A year and a half ago I delved into updating our living room.
Back in the day, 1999, I had decked this room out in a very traditional flavor of damask, chintz, elaborate fringes, and oriental style rugs.
I was a happy homeowner for about eight years.
Then, as suddenly as turning a page, I didn't love it any more.
In fact, I get the same feeling looking at old pictures of this room as I do of looking at older pictures of myself with big hair or shoulder pads.
I am convinced that when I started over in this living room that I was influenced by all of the neutral spaces and white rooms that I was seeing on the internet. As a result I followed the trend and decided to paint the walls a pale cream and introduce more conservative taupes and off whites to this room in the way of furniture and draperies.
For a color lover like myself this was a bold move.
I knew I needed SOME color so I had the ceiling painted copper - a color that warmed up the room but was still neutral enough that I could introduce any number of colors later and change them up as the spirit moved me.
Since I last showed you my progress here I brought back some lamps to the mantel that used to be here but then some time last year were moved into the library. I also stole the black and white and bejeweled accent box from another room in the house to bring a bit more interest to the mantel layout.
I've been thinking of painting that wall behind the mirror but I just can't commit yet or maybe it is that I have a whole list of projects that seem to be more pressing than this one.
I also know I need some accent pillows on those chairs but I haven't gotten around to that yet either.
I did, though, score this colorful canvas last week and knew it had to come home with me. I wasn't even sure which room I would put it in but I loved the black background and the vibrant flowers felt like a welcome dose of Spring.
For now I have settled on hanging it here...
... at the other end of the living room, and I think I am liking it. It brings a bit of unexpected informality, not to mention a mega dose of color, to this stylized room.
I had been thinking of a large nude charcoal drawing here. Something sophisticated and dramatic that would be more in line with the Hollywood Regency look I have been going for. I haven't seen what I am looking for but for now I think this splash of Spring color that didn't cost me much $$ will happily fill the bill.
I am even inspired enough to take my cue from the canvas and maybe add some bright pink or golden orange pillows to those chairs as a way of repeating the colors and bring a touch of life to the other end of the room.
It will be my Spring and Summer look,
:D
because you know the only reason I went with all of these neutrals is so I can change it up continually.
xoxo,
P
Linking up my Colorful dash here:
