Hello everyone,

Sorry about the brief break and thanks for your continued input on this thread. You've asked if I've made any progress on the room? Not really, still haven't gotten the glass doors to the armoire back so I'm going to call on Monday to find out when they will be returned.

Regarding hanging the antique mirror, a friend was over yesterday and I showed her the mirror. She said she'd be afraid to hang such an old mirror because every time she looked into it she would be afraid there would be someone standing behind her in the mirror as in a ghost. I was a little spooked, but I'm still hanging the mirror. The craft man who is putting in the glass doors will hang the mirror. Since my friend spooked me yesterday, I'm now wondering about the pics of the lady from 1800 and three other antique pictures from the late 1800 and early 1900 hanging in my flat. I look at these pics a little different now. I'll post some pics of these vintage old photos on this thread perhaps next week. I was going to put a collection of old photographs in antique gold frames in my guest bathroom, but considering against it now.

Still contemplating where all the art I showed you should go.

Here's a pic of the antique brass lamp I would like to hang in the window nook.

Would like to know how low/high should I hang this lamp over the table so it's not competing with the chandelier in the room? Also here's pics of the brass sconces. The electrical outlets to hang sconces are on the wall where the armoire is located. Please pardon the dust on these items.

Regarding my inspiration for having so many plants in every room of my flat, I follow Instagram Urban Jungle Bloggers and Instagram MariaNova and Instagram Mr. Cigar and Instagram Jamie's Jungle and many other citizen botanists on instagram from all other world. I especially like the instagram pages that combine thrifted vintage items with house plants.

Lastly, there's has been quite some changes in this room, I've posted a pic below of the room just two years ago and what it looks like today.

Hey there I came on over to visit at your request. I have only gotten about 1/3 of the way through the comments. Your space is lovely. There is only one piece that stands out in a glaring way to me. That is your oval glass top coffee table. Try as I might , it just doesn't work IMO. I will revisit tomorrow and keep reading through.

I just ran across this thread. I read thru about 80%. Heavens! It is so fabulous and your delft touch is just elegant and unique. We lived in Brussels Belgium for 3 years and had a lovely apartment there but nothing like yours. It is truly special. I kind of laughed ready how you got the place. We had a similar experience! We lost 2 places using American understanding of leasing process. So wrong! The third trip I brought my carryon suitcase and when we saw it I looked at my hubby and we exchanged non verbal “let’s take it” looks. I set my suit case down, got out our checkbook and wrote check for two months rent and we never left. It was accepted. I truly love your place and I feel I wouldn’t add color because why spoil this ethereal look you have established! So lovely. That chandelier and medallion are so special. Be careful you don’t loose your look. It is really wonderful.

Oh and yes. Love the flea markets in the towns around Brussels. And the floral event where they make that enormous setup in the Grand Place with flowers in special designs. So beautiful. Have you seen that?

Taking a break from the internet to enjoy my family camping at Yellowstone Park. I’m not sure if I will be back posting on this site, but I wish you well.

Design Interior South and Flo Mangan thanks for stopping by this thread, I hope you'll continue to give your input on how I can improve each room. Thanks for your kind positive feedback on what I've done so far in putting together my living room.

CindyR enjoy your vacation at Yellowstone Park. That's a dream of mine to one day visit Yellowstone. CindyR I really appreciate all your input. Thanks again.

The good news is I got a call today from the craftman who is replacing the armoire doors with glass, He was so apologetic for having my doors for so long, He said his father (who owns the firm) died 10 days ago and that why it's taking so long to get the doors back. He said tomorrow he's bringing the doors back and hanging the antique mirror. He said the glass doors look really good.

I think the antique mirror will go on the wall beside the balcony door and the large thrifted picture with the flowers will hang on the left of the sofa. The picture has most of the colors in the room.

Design Interior South, you mentioned the coffee table doesn't work in the space, I'm going to ask the craftmen if he can help me drag the coffee table in the middle room to the living room to see if it looks better. What is it about the coffee table that's glaringly misplaced in the room? The size, silver legs, it being more modern than the other pieces of furniture? All of the above?

