Won't You Step Into My Parlor...

Sunflowers

Please join me for a peak inside my living room

All Christmas colour is packed away and my cheery collection of lanterns once again reclaims the mantle.  I bought the three larger ones at a local thrift shop for $1.00 each.  As much as I love the ambiance of candles; I have come to learn, from experience I might add, that candles and cats are not always a happy combination.  I have three criteria that I look for in a candle holder.  

1.  Lanterns, or otherwise enclosed candle holders to prevent singed whiskers and/or tails

2.  A sturdy candle holder unlikely to be unintentionally, or otherwise, tipped over 

3.  A vessel made from a fireproof material

This last criteria has nothing to do with kitties.  Yes, it seems obvious enough not to put a burning piece of wax into a vessel that itself would burn; however, I had to learn this the hard way.  I had a collection of turned wooden candle sticks on my dining room table.  After my guests had retreated to the living room, I returned to the dining area to find my linen table cloth on fire.  The candles had burnt down into the cavity of the candlestick effectively providing an alternate source of fuel.  Apparently, I am quite calm while under duress, because after smothering the fire with the non flaming portion of the tablecloth, I was able to return to the living room without so much as skipping a beat.

Most of my colour choices for my living room are from my watercolour, Sunflowers.  Above, I have created a colour inspiration board to give you an idea of how I decorate a room.  In reality I design a little more intuitively, instinctively choosing paint and fabric that complement the artwork, but I hope the above visual helps you understand how the room came together.  When choosing a colour scheme for a room in your home, I recommend that you begin with a favourite piece of artwork, a treasured carpet, a piece of china, or even an article of clothing.  Use that as a starting point for selecting your paint colours, and determining your fabric choices.  This will help you to create a space that is meaningful to you.  And isn't that the most important aspect of decorating a space?

 The walls are painted with Benjamin Moore Eggshell Latex Golden Straw #2152-50 and Mannequin Cream 2152-60, and the room feels sunny even on a gray day.  



When I have determined the dominant colour scheme of my room, I then begin to pick up odd bits of fabric for cushion covers.  My fabric choices run from thrifty to a little spendy.  If I'm in love with an expensive fabric, I will buy enough to make a cushion cover or two.  On the other hand, the fabric for my chair slipcovers was purchased at a buy one metre, get three free sale.  Score!   

I like a mix of textures in my home.  



Seagrass carpets

 rattan arm chairs

comfy  upholstered  furniture



 I also like to mix in a few antique pieces for interest.  I love how the fabric on the cushion on the left {above photo} picks up many colours from my artwork.  I made the cushion on the right from a thrifted sweater.







The fishing float in the above right photo belonged to my Nana and it is secured to the mantle with reusable poster tack.  It seems I like to learn things through experience, more commonly phrased as the hard way.  Of course a round orb sitting on a mantle would prove to be irresistible to my curious cat.  The good news is that fishing floats were made to be able to withstand abuse and turbulence from mother nature, and my precious float survived it's fall off the mantle.

This is Samson.  
It's always nice to provide spots for cat napping.  
The photo is not current, but no matter; this is where we find Sammie on many a sunny winter's day.

 My twenty seven year old wing chairs, above, look fresh and new after I made slipcovers for them.  The fabric I used is an outdoor upholstery fabric.  I used the 'wrong' side of the fabric for a...wait for it... more muted look.  I know, I know.  It's enough colour to send a lot of people running.  But my living space truly reflects me. 

I   love   pattern, colour, and texture

 You may have already noticed that the colours I love to wear are the colours that I surround myself with in my home.  I am even contemplating painting the legs on the wing chairs in my favourite shade of turquoise.

We hope you enjoyed having a peak into our living room.