SUBURBAN * POP

Do you have a room you just can’t get to work? Mine is my family room. Every time I share I say the same thing. It bugs me that I can’t get my favorite room in our house to submit to my will. And even though I have big fun future plans in here to warm the space up with some wood wall features, and even though we’ve finally cleaned up our TV cords and put in new baseboards (hey-oh!), nothing can bring it together as long as one thing remains: the couch. I’ve had a hunch it was the problem piece for a while but have been trying to incorporate it anyway. And today I give up. I love the design, size, and in theory the color. But it reads blue in some light and at those moments it throws the whole room off; I’m letting it take the fall for the reason this room always feels unfinished. A big blue sore thumb sticking out in a room of warm earth tones…
You feel me??? I’m resolved to solve the prob.

My first attempt was to look for a new couch, one that was bigger with mid-century lines in a warm tone. And I actually began the process of clearing out old blue in anticipation (and even sold the matching behemoth chair that I’ve never found a spot for yay!). But the more I looked at new couches (and prices), the more I realized I only wanted ones in similar profiles to the one I already have: tailored mid-century with bolsters. Buying a new one just to erase a tinge of blue is dumb. I was reminded that, even though I’ve felt aggravated with it for quite some time, I actually like this couch. Just not in this room.

So I’m experimenting with a swap. The vintage sectional from the den is in here right now, the blue couch is in there, where it reads surprisingly gray amongst all the other blue. The sectional is a great scale and color for the family room, though it blocks off the fireplace a little. Even so, I think I might be on to something and it was free, so I got nothing to lose. We’re gonna sit with it (ha!) a bit and see what we think.

Sources (most are vintage/DIY, but here’s a few links if you are wondering about something…)

couch pillows : round and square
bullet planter similar
Bertoia diamond chair cover
black and white painting (which you may have noticed that I reworked)
small circle paintings
tulip coffee table
rattan stools
fireplace screen DIY

In other news: 1. Our school year has begun. Getting back into that routine of waking up two hours before I’d like to and making not one, but two meals (B + L) before 8am is just not coming together like I’d hoped. You can’t be who you are not. 2. I’m purging my kitchen like crazy and donating/selling so much. Feels freeing and I recommend getting rid of stuff to everyone who will listen! 3. I’m picking white paint colors for the exterior of our house eeeekkk!!! Happy weekend! xoxo