3/18/13

Old Out, New In!

Hey everyone!  We are getting ready to have a big family gathering here this afternoon with relatives we haven't seen in quite some time.  There are also some little people we've never met, so it's going to be fun and exciting.  I've been super busy this past week doing what we all do when we are about to have company -- go a bit crazy cleaning, cooking, tweaking -- well, y'all know, right?  

Believe me when I say that not everything we've done has been due to company coming.  A few weeks ago, The Man and I determined that our leather recliner sofa in our family room had outlived its comfort, and we had both grown weary of adding pillow after pillow to try to keep from getting a backache.  So, off we went in search of two separate chairs with either ottomans or recliners as long as they met all the back-issue problems.  Well, I must have given at least twenty-five chairs the "butt-test," and we finally found what we both liked.  Just in case you cannot remember how the old leather sofa recliner looked, here is one last peek:

Yep, seriously ugly!  Even though the room is quite spacious, the behemoth size of this sofa was over-powering; so when comfort came into play, it was out the door!

Ta-Da!  These two lovelies have made themselves right at home.  The photos really do not capture the true rich color, which is a deep rust, and the fabric is like an uncut chenille -- so comfy!  They are electrically powered recliners that you can have in any position you want, from just a slight lift for your legs and feet to a full-out "put me to sleep in an instant" totally reclined position!

This is so.....not the true color.  Anyway, I didn't like the pillows that came with the chairs, so I made a quick trip to JoAnn's and found exactly what I wanted and it was on sale -- yay!

I've been adding little touches of turquoise throughout this part of our home, so I was thrilled when I found this fleur de lis fabric in the perfect rust-color with a touch of turquoise and this great  coordinating tiny check.  I haven't had any new furniture in quite some time, so I'm probably going a bit overboard with the arms and headrest covers, but we want these chairs to last a good, long time! 

Of course y'all know about the snowball-effect, right?  I had been wanting to replace the lamps in this room for a couple of years and now was the time to do that, too.  As luck would have it, Kirkland's was having a big lamp sale, and I was able to pick up two of these lovelies on the cheap.  I was so excited when I saw these lamps had kind of washed turquoise base, and I'm really lovin' the rectangular shades.

These lamps are a much better scale for the room and these side tables.

Of course, I had to make new pillow covers for the loveseat as well!

Now that the room was sporting some spiffy new chairs, I thought I would do a bit of tweaking in the rest of the room.  I made the burlap "Spring" banner last year, but added to it this go-around.

More of the beautiful turquoise that I am "crushing" over this year!

I found a free download of these seed packets online, added some washi tape to some tiny clothespins I already had, took the flowers off a floral bush that I got on sale at Michael's, and transformed my rather blah banner into one much more worthy of Spring!


These seed packet prints will be cute on some cards I want to make, too!

I simply added some of the pretty turquoise ribbon to my candles.


By the next time you see this corner, it will be changed again!

The Man is working on a plan for a cabinet in this section, but I keep "tweaking" away for now.

Because of some rearranging I did in our dining room, I decided this large charger would look 
better in this room -- love the rich, rust color with the new chairs.

The view from the kitchen, through the breakfast room and into the family room is much more open now with the new smaller scale furniture.  It's a very warm and inviting space.

I'll be very excited to share some pics from our party; well, maybe only "pre-party" since I usually get too busy and forget to take any photos!  The relatives who are coming are one of The Man's sisters and BIL, as well as their adult sons and their wives and children.  Our son and DIL and their four kidlets will be here, too.  The sister and bil drove down from Seattle and brought us some family treasures (from The Man's relatives).  I am so anxious to share those, and will probably do that this week.  I know y'all are going to love them -- it involves china, silver and time-pieces, and that's all I'm sayin'!

So happy that you stopped by, and please know the "Welcome" mat is always out!


I love to party here:
Karen at Sew Many Ways for Sew Darn Crafty
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Dawn at Creative Cain Cabin for Budget Decorating Party
Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Table Top Tuesdays
Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow
Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline for Project Inspired
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Karin at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday
Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home
Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 
Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading
The Tablescaper at The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

18 comments:

  1. love the changes Carol, I agree, getting that recliner tie up with everything in the house is a challenge, glad you found one that works! love the banner too!

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  2. I love your spring banner. The room looks great.

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  3. Your new chairs look so comfy and everything looks pretty and ready to greet your guests! Have fun this afternoon!

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  4. The turquoise is really pretty - I am loving that color too! I really like the shape of the lamps :-)

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  5. It looks fabulous. I've been looking for a bench sofa for a long time but just can't get my back comfortable in any of them so I've resorted to a hardwood chair. Can't wait to see all the photos that are coming. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Oh Carol, they are wonderful. When my loveseat goes...I am getting 2 chairs...love that look and the comfort.

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  7. Oh my! Where to start! I love it all! The new recliners look great! I know what you mean by wanting something that'll be good for your back. :) I think we may have the same ottoman with the tray on top. We got ours at bed, bath and beyond a few years ago. It has a smaller ottoman inside. I love the washi tape on the clothespins too. I have GOT to get some of that stuff. I love Kirklands. They always have good stuff. The lamp looks great!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa. I had to order my washi tape online -- couldn't find it at Michael's, HL or JoAnn's -- go figure! I adore Kirklands because their things are good quality and look high-end, but don't cost you an arm and leg!

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  8. We had recliner sofas in the last house and gave them to our daughter and SIL when we moved. Love your chairs and the pillows and headrests etc. are perfect. You will enjoy the new chairs, I'm sure. have fun at the party!!! XO< Pinky

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  9. Those chairs look so comfy! Enjoy your company!

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  10. Glad you found some great comfy chairs to solve your back issues. Nice changes around the house and your Spring banner is darling.

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  11. yay!...love everything...and turqoise is one of most fav colors,looks awesome.I want to introduce more color in our home,looks like you are ready.

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  12. Great changes! Love the chairs and your banner is darling! Thanks for stopping by today! Have fun with your company!
    ~~Angela

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  13. Thanks for sharing at my Twirl & Take a Bow Party! Have a great week.
    Leslie
    House on the Way

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  14. Love your touches of turquoise! Such a comfortable room! Life to the full, Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle

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  15. Love your chairs and pillow. They look comfortable! The little ribbon rosettes on your spring banner is so cute. I'm crushing on turquoise myself! ;P

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  16. What a pretty spring banner ~ thank you so much for linking up to Project Inspire{d}!

    Have a lovely week.

    Mary Beth

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  17. Dean & I have been discussing the whole recliner issue lately. I've been against them. I think because we always had recliners growing up & I wanted my house to look "different". Well, I guess I'm getting older & I've decided that instead of laying out on the loveseat to watch tv I'd like a chair. Dean had a recliner before we got married & he's missed it for years. He'd rather recline, I'd rather rock so we're going to have to look around.

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Make this a great day!
Carol