Comments on: New Year, New Look http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/ Where Martha Meets Real Life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:31:05 +0000 hourly 1 By: Molly http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1613 Molly Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:34:15 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1613 A piano in the living room just makes it look like home. :-) A piano in the living room just makes it look like home. :-)

]]> By: Cindy http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1612 Cindy Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:29:25 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1612 I love the simplicity of the room. I have a similar situation. We have a huge kitchen and a relatively small home, so we use the dining room as our music room. We have a book case, two cellos and guitars on stands and a piano. I noticed that you had moved the piano to an outside wall. Our piano is also currently on an outside wall which is not recommended. We like the mirror idea and have had a mirror hung above the piano. I bought very inexpensive sheer drapes for our windows, and we have narrow slat aluminum blinds to lower for privacy and heat reduction when needed. I appreciate the info you have provided. Thanks! Cindy I love the simplicity of the room. I have a similar situation. We have a huge kitchen and a relatively small home, so we use the dining room as our music room. We have a book case, two cellos and guitars on stands and a piano. I noticed that you had moved the piano to an outside wall. Our piano is also currently on an outside wall which is not recommended. We like the mirror idea and have had a mirror hung above the piano. I bought very inexpensive sheer drapes for our windows, and we have narrow slat aluminum blinds to lower for privacy and heat reduction when needed. I appreciate the info you have provided. Thanks!

Cindy

]]> By: Andrea http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1611 Andrea Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:49:33 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1611 What gorgeous pieces. PLEASE don't be offended, but if this was my room here's what I'd do: Put bookshelf back b/n 2 windows. Move piano under window near door and don't block the flow of the room with a chair in the doorway path. Put nice red couch under black&white pics wall. That way the piano player can see outside and have natural light above them plus this eliminates needing anything above the piano. I'd group those 3 white framed pics in a line/row above your existing piano(b/n 2 windows) if you really don't like to move the piano. Use what you have, so you don't have to buy more stuff. I think the bookshelf really anchors those two windows. I'd line up all the single chairs nicely under the window by the door if you're not moving the piano. Then you'll have more room, room appears bigger & less cluttered. You have some great pieces! If it's placed strