In our last home, we shared how our living room evolved over the years and I expect this one to do the same. Although, it has taken a few months to even get this room to a starting point! This living room has seen one, two, and now three layouts since moving in. Besides recently rolling out the new Polly Slate Ivory rug, everything else in the room we brought with us! The living room hasn’t exactly felt like “home” until now. If I’m being honest, it’s probably because this is very similar to the living room layout in our modern cottage. And right now, that feels good.
Living Room Before
Move-in Day/month:
This very first rendition, I hung art on a nail that was already there and I placed whatever furniture made it on the truck in the space.
After Painting
Painting the room Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon really set a mood for the space! I love the darker tone, but it has taken some getting used to. We’ve never had a darker living room! More of our furniture arrived by now (including those leather chairs!) and we tried a different arrangement that felt so much cozier and allowed for more conversation.
Today
We still haven’t purchased any new furniture for the living room, but we pooled a bit more our furniture together and it feels so much better! I love the more graphic touch that the Polly rug brings in. We brought our velvet navy sofa and two swivel chairs in from the music room (that is serving as our current kitchen now lol) and it creates such a lovely conversation square with our leather cube ottomans.
It feels like me. This rug is the chameleon rug of the Polly collection. If you look closely at the pile, you can see tans, blues, and warm grays, all making for the perfect neutral gray. I think this rug could adapt to most room colors, pulling warms and cools depending on what it’s surrounded by.
For now the leather sling chairs that were in here are upstairs! I don’t love mixing two leather colors in the same space so it was the woven cubes or the sling chairs and we went with the merlot leather cubes because they look so beautiful against the gray green paint color.
Pillow Styling
I really wanted to show you how nicely our Polly pillows can mix and match. The patterns are subtle and compliment each other AND the rugs nicely. Also, stay tuned for more pillow content coming soon. Here’s a shot from above thanks to the Juliet balcony.
This Slate Ivory rug is a 8’6″ x 11’6″, and we added a larger size after I sampled this one so I honestly I think I could size up here in the future. Finding the right sized rug is key when purchasing a rug, so definitely refer to our rug size guide post for tips. Full transparency: Chris and I have been trying to decide if we want to take out the fireplace, move it the wall behind the tan sofa, and put in a big window. The biggest pro would be that it would bring in a lot more natural light. The con, would be losing the fireplace if moving it isn’t an option–I love the fireplace, but I think more natural light in here would be a game changer. What do you think?
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Slate Ivory Rug | Andi Pillow | Sam Pillow | Liv Pillow | Virginia Pillow | Topher Pillow | Coffee Table | Wicker Tray | Cube Ottomans | Navy Sofa | Tan Sofa | End Table | Swivel Chairs | Chandelier | Migration Art | Tree Art | Black Art | Art Light | Pedestal Table | Vase | Faux Stems | Floor Lamp | Candlesticks | Tale of Interiors | AD at 100 | John Derian
Wall of windows all the way! We’ve had a fireplace in our last 2 houses (bc aesthetics & the cozy vibes), but as a South Carolina native, I can count on one hand the amount of times we’ve actually used them. I definitely think you’d get more enjoyment from the natural light & pretty views that windows would bring.
I’m team replacing the fireplace with a wall of windows! I think that with the arched side windows as is, it looks a bit off. But I also love love the seating arrangement as is and am concerned about how moving the fireplace to the side would impact that. I’d suggest seeing how much you use the fireplace this winter. If it’s a ton, move the fireplace. But if not, then nix the fireplace altogether.
I personally love that the room is a bit moody and love the amount of light it gets, but it’s your home and if natural light makes you more happy then do what makes you feel best! You are the ones living there day too day and your home should be a haven and feel good to you. Whatever you decide it will be beautiful.
My vote would totally be do the big wall of windows and a double fireplace behind the tab couch/in the primary bathroom. I think if it’s at the cost of losing the fireplace altogether, I think the impact of the visual connection to the backyard and all the light would still be worth it.
If it were me, I would move the fireplace if I could because nothing is better than lots of natural light, but if I couldn’t move the fireplace, I would keep it before I would lose it all together.