
This room is beginning to take shape very quickly! I love the new rug and look forward to seeing what you choose for window coverings. As for the built-in bench, I think it would be so cute to see a corner one where your sofa table is placed and butted up to the fireplace.
This is beautiful! I’m in the middle of a complete remodel, so this gift card would be a huge blessing!
I enjoyed your book so much! I have learned to love the house I have from you and your wonderful outlook. My frustrations have turned into dreams. I am excited about the giveaway and really appreciate Home Depot and you for sharing it!!
Looks great! Thanks for the chance to win.
What a wonderful update to your living room. Perfect to enjoy during the holidays.
Very fun!
Your living room looks so cozy and inviting…love it!
Happy holidays!
Sharon
Your room is warm, cozy, and inviting. I especially like the sofa table pushed up to the window. Love Home Depot and their Behr paint!
I love what you’ve done with your living room. Such simple changes along with the gorgeous new rug. The way you walk through your thought process and the changes you made is so inspiring and creative. Enjoy!
The room looks great! We have been meaning to paint our interior for three years now… the previous owners put up some cheap paint over their darker colors and if you hit something up against the walls it comes off! HA! One of these days!
The room is cozy and inviting. Thank you for the inspiration.
The gift card would be so helpful to buy supplies to fix a ceiling issue in my living, kitchen and bathroom as well!! Your room looks great and very inviting!
Love your decorating style. It’s very classy. I enjoy reading your blog and I’m “inspired” by your choices. Keep up the good work. God bless.
Your living room is so inviting and warm. Thanks for the inspiration!
Your living room is gracious and welcoming. Love the rug, it’s pretty enough to sleep on! Love your book, also, I’ve had it for about two weeks; I think it is my all time favorite decorating book! Can’t wait to see the progress on the rest of your house.
I enjoy all the tips and your thoughts about decorating. I look forward to each blog.
Melissa, I love the way you re-arranged the furniture in your room! It seems much more open and inviteing. The new rug is perfect and really anchors the room. I love all of your furniture choices and your Christmas decor is beautiful. I purchased your new book The Inspired room from Amazon Dec 8th and it just arrived today. I’ve already read it from cover to cover. It’s a beautifully written book and the cover is gorgeous! It’s well-written and I just love it! I’m sure I will read it many more times and it looks great in my living room cabinet!
Love Home Depot and love your decorating! What a great giveaway.
What an impact the rug has made to your room! It made it cozier, welcoming and a great color to give the room the needed punch of drama . I love it!
Melissa, I always feel as if I’m visiting a good friend’s home when I visit your blog, such a treat! The new rug is beautiful.
I don’t think I use enough color in my decorating so you are inspiring me to make a change. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the chance to win!
WOW Melissa! You have such a touch…….I would love to sit in that room and visit with you! Merry Christmas!
Your white stockings are beautiful! We have all different styles/colors and I really like the pulled-together look of one color. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
Thank for sharing your home and your ideas with us. I always love looking at your website and books. Your home is so beautiful but looks comfortable. I just moved into a new apartment and had to buy all new furniture, rugs, lamps, still in progress of buying things. Your site has given me ideas.
What an inviting room! The blue and white rug is breathtaking!
Your living room looks great-so inviting during the daytime with the sunshine and lovely view and equally inviting at night with a feeling of coziness. I’m enjoying seeing the changes you are making to your new home to make it “yours”.
Love the colors and peacefulness of this room. So glad I discovered your site! Simple but tasteful Christmas decor.
I don’t always have time to read every single word of your posting ;-( but I love the photos! Keep up the inspiring ideas!
I love the new arrangement to consider the view and the fireplace. It makes one welcomed into the room with the opened walkway!
Everything looks just beautiful!
You’ve done an amazing job making your living room look beautiful by adding just simple touches and making it very welcoming and comfortable. You prove over and over you don’t need a huge budget to have a lovely home.
Beautiful rug and the price blew me away!!
I love the room, especially the new rug! I have bought 2 copies of your new book to give as Christmas presents. Now, I just need one for myself!
Love how things are coming together! Great inspiration!
I love this room and that view!!! WOW! It did end up so cozy and you’ve done great for not painting or redoing anything right now.
