The family room has been more or less completed for awhile now, but I’ve never taken the time to share some photos! Probably because it’s rarely this tidy in real life. :)

I’d describe the room’s vibe as classy coastal. We were able to recess the TV into a custom nitch above the fireplace so it’s flush with the wall — I lovingly call it the black hole. Of course I’d prefer some gorgeous artwork above that mantle, but a successful marriage is about compromise, people. Eventually I’d like to change the builder grade tile around the fireplace and install wood floors… but this summer’s backyard overhaul wiped out the project budget for the foreseeable future.

The walls are painted a warm grey (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore).

A rustic basket keeps our blankets handy for naps on the couch and the gas fireplace is a lifesaver in winter.

Can we talk about this chair for a second?! It’s like the upholstery version of a big bear hug: nice and deep and soft. I keep a stack of magazines on the adjacent leather ottoman because it’s my favorite spot to sit and read.

Our old throw pillows got updated with new covers sewn from fabric I found in the upholstery section of Joanns. Hard to believe these couches are going on 10 years old! With a couple professional cleanings between then and now, the microfiber has held up remarkably well despite some serious food/kid/dog abuse. It helps that they’re super comfy too.

These stairs lead up to our bonus room/room over garage/craft space/office/guest room and the sliding glass door goes out to the back yard. I’ve purchased a humungous canvas to paint something artsy for that reflected wall behind the couches, but haven’t found the time to put a brush to it yet. The valet was originally an old TV console I found at a second hand store. A fresh coat of white paint and the addition of a top drawer make it a great place to stash all kinds of knick knacks.

One visual trick that interior designers use to make a room feel bigger is to hang window treatments close to the ceiling, rather than at the top of the window. These extra long curtains are actually white grommeted panels from Ikea. I sewed a navy blue section to the bottom of each one for additional length, then secured them with tiebacks made of sisal rope which I tied into nautical “carrick bend” knots.

Thanks for popping in for the quick tour! The family room looks pretty spiffy here, however on any given day there are crumbs on my couches, toys strewn about, and someone’s discarded stinky sneakers nearby. Life is messy, but that’s why I have this here blog; to document that sometimes I can pull this house together — if only until Bug wakes up from his nap.

I also recently took photos of the completed backyard, so look for that post soon.