What about the small antique lamp for over the table in the nook? Do you think that will work and what height should I hang it so it doesn't compete with the chandelier?

I'm hoping when the living room is finished I get input in upgrading the other rooms in my flat. I'm challenged more with the other rooms than the living room really.

Flo Mangan, I haven't seen the flowers in the Grand Palace in Brussels yet. I love Belgium there's so many great antique shops there and the Belgium have an interesting design aesthetic. My hangout in Belgium is Brugge and Antwerp. I'm hoping to go to Brussels soon, been doing some research on this town.

Tomorrow will post pics of the armoire with the glass doors and will call an electrician to hang the sconces and the small antique lamp over the table by the window.

P.S. Sorry for the wall of texts, I'm going to try to be more cogent with less words moving forward.

Brugge was a favorite spot. Walk your legs off though. Can’t wait to see Armoire. What a good idea. Of course, now we have yo style it!! The fun never ends.

I think that all of your pieces have somewhat of an old world charm to them. In other words they look like they have been around for a long time (a good thing) and have some quality to them. The coffee table looks like you picked it up at a one size fits all box store. A mass production piece. I love the idea of a glass top but I feel you need something that has a more traditional feel to it. Something along the lines of one of these for example

"Aden" Oval Gold Iron Coffee Table · More Info

Rectangle Cocktail Table · More Info

Safavieh Lucille Coffee Table · More Info

Uttermost Alayna Gold Coffee Table · More Info

Sylvia Rectangle Cocktail Table · More Info

Safavieh Abelard Cocktail Table, Antique Gold · More Info

Sauder International Lux Round Coffee Table in Satin Gold · More Info

Elegance Antique - Bronze 44"x24" Coffee Cocktail Table With Tempered Glass · More Info

Safavieh Mieka Cocktail Table, Antique Gold · More Info

A marble top would be stunning too

Melange Corrina Cocktail Table · More Info

Flo Mangan, yes I'm definitely a little nervous having to put objects in the open armoire, been studying your input and others on that thread about glass front cabinets. I was thinking about a theme like old glass objects, then I thought books, then I thought I don't know what's going to work, but one thing I don't want to do is overload it with objects. I can have a tendency to go overboard that's for sure. Brugge is absolutely beautiful, if you're looking for an interesting place to stay that's in the heart of Brugge I highly recommend Exclusive Guest House Number 11. Here's a link, the suite there is fabulous, there's a fireplace and you don't have to walk up steep stairs that's an added bonus to staying in the suite. It also has a separate entrance and a beautiful English garden outside the suite.

https://www.number11.be/en/

Design Interior South, the coffee table came from the thrift store, one of the first things I brought for the room and that's why it's looks out of place. Thanks for the table ideas, not sure how shipping to Europe works if I decide to buy a different table.

Let's see how the coffee table in the middle room works it's tinted glass and darkish brass. I may even consider painting the table legs gold or black as someone suggested. The beauty of this room is it's eclectic and it doesn't fit any rules, I can also look for another thrifted table too that may work better. I love that last table but I can't see spending 800 dollars on that table. I also like the Sauter table a lot too.

I think you can find something ore refined thrifting. You have some beautiful pieces I have not see which table you're talking about. May have missed it. Just the one that IMO needs to be replaced. Europe has such incredible antique stores I know you can find something!

Does the glass come off the top of that coffee table? If yes, I have done this. I found some interesting little 18" high cement molded figures. I put little glass buffers on the cement and put the beautiful glass top my client had on top! It worked so well. It became quite the conversation piece in their formal living room. I think we paid $25 for each figurine! As to your Armoire, I think a nice combination of objects and books with a plant or two, would be lovely. The key would be leaving enough "open" spaces to avoid the dreaded "clutter" word! lol I'm ready when you are! Better start gathering objects we can look at and see what would work where!

