Family Room - Take 2

I revamped the family room a bit months ago and thought it was time to share the changes. I knew the ottoman had to go to the living room. That's really where it belonged from the get-go and I knew it. So when Diana was here and we got that great bookcase for teh LR I knew it was time. I brought the coffee table from the LR down to the FR and brought the ottoman up into the LR. I also got that great pillow for the sofa. Especially with the ottoman gone it made a huge difference. Very needed.

My terrific grandparents brought me a beautiful old sideboard on a visit last summer and it needed a home. I finally decided to switch it out with the other piece I had in the FR. The other sideboard I decided would be great for the new baby's room as a changing table and storage piece. I had cool glass knobs left from a window treatment that's not usable in this house, so I put them on this 'new' piece. They're perfect! And you may remember that I used the knobs from this 'new' piece to paint and put on my bookcase. (are you keeping all this straight?)

It's a great old piece, this sideboard is. Beautiful mahogany with wonderful graining, but it's old and needs quite a bit of love. If I leave it unpainted it will also feel old to me, and I want it to feel fresh and unique, with old-time character built in. So I have decided to paint it. Surprise surprise. Diana was brilliant in suggesting that I paint it a shade darker than my walls. A second outside eye is sometimes needed, even if you're a designer!

Kris was right on when suggesting a cool vase for the chest. I found this great number on clearance and knew it had to go somewhere in the house! I plucked branches on a walk and spray painted them. You can't tell, but they're painted dark brown. I tried white first - ew! It was terrible. I decided neutral and dark was needed, but not black. To everyone else I'm sure they have no idea I painted them, but it deepened the color, kept it uniform, and made the branches a good background for whatever I choose to display.

The picture is a cheap print and frame from our other house and I thought it was perfect here. Just enough. Oh, and the backpacks under the chest are our 72-hour kits that I am still trying to finish. They'll be moved to the garage, hopefully soon!

I glued paper 'berries' on the branches for a little summer fun. Some day I may be on the ball enough to change it out for holidays and seasons. Another lofty goal of mine.

I did paint the magnet board, very yellow. I forgot to get a pic of it. I have cleared more of the 'stuff' by the tv, though.