Living Room Makeover and making my teen happy
"Mom, our living room looks like a grandmother lives here!" says my teenager. I don't take everything she comments on with particular seriousness when it comes in a critical tone, otherwise, as a parent, I would be constantly feeling like the most out of touch person on the planet!
This comment has validity to it, our couch is 18 years old and the rug probably 20 years old. Ugh, am I that kind of person that ages without noticing how dated things look? No, I just appreciate things that are durable and can stand the test of time. ;-) None the less, I decided it was time to make over our "dated living room" to express more of our current life and aesthetic. I wanted to lighten up the space and incorporate our modern bohemian vibe. Mixing Brett's pieces from his time in Namibia, Africa and the collection of ethnic artifacts, weavings from my ethnic homeland, the Philippines. I have some vintage T'boli weavings and Ifugao table runners that will compliment the space nicely. I also have a small collection of African, Asian and ceramic masks throughout our home.
Shopping for a new sofa that would fit up our two-floor walk up (with a curve) took some creativity and time. I wanted something that could fit our whole family for movie nights, watching football and for napping. Initially, I went to the local furniture stores in the area, I'm often turned off by the large, chunky and oversized pieces they sell in the big furniture stores. These couches won't fit up our stairs anyway so it was a no go. After weeks of reading online reviews, NYTimes articles and non-stop Pinterest gazing, I decided on the BURROW couch. This was the easiest way for us to get a long couch up our stairway. Each couch comes in parts (modulars) that you assembly once in your space. *Easy to get up my narrow stairway! Burrow doesn't have a showroom but they do have samples around the US. There is a store in the Seaport District of Boston that had a loveseat sample, so there I went!
It was easy to order online and it took about 6 weeks for them to make and ship my order. I like the fact that it's made domestically and that they practice sustainable methods in manufacturing, material etc. I received an email to track my shipment and last week, 5 large boxes covered my entire front porch. It took two people to move them-- there are punch out holes in the box to help grip them.
Now came time to assemble all the pieces. The boxes are clearly marked and directions rather straightforward.
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| BEFORE |
This comment has validity to it, our couch is 18 years old and the rug probably 20 years old. Ugh, am I that kind of person that ages without noticing how dated things look? No, I just appreciate things that are durable and can stand the test of time. ;-) None the less, I decided it was time to make over our "dated living room" to express more of our current life and aesthetic. I wanted to lighten up the space and incorporate our modern bohemian vibe. Mixing Brett's pieces from his time in Namibia, Africa and the collection of ethnic artifacts, weavings from my ethnic homeland, the Philippines. I have some vintage T'boli weavings and Ifugao table runners that will compliment the space nicely. I also have a small collection of African, Asian and ceramic masks throughout our home.
Shopping for a new sofa that would fit up our two-floor walk up (with a curve) took some creativity and time. I wanted something that could fit our whole family for movie nights, watching football and for napping. Initially, I went to the local furniture stores in the area, I'm often turned off by the large, chunky and oversized pieces they sell in the big furniture stores. These couches won't fit up our stairs anyway so it was a no go. After weeks of reading online reviews, NYTimes articles and non-stop Pinterest gazing, I decided on the BURROW couch. This was the easiest way for us to get a long couch up our stairway. Each couch comes in parts (modulars) that you assembly once in your space. *Easy to get up my narrow stairway! Burrow doesn't have a showroom but they do have samples around the US. There is a store in the Seaport District of Boston that had a loveseat sample, so there I went!
It was easy to order online and it took about 6 weeks for them to make and ship my order. I like the fact that it's made domestically and that they practice sustainable methods in manufacturing, material etc. I received an email to track my shipment and last week, 5 large boxes covered my entire front porch. It took two people to move them-- there are punch out holes in the box to help grip them.
Now came time to assemble all the pieces. The boxes are clearly marked and directions rather straightforward.
They are simple to lay out the pieces by A, B, C codes on each piece.
Clicking the pieces together takes more hand strength than I thought. One may want to use a towel to help press the lever.
Make sure all the cardboard holding the pins are removed
Next came time to screw in the feet, no tools needed!
We turned it over carefully and volla, new look for this room!
I went a little pillow crazy on Esty and bought several mudcloth throw pillows.
In addition to the lighter, mid-century modern sofa, I updated the dark curtains to lighter, ecru shade linen drapes. With the help of my artist mother, who generously sewed 8 equal panels that now hang on clip style curtain holders. The linen has a cleaner, lighter and elegant feel. I also found this beautiful tribal-inspired hand woven Ago Rug by NuLoom. It needed at thick no-slip rug pad to make it safe and more comfortable. Kids say that the patterns create an optical illusion.
Now I'm on the search for a pair of mid-century lamps or vintage ceramic/earthen stoneware lamps. Perhaps I'll hand build some or can inspire my daughter to throw to identical lamp bases as a pottery challenge.
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| AFTER |
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