Before & After: Living Room Remix In A New Home

When you move into a new home, especially after relocating from state to state, or even across the country, turning a new house into a 'home' can be challenging. What once worked together needs to be pulled apart, and sometimes that in itself can become a little un-nerving, but also exciting at the same time. There is no rush - Live in the space! Last Summer, in our rental home in Phoenix (you can read here), I started collecting blue & white Chinese inspired vases and jars (also known as Chinoiserie). Rather than put them away all year until this Summer, I displayed the collection in my study / office and loved it. But the collection grew! Since I was looking to create more flow in our new home, I pulled a few of the pieces out of my office, and brought them into the living room, striking just the right balance & updated style for our new home...

When I packed to move back east last Fall, I did a pretty major purge - letting go of accessories I had for several years, keeping only the true favorites. And even after unpacking, and living in the space, I still have loaded up the car to take a load to consign and donate things no longer fitting my personal style or new lifestyle - and that happens (in both fashion and decor!) Mixing old and new accents is a good way to stay grounded -- it feels familiar, and familiarity = comfort). Adding of a few new pieces is a way to breathe new life or re-energizing a space...

 

 Old bowl from Goodwill, now filled with 

new shells collected from our trip to Vero Beach, FL this year...

 

 

Old vintage gilded bamboo frames renewed with a quick DIY project 

(DIY details coming up in my next post!)

 

The same sofa got refreshed not only with pillows, but a new patterned rug, a fresh focal point on the wall, and  tweaking of a furniture arrangement. And for summer, rather than just fresh cut palms (because there aren't any around here to cut) I picked up two palms at Lowes (back in May - only 2 for $14!)

 

Boxwood spheres give a hint of (fresh/faux) green, but still look crisp & architectural in form. the blue bench (once storage in our master bedroom) was relaocated out of my office into the living room for a pop of color...

 

When I unpacked my shells, I first placed them all together inside the bench, so when it was time to "decorate",  I'd pull them out to use, and after summer, most will return to their storage area.

 My blue & white office / study...

Whether you're seeking to create an update for a new space, or refresh an existing room, you can create a refreshed home with these six styling tips:  

1. Get inspired not only from magazines & Pinterest, but also visit your local store displays for seasonal style inspiration. 

 2. Look no further than what you already have: Rethink a simple shift of lamp shades, side tables or chairs from room to room. 

3. Shop your own closets, cabinets, and garage for your style story. 

4. If you 'feel' like something is missing, follow your instinct - but check your local secondhand shops & your favorite home stores for that special treasure to pull together your look -- without breaking the bank. 

5. Think out of the box: Even a pretty patterned table runner can be reinvented into new wall art!

6. Paint existing accessory pieces in a new color or finish (a lacquered accent can be the equivalent to patent pumps amping up your LBD!)

 

 

LIVING ROOM FIREPLACE BEFORE

The tv hole (previous owners filled with tchotchkes!) is still there, but I camouflaged it with an oversized blank leaning canvas - a Phoenix score, I'm still waiting to be inspired to paint :) Eventually, I'd like to convert this into a panel-hidden-hinged door, to keep it as hidden storage (especially for the next homeowner - storage value).

Pulling together your new home does take time -- it's not all about the weekend warrior makeovers tv shows feature - Those too are filmed over time, and with far more people than they sometimes lead you to believe. But just as you do with your wardrobe, enjoy your space living with the things you love, and that includes pets as well as people...

 

Sephora is VERY comfortable in her new surroundings.

This Fall, I'll be replacing this (seriously) old coffee table with a Ming coffee table I found at a local consignment shop. Since temps are to cool off this weekend, I just may have to work on refinishing it - and bring this table downstairs to the mancave! :)

IMO - the key to creating a collected space is to not buy everything all at once, and not from any one store plus also have a balance of splurge and save.

Below are a few Living Room Decor Details from this space

• Various Blue/White & White vases / jars: HomeGoods, At Home, Consignment, thrift (2014 & 2015)
• Boxwood spheres - HomeGoods + Michael's (2013 & 2015)
• Brass & Acrylic lamps & black shades - HomeGoods (2013 & 2014)
• Black & White Sofa Pillows (linen covers) $4 - Goodwill AZ (2012)
• Blue & White Stripe Pillows - prize/free - Zinc Door (2011)
• Blue Tufted Bench & Small Blue frames - HomeGoods (2013)
• Blue White Black sofa pillows - Target (2015)
• White Leather Barcelona Chairs (2) - free - old store display :) (2014)
• White sofa - (1999)
• White Alabaster pedestal bowl w/coral - Bowl: Goodwill AZ Coral: Florida Keys
• Blue & White Garden Stool - $35 - etc Consignment, Winston-Salem (2015)
• Brass Accent Table - Goodwill, AZ (2013)
• Wicker tray - Habitat ReStore, High Point (2015)
• Scented candles - HomeGoods (2014 & 2015)
• Small wood table - $10 - Red White Blue Thrift, Miami (2000)
• Orchids + Framed dock photo - HomeGoods (2014)
• Stripe Window Panels - HomeGoods (2015)
• Large blank brass framed canvas - $25 - Ultimate Consignment, AZ (2014)
• Round mirror - JCP (2007) 
• TV unit - Ikea (2009)
• Tall white vases - $10 clearance Target, AZ (2013)
• Greek Key Cement Planters (small) - $9 - the Red Collection, Greensboro (2015)
• Greek Key Cement Planters (large) - Liberty Antiques Festival (2015)
• Greek Fret area rug $149 - At Home, Greensboro (2015)

(previous owners)  LIVING ROOM BEFORE

LIVING ROOM AFTER

and the growing pains in between...

