Table Talk

Hi Cottage Friends.

So, I took time this past week to do some furniture painting, starting with my little $3.99 Goodwill patio table. This is how it looked before.

Not too exciting in its original state, but after applying a can of Rustoleum Antique White spray paint, it took on a whole new personality. Not only does the white bring out all the pretty details, but it brightens up this spot, too.

Another one of my thrift store finds got a makeover this week. While nosing around Habitat for Humanity recently, I found this little table with no price on it. 

A nice young man who works there told me I could have it for $7.00. Needless to say, I happily took it home. I knew it would be perfect next to my chair and ottoman.

I didn't want a large table, just a side table big enough to hold my coffee while I have my morning devotions. (Right now I'm enjoying online Morning and Evenings devotionals by Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon's wisdom and ability to articulate biblical principles with heart and candor inspire me.)

I debated about how to paint this table since it sits in front of my floor lamp (new from the days when I worked at Pier 1) which has a lot of distressing. I love the lamp and didn't want my table to compete with it. Then I came across a pin on Pinterest that inspired me.

Source

I wondered what would happen if I sanded the finish off the top of my little table. Would I end up with the same natural color as the inspiration table? It turns out my intuition was right and that the original wood is very close to the color of the wood on the inspiration table. Painting the rest of the table white was easy peasy. I still need to put a protective wax or poly on the top, but I'm happy with the finished product.

I took my granddaughter to brunch today to celebrate her 19th birthday. Her birthday was actually last week, but between her work schedule (she's a CNA, working her way through nursing school -- I'm so proud of that young lady) and my work schedule, we had to postpone our date until today. We enjoyed eggs benedict and lots of girl talk. When we got back to her parents' house I hung out with everyone for awhile and then headed home. On the way home I stopped at one of my favorite thrift stores just to look. I really didn't plan on buying anything. However, I did find another table for my living room; solid wood priced at $15.

You know I'm going to change it up, don't you? Any thoughts on what I should do?

Hugs,

35 Cottage Style Living Rooms that Inspire

In keeping with this month's Every Room In The House party, which is taking place in The Living Room through tomorrow, I'm sharing inspiration photos I've collected this week.  I did a google search for "Cottage Living Rooms", and these are some of the ones that showed up.  I'm not sure I would classify all of them as "cottage", but I'll let you decide.

Whether you like loads of color, a limited palette, or mostly neutrals, I have a feeling you'll find something in each of these rooms that will speak to you.  Beautiful rooms begin with great architecture, and that's something all these living and family rooms have in common.

 Traditional Living Room by Harbor Springs Interior Designers & Decorators Cottage Company Interiors
1. Cool and crisp. Green and white check wallpaper, spring colors, beadboard ceiling and the fan give this the feel of a garden room.  Great mantel detail.

 Beach Style Family Room by Atlanta Architects & Designers Historical Concepts
2.  Vintage.  Turquoise draws attention to the window and door trim.  Note the transom window above the doorway, the oars near the ceiling, and the hanging lights at the windows.

Traditional Living Room by New York Media & Bloggers Rizzoli New York
3. Calm.  White and sand with a whisper of blue.  Interesting ceiling treatment, wonderful accessories.

Traditional Living Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Lola Watson Interior Design
4. English Country charm.  Red and white and beautiful all over.
Layering the  window valances over bamboo rollups and an antique rug over a sisal carpet keep the room from being too formal. The green shade on the walls is a wonderful compliment to the red.

Traditional Living Room by Redwood City General Contractors Lencioni Construction
5.  Elegant.  A formal traditional living room with a very restful palette.

Traditional Family Room by Santa Barbara General Contractors Giffin & Crane General Contractors, Inc.
6. Stripes and toile.  High pitch ceiling, lots of white trim, mix and match red fabrics and a turquoise surprise in the pillows.  The dark clocks give eyes a place to rest.  Nice touch.

Traditional Family Room by San Francisco Architects & Designers Arcanum Architecture
7. Contemporary Country.  White with just a dab of color.

Contemporary Living Room by Calabasas Interior Designers & Decorators Jill Wolff Interior Design

8. Modern twist.  Contemporary fabrics and sectional, sleek coffee table and unpretentious chairs.

Traditional Living Room by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Adeeni Design Group
9. Rich and warm.  Fabulous ceiling, gorgeous colors and a beautiful stone fireplace.  This is a room for winter nights.

Traditional Living Room by Wilmette Architects & Designers Boomgaarden Architects
10. Light and soft.  Pastels against a white backdrop, with the surprise of brown.  The white fireplace with the built in cupboards could get lost in this room if it weren't for the subtle but effective wall color and the artful display above the mantel.

