Family Room Part 4

Here's a final look at my family room...it's almost complete. I need to dress up the windows and add more family photos. You can never have too many photos!

 

The couch and loveseat are from IKEA. I love them...they are so comfy, and the slipcovers come off for easy washing!



I bought this window frame at a craft show just before Christmas.  It's backed with burlap and chicken wire. The basket was filled with greens and berries, and I clipped my Christmas cards to it. Now it's the perfect spot for springtime flowers and family photos.

 

We'll probably be replacing the wooden trunk with an old army footlocker that belonged to my father-in-law.  If we decide to keep the trunk, I'll paint it...maybe a mustard gold.

Bill bought this clock at one of the few craft shows he's attended with me. It just so happened to be the week of our anniversary (about 15 years ago) and he thought it was a great gift for me. He was right! I love it!!  We received the flag when his Dad passed away two years ago.

This flag is one of my favorite purchases from an artist at the craft shop I once co-owned.  It was made by a gal who rented space from us. I've lost touch with her now, but I have many of her pieces (you can see a couple of them in this post) and lots of great memories of her.

My whole family went to Walt Disney World the first week of February.  I haven't posted about the trip yet because I'm quite over-whelmed by the 3000 plus photos I took.  I've been to WDW multiple times, but never got my own "pair of ears" until this trip. Aren't these great!?  Perfect for displaying in our family room. 

Now about those windows.....I sure could use a little help in deciding what to do with them.  They currently have pleated (white) fabric shades on them, and those will stay.  I was thinking about a simple burlap valance, but Bill wants something that comes down the sides of the windows.  Maybe white sheer panels...burlap panels?  With a valance...without?  I don't think I'd ever close whatever goes on the windows.  Any thoughts?

 

The Fabulous Four & My Family Room Part 3

No one is looking.

Yay - we've got three looking! C'mon Elijah, look this way.

Thanks Elijah...oh oh, Caleb...look here!  Happens every time!

 

One third of my family room is set up for "the littles".  They visit frequently and they need a place of their own.  Let's take a tour of their little U shaped play area. We'll begin on the left.

 

An activity table for Caleb, a little kitchen to cook in, and Gramma's old doll trunk along with Aunt Mandy's old doll.  Plus a couple fat pillows make a perfect reading spot.

The princesses and their castle is a favorite toy.

Across from the little kitchen area is another piece of IKEA furniture...and more cubbies.  Sixteen of them...each one is a perfect home for toys, games and books.

 

The Fabulous Four love their play area...it's filled with things that belonged to their parents, aunts and uncles.  I love seeing them playing with treasures from the past.  There are also toys from their own homes tucked in the cubbies.  That's how their parents clean out their homes - they bring the old stuff to Gramma & Grandpa's house!!  : )  



 

My Family Room Part 2

Thought I'd share a peek at the rest of the entertainment center today. 

I'm happy to say that the decorating continues to be with "stuff" found around the house...with just one or two "new" purchases.

 

The quilted angel and the star have been a part of my family room decor for many years, and the book comes from my "old book" collection.  Lady Liberty is a "new" purchase. She cost $1.21 at my favorite thrift store.

My Reader's Digest Condensed Books are a new collection...they're pretty easy to find at thrift stores and they add a great punch of color to any room's decor.  I found the mushroom on clearance at Kohls...with my 30% discount it cost about $2.00!  The birdie salt & pepper shakers are a gift from my friend Regina.

More existing decorations from my family room....jsut displayed in a different way.  The books belonged to Bill's mom, and the box was painted by an artist who sold her work in my gift shop.  The elephant and the cookie cutter are subtle political statements.

This pitcher was also painted by the same artist as the box above.  The sweet stitchery was a gift from my friend Patricia.

More books that belongs to Bill's mom...the bowl and the horse have decorated the family room for many years.  But not as many as that pillow!  Mandy sttiched it many years ago. I think it was her second sewing project. 

I recently purchased this planter and turned it into a Christmas DVD holder....perfect! 

 

Here we have the bridge that joins the two side towers...yay!

Three more cubbies to decorate!!

 

More RDCB...love the colors of these three.  The clock has been keeping time in the family room forever, and the bobbins and lace came from my craft room.

A pretty plate and a bottle recently purchased at Homegoods...under $8.00 total purchase!

More decorating with movies...this time MASH and The Hunger Games DVDs.  The cute owl was a thrift store find.  The pitcher came from Michael's...No. 4 represents my four grandbabies.  I'm going to have to change that to five this summer.

Of course I couldn't just put a TV on the media cabinet...so I added some "touchable" decor.  My grandchildren play down here, and it's important to me to have things for them to play with.

A wooden bowl filled with letter blocks....perfect for spelling words, and stacking up as towers.

Dominos in a bowl....line them up and knock them down.  That's a fun way to play with them.

I love our new entertainment center....it's functional

(the drawers hold DVDs) and fun (15 cubbies!!).   

The two wooden bowls look kind of skimpy as far as toys go.....maybe tomorrow I'll share the other playthings in my family room.

 

 



My Family Room Part 1

 

We recently redecorated our family room.  Our main purchases were a couch, love seat, and entertainment center from IKEA, and new carpeting.   The entertainment center came with fifteen cubbies to decorate....and I was determined to decorate with items I already had.  I was mostly successful!!

 

Here's a peek at six of the cubbies.

These books all belonged to Bill's mother, and the little squirrel is the survivor of a salt & pepper set.

The tiny acrylic was purchased from an artist who consigned in the gift shop I co-owned from 1995-2003, the figurine was a gift from Bill, and the bowling pin was purchased from Homegoods for $4.99.

More of my mother-in-law's books, a picture and a bird figure purchased years ago, and a bottle I decorated last year. 

I love these little Lefton angels....this one has been around for several years. I originally found her at a thrift store for $1.21.   The Civil War videos are Bill's, and the stack of resin stars are another purchase from my gift shop days.

These squirrels, the metronome, and the tiny print were all found tucked away in my craft room.  The books are from a yard sale. I like buying old books to decorate with...especially if they're red, blue, green, gold or cream.

This owl came from Kohls....it was part of their Christmas line for 2012.  I couldn't pass it up, especially since he was on sale AND I had an additional 30% off!

 

I'll continue the tour of the cubbies this week.  Have a happy Monday!!!