 Painting before moving in...

week of Thanksgiving... ugh...

December (after Christmas)...

March...

Summertime, May thru August...

I really didn't get to enjoy Fall decorating last year because of the move -- Super excited to live back east, and experience the true change of seasons, especially with all the glorious trees that are already starting to change color - right in our own back yard! 

There's no place like home...

Thanks for stopping by!

THRIFTED CHIC: BLACK & WHITE LIVING ROOM on CHAIRISH

I'm humbled and grateful for the recent attention to my black & white living room. No magazine photo shoot or book publication, but it was still nice to see my living room design featured and shared on three separate Internet sites. One site was a surprise site feature I discovered while doing a Google search: My living room was featured as "Steal This Look - Focal Point Styling Edition" at a relatively new site called Chairish. The site used my living room photo to curate a collection of product on their site to sell. Great concept, especially since the site sells cool vintage pieces. Thankfully, Chairish included a link-back to by blog in their feature. The second feature was from HomeGoods, who shared the photo I had pinned (to the Design Happy board) via their social media channels on Facebook and Twitter as a Friday Fave. On Facebook, the photo received 7003 likes and was shared 366 times. One Pinterest, the image was repinned 419 times. Along with these two features, I also received an email from a New Orleans based Stylist / Blogger, author of WhitneyJDecor.com, complimenting me on my style and asking me if she could use my photos to post a feature on her blog - Delighted and grateful, I said yes - You can read Whitney's post at Designer Love: Lynda Quintero-Davids Black and White Living Room. Thank you for the features and shares. Here is the story behind my thrifted chic black & white living room style...

 

 

Of all the seasonal changes I've done to our rental  home here in AZ, I think Jeff and I enjoyed this the most. It's an eclectic mix of past and present - our past with thrift finds from Florida mixed with  unique finds to Arizona (such as the cow skull Jeff brought home from work one day.) The buffet at the window was one of my first thrift finds I refinished for our first home we bought together in 2006, topped with a B&W Rothko print I found here at Goodwill AZ. The directors chairs and wood + chrome end tables were from the Salvation Army thrift in Pembroke Pines, FL, while the lacquered burl wood parson side table was given to use from a neighbor after I was loving it during our neighborhood garage sale. She had told me it was from 1stDibs - which was the first time I had ever heard of it (back in 2009). The white shag rug - is actually two 5x8 rugs - I found on our first paint trip to Home Depot when we moved out to Arizona (a true steal at only $19 each!) 

The black picture frames, with B&W landscape photos (I made from calender images) are old fitting room frames that were going to be trashed at my old job (at JCP). The two silver frames (leaning at the wall unit) were also fitting room frames - I replaced images with fabric my friend Jose gave me back in Florida. The Nate Berkus Fringed Dhurrie Runner was a fantastic find on HSN for only $30. The window rods I was able to repurpose from our Florida home, but I couldn't use any of the panels (even though most are 96"). Since this place we're renting has so many more windows, I washed and hung (8 new) canvas drop cloths for window panels - and I did find enough sheers (long enough) from Goodwill AZ. Both help to defuse the light, block heat in summer and block cold in winter. Other finds from Goodwill are the brass accents, along with some books, trays and bowls too. The black box and stripe boxes were from HomeGoods: one holds remotes, the other holds some of Sephora's cat toys.

 

 

The gold mirror gallery wall is a collection of mirrors I've gathered from working at JCPenney, deals at HomeGoods and finds from thrift. Painting them different shades of gold helped unite them for the focal point behind the sofa. The TV wall unit and one tribal lumbar pillow were from Ikea (3 years apart!) The black shades and maze pillows I picked up at HomeGoods here in AZ, while the chrome buffet lamps, houndstooth throw, and Barcelona chair I got at HomeGoods in Miami. The mercury lamps were from JCP.com (back in '08). The bamboo & glass coffee table (I painted gold) is from Faith Farm Thrift in Ft. Lauderdale, while the small solid wood pedestal table (between the directors chairs) was a $10 find here at Goodwill AZ.

 

 The Ralph Lauren book is probably my favorite gift I've ever received: When I worked at JCPenney, I planned and coordinated the cross-divisional rollout for American Living in our Aventura store. At the time, this launch was a pretty big deal: American Living was deigned by Ralph Lauren exclusively for JCPenney. I think the deal sprung up because the CEO was neighbor to RL - anyhow - my then boss, Mack T. Jones knew of my love and admiration for Ralph Lauren, so when the rollout was complete - meaning our store was set with fixtures, construction, merchandise, signing and display rigs PLUS we had also passed inspection by a corporate visit - including representatives of Ralph Lauren - Mr. Jones called me into his office and gave me the book as a "thank you" for a job well done. He even signed it - and we still keep in touch via LinkedIn.

 The look has definitely been collected over time and done on a slim budget - achievable with a little savvy shopping, a simple shift, and shopping thrift - not to mention, it reflects my wardrobe choices as well! Have you gone thrifting or been to HomeGoods  lately? What were some of your finds?

Thank you again for the features...

 

 

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 ... and thanks for stopping by!

Note: This post is sponsored by HomeGoods and shared on the Happy By Design board on Pinterest. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.