Traditional Living Room by Costa Mesa Interior Designers & Decorators squarefoot interior design
11. Understated.  Neutral with just a hint of color.  Great ceiling and wall detail.  The mantel surrounding the little stove is a delightful touch.

Traditional Living Room by Saratoga Springs Design-Build Firms Witt Construction
12. Naturals. Great fireplace with built in bookshelves, and welcoming window seat.  Fabric colors compliment the stone.

Traditional Living Room by Beaufort Architects & Designers Allison Ramsey Architects
13.  Bring the Outdoors In.  The medium tone wood is beautiful against the white in this room.  A single green accent color echoes the colors of nature just outside the windows.

Traditional Living Room by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Jana Happel Interior Design
14.  Cozy. I think I actually featured this room in a prior post, which tells me I must like it.   I think it's that stone fireplace and the floral chairs that most appeal to me.

Beach Style Living Room by Savannah Interior Designers & Decorators Joel Snayd
15. Casual.  An unexpected pop of red in this beach cottage.

Traditional Living Room by Miami Interior Designers & Decorators GIL WALSH INTERIORS
16. Pretty Cottage.  Soft blue and red, plaids and florals, a dutch door, white board and batten.

Traditional Living Room by Harbor Springs Interior Designers & Decorators Cottage Company Interiors
17. White and Navy.  Architectural details take center stage in this room.  The coffee table repeats the shape of the fireplace.  Arches at the top of the windows, the scalloped shades, and the slipcovers soften the room.

Beach Style Living Room by Portland Interior Designers & Decorators Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.
18. Vanilla and blue.  Varying shades of blue and French vanilla.   Fantastic windows and molding throughout.

Traditional Living Room by Wilmington Design-Build Firms RMB Building & Design
19. Primary colors.  This is a room that bursts with color. Bright and cheerful. 

Traditional Living Room by Sydney Media & Bloggers A Beach Cottage
20. White and Khaki.  A mellow and comfy looking room.

Eclectic Living Room by Matthews Media & Bloggers Two Story Cottage
21. Earthtones.  The faux fireplace with mirror is very creative.  Beautiful board and batten and molding.  Colors one would find in a forest floor, with a mere suggestion of blue in the rug.

Traditional Family Room by Minneapolis Furniture & Accessories Unique By Design Ltd.
22.  Buttercream and white.  The stripe fabric on the sofa and the ball feet on the tables keep this room playful.

Traditional Living Room by Minneapolis Furniture & Accessories Unique By Design Ltd.
23.  Romantic.  Beautiful fabrics and chandelier, and a pink blush on the walls.

Eclectic Living Room by Shelter Island Architects & Designers SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.
24. Bold accents.  Black and white stripes make a statement.

Transitional Family Room by Dallas Home Builders Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC
25.  Sophisticated.  Soothing colors in a contemporary room. Nice furniture arrangement for conversation.

Traditional Living Room by Miami Interior Designers & Decorators GIL WALSH INTERIORS
26. Cheery.  Primary colors and lots of light. Ceiling detail repeats the entry door's window pattern.

Farmhouse Living Room by Raleigh Media & Bloggers Home & Harmony
27.  Serenely white.  Varying shades of white and neutrals in this room soothe the soul.

Farmhouse Living Room by Newton Center Media & Bloggers Justine Hand
28.  Neutrals for the minimalist.  A very pared down room.

Traditional Living Room by Costa Mesa Architects & Designers Brandon Architects, Inc.
29.  Match the art.  It appears the painting was the inspiration for this color scheme.  Very nice.

Traditional Living Room by Rockville Interior Designers & Decorators Decorating Den Interiors - Michelle Belsito, CID
30.  Masculine.  A man would be very comfortable in this room, I should think.  Again, look how the color choices are pulled from the painting over the mantel.

Rustic Living Room by Venice Architects & Designers tumbleweed and dandelion.com
31.  French vintage.  Great use of red as an accent.  Wonderful grain sack fabric.  Light and airy window treatment.

Beach Style Living Room by Costa Mesa Architects & Designers Brandon Architects, Inc.
32. Grey and white.  Pleasing symmetry.  Good use of twin chests and lamps on either side of the fireplace.

Traditional Family Room by Atlanta Architects & Designers William T Baker
33.  Nautica.  Does this not look like a Nautica ad?

Traditional Living Room
34.  White and tan.  Beautiful ceiling and glass front built in.
The curves in the furniture lend a feminine touch.

Rustic Living Room
35. Rustic.  This is a unique room.

I want to show you more. . .

Rustic Living Room


and more. . .

Rustic Living Room

and you have to see the sea view. . .

Rustic Living Room


Which one of these living rooms is your favorite?  Is there a particular architectural detail that struck you?  I'd love to know.


Oh, and there's still time to link up your living or family room at Every Room In The House - The Living Room.  But hurry, the linky closes February 28. 
 

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