So, we (really, meaning I) have a tendency to see the things my home is not. I notice all the things my home doesn't have. Why didn't these things stand out when we were buying the house? I don't know but here we are 13 years later... My living room has 5 windows, a door, interrupted wainscoting (aka beadboard) and an opening to another room big enough to park a couch in. No solid walls or a fireplace; all this means that a focal point for the room is hard to identify, furniture arrangement is a nightmare for one like me who wants to move everything around all the time. What's a girl to do?!
I have oogled over all the pretty pictures online; the winter whites and silvery visions is where I was headed. I rummaged through photos of Christmas' past in my living room.
Christmas 2015 |
Easter time 2016 |
I cleared everything off that hutch top and we turned that puppy around to expose the back of the cabinet. It is solid wood (laminate would have been such a bummer).
Took these with my cell phone. No time to grab the camera when I ask for Mister's help. |
No, it's not conventional. It won't win decorating awards. I might look at this next year and gasp as I cry "What was I thinking?" The silver and winter whites will wait for another year or another room. This year this room is feeling very cozy and I think I like it. I was being selfish and ungrateful as I considered all that my home was not but once I stopped to look at what I did have I was happily surprised. Moral of the story: try to look at things around your home differently... there is always two sides to everything.
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I love the look, but I would paint it white. Ask hubs what difference it makes if the back is painted since it's on the wall most of the time anyway? I was so taken with your last banner. I was hoping to see one you whipped up for Christmas. If you did one it would look great across the top there.
ReplyDeleteHmm...good ideas! Good think about decorating in my home is that nothing is ever permanent! Thanks for the thoughts and for the kind words.
DeleteYour home is beautiful. I look at all of those blogs and wish I could have that for my home too but like you said, there is always two sides to every story.
ReplyDeleteTheir version, our version and the truth.
I think you and I would be friends in real life, so I am adding your blog to my Bloglovin' feed.
:)
Anna, that is just about the sweetest reason anyone has ever followed this blog. Thank you for adding me, I am honored. Oh, the gifts we receive that don't come from a store or wrapped in pretty paper. They are precious. Praising the Lord for your kind words this morning!
DeleteI loved this post (visiting from Share it One More Time) not only for the wonderful new look you created for your living room by using what you had but also for the way your words resonated with me. It is so true, we always focus on what we don't have and get so caught up in all our wants that we don't realize or appreciate the attributes of what we are so fortunate to already own. Especially at this time of year, we need to see posts like yours more than ever. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet! Thank you, Lori and thank you for following along. I am so glad you could spend some time with me.
DeleteDon't know what it is about the Misters but mine does not want anything painted white! Love the FEEL it adds to your room. You put into words just as I feel. I am a first time visitor from Silver Pennies Sunday. I also will follow you now.
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you for the follow and for visiting with me today. Don't you just love Danielle's beautiful blog? So glad you hopped over. As for the Misters...I just think they don't have the ability to imagine what they haven't seen sometimes. It's our job to help them! Right? Well, at least that is what I am telling myself. Hehe.
DeleteOh my gosh this looks perfect-genius! Isn't it funny how we always see the worst? I love your perspective this Christmas, always two sides lol. I really do love the new look and want to thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm! xoKathleen Charm Bracelet Diva {At Home}
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathleen! Merry Christmas and thank you for hosting the party!
DeleteWell I think it's down right creative and turned out darling! Where there's a will, there's a way! :) Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Oh, thank you, Jann. Maybe next year I will look back and hate it but for now it's working for me. Thanks for the party.
DeleteSO clever--love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting with me and for the kind words!
DeleteI love this idea and your Christmas decor is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vanessa! Merry Christmas!
DeleteWonderful idea! Thanks for sharing! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteGlad you could stop by Duane!
DeleteI'm always looking for different ways to use things. I love this
ReplyDeleteEmily
www.domesticdeadline.com
Thank you, Emily and thanks for visiting with me!
DeleteVery pretty and yes I remember. Bugs was my hero growing up! I take a left turn at Albuquerque often. lol
ReplyDeleteHi, Holly! I am so glad I am not the only one taking that left! I am so glad you could stop by. Thank you for the kind words. Merry Christmas.
DeleteVery creative! I love seeing how people decorate their homes. It always gives me great ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sara. I hope you found some inspiration here!