We’re just now finishing the first remodel in our home, only 4 more rooms to go. :)
Absolutely love that view!
I am so insanely jealous of your windows and view! Love the living room layout.
Thanks for sharing your LR! It is very pretty! I love your books. They (like you) are very inspiring!
Just a wee bit of constructive criticism…I think this arrangement makes your couch look a bit dinky with that massive rug. I think the previous arrangement with the couch facing the fireplace (and the table behind it)..both being on the rug or at least slightly on it, would make that rug more appropriate in size. Totally not being negative but my mother is an interior designer and she always gives me these tidbits of knowledge (especially not putting a couch against a wall and/or window). Just a friendly suggestion… I know if I had that view I certainly wouldn’t want my back to it. :) Lookin good though!
Looks great! Love your explanation in choosing the rug. Makes sense! Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.
Can you curate some finds for my small historical home?
Thank you so much for the tour! Can’t wait to see the evolution…blessings and Merry Christmas!
New living room is beautiful, as usual you make it all seem so effortless. Merry Merry
I always look forward to your posts. I just love your style and you inspire me. Merry Christmas!
I really love how you pulled everything together!
I love your living room. You make it sound so easy to put a room together with what you have. Enjoy hearing your thought process as to where you think the furniture would work best for your family. Thanks for the giveaway!
Very pretty room, and your view is beautiful!!
Love your blog. Been wanting to repaint our livingroom since we moved in almost two years ago :)
7
I love what you’ve done with your space, and the rug really caught my eye — I’ve been on the hunt for a rug for our living room that won’t break the bank and allow me to change/replace it when I want.
Wow! The room came together just fabulously with the new rug love the color choice….enjoy! Many blessings….
I like the rug and how it pulls together all other elements in the room,,,
I love your blog as your design ideas are very approachable and easier to transition into my own space.
This looks really nice. What a great giveaway too
The new layout looks awesome! It looks like a great use of the space and definitely takes advantage of the great view!! Enjoy the Christmas & New Year season!
I love what you have done with this space! I am reading your first book now and it has really inspired me in my own home!
Cozy, charming, beautiful room! I’d love to sit there and drink coffee with you and look out the window at the beautiful view. I also wish I could invite you to my house to do a makeover! But your book is on my Christmas list, so that’s the next best thing. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Joy to the world! The LORD is come!
Oh, please pick me! I love your home, I loved your book and I’m truly inspired!
Beautiful! I love all the windows / natural light!
I love the new rug! Gorgeous!
lovely, cozy, inspiring.
Love the before and after pics of your new living room. It is always amazing what a transformation can occur just from moving the furniture around. The new rug is beautiful. Wishing you a blessed holiday season in your new home.
How inspiring! Thanks for the opportunity!
Hi Melissa,
Really loving your living room arrangement especially with your new rug. Can’t wait to see pics of Jack and Lillie lounging around in there. Truly love using what we already have to change things up = shopping your own home. Or by adding just 1 different item can also add so much impact.
All The Best!!??
Sherrie
Gorg, every morning I check Facebook to see what you posted. Always an inspiration!
Gorg, every morning I check Facebook to see what you’ve posted. Always Inspiring!
Beautiful! I’d love to be entered in the giveaway :)
I love the rug, it is absolutely beautiful!!!
I love the color scheme and the rug is gorgeous!
I love the color scheme! And the rug is beautiful and ties it all together.
Yay! It’s so exciting to see things coming together! This furniture arrangement makes a HUGE difference in the feel of the room. I can’t wait to see all you do in the other rooms!! Thanks for sharing your home with us. :-)
Absolutely beautiful!!!! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
I love the color of your carpet! And the new furniture arrangement. Can’t wait to see what you do next..I love your site! It truly is inspiring!
Looks great! So cozy!
I like the different arrangement! It opens the room and is still cozy and inviting.
Your living room looks great! I love the color scheme!
Thanks for a chance to win!
love the rug!!
Your living room is beautiful!
I love your living room progress. The colors in your house are perfect!!!
WOW what a beautiful room! Love all the light. Thanks for the giveaway!
Merry Christmas! You have a beautiful home and I really like your style.
