Well, the good news is that, barring the hanging of the closet doors, extensive caulking and a little touch up painting, the living room is finished and a lovely delight. I am thankful and truly surprised since I wasn’t sure how everything was going to look. I bought a couch off Craigslist about six months ago, grabbed a wool rug half off at Lowes right before Thanksgiving, then snagged a pair of chairs off Craigslist a week after that.
The couch spent the last month in the front entry, the chairs on opposite sides of the dining room and the rug was rolled up in the attic. Friday night David finished up the trim and yesterday afternoon Paul and I carried everything into the living room and arranged it.
The couch is a medium, brownish green, the chairs are a light camel and the rug is a light green, almost beige with lighter tones woven through. I chose a cream shade for the walls with absolutely no yellow or red in it and the trim is white. The floors are bamboo with it’s natural color.
In the weeks while we waited for the electrician, as we stared at the water-damaged tiles of the ceiling that was exposed after we removed the faux beams and first layer of drywall, I began to question the paint color. I had been wondering about the rug since before I bought it; not sure if it would work with the floor and the couch, but decided to buy it because of the quality and the price. I knew it would get us down the road and anything was an improvement on the ancient berber it replaced.
I thought the chairs would look good with the couch and hoped that there would be enough of a contrast with the rug, but it didn’t look hopeful. I planned to get some pillows or throws for the chairs to bring some color into the room.
Late in the game of redoing this room, I realized I didn’t have, what those in the business of personal training call, “a vision to lead me through the pain of transformation,” that is, the hope that it would all be worth it. I knew it would be better, and clean and new – which is NOTHING to sneeze at, I know – but I thought all the furnishings would look bland and boring or cold and unwelcoming.
But when we brought everything in yesterday, it all came together and rather than being bland it’s peaceful, which is exactly the sort of space our family needs.
My mom, who had stopped by to accompany us to the Christmas tree farm said several times, “It feels very calm.” That word has never been used to describe anything remotely associated with me and certainly not my décor, but she was right. I wanted to stay and keep putting things back, but we had an appointment with the Christmas tree farm – or so we thought – and the finishing touches would have to wait.
The kids do not have school for the third day in a row. Eden has been home sick since Monday and the living room has been piled in the dining room for three weeks.
We replaced our ancient berber carpet with bamboo and knocked out the faux beams on the ceiling, hoping to simply mud and resurface it. Alas, the drywall was warped so we had to tear it all down. While we were at it we decided to replace the dingy inset lights. There was a miscommunication with the electrician so he wasn’t able to come until Monday and then a little confusion about whether we needed to take the next layer of ceiling panels as well as an attic full of insulation (we didn’t) so he wasn’t able to actually do the work until yesterday. Tim, the drywaller, is here taping the panels. He should be done some time next week.
We generally get our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. The kids are missing it and wondering when we’re going to get one to which I reply, “I don’t know.” My sister-in-law offered the use of a miniature one but we have no place to put it. In the dining room we have its normal occupants: our table and five chairs, a low and a long bookcase filled with books. We removed the small secretary where we store our bills to make room for five upholstered chairs, a couch, a dresser, the TV, dvd player, two decorative boxes that store videos and dvds, a side table, two lamps, a compressor and a bucket of tools, 8 baskets that are normally in the living room closet and are my standing pile/file. We couldn’t fit the second couch and so it’s jammed against the wall in the front entry.
My bedroom (if you discount the closet which is stuffed with bags full of presents) and the kitchen are the only rooms I have a handle on, though the kitchen now acts as temporary storage for the living room light fixtures, the calendars – including the large wooden advent one- and any miscellaneous tools and paint brushes.
My task this weekend is to divest our home of one of the couches and three of the chairs and the garage of a large entertainment center that doesn’t work for the playroom/attic/residence of doom…when I’m not in class with Eden whose new favorite thing is playing school, having long talks with Lydia or studying with Christopher whose least favorite thing is doing school, but we insist.
I’ve fallen in love with another man.
I didn’t really believe in love at first sight until I saw a picture of him and I knew he had to belong to me.
Being short and fat he’s not handsome in the traditional sense, but I think he’s adorable.
Paul has not been at all reasonable, which is disappointing.
Don’t you think we belong together?