Hey there! We continue the home tour today. Let’s head to the living room. When you enter our home you have two choices. You can enter into the living room or continue on into the dining room. The layout of our home is original to it’s 1920’s build. Most of the rooms connect to one another. It’s unique. And the kids love it. They can run one big circle throughout the home. We enjoy it too, although the noise level with the circling, wood floors, and high ceilings can get pretty high. But that’s when we know to shoo the babies outside.
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As always lets start with a couple before photos.
These built ins were a big selling feature for this home. Their condition is perfect. Their storage is so valuable. I keep books in one side and my collection of quilts in the other.
Yikes. This room, that pink. As in all the rooms, once the house was rewired we peeled wallpaper, 5 layers. The plaster was in amazing shape so we repaired a few cracks and sanded smooth. We refinished the floors. Painted a nice light white, Linen Tread by Valspar. We added a ceiling fan. I’m not always a big fan of ceiling fans. But I was able to find a nice clean and classic looking fan and a light kit that had a schoolhouse style light.
We also didn’t have A/C when we moved in. It wasn’t in the reno budget. So ceiling fans were very necessary. They are just so practical. That means we are adults, right?
Don’t worry we have A/C now. Hallelujah.
In full disclosure I was able to quickly tidy and fluff this room while the kids were distracted with their birthday present and their father. We got them a trampoline. Trying to work on that noise level and burn some of that energy. They love it.
Our living room is cozy. It isn’t large or expansive by any means. But we love the comfortable atmosphere it creates. The builtin bench provides extra seating for when we have company. The bench on the other side of the room can be cleared for seating as well.
The recliner is totally my chair. We bought it when Millie was 3 weeks old and I let my guard down of not owning a big ugly recliner. It’s leather and I’ve nursed my babies to sleep every night in it. Best purchase ever.
Friends and fellow junk lovers gave me this window from an old church. I love its simplicity.
Honestly I’ve struggled a bit in finding decor for this room. I want to highlight the woodwork, but not overwhelm it. I want to have pretty things but I don’t want clutter because we do have toys in this room. I’ve also struggled with the wood trim. Now, that probably sounds blasphemous and confusing.
The wood trim is something I absolutely love about this home. But every time I go to find inspiration on Pinterest I gravitate towards rooms with painted trim. Every time I try to pick out a frame, or piece of furniture, I actually go towards wood and then I feel like it competes or ends up looking hodge-podge with many different wood tones. But right now, I’m feeling pretty good about where this room is.
I think in every home you have to work through these types of kinks. Figure out what works for you and your home.
About a year after we moved in I was really struggling with this room. But one day it just seemed to click. I had two trunks in the garage and we needed a new end table. I thought, “Lets see if they stack.” They did. To the perfect height. I really think it was that little success that gave me some momentum. I added the drop cloth curtains to this room too. They are just so dang cheap and easy!
Yes, we have toys in our living room. Not everyone wants this and that’s fine. But our theory is this, it’s their home too. They live, learn, and play here. And truthfully? We want to build “the biggest tower ever” while watching the Great British Baking show. It’s just who we are. So we keep a small collection of toys in the living room. We don’t do toys with batteries anyway -our kids are loud enough- and we can play together right here.
I know, I need to get an E for Elsie girl.
I arrange and rotate toys throughout the week because I find they play better when things are reset.
I love me a good gallery wall. Then I don’t have to make a decision on what to hang. It all can belong.
The tool apron with the arrangement was found in our garage. It says our town on it. The artwork with the girl was my grandmas when she was little. The tin frame is made from an antique ceiling tile. The Jesus fan in the corner of this photo was given to me by my Grandma too.
I’m a collector.
Just a couple weeks ago I did a rug swap between the living room and the dining room. This rug is so much softer and I really feel like they belong in their spots now. I don’t know why I waited so long to do this. I’m going to buy a rug pad for this rug for added comfort.
The TV stand was one of Jerrel’s first projects. He sanded it down for me and stained it. We joke often about building a tiny home. We build our imaginary tiny home around that bakers table. It’s just one of my favorite things.
One thing that I completely know, my design style is includes plants and photography. I don’t get particularly excited about Hobby Lobby style decor anymore because vintage art, old things, plants, and photography speak to my soul. They tell our story better than any piece of MDF with words could. Except for the Give Me Jesus sign. If you know what I’m talking about, then you know what I’m talking about.
I will alway tell people to work with what you’ve got, shop your home, and buy what you love. Stay true to what you really love. It’ll all work out in the end.
The pillows are made from vintage grain sacks I just bleached them a couple weeks ago to lighten up the space. They turned out perfect!
So that’s the living room of The Craftsman. We’ve got a soft rug, a comfy chair and a cozy couch. Oh an a cute baby. Little sister. We love her dimple.
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Thanks for stopping by!
Jess