Help turn a ho-hum living room into an edgy, transitional oasis
Jane N
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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havingfun
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
Garden bench for Mom
Comments (67)Well, we didn't go with an insert, since a) I couldn't find one in Dec. in CA, and b) I think this planter is much smaller than a true half whiskey barrel. DH rigged up a liner patch along the whole bottom, and it's been holding water since Dec. 26th. Yippee! LOL When we got there, I had to bribe Mom to sit still inside the house while we set up the surprise gift. Mom doesn't sit still, so I threatened her with Duct Tape. :D As soon as we were done, I set her loose, and she quickly scampered outside to find her "treasure". Thank god, she loved it. :) Dad, ever energy conscious, unplugged it the first night after everyone else went to bed. Mom basically told him, "Homey don't play that!" Mom reports that he doesn't mess with it now. LOL It's not what I had planned (wanted it pondless & in-ground...or with the hand pump behind the barrel, not on it...etc.), but it worked out well. It's set up so that when they go onto the back patio to light a fire in the pit (off to the left in the pic), they can hear the fountain across the fence in the front. My brother also got Mom some neat little bamboo shade lights to hang in the Pyracantha above the bench! It looks very pretty at night. Ok, I'm done with my novella. :D Brenda...See MoreFloor plan help please
Comments (27)Please don't ruin a great thing! The whole gatehouse/courtyard/portico/gallery thing makes the house. Without it? Yawn. I see nothing to be gained by trying to turn what is a real WOW factor, fabulous true living feature--the interior courtyard--into a ho-hum, yawn, what's this? Another boring, useless room made to walk through? I really think you would ruin the design and overall feeling of the house. It would go from being a Place to being just another place. Actually, worse. It would be a just another place that tried to be a Place but fell short due to functionless timidity. I hope your architect did not get your note. The front porch/portico serves well as an extended sheltered entry in a southern climate. This is great design, it works with the architectural dna of the home as well as your natural site/climate and lifestyle. It is the perfect integration of all of that. Seven feet before stairs is plenty. The most important thing is, if you do something now, you will never know and will wonder what you gave up. I see the signs, know the feeling of wanting to choose the absolute best, "right" way to do something. If you cover the courtyard now YOU WILL REGRET IT because you will wonder if it was the right thing to do. You can easily find out by giving yourself six months to a year to live with it. It will cost no more to enclose it later than now. It will cost a fortune to try to undo it--especially if you undo it and decide you want it done back again! Leave it as is now. Enjoy it. It costs you nothing and gains you much, even if it just the peace of mind in knowing that you don't want the fabulous design, you want a shotgun-style house with sequential rooms. You can always change later if you choose to....See MoreDecorating with what you love?
Comments (57)Is the LR rug big enough to go under your dining room table? I think that would really warm up that room. If it won't fit try to find a rug that will fit under your table. Someone mentioned recovering your dining room chair seats I think that is a wonderful idea, & either add a valance to your dining room the same print or color of your chairs. I would also agree with the other posters that said to get matching buffet lamps.Also I would add a silk flower arrangement that is low on the table, position a pair of candle sticks with long taper candles to match your colors. You already have the candle sticks they are on your buffet. As for the silk flower arrangement look at places like Micheal's or Hobby Lobby are any of your local craft stores. I know Micheal's usually have coupons for as much as 50% off that way you can save money. I really like Hobby Lobby, I can find things that just scream my name & tell to buy them.. You said you had some wrought iron pieces, could you take a pic of them & post it??? I love the idea of the red chairs! That will give your LR a pop of color as will new throw pillows for the couch & love seat. As someone else posted I would "float" my couch & move the entertainment center to the long wall.'Then I would put the loveseat/chair to the right of the sofa & put the red chairs where the loveseat/chair is now with a small table between them with a floor lamp behind the table. Maybe if you or your DH likes to play chess you could set up a board on the small table. For the coffee table, every home decorating magazine I have ever read, says use either groups of 3 or groups of 5. I think your coffee table could support a group of 3. Maybe a wrought iron lantern with one of those electric candles in it, a wooden bowl that you can change with the seasons. Like at Christmas fill it with brightly colored Christmas balls, for winter wooden balls etc..and lastly the third item should be a large round silver plate that you could put a couple pieces of fruit on,,,to tie in with the big mirror you have over the buffet. I would also add two big plants on either side of the entertainment once it is on the long wall..a tall one & a short one(but big & bushy) But before you buy anything make sure it screamed at you to buy it...lol Well that is my opinion add $5.00 to it and you can have a cup of coffee at Starbucks...lol...See MoreNeed help with kitchen renovation/update
Comments (23)Thank you all for your suggestions/reactions. Based on your reactions and time spent all over the GW boards, here's where we are now in our thinking: --I think we may move away from the range idea, and shift to putting in a 36" cooktop with a proper hood. I've been mulling over whether we could get by with 30" but we like to cook together and with two of us standing over our current 30" in that corner, it is a little too crowded. A wall oven probably makes more sense for us, too: my husband is tall and has back issues and we're not getting any younger. --One thing that I was tempted by: a store in our area has a wolf transitions 30" gas cooktop on a pretty good display discount. I wondered about putting that in with a 15" induction unit. I think I will post about that on the appliance forum to get reactions. Not sure I can persuade my husband to go for the wider vent/hood that would be required, though, as that would require more fussing with the upper cabinets. --I don't know that we have the appetite for shifting around the doors at this point. And maybe if I dial back on some of these shifts, I can splurge for a convection/steam oven. --And I'm going to work to clear off my counters -- maybe with kids being older I can shift the knives into a drawer and find other places for the mixer, toaster and coffeepot to give more workspace and stop cluttering my backsplash windows. Thanks, all!...See MoreKendrah
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJane N
6 years agoingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
6 years agoKendrah
6 years agohollybar
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agomjlb
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agohavingfun
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agomjlb
6 years agocawaps
6 years agoJane N
6 years agoJane N
6 years agoJane N
6 years agoJane N
6 years agohollybar
6 years agoKendrah
6 years agomjlb
6 years agoDeb Reinhart Interior Design Group, Inc.
6 years ago
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