A Sitting Room

This little area, as you enter our home, was until recently

empty, except for an oversized canvas and wood tent that my in-laws

made for the kiddos when we moved in almost 4 years ago.

Then...I inherited the two chairs shown (see blog post) in the top

 of this photo and that started a snowball effect of:

a. moving tent to the playroom

b. searching for a couch           

        c. oh hell, pulling together this room 

I told the friends who handed down the chairs that the chairs

had become a character in a rewrite of the children's book,

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, because these chairs 

demanded a couch, then a rug, then a table and on and on!

I hope you enjoy the eclectic little pull together, in my new

favorite room to sit and read.

Foreground: chair, small camp seat

that I picked up for 10 cents at 

a yard sale in Minneapolis.  My

MIL recovered it with a scrap of

awning canvas.  

Background: Coffee table that 

I grew up with, once in a 90s green, 

repainted with a chalk gray.  The wood is old

and rugged and I LOVE IT! This

couch, that I found on craigslist for $10.

When I picked up the craigslist couch, I was nervous it was garbage, 

but it was worth a go, as I would only be out $10. 

I called the company that reupholstered

the chairs, and had them pop out to see

my cheapo couch.  They said the construction

was very strong and sturdy and could be reworked

BACK IT UP...

I had originally purchased a couch for

this room from West Elm.  See link.

When the couch arrived the cushions were

an ill fit and one of the tapered legs was too

short.  I was beyond disappointed with the

craftsmanship, but in love with the fabric.  After

the run around from West Elm, I decided to

return the janky couch and order bulk fabric

from them.  The results...AMAZING!

All this, pulled into one with an oversized

tumbled jute rug that is as soft as can be

and a small rug, under the coffee table that

my sweet friend asked me to love.

One of the chairs responsible for this

madness and a darling foot pouf!

When the upholstery company

came to fetch the couch and fabric

to fix it up, I also sent with an old blanket,

that I also grew up with.  It was always

tucked away as a kid, but I loved it

and was excited when it became mine.

Thick wool, this traditional 'Hudson Bay'

style blanket is super iconic, but upon

close inspection, it had a tear in it and 

a big stain that I could not remove.

So...it sat in a cabinet in my home for the last

few years, which felt a shame, so I sent it

to be reworked, with a small drawing of

how I wanted the blanket oriented on a 

foot pouf.  I had this created with firm

foam, so it could double as a seat, if needed. 

Isn't it absolutely darling! 

I am so happy I did this.

It's a good reminder that stuff

serves zero purpose if it is tucked away,

and it you love it, by golly find a way to use it!

I found this sideboard the week we moved into the house, on 

craigslist.  It stores linens for the dining room on one side, and
my kid's craft stuff on the other.  

I can't recall how far back this chair

goes back in my family, but at least as far 

back as my maternal great grandma. 

It is a treasured piece.  

It along with the hand embroidered 

pillow (also dating back to my great grandma),

a coffee sack pillow and a throw blanket that

I bought at Marshalls (I bought the throw for a 

concert, because on the way to the venue we 

realized we had forgotten a blanket...so it 

makes me happy to look at every single day!)

Oh, did I mention that it took West

Elm nearly 4 months to pick up the

defunct couch?  So annoying!

Here's a nice side by side to see the

West Elm Couch (upper) and the

rework (lower).  You will note

that we decided against buttons

on the seats, as we they are 

dirt collectors and can

get caught on pant

pockets and can tear.

Gaaaaw, this couch!  

Bonus: the rework came in at over $400

less than the West Elm purchase!!!

Worth EVERY (saved) PENNY!

xo.