Ready to show you my living room today! 

(That is… my perfectly clean living room that never looks like this.  No - the pillows are on the floor for jumping on, the ottoman is gaping open, the desk is piled with papers and books, there is no carpet visible beneath toys and books and endless Cheerios.  You get the idea.  But you probably don’t want a picture of that…)

Obviously it’s a combination space, with a home office area included.  That’s the bonus in buying an older condo - they were built with bigger living spaces in the 70’s and 80’s!

I worked hard to make this home office as functional and as aesthetically simple and unobtrusive as possible.  Really editing the shelves, using storage in boxes and in the hutch in the dining room, using the clear acrylic Louis ghost-style chair, and choosing a vanity table instead of a full desk help keep it all streamlined.

Its crazy to think that I reupholstered ALL of the furniture in the living room - sofa, chairs, and ottoman (and the Louis chairs in the dining room too).  Like seriously crazy.  I am insane.  They’re all at different levels of “doneness”, and I’m happier with some than others.  But overall they give the look I want for the room, and what they lack in professional finish they make up for in affordability!

About 2 years ago, when I settled on the idea that we were going to be in the condo for a few years I decided to really embrace decorating it - and I saw it as a chance to experiment and self-teach.  It’s been fun to figure out layering patterns, materials, which colours I like to live with, etc.  I love the paint colour - Woodlawn Blue from Benjamin Moore - but in the greyish light of our one East-facing balcony window it feels a bit too dark/cool for me most days.  I think it’s a colour I’ll use in a smaller space in the future (like a powder room or entry or laundry room).  And even though I love all things fresh and be beachy (you know blue + white, and painted furniture), I’ve discovered that I really need some wood tones, and a healthy dose of warm colours. (The punches of orange in this room make me so happy.)

The corner fireplace is not something I’d normally recommend, but it works perfectly in our space, since there are just two short walls in that corner.  It keeps the flow through the apartment easy, and makes the most of an awkward space.

We do 95% of our living in this room.  The kids play here, we read here, we watch TV here - it is the centre of our home for sure.  We store toys in bins beneath the couch and in the storage ottoman, and the ottoman can be pushed back out of the way or used to play on.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with this room!