Summer in the Living Room

Isn't it funny how you can see a space every single day but not really see it?  Lately, I've been looking at our living room and dining room space and realizing how "flat" and uninteresting is seems to me.  I'm not sure if I've just grown tired of its monochromatic color scheme, or if it was actually boring all along and I simply didn't realize it.  I think sometimes we can have tunnel vision about how we see our rooms and what we think they need (or at least I know I can.)

So, I've been trying to gradually interject bits of color and texture to liven up these rooms.  Eventually, I'd love to wallpaper the long wall that connects the two spaces to add some much-needed interest and to contrast the wall from the sectional.  But, until then, the interest has to come from accessories and flowers.

The accent color I have had in here for a long time is a leafy warm green (no surprise, right?) and I still really like it.  But recently I've been using teal as a second accent, because it adds another dimension in color but still keeps the scheme relatively serene.  You may have seen my small teal accent wall here (and a reminder photo below) which is actually fairly dramatic in this mostly-sand-colored room!   As more teal is added to the area, that bold wall will be better balanced.

I bought this new lamp with its hint of cool color.  Then, I took it a step further and decided to paint the table that it sits on.  This table was a hand-me-down from my in-laws' home but wasn't in the best shape.  The top was pretty scratched up, so Mr. RM didn't hesitate when I asked if he minded my painting it.  (He's come a long way after years of being married to a "designing woman" - from the guy who used to consider it a capital crime to paint wood furniture, to the guy who sometimes even suggests it himself!)

A bowl, purchased at our local university's annual student pottery sale, is a new addition to my coffee table styling and is a great place to corral coasters when not in use. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but the inside of the bowl is a muted teal. Books, my favorite hand sculptures, a metal orb and mosaic tray complete the look. And I found some chippy old corbels at a recent vintage market, which add character. We do watch tv in this room, so the coffee table accessories have to allow for open-sight lines.

I like to keep the vignette atop our heirloom cabinet (another treasure from my hubby's parents' home) very simple so it doesn't visually compete with the "busy" photo display inside. This vase is new - I found it on Etsy. I love its teal and green glaze, which perfectly compliments the new scheme. It will be fun to create modern arrangements in it with stems, flowers, and leaves. There are fresh flowers and eucalyptus in it for this shot, but I'll probably go a little "cleaner" in the future.

If you follow me on Instagram (here) you may have seen the arrangement I threw together for the dining room table (seriously, it's just faux picks and branches "artfully" shoved into an urn.) I like to use branches that spray up and out of an arrangement to make a visual impact and create movement. When arranging flowers, don't be afraid to let wispy branches and stems reach almost to a chandelier or overlap art/mirrors, etc. This helps to create a cohesive grouping and adds drama to a room. Yellow is cheerful and plays well with green and blue, so I veered off of the basic scheme here.

That's it for this mini-tour of my summer living room. Like I said before, I'll continue to look at this space with fresh eyes. The plan going forward is to include more color, texture, and interest, while keeping in mind that it is one of the most-used rooms in the house, by humans and dogs, alike! Stay tuned for more updates in here and for other room tours...

I hope you're enjoying your summer.

Julie



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