Design Interior South, will post pic of the other table in room tomorrow if the craftman is willing to help move it. I think he'll get that done for me, but not sure about his time schedule.

I love the thrift stores in my town everything in my flat, except the sofa in living room is thrifted.

Flo Mangan, I'm up for the challenge of the armoire. Trying to envision what you said about taking the glass top off the coffee table, it's late here in Europe after 1100 at night. Heading to bed now.

Will be back tomorrow with pics of the other coffee table in room, glass doors in armoire, antique mirror and pic hung in living room. This should be interesting on how the room will look after these changes.

Thanks again for your input. Until tomorrow, good night.

Oh gosh! Let’s not be in a rush to Americanize this beautiful room!

Not trying to Americanize it. Actually my point about the existing oval table is it looks like something you would pick up from a box store that sells "living room sets". You know 5 piece set for $1500. ala Rooms to Go. Hence why I felt it didn't fit in with her timeless Eurpean pieces and believe it or not American pieces. There is a timeless worn elegance to everything she has that is spectacular and it would be in the best interest of the space to carry that through to the cocktail table IMO.

I do agree with that but hope the OP can find something a bit used and vintage on one of her shopping ventures!

My thoughts were more along the lines of an architectural salvage piece that a glass top could be used on as opposed to a new table is all.

Oops, forgot pic

following

This table is in another room, maybe it would work better here.

Ellen that table is spot on with everything she has going.

I would like to take a few minutes to address the current coffee table comments in particular and my intention for signing up for Houzz in general after being a lurker for about 10 years. For people posting dilemmas, I believe our individuality should allow each of us to freely express our varied design taste and sensibilities without the design snobbery tone that I've recently read on this thread.

Please don't misunderstand, I do fully appreciate some posters on here have also gone to design school, which may give you a unique perspective.

However, please know, I will not ascribe to any one person's vision for my room or any one particular design style and for that matter I may even break some of the "design school" rules, probably many design rules. Wait until you see the thrifted mashup in my dining, kitchen, library/piano room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and winter garden if you continue to read this thread.

My intention when I signed up for Houzz was just to get more input and feedback. I want to definitely take into consideration your advice that's been generously and respectfully offered based on your design input for this room and then make a sound (or unsound decision for that matter) in making this room my own based on my preferences with what may fit with my sensibilities and taste, especially since I have to live with the choices each day when I walk into the room. Again, I'm truly grateful for your feedback, but not some of the snobbery tone.

My goal is not to buy anything new for this room and continue to thrift it. I'm fully aware Houzz is primarily a sales platform, among other things, but there are others out there, just like me, that wouldn't think of purchasing something new off Houzz or any place else, especially if there's a huge availability of thrifted items that's quite easily accessible and well made that we may like no matter if it fits the room or may not be to other Houzzs' viewers design taste.

I really don't want to be so hung up (or even anal) on a prescribed or "refined" design style that I lose the individuality of my room or my preferences. For me, my current coffee table doesn't lack any "refinement" in the room amongst the other thrifted pieces in my space, I believe despite what some may think about my coffee table or my other furnishing choices " my coffee table for me adds character and whimsical charm to all the other "formally stiff" old stuff I've thrifted for this living room and makes the space unique and eclectic and my own. The beauty of this room, I believe lies in this mashup of thrifted items, not aligning it to some prescribed "refined" design style that a poster may think, in their opinion may be in the "best interest" of my room.

I would also like to add regarding comments about "americanizing" the room, everything in this room I bought in thrift stores/flea markets in Europe, except the massive speakers and stereo receiver that I never hooked up when I moved to this flat (you can barely see in the pics ) that's currently by the balcony door that's taking up way too much real estate in my room and will be soon removed. I found those speakers on the street and had them refurbished when I came to Europe.

Lastly, the coffee table in the middle room is NOT spot on with everything else is my living room. Today we tried the table in the living room and it's way too small for my living room space.

