Simply Home: My Coffeehouse Inspired Livingroom

Recently I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed. All I've been wanting is a place to just sit, relax, and read a good book. I love coffeehouses, but they are often crowded and the idea of them is better than the real thing. So I decided to make my own coffeehouse. My living room was to become a place lit with candles, filled with floral fragrances, and furnished with the most comfortable seating for optimal book reading and chats over hazelnut coffee. I found most everything for this redecoration project at Home Goods and Pat's Corner, a cute little antique/thrift store in North Park (I love Pat's). Really, I just added a few simple touches to make my living room more of that relaxing coffee house atmosphere my heart was looking for.

I hope this will give you a little inspiration of your own.

Before

Even though we don't watch TV, we had this huge TV in the living room. I wanted the focus off the TV and on what's more important:  relaxing time for yourself, time with friends, and a feeling of comfort.

While I love music, our guitars took up so much room. 

After

I kept the sheet music, bought a much, much, much smaller TV (just for movies since we don't have cable) and filled the area with books, a cute lamp, and used fake book boxes (bottom right) for storage.

I moved the little chair to the corner where the big TV was. It's not my favorite reading spot. :-)

Before

I liked where I was going with the photo wall (after all, I am a photographer) but I didn't love the half-committed attempt. See upgraded photo wall below. 

After

 

 And now for the little touches that make this room, well...me.

Old suitcases (because I love to travel) and an antique typewriter (because I love to write)

I love hand-written notes. I mean, I really really really love them. I wanted a way to display the notes I've receive, so I found this piece of wood with dresser door knobs attached to it, hung twine, then used clothes pins to clip my notes to it. 

This is called the "slacker sack". Real name, I swear. And it's just that. I ordered it from Amazon and couldn't be happier with my purchase. It's perfect for movie nights or curling up with a good book.

 My favorite candle and REAL flowers. I buy flowers at the farmer's market almost every week. I know that may seem like a bit much, but it is one small thing I do for myself as a "treat". Every day when I come home, I look at those fresh flowers and smile.

I wanted a place to display my family's old Canon AE and my favorite photography by Jose Villa.

He's my photography inspiration. The window panes are from Pat's Corner. 

 Finally, here's a close-up of one of the frames on the wall. It's a compilation of an empty frame with string, clothes pins, twine, and vintage keys attached to it. It was a simple little craft that added that home-made feel to the room.

Simple Design: Office

Our department recently moved into new offices. Since I exist in this physical space for 40+ hours a week, I thought it wise to make it a place of peace, inspiration, and relaxation. I think I succeeded.

First, I took down these curtains and put them over the big window that looks out into the hallway. It give me more privacy, and something prettier to look at. Next, I collected mismatched frames and put my photos from my Europe trip up. I get inspired every time I look over at this wall!

 Before                                                                    After

What's an office without your own personal achievements wall? I had to do it.

 Before                                                                    After

I got this idea from Pinterest. It's a "book self", get it!? These are fake books purchased from Home Goods and then set on brackets I installed. I added a little extra Parisian flare!

  Before                                                                    After

This shelf was very cluttered before. I tucked everything I needed into some easily accessible drawers and then decorated it with just a few items.

 Before                                                                    After

A friend found this poster for me. It's a good reminder be intentional with everyday - play, enjoy, take-in, sit, rest, and remember the moments.

Simply Home: "I love lamp"

No, this isn't an Anchorman clip. This blog is just a simple little showcase of a craft I recently did.

Mission: To get this lampshade (right) onto that lamp shade (left) because the lampshade (right) wouldn't fit on the base of my existing lamp.

Step One: Cut out lampshade from wire frame

Done with step one!

Step Two: Spruce up the lampshade by gluing fabric scraps to it

Step Three: Attach around old lampshade

The pinterest-able photo: