project living room

Last weekend, my friend Katie and I attended a Pottery Barn decorating class. We had the best time! If you've never been to one of their classes, sign up! They open the store about an hour early, take you around to the displays, and teach you how to layer, coordinate, and accessorize. They talk about using odd numbered items, varying height, and how to blend colors together. Plus, you get to walk around in an empty, quiet Pottery Barn and stare at all the pretty items without someone bumping into you.



And, not to toot my own horn, but after a few of the comments and suggestions I piped up with in the class, one of the associates asked, "Are you a designer?" when I said, "No," she replied with, "Want a job?" ;) So, that made my little housewife's heart do a little jig!

While I was there, I wanted to grab items for our upcoming bedroom make-over. But, trying to adhere to my new resolve to work on one room and one item at a time, I resisted and focused on our living room. I had a decent base: the white couches, the black furniture, white coffee table, chocolate jute rug, and a side table I plan to build.

While we were in the store, I actually found inspiration for our living room in the oddest place:



A bedroom! Touches will include burlap, galvanized tin, and some bead board floating around the room. But don't worry, it won't look like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds in our living room. ;)

THE PLAN:

Paint wall unit

Apply backing

Apply bead board wallpaper

Paint coffee table

Replace knobs

Build side table

Sew burlap table runner

Sew/purchase burlap pillow

Find coffee table tray

Accessorize with mason jars, milk jars, galvanized tin, glass vases, and flowers

So, here we go. Day One...