The other day I decided to try our family room a couple of different ways. I didn't buy anything new (except for the little bundle of white hydrangeas). I just "shopped" from other rooms in our house.
I started by bringing in the old farmhouse door, that was in the laundry room, for an added architectural detail.
For option one, I moved in a French-style armchair, grain sack pillow and ottoman.
I also tried this blue patterned rug for a touch of color.
I kept the blue ticking pillows and burlap pillows, because I love their simple farmhouse cheer. :)
For the second look, I exchanged the blue patterned rug for a more textured, oatmeal-colored rug. In place of the French chair, I put an old white chippy bench in front of the window.
So, here's look #2...
And here's look #1...
Which do you prefer?
It was fun to see this room in a different way. And, it felt good to change the look without spending money!
Don't be afraid to move things around, from room to room. You many find that certain pieces just fit better in unexpected places. A piece that may have just faded into the background in one room, can be the superstar in another! ;)
In the end, I chose function over form since this is the most used room in our home. Can you guess which look I kept?
Thank you for stopping by!
Hope you have a wonderful day...
xo
Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home
Cozy Little House
Stone Gable
Coastal Charm
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Katherine's Corner
I'm loving look #2 with the blue rug and the french chair!
ReplyDeleteThank you Martina! I liked this look also but the chair wasn't substantial enough to withstand three growing boys every day! :) There's a lot of living happening in this room. Ha!
DeleteI love the modern country farmhouse the Bleu rug adds to the room.
ReplyDeleteAs a designer this is what I would do, is there room to pull the sofa out into the room a bit more giving space behind the sofa for the door and the laying hen box unit to stand out a bit more and less snugged up behind the sofa? Then I would use the Bleu rug, and then I would place the white bench under the window, again the bench will also look like it's in the back ground because the sofa will be a bit more into the center of the room, still in its same position. Love the Bleu contrast in the mix of your Farmhouse style. Funny I would say this because my home is pretty neutral, yet subject to change as soon as I find that perfect rug of coulor for my living sitting room.
I hope I am not swaying your heart set on what you have done here, but I so love the bench look with your room, and you can stalk books on it and under it, and a basket on or next to it, a galvanized bucket under filled with books or next to it, it offers so much more creativity for your wonderful farmhouse. Well I am off to see if I can do just this in my space. As for the door between the windows? It's a great change up, and a great canversation piece and next Christmas you have a place to hang the wreath.
See you soon.
Xx
Dore
Such great tips Dore! You are right about bringing the sofa away from the wall a bit... more into the center of the room. I was feeling like I needed to do that but you helped me think of the positioning of the bench, nesting boxes and sofa - and how they would work best together in the room - thank you! Also love the idea of stacking books on the bench. Have a beautiful day artfully rearranging your space! :)
DeleteA typo darn that auto correct. I meant to say you can *STACK books on and under the bench, not stalk your books lol!
ReplyDeleteXx
Dore
Oh, no problem... it happens to us all! I wish blogger would let us correct our comments after they've been published.
DeleteI love both of those looks but I think I like the first one the best. I love that chair!
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm back to bug you dear, is that a floor plug and the rug and chair hid it? If so, if you were to move the sofa out and away from the back drop pieces I.e the hen boxes, the door and the bench you could then set a small side table or trunk like chest of drawers next to the sofa arm and plug in a lamp, the pieces in the back ground will take on their own space and add a wonderful back drop to your Farmhouse space.
ReplyDeleteThe bench will peek-a-boo around your sofa and what end table you add and stacking things on the bench and under it will add warmth to how you like to live, simple, and oh so French farmhouse.
We, or I should say I, would love to see the settled outcome of how you reimaged your home.
I get it with boys, and rang bunches at best, I went through that with my son and his friends and a daughter and her friends. I just placed things in my home the way I wanted it, and they learned to love and respect it... So much so that my daughter hates anyone to mess with her rooms placements :))
I placed a TV. In a separate room, they tore it up and the living space was for quiet relaxed visiting, reading, and family conversations.
See you soon,
Xx
Dore
Love both looks, but leaning toward the bench instead of the chair. I love neutrals, but the blue of the rug is so subtle and pretty. It's always fun to shop your own things for a new look! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the blue rug and the french chair look. I have a large family so the more seats the better for me. They are both very pretty. I love rearranging my house too. It is so fun to find the perfect place for something. You have a great collection to work with and move around.
ReplyDeleteThey both look great, but I like #1 ...the blue rug with the French chair the best.
ReplyDeleteboth looks would make me happy to spend some time in there. I really like the door with the flowers hanging on it and the decor on the coffee table. I always have such a hard time figuring out my coffee table. LOL
ReplyDeleteI like the oatmeal-colored rug and the French-style armchair for a new look and I like the bench by the other side of the sofa.
ReplyDeleteI think both looks are beautiful. I think my favorite rug is the blue one, because it adds a little more color, but then again I'm a color girl lol
ReplyDeleteI love your door with the hanging basket. Your room is beautiful both ways!
ReplyDeleteEilis@MyHeartLivesHere
Love the blue rug and french chair. Looks amazing.I would also love to invite you to link up to my Inspire Me Tuesday party. http://www.astrollthrulife.net
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the chair and the neutral textural rug...so, "C" which you didn't show....
ReplyDeleteLove that chair (where did you get it?) and your whole room is so cozy!
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Thanks for weighing in - I appreciate it! It's interesting to hear other people's perspectives and combinations... helps me to see the room and configuration differently. I found the chair at Marshalls about a year ago.
DeleteI like the look of the bench, I love that your windows are bare with all that natural light! I was wondering if your sectional sofa is from Ikea?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. I've gotten some criticism for those bare windows :) but I love them too! Here in Seattle, we can use all the natural light we can get! Yes, sectional is from IKEA and we've been happy with it. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteSo fun to 'play house' with what you have! I love look # 2, but that is not to say I don't love them both, but I have a thing for little benches <3 , and it is a more 'open' look to me. Can't wait to see what you chose! xo Karen
ReplyDeleteI like both arrangements, but if I had to choose one, I'd go with number 1 because I love the blue rug which gives just a hint of color. LOVE, Love, Love the door between the windows!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's so fun to be able to change up a room by shopping the house.
Mary Alice
I absolutely love this room, both ways! I'm always looking for farmhouse/cottage style decor inspiration, and this room is just perfect. Thanks for sharing! Pinning!
ReplyDeleteThank you - that is so sweet. I appreciate you sharing! ~julie
DeleteI love your old door! I also like to move things around occasionally...it's fun...unless my guys get tired of picking up furniture. Thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about your rooms. I lean slightly toward the 2nd option ( thank you for asking us) because I prefer the blue rug and the chair with ottoman. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. Watch for your feature on Monday xo
ReplyDeleteLove them both but think #2 with the blue is perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
For my own home I would use a neutral rug because I like white on white with the color coming from natural elements like wood, clay, rocks, shells, flowers, etc. The neutral rug is also cozy. I know my children would prefer a soft rug like it over a stylish rug. It is your home and my advice will always be to follow your own heart...choose what makes you happiest. I too like your bare open windows. But then again, I do not follow design trends. Your farmhouse and blog are lovely...so glad I found you..
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