Making my family room suck less

After Monday's post on pillows and my family's comments on our mishmash of furniture, I decided it was time for a new coffee table. Ours was a temporary, who cares table that I was putting up with while my daughter was little and destructive. I figured I could risk it all on this one from CB2. Not pricey and a little bit of style.

The table does not fix all of the problems in the room like the lack of paint and wall-to- wall carpet that I hate but it did remove one of the eyesores. I am seriously on the hunt for the right mid-century dresser/buffet to replace this shameful, Holiday Inn- looking business that holds the TV.

After that it will be some time until the painting gets done and flooring replaced. The ceilings are 18 feet so its no easy task and the open concept floor plan means a lot hardwood has to be installed. sigh...

The silly part was that I spent a whopping two minutes ( Can't you tell?) styling this while my three-year old was asleep. I took alsmost everything off again after this shot and it now looks like this.

Keepin' it real, folks.

January goal

Lots of folks are blogging their decorating goals for 2013. I'm just gonna go with January. You see I am old enough to know that; a) I am old b) expensive crap like dishwashers and cars break as soon as you commit to something else expensive c) I will crap out or forget half of the stuff on my list if I make it a year long.

So here is the January goal.

Table # 1

Table #2

Table # 3, wait that's not a table its a pile of freakin' stuffed animals.

 My husband hates stuffed animals and my limit is around three so the huge tiger is endangered. Back to the plan. I need another end table because no one will sit where there is no side table.

I am leaning toward one of these.

HERE

At $149 from West Elm the Martini table is a contender.

I love this Moroccan stool from Wisteria but it might take the funky factor in this room over the edge.

I looooove this but at $499, not so much. I am a big fan of buying quality but my Saarinen style (table #2) was a bargain and it is great quality. I am looking for that price/quality combo again.

We just bought several tools to begin constructing our own frames for my paintings and I am really excited about that but it leaves less for my decorating goals.

I debated this cube until I put myself it the mind of a three year old (I have one) and saw a playhouse and not a table with Daddy's drink on it.

So there it is, January goal.

I'll keep you posted.

Welcoming vignettes

In my own entry hall I have two tables and a chair but no console table.

I have been thinking about ramping up the impact in there, somehow.

Whether your entry decor is modern or traditional, elaborate or minimalist, functional or decorative there needs to be a certain cohesiveness in the vignette.

They are meant to set a mood and welcome.

How functional they are varies.

I am a huge fan of large abstracts above a console.

I love the look of a stool or pair of them under a console but I am not sold on the functionality of them.

I mean really, how often do you plop down at a table styled to the hilt?

What would you do there?

Do you prefer a vignette composed of many things or just a few?

Stools underneath or no?
Come back Tuesday for info on a giveaway !!!

Coffee table voting

Soon I wish to buy a new coffee table to replace the one seen here. Its too something... and not a good something.

Everything else pictured will remain.

Here are my budget friendly choices, please vote people. I am actually going to do this.

1. CB2 Smart round coffee table

2. CB2 Peekaboo coffee table 

I am heavily leaning in the clear Lucite direction

3. a pair of Cb2 Smart glass top side tables

The difference in these is that they are 19 inches high and 18 square. The other two are 12 to 13 inches high.

The pricing is similar, $299.$249, and $149 each, respectively.

Can you picture any of them here?

So, PLEASE tell my indecisive self which to choose!!!

coffee table trays

I have coffee tables on my mind. I need to figure out something for my living room.

Off subject, but everyone in my house hates the Brno chairs. It just gives credence to room reveals HGTV style. People just don't get it unless its all there at once.

I don't necessarily want an ottoman with a tray as a coffee table for myself but I like them.

I am really just paying attention to the ways that other people style their trays. Books and a flower arrangement seem to be standard.

Bowling pins are much more rare-haha.

Very large trays are common.

Most of them leave me cold.

I tend to think of ottomans with trays as a more traditional element but they can have a place in a more Spartan space.

I know, no tray, but I had to include this little Moroccan cutie with a fur hat. 

I want one.

Are you a tray person?

Do you fret about styling your coffee table?

Craigslist FAIL!

My local Craigslist is generally worthless for stylish furniture. The D.C. area Craigs is better but a bit pricey and its a pain to get there.

 I was excited to see a listing for these brass, faux bamboo tables. The kid told me they were his grandmother's and there were two small ones of the same size and a larger one for $20.

He said they were in good condition.

They wanted me to come in the evening so I set out at 6:15 to drive what was supposed to be about 1/2 hour away. It took me 50 minutes in the dark and rain. There was fog and windy, unlit roads. In short, it sucked.

And so do the tables. I think I mentioned that it was dark and that is how I ended up with these cheap, junky, corroded nesting tables. The two smaller ones that are NOT the same size, do actually nest. They will not fit under the largest one. $#*&! I hope they respond to a bit of spray paint and dim lighting.