Living Room Redo & Bargains!

Here we go again - Met Monday (hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch) and Today's Thrifty Treasures (hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality). Thanks to these lovely ladies for being so faithful to host these re-do and bargain events.

Today's Met Monday begins with some photos of our rectangular living room - where we really live. It's a beast of a shape to decorate, trust me! Our outdoor light comes from a bay window at one end and French doors on the other end, so in spite of the light walls, it can appear dark. In this "before pic" you'll notice the dark hardwood floors and dark oriental style carpet.

The other end of the room....It looks light, but it's just kidding! The sun comes in the other side through the trees, and then goes down outside the French doors, again, through the trees.

A few posts ago I asked what you thought about seagrass, and the result was mixed. Some of you will think I am crazy for picking this type of floor covering and others will think it's just right. Thanks for all the opinions, and I respect them all, but with the advice and blessings of my decorator friend and another friend who has seagrass, we chose it to lighten our room. While we were at it, I swapped places with the goldy/yellow chairs and the red wing back chair.

Do you see the kid table and chairs we added in front of the French doors? They are perfect for the grandies. We were going to move them in and out as the kids come and go, but have left them there, because the table is a little oversized and comfortable for "short" me : ) - like if I want to do a project. If we have serious company, they'll go to the basement.

Oh, they were a bargain on craigslist. Got the table and 2 chairs, and then got 2 more chairs at a church yard sale ($5 each). They are the heavy ones like we all sat on at Sunday School growing up!

Sorry my pics are somewhat dark, but I told you about this room and the light situation! I have added a little oriental rug just under the coffee table and like it.
All in all, I like the overall look of the seagrass. I am NOT a contemporary person, but it feels neutral to me and helps to tone down all the color and pattern we have going on in the room, as well as add light from the floor. I throw a quilt on the floor when the grandies are here eating popcorn and watching Cinderella. We've got to live here and be comfortable!

And now for a thrifty find - love this tole painted urn. I put a tall silk tree in it and it sits on my piano - very appropriate for the lyre motif!

Found this little Federalist Ironstone creamer for 88 cents!

And this Independence Ironstone creamer for $1.

Love the S.L. iron containters I got a week ago....one holds a plant.

The other holds the remotes. They are so handy - there's a million things you can do with them. When you see them, buy them and figure out what to do with them later!

Oh, got this big Normal Rockwell coffee table book at a garage sale for $3 - don't ya just love his work - it's history!

Found these old books at a flea market cheap! Unfortunately they are in Norwegian (or Swedish or Danish - whatever - it's all Greek to me - hee hee). Love the colors and the fact that they are dated 1930 and 1951.

Well, that's about it for my Met Monday and Thrifty Treasures. Be sure to stop by Susan's and Rhoda's. I always love to see what great ideas and bargains they have found, as well as see who else is participating. There are lots of ideas waiting for us there! Happy Monday! Linda