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This room is by no means done. There’s still art to be hung, a new couch to be bought, and details details details! There are numerous benefits to sharing a space with someone else, namely split expenses – meaning things can come together much quicker. This also means that there are more decisions to share in, petty arguments to be had over coffee tables (we still haven’t picked a proper one out), and what curtains to use.

It’s funny to see a space come together separate from a moodboard. Some of the same things are still there, but things like the rug and over-head light have changed. We purchased a cowhide from Ikea and returned it a few weeks later — it just didn’t feel right. Then I happened upon the Ikea 2011 catalog preview and saw this awesome chevron-inspired rug that hit home. While there was a tinge of worry that the space might feel claustrophobic because of the busy pattern, it turned out wonderfully. It’s flat weave so cat hair doesn’t show on it and on several occasions I’ve noticed Kira digging at it but no threads are coming up. Win-win-win!

So without further adieu, shall we? Let’s start with the last image I put up of the space, beware the horror:

This was the Monday after we moved — two days in — what a mess!

And this is what you walk into now! The wall color has shown itself to be much more grey than the tan it was supposed to be, but that’s okay — it works! One of the major design principles in every field (web, print, interior, etc) is repetition repetition repetition! So I hung three square frames that will someday in the (hopefully) near future house a few pieces of handmade artwork. The boyfriend and I are both designers by day, so we’re hoping to put some of our Illustrator skills to work!

The living area! The purple couch is throwing off the whole space, honestly. I’m trying to go for a primarily yellow and grey space here, and purple does not fit the equation! (The Ikea Varnamo sofa is NOT brown..)

We went with a CB2 Eden lamp because it was plug in. It’s not ideal, and the cord drives me bonkers, but it gives us much needed light! The coffee table, while awesome in it’s own right, is way to bulky for our space. And let me tell you, hanging curtains in that bay window proved to be a nightmare. Since the window is inset, there is not room above the window frames to add curtain rods, so we 1980′s that beast and used the white clip-rods that you used to see a lot. Not ideal, but super cheap!

Eventually the guitars will be hung on the blank wall right there and the amp and accessories will be put into a storage ottoman or trunk. I’d really like to see a danish credenza here for our entertainment equipment, but they are super expensive. The Markor (from Ikea) TV stand is great, but just too big, bulky and dark for this space. And don’t get me started on that lamp shade — it’s all about progress, baby.

The living room is very oddly set up, what with passages to the kitchen/dining room on each end of it, a utility entrance behind the camera (that we covered with a shoe cabinet) and the bay window — so setting up the space was tricky. While I am not 100% happy with the flow, I hate having a couch butt up against a wall if it doesn’t have to. This is the pathway into the living area, with a good full-on shot of the bookcase in it’s new white-glory. And a peek at our dark grey dining room wall. Yum.

A close up of the bookcase. We reduced the number of books we have to only those we might actually look at again and it freed up a shelf for family photos.

And the rug up close! It’s basically charcoal grey with the slightest hint of blue to it. Ties in the bluish tinge the walls sometimes give off, as well as the blue undertone the dining room wall has.

Over all, I think Kira approves. :)

So what do you think? I know there is still a lot to be done, but we’ll get there! We’ve been working on our office, our bedroom, the dining room and my dressing room as well, but the living room is by far the most put together. I’d love to hear your suggestions and comments.