Beautiful! I already love my home but after reading your book, and studying the details of your blog, I realize I can do so much more. You are truly inspiring. Thank you!
I love your color palate. We found your blog when looking for a sofa and found your La z boy sectional post and have enjoyed reading all through your posts. Do you still have your sectional and like it?
I LOVED it but we sold it with our old house :(. We miss it!
What a gorgeous room! I wish I could come up with ideas like yours! Thanks for the chance to win!
It is perfect in every way – charm, warmth, cozy, and seasonal. I need a cup of cocoa looking at this!
As always, your house looks cozy and inviting!!!!
Love the rug!
The rug seems to pull everything together in the room. Gorgeous! And your holiday decorating is beautiful and inspiring. Merry Christmas!!!
As always ….I love catching your updates. Merry Christmas to a beautiful family, with a beautiful spirit.
Love that living room!!!!
I love getting a peek into your thought process! I am in a new house too and it’s been a challenge to work with what I have because the rooms are so much smaller and my furniture looks so large in it!
Everything looks beautiful! I’m reading your book and really enjoying it! Thank you!!
We moved just before Thanksgiving and I’m really enjoying your posts about the way you are putting your new home together. Love your style!
I love the wood floors and fireplace. The room looks beautiful!
Absolutely love this room, especially the rug!
The room looks great! Hope you have a Merry Christmas in your new home!
Your living room is beautiful. Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.
THE LIVING ROOM HAS SUCH AN CALMING AND COMFORTABLE FEEL TO IT — I TRULY LOVE THE AREA RUG.
I devoured Love the Home You Have, so when I realized there was also a blog, I started on my happy dance! But wait it gets better — there’s a Pinterest account! But wait it gets better – there’s a NEW book!! Oh, yeah, it’s happy holidays! Thank you for sharing all that wonderfulness. Merry Christmas!
Hi Melissa, thanks so much for your inspiration! I really enjoy how you share your thought process and how you really do make your space one that you love to live in. Thanks for the give away and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Hi Melissa, we are in the middle of an addition of a family room and I find such inspiration from you.
Thank you for your cheerful and “can do” attitude! Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
I love seeing the transformation of your new home. Thanks for sharing!
Your ideas amaze me.
I just got your book today! I would love to win the gc….I know just what I’d use it for. :) Love your style.
The room is so inviting. I’d love to curl up there with a a cup of hot tea.
i love your decorating style!!
WOW, I really like what you did with that room.
I love your style! The new rug is a great addition
Rugs are so tricky, even if you scrutinize the photos online! Looks like you made a great choice! :)
What a great room and super view. Congrats!
Lovely! Thanks for giving those of us who are trying to make do with what we have some hope! ;)
Nice layout that takes advantage of the beautiful view!
Reading your book!! Feel like we are sisters-I relate to so many things you have written. I am even married to a Jerry who is a minister! Love your honesty and openness! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the giveaway! Love seeing the progression on your new home.
I always come away from your posts inspired and encouraged to keep trying new things in my home – Thank you!
The view from those windows is amazing. Your decorating is lovely and I LOVE that tufted ottoman.
I love the little milk stool.
Looks good. It’s fun to watch a room evolve. The rug is awesome.
I just finished ready your book, “Love the Home you Have.” I loved it!!! I was hating my house, waiting to move to find my love, but you made me see all the good in my current, beautiful house. Thank you!!! I asked for your new book for Christmas.
Great post and awesome giveaway!
Great living room! So cozy and welcoming. Merry Christmas!!
How cozy!
Thank you for your inspiration and simple decorating tips – they go a long way on a small budget… very helpful to make small changes with big impact. Thanks again for your post!
So nice to use what you have! Very inspiring! and Oh that view!!!
Love, love, love the light in this room. What a great view! It looks gorgeous already. I’m feeling inspired!
I agree with you. The rug is wonderful. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to add some color to my home, I am tired of the beige walls lately and have been digging a light grey with white accents. its crazy how much of a big difference a new paint job can make. :D
I love the way you make what you have on hand work so nicely.
Such a view! And your home always looks so inviting. Thanks for reminding us to love the home we have right now
Hi Melissa, I love your new rug, and am glad the color was a “happy accident.” Thanks for the give away.