Therefore, the current coffee table no matter how much a few on this thread may dislike like it in my room or feel it's out of place or not "refined with the other stuff" will remain in my living room. Please feel free to continue your design snobbery tone and insistence about my coffee table all you want if that makes you feel better about your design knowledge or your making my room to be in YOUR best interest, which is not aligned to my best interest for this room.

I'm tired, it's late here in Europe. I did get the armoire doors back they turned out beautiful and exceeded my expectations. I did hang the mirror and one pic in the living room. But I'm heading to bed now to get ready for a big day tomorrow. The reveal of the armoire, mirror, and pic that was hung today will be posted on this thread tomorrow.

I'm really sorry, unfortunately I couldn't get the pics of these new items posted today.

Hi, I’m so sorry my “ Like” doesn’t register( Houzz glitch).

Hu, I guess my auto correct does work.

WOW I am sorry you took offense to my comment because it was never meant to be offensive. I apologize for having somehow offended you. I think it is rather harsh that you consider that my design tastes come from a place of snobbery. Nothing can be further from the truth. My whole point was that your home is filled with lovely European pieces (and yes some of them are from American furniture maker designs) and all of them are harmonious with each other except the coffee table. Im not going to apologize for having that opinion and I assure you it comes from nothing more than looking at the space and seeing something that just doesn't work. You asked me to come over to your thread and give you assistance and assistance isnt just praising the great things its sometimes the harsh reality of having to weed out the items that don't work as well. I never suggested your purchase anything off Houzz or anything from America. I was showing you the tables for style only! I even stated that I was positive you could find something thrifting that would work. Thrifting as in shopping flea markets, antique stores wherever the place might me. I wish you all the best in your continuation of creating a lovely home.

I do apologize if any comments I made offended you HU. You know I very much like your room just the way it is and have stated that previously. Your mix of eclectic pieces suits you and needn’t fit anyone’s design style. It’s your home and it’s perfect for you.

Design Interior South although your comments may have been well intended, I do consider some of them harsh about my coffee table and frankly way off the mark about the origin of the coffee table AND why I chose it for the room. Perhaps it's difficult for others to see my vision for this room or understand how my flat is coming together with thrifted items, I really want to be open minded about this space and I hope others will be too, other than imposing "refined" viewpoints in a harsh and condescending manner which is quite easy to do behind the computer screen.

I know we all have our perspectives, I just needed to be clearer about mine and that was my primary motivation why I needed to say what I said. I hope you're not alienated from this thread, I do value your input.

Lynartist, please there's no need to apology it was nothing about any of your comments that made me feel uncomfortable or write my last post.

Let's move on.

HU - We love your space and I happen to know Design Interiors South and am quite confident she meant nothing personally offensive. The biggest concern I have is that you change things that aren't YOUR ethos and mess up the eclectic, interesting space you have. I viewed all the inputs as very positive to you and your space. It is lovely and I can't wait to see the Armoire and mirror pictures. Please accept my apologies if I have offended in any way. You are a very creative, clever person with quite an eye. Don't let this thread hamper you in any way.

I think you're reading a tone into what I am saying that isnt there as I am typing it. Now I've gone from being snobby to condescending? In 1987/88 my college room mates and I went to a chain furniture store in San Diego CA Called Jeromes Furniture, I'm not sure if they are still around as I no longer reside in CA. Anyway we pooled our meager funds together to purchase furniture for our apt. Exciting times! We bought that coffee table. It came with two matching end tables. I assure you our apt didn't hold any of the beauty yours does. We had a ton of hand me downs, as we should have and a lot of found items at the curb, including a rattan shelving unit that wouldn't stand straight so the neighbor guys came over and tied shoe strings together and used them to pull the unit straight snd then hammered the shoe string to the wall to keep it upright. Very happy memories. So no, I don't know your history with the coffee table. But I do know it is a production piece. There is nothing "wrong" with the coffee table except that, in comparison to your other pieces , its the missing link purely from a design perspective. Its funny how I can apologize for my words regarding a table an inanimate object and you come back by calling me a snob and tell me I am condescending which is a personal attack on me and yet that isnt considered rude or harsh? Again best of luck. I will refrain from commenting any further on your thread.

