Our Living Room

One of my favorite blogs, Remodelaholic, is having a living room link up party this weekend, so I wanted to join in the fun.  We recently got a new leather sectional and I've added some new touches to our main space, so I figured it was the perfect time to share with you all.

After all, everyone likes new ideas to spruce up their living space, right?  Its the room we spend the most time in as a family, and the space that guests first see when entering our home.  Its also connected to our kitchen to make one large great room, so I always like it to feel warm and inviting.  

We recently got a new leather sectional sofa online here.  We were really happy with the price and it fits perfectly in our space.  I also sprung for a new area rug to add some color and a cool new pattern to the area.  I got it at Kirkland's, one of my favorite places to get things for the home. 

The pillows are actually throw pillows that I've had for a few years that I recently bought new covers for at Bed Bath and Beyond.  You can get those damask pillow coverings for $14.99, and with a 20% off coupon, they are a steal.

 Here is another angle so you can see the mantel, and the doorway that leads to one of the garages that our kids go in and out of all the time to play.  That is why there is a large basket I keep there with all of our flip flops in it.  I think I bought that basket at Target years ago on clearance.

This corner is one of the bright areas of the room.  We have a lot of windows against this side of the house.  Here I keep an antique sewing machine thats been in the family for years, and a rocker that I bought on Craigslist for $15 and painted black, then distressed it.  I love that rocker!  Some of my friends *coughErincough* say its not very comfortable, but I love the country feel it adds to the room.

You can't see them very well but a couple of years ago I took an idea I'd seen in a Pottery Barn magazine and put off white sheer drapes on all of the windows in this room.  I love the added warmth it gives the room.   Before that we just had the 1" blinds, but the sheers add a homey feel to the space that I really like.

I bought this cool industrial looking wire basket at Kirkland's recently and still don't know what to use it for.  I just love the color and the rusty look of it.  Any ideas?  I thought maybe a blanket or something, but I'm not sure.  It is not usually cool enough to use a blanket this time of year, and the fireplace is not a wood fireplace, so I can't keep wood or newspapers in it for that.  Hmmm.......

Here is the whole room.  You can see the TV and entertainment center against the left wall.  I am still unsure if I want to attempt painting that or not, and what color I would paint it, if I did.  I love to change up the mantel, its one of the easiest most fun ways to change up this room.  Right now I have the monogram canvas I made on the wall by the stairs.  That is my next project I'm hoping to share with you all- my gallery wall. 

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my living room!  Linking up to the party here!

~Jackie

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Fancy This Fridays @ Truly Lovely

How to Stencil a Picture Frame

Happy Memorial Day weekend!!  I love holidays like this when people are patriotic and you see people appreciating our military.  :) 

I found some inexpensive picture frames at Micheal's, and decided to paint them and use some stencils I had on hand for awhile.  I loved the result so I had to share with you!

You just need to buy the cheap unfinished wood frames from Micheal's, as low as $1 each.  Seriously!

Then I went to the paint isle and got a couple colors in the Martha Stewart paint section- I loved the Yellowjacket and the Pool, yellow and aqua colors.

I brought them home and covered the large frame in some spray paint I had on hand- Rustoleum white in satin.

Then I took the Martha Stewart stencils I had bought a couple of months ago and just played around with them- they come with some suggestions and pictures, and I just decided to experiment.  It was hard to decide on just one stencil, I loved them all.

I always use non-latex make up sponges when I stencil.  I've tried sponges you can buy for stenciling, but the make up sponges seem to work best for me.  I just put a little amount of paint on a paper plate, and dab it in, and dab off the excess.  You don't want a ton of paint on your sponge or else it will bleed through the stencil.  I also had to do each one twice (let the first application of paint dry first) before I was happy with the results.

 So this is what I did first.  And then I just went with it.

I justt used the stencil and kept adding the stencil to random places on the frame, until I felt like I had used up enough room to make it look complete.

And this is how it turned out.  I was really happy with the result and couldn't believe how easy it was!  And with a $1 frame from Micheal's!  You can't get much cheaper than that.  I sealed it with clear sealant in a satin finish before I added my photo.  And voilia!  It was done.

 Here is another one I did with gray paint.  So easy!!  Her stencils make it a piece of cake to make it look like you just bought it at Hobby Lobby.

So now I'm addicted.  I will be making more for sure!  They are great for gifts, too.

~Jackie :)

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