The Living Room (also, I'm back, inspired by the return of DOMINO)

I realize it's been months since my last post, and really, there is no excuse.  I was actually serisouly thinking of giving up blogging for good.  I won't get into all the details of why, but alas, I have decided to return!    Just like my favorite magazine.

Oh, Domino...you always have a special place in my heart, even though I can't afford one thing on their new "store website".  (Not crazy about that whole idea, but hoping it works out and keeps them in business!)

One of my biggest struggles with blogging right now is getting pictures taken and onto the computer .  I have a hard time taking them when the light is right, when there is not stuff strewn all over the floor.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to paint a picture that our house looks perfect all the time.  It doesn't, not even close.  Here's proof.

But, if I'm blogging about decorating, then I'm going to show you pretty pictures, and I'm not going to feel guilty for wanting to make things look as nice as they can before I take pictures.

So, here is the living room post.  (Remember, I said I was going to go through the house room by room to share progress).  Yesterday while Brady was napping and Aiden was still at school, I had the energy to fluff the pillows and take some pictures.

Our living room has actually evolved quite a bit since we moved in.  Our awesome console/cabinet that Rob built last year did not work in this space.  So, we decided to just accept it and move on.  We moved the buffet table from the dining room in here, and it worked perfectly, except that the wall to the left felt like it needed something.

Rob built these shelves using track brackets and I stained cheap Ikea shelves that he cut down to the right size.  It was a super easy, cheap project, and exactly what the room needed.  I wanted to keep a good 3-4 feet underneath open for toy storage, but wanted to be able to have shelves to "style".  I love having spaces to do this too, and that can be switched up easily.

Sidenote: if you are not getting storage baskets/containers from Home Goods, we can't be friends.  Their selection is INSANE and it is so cheap, it is ridiculous.  That huge basket for toys was $24.99.  Compare that to this Pottery Barn one.  I mean, WHAT?!!  If I ever meet someone who buys baskets from Pottery Barn, I will most definitely beat them up.

I also got the "dipped" one for $16.99, which I use for blanet storage over by the blue dresser.  Painted baskets are very in right now, and if I can find one for that cheap, that's already painted!  You see how exctited I get over these types of things?

The curtains I made from fabric I already had, I just need to get around to ordering more for the third side window.  I basically just hemmed the fabric to the size of the inside of the window, and hung them from a tension rod.  We flip them up around the back when they're up. With the kids always jumping  on the sofa, anything with strings is just not an option.  I love the woodwork in this house and I'm trying to keep a lot of it exposed.

I recovered our ottoman.  That thing was one of my best purchases because it has held up to the kids being so rough with it.  Finally, after about 5 years, it had a small rip in the back, which I didn't attempt to fix soon enough, so it turned into a big rip.  I already had the fabric from curtains in our old house that I didn't plan on using here, so I got out my trusty staple gun and went to town.  It cost nothing and looks great.

You will also notice that we brought down the white chair that was up in our bedroom.  This chair is so comfy and it wasn't getting good use in our bedroom.  It was also a little too big for the space next to the bed, so one day I decided to switch the two chairs.  I am hoping the white chair eventually ends up in the boy's room once we have more room in there.  Something a little more modern would be my preference for the space, but this works fine for now.  The side table next to it was inherited from my parent's move and I painted it dark deal.

The map in between the windows is also a cheap quick fix.  I would love a piece of art for that space, something abstract perhaps?  I'm trying to convince Rob to paint something, but he's being modest about his talent.  The map was a $10 ebay find.  It's actually a poster that is made to look like an old map and I mostly liked the soft colors.  Rob made the dowels for it and we just hung it with string.

This post is getting way too long, so I'm going to stop there for now.  Notice how I did not give you any peaks into the dining room?  I want to keep it a suprise!

Thanks for hanging in there with me.  I promise it won't be 3 months til my next post!