I agree the original coffee table detracts from the beautiful room, so sorry. I’m not risking being offensive again so I’m out.

Hello there!

I came to see how your armoire looks and am looking forward to seeing how it turned out. I hope you love it!

You already know that I am not a professional, but I understand your dilemma with your room because I, too, have many things I love and have collected over the years. My style is eclectic and I love antiques/retro objects. I get SO much satisfaction from repurposing and shooing my own house! I sense that you love everything you have and want to look at your beautiful things, but you do t want it to be cluttered. You want to be a “curator” of your space, and that’s why you take so much time thinking about what to move and where to move it.

I feel bad that your feelings were hurt. Sometimes, the most well-intending people say things in a way that accidentally come across as ill-willed. I have done that, especially online. I am also sensitive, and probably would have been miffed at the coffee table criticism if I had an attachment to my coffee table.

I hope you are not discouraged and quit posting, because the overwhelming opinion on this thread is that your place is magnificent, and we non-pros and pros are excited to see how your vision comes to fruition.

Cindy

...

Please come back and show us your photos of the armoire, mirror and other updates!!

Not sure why it only posted half of the pic, click on the pic and it'll enlarge to full size.

I’m so glad you updated this wonderful thread, I’ve been enjoying it with my coffee this morning. It’s like looking through a favorite magazine. :)

I absolutely love your style. In reading about your coffee table, I was nodding at everything you said — it works precisely because, besides looking nice and being a good fit, it’s unexpected in the room. I like the chrome legs because, again, they’re unexpected. An interesting juxtaposition with an old, gorgeous, very traditional crystal chandelier over it. And I agree with you that they’d look nice in gold, too.

The glassed armoire doors look fabulous. I love your plants, color selections, textile choices, art ... everything. It struck me, too, how if you moved everything there to a plain apartment with no interesting architectural details, it’d still look as beautiful. In other words (and I’ve lived in Europe as well) I’ve seen many gorgeous old apartments and homes that were very forgiving towards the decor in them. In your case, the two wonderful elements (your decor plus the architectural details) compliment each other perfectly ... you made those details even more beautiful, rather than expecting them to make up for a lack of good interior design.

Your pictures are such an inspiration to me, thank you for sharing your lovely home here. Your talent for finding just the right pieces — that are not only perfect together, but have personal meaning — is amazing ... and very refreshing to see on this board.

Hello @Jilly thanks for reading the thread and your kind feedback.

Here's some more pics of what the room looks like so far with the old mirror and acrylic flower pic hung. This room is slowly evolving after 5 years of living in this flat. I had the carpenter who fixed the armoire hang the mirror and the flower pic. I'm thinking the mirror and the flower pic should be hung a tad bit higher.

My challenge with this room still is making it more cozy with couch pillows, getting the sconces hung on the wall where the armoire is, and a small hanging light over the table with the plant in the window nook that doesn't compete with the chandy as there's a cord hanging down for a light.

In addition, my other challenge is the negative wall space on both sides of the book shelf and armoire should I hang pics or leave it blank as the room seems off balance, especially since I hung the mirror and flower pic and there's nothing else hanging in this room. Lastly, what you don't see across from the mirror in the corner near the balcony door are two huge old stereo speakers, amp and cd player that needs to be removed and the room updated with wireless speakers as there's no television or music in this room. I have to do some research on wireless speakers.

I have to find a better place to hang this pic as it's too small on this wall.

Today I made a change to my living room. Last week, when shops were closed during the lockdown on my evening walk I found an antique portrait in one of my favorite antique shop window, the same shop I bought the old mirror from that's hanging in my living room. I've always wanted an original painted antique portrait it was a matter of finding the right one at the right price.

I've gotten so much inspiration from Neo Thissen's instagram page with his old masters portraits hanging in his beautiful house in Belgium. I contacted Neo to ask about the portrait I found regarding fair price and quality as Neo is an antique dealer.

