The Family Room

Back in October, Keith and I decided we were ready to decorate our family room.  We hoped we could get it done in time for the holidays.  Silly us...we had know idea what a project we were starting.  This was a big decision because we had empty spaces the builder had included in the floorplan for built-ins.  Built-ins cost some bucks.  I thought we would have had them done after a year of living here.  Then we made another human and that costs some bucks too.  So we waited.  The next year we needed a new car.  The next year I was laid off.  There was always something but we continued to try to save for it.  So, here we are doing our part to try to get the economy back on track.  Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware should send us Thank You cards. 

Here is the evolution of our family room.

This is right when we moved in.  We were using our furniture we bought when we first got married and we were living in our 900 square feet rental.  That leather chair was our second big purchase with my Pottery Barn discount.  We still love it...but in a different room.

This was a couple months of living in the house.  I bought this sectional against Keith's advice...he thought it was too big for the room but I was pregnant and excited to sit my growing bootie in that corner seat.  Notice the walls are still white and we have nothing on the windows.  The other two boys you see in the picture are the Bowman twins on their first visit down here.

Next we have the walls painted and the furniture has been moved around.  The sectional was moved to the living room.  The sectional moved back and forth from this room about 33 million times.  Don't ask me why...it's just something I do.  I like to rearrange my furniture when something about the layout is just not working.  It makes it feel new without spending money.

Last March, Keith put trim all around our windows.  Then he installed some wood blinds too.

Before the work started on the built-ins, I let Sam and Elise paint the inside area and sign their names.

The building begins!

Santiago and his team did the final paint job once everything was installed.  The next morning was an adventure to the Children's hospital emergency room for Sam.  He was in major pain.  I was wondering if it was related to the paint fumes.  The doctor's office thought it was appendicitis.  The official diagnosis from the ER doc was that it was a "giant poop ball."  A $350 poop is what it was.  But that's a story for another time.

This is the side angle of our coffee table.  The rug under it has been returned. 

It was fighting with our chairs so it had to go. 

The new rug on its way is something like this.  Plain and shaggy and thick and soft.

So the rug, one more plant to fill an empty basket and something over the fireplace are the last things we need.  Other than that we are done!

I am now the owner of real living houseplants. 

Which for me is more frightening and intimidating than owning two little people. 

There it is!  We love it!  It feels very adult....but the kids love it too. 

Sam said, "Mommy, that could be in a catalog, I am serious." 

Feel free to let me know what you think!