Have a Merry and blessed Christmas!
Love how the rug flows so well with what you already have!
I Love seeing you make your new house a home!
Merry Christmas! Michelle
We have just moved to a new home, so I love seeing all of your decorating ideas. They are so inspiring.
Love the couch under the windows!
What beautiful “bones” the room has to begin with…and what you’ve done is exquisite. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
You inspired me to paint my living room, dining, and kitchen. From a 1990’s dark green to a soft warm grey. Even new living room furniture! Next, to buy your book so I can put it all together and add my personality!
I just closed on my very first house (ahhh!) and absolutely love your tips on making a home cozy, serene and gorgeous, all while working with what you already had! I really want to try some of those great paint colors to make my new house fresh, cozy and more “me!” Thanks for sharing!
Hello, Your room looks so cozy and comfortable I could see myself and my family spending Christmas there. I love your blog.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Rita
I really love the rug. Makes a big difference.
Love the rug and the room arrangement. I wish I had a great view like you.
What a beautiful room! Want to come decorate my house? ;)
I love how you use what you have and purposefully add a little something (the rug in this room) to pull it all together. It has been fun to see how things develop in your new home. Thanks for sharing beautiful pictures before, during, and after and writing about your thoughts and process in getting a room to where you like it. The paint color palette chips are beautiful. I never thought I’d like orange, but I’m loving blues and teal lately and that orange is wonderful. We are in a similar situation with white walls in our living room. I finally repainted but don’t love the peachy undertones.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner?
I really like the blue rug and how it makes your living room come together!
Thanks for entering me in the drawing! Looks like you’re having fun getting settled in!
I love that rug. It really brings all the pieces together in the room.
I loved seeing your thought process and how you plan out a room with what you have! Thanks so much for the chance!
It’s hard to comprehend people who have this sort of talent, to take a room and make it magic. Congratulations of achieving such loveliness…..
Love the rug! The gift card would be fantastic! I need to do some painting.
Love how you explained how you put it all together and why which helps a novice person like myself. I am taking mental notes to updates I can incorporate!
Love this room! That leather sofa and all of the wonderful natural light :)
I am a believer of honesty is the best policy…so here goes…..not a lover of the rug. Rich/luxe colors in the furniture….and a cooler tone in rug…Maybe picture is off but I think the rug takes away from the beauty of the ottoman
I love that blue rug! I’m glad the color works, even though it looked different online. I’m always wary of buying online for exactly that reason.
Yep, “cozy” certainly describes your room with its nice mix of colors and textures. Thank you for sharing your journey! xoxo
Your blog is my most favorite! I am always inspired.
Love the rug and the candles inside the fireplace. The room looks so COZY!
Your living room is coming together. I love your windows and the view. How awesome to love by the water! Looking cozy for those winter days and nights.
Just wonderful! Everything about the feel of the room is perfect! I particularly like your take on having a color palette that works together:)
I am anticipating a move early in the new year and am truly inspired by your attitude to work with what you have despite it not being exactly your style. Thank you for sharing your beautiful style with us! Merry Chrisymas!
Thank you Ruth! I am excited to make my own house feel like me in the new year and I hope the same will happen in your new home! Merry Christmas!
I adore how bright and yet warm & inviting your living room has turned out. That Gather Together throw pillow is adorable!
I love the carpet!
Hi! I am LOVING your book! My home layout is VERY similar to your home in the book (with exception of a few minor walls in entry/ hall there downstairs). We just moved and I like what you did with your settee couch in front room with the chairs and your living room layout (with fireplace). We have a couch against window and a loveseat facing fireplace now. I do feel that the loveseat cuts off the room from the kitchen… I am thinking I should get 2 chairs but can I separate my loveseat and put it in the front sitting room (say the way you used your settee)? Is this weird or should I relocate my loveseat to the basement? :/ it’s a gray Martha Stewart chesterfield tufted sofa & matching loveseat so I hate to put it in my unfinished basement, unused. Thank you so much!!
…or do we try a sofa table behind it to make better?
Three words come to mind: cozy, inviting, peaceful. You’ve given me some great inspiration!
Your decorating is truly inspiring! I just cant stop looking at every detail. Totally my taste in everything!