Check out Neo's beautiful instagram site: https://www.instagram.com/neothissen/?hl=en

The next day, I called the shop owner who opened his shop so I could see the portrait and take pics to send to Neo. We haggled over the price of the picture and settled on a fair price and I picked it up today.

On the back of the pic, there's some original signage that says the artist was born in 1776 and the portrait subject is Alfried Walter Sernau , a judge. The dealer on my receipt put the portrait from ca. 1830. I love the frame and how the pic looks on the wall (even though sometimes he seems to be following me with his eyes :-). I prefer it much better than the flower pic that was hanging there (see first pic in my last post) as Alfried certainly has more character, no pun intended

During my visit to the shop, I met a customer who gave me a contact number of a firm who can professionally paint the chrome legs of my coffee table gold.

Here's an interesting article regarding buying antique portraits:

Wall Street Journal Article: Why Antique Portraits Are the Best Deals in Art

Hi, your photos posted cut in half 😢 yikes!!! We all want to see but can!

lynartist, thanks for letting me know. I'm not sure why they're posting like that. I see the same. However, when I click on the photos they enlarge. Please try that and let me know if you can see them if not, I'll try reposting them.

Thanks again.

Lyn, I can see the entire pictures ... are you on the Houzz or Gardenweb url? I’m on Gardenweb.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5758296/vintage-thrifted-jungalow-style-needs-upgrading-one-room-at-a-time#addAnswer

HU, ahhhh. I was so excited see a new post from you! I absolutely love your newest treasure. And thank you for the links and information. I’ll be checking them all out.

Alfried looks perfectly at home and I think he’d be pleased to know he’s being admired. :)

Aha, I think what I was doing wrong I was using "photo" to upload, instead of "Houzz photo"

Edit: that didn't work either I see, you have to click on the pics to enlarge. Sorry

Jinx, thanks for letting us know as I can now see them enlarged, but not when I'm on Houzz, garden web yes.

Oh my goodness! I went to the Instagram account you linked ... thank you for sharing that! I’m going to be busy later savoring all of the gorgeous photos. :)

I’m on the app! This is what I get when I enlarge 😢

Lyn, try getting on your browser and click on my link. It should work then.

Jinx, thanks for taking a look at the pics and your kind words!

I love Alfried too with his sexy forehead lol! When Neo Thissen affirmed it was a good quality and fair price that only reassured my decision to bring Alfried home. I haggled so hard for Mr. Sernau to make him mine. I texted back and forth with the dealer several times to firm up the offer. Then I did more research on the value of antique painted portraits too and I can't believe just how expensive they are online.

Regarding Neo Thissen, when you look through his instagram pics, you can conjure up an impression in your mind of how he looks from what you see on his instagram page

He's definitely not the person I was expecting to see, when he posted a rare pic of himself, He's quite young. He is so talented and gifted in his eye for curating antiques and offers endless inspiration. I love Neo Thissen's craft! Be sure to check out his house in April's Architectural Digest it's quite lovely. There's a link to the article in his instagram bio.

Posting the link to see the pics enlarged.
https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5758296/vintage-thrifted-jungalow-style-needs-upgrading-one-room-at-a-time#addAnswer

I think your room is interesting. But I read this thread and cringed a little. I think you were harsh and honestly rude to design interior south. She was taking her time out to help you. Which was kind of her to do. Good luck to you and I hope your room turns out the way you would like.

Jinx, I spend time on Garden Web too mostly researching how to care for my plants.

Below is a link to Urban Jungle Blog instagram site where I also get most of my house plant inspiration and also care tips and can sink hours looking at this site.

Urban Jungle Blog Instagram site.

Here's pics from my sun room.

Thank you for sharing that IG account! Your sunroom is fabulous. Mmm, I so love plants and the beauty, smells, textures of them. You have a great collection — what is the tallest one? It looks like a type of cactus, but I can’t tell. It’s very interesting!

Jinx, thanks.

It's a Euphorbia Trigona or African milk bush. It's a succulent.