DeleteI really like your decor choices! Looks great
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ali and thanks for dropping by!
DeleteWhat a brilliant solution! I love the exposed wood! It's a warm and cozy contrast...so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim! So glad you could stop by for a visit.
DeleteGirl.friend! This is awesome!! Way to work with what you have!! I'm easily sucked down the same rabbit hole (and yes I know exactly that left at Alburquerque...! God bless Bugs...) when I look at what my home isn't-- smallish, no mantle, blah blah blah. But thankfulness is the key to abundance and your blessed with such a unique way of looking at things! Happy to have happened upon your blog! Going to find out how I can follow you too! ♥
ReplyDeleteHi, Heather! I am so glad you stopped by today. Thank you for the kind words and the reminder that thankfulness turns what we do have into "enough". Glad you are following along! Yippee! Merry Christmas!
DeleteGreat idea with the hutch (dresser), love the truck and trees too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Claire! Those trees are really a thing for me this year??? Not sure why... Thanks for spending some time with me today.
DeleteBeautiful! You definitely made it work! :) Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori and thanks for the party!
DeleteI lover the antique pick up with the tree in the back...perfect nostalgia
ReplyDeleteThank you, Evelyne and thanks for the visit.
DeleteSuch a creative and simple way to change things up. Your decor is so homey and cozy... perfection for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Homey and cozy are two words that we always want our homes to be!
DeleteJust wanted you to know that I chose you to be featured at Vintage Charm tomorrow! Stop by and grab a Featured button! xoKathleen Charm Bracelet Diva {At Home}
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you, Kathleen!
DeleteJust beautiful. Pinned the picture with the truck and the Christmas tree. Linda @Crafts a la mode
ReplyDeleteThanks for pinning, Linda. I always forget to do that! Too much social media for this old gal.
DeletePerfect and Ah-mazing! Thank you for the inspiration, I too have challenging living room walls. My house even has a chimney on the outside, but they dry-walled over the fireplace. I love what you have done!
ReplyDeleteLiving with the design choices of others can definitely be a head-scratching challenge! Thank you for stopping by today and visiting with me!
DeleteWell you did it! You came up with a brilliant solution. This really highlights your mom's painting and also serves as a showcase for all of the pretty ornaments. Your home is beautiful and noones home is perfect. I bet all those pretty pics you see in the other blogs are all staged. People don't live like that. Your home is warm and cozy but most of all it is real. And I think that is the highest compliment I can give anyone. It has to feel like a real person can walk in and feel at home and that is just how I feel when I look at your space Jolena.
ReplyDeleteHaha, Mary. There are photos on my blog that if truth be told a simple pan to the left or right would leave you with your mouth hanging open at the mess! We live here and nobody is neat about. Life is messy and sometimes highly disorganized....real. It is a lovely compliment. Thank you!
DeleteLove the decor! The trees and the truck....wonderful. Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
ReplyDeleteThank you and thanks for the visit, Donna!
DeleteBeautiful! Where did you find that truck? Perfect ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joleen! I found the truck on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CTIEULQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It came with two surfboards welded in. I cut them out with metal clippers. It is not a perfect specimen; a little wonky on construction but over all I liked the look.
DeleteLove snowy trees and Christmas truck!
ReplyDeleteLovely cozy home :)
Thank you, Mila and thanks for visiting.
DeleteThis is the ultimate in shopping your home before you buy something new. You accomplished your goal in a big way and it looks fantastic!Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra and thanks for opportunity to share through the linky party! Merry Christmas!
DeleteEverything looks so pretty!! :)
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you, Jessica!
DeleteI love it! So true; there are always homes that have more and totally different, but there's no place like "our" homes...be they ever so humble!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Thank you for stopping by Cindy, and for the kind words. Thanks for the party!
DeleteWell I think it was a stroke of Decorating Genius and turned out splendidly! No matter what Home we have there are always those challenging nuisances that might inhibit our Vision for the Stylist in us that wants the Editorial Look we have on the canvas of our Imaginations. I have a New Home that I Love the look of... and yet, the Gas Fireplace and how they chose to build it {very Modern and underwhelming, tho' it has two sides facing two rooms} is an Annoyance. I'm brainstorming how to make it appear more like a REAL Fireplace... the Stocking hanging kind... and forget about that Gas Fire just isn't REAL Fire!!!!! *Winks* Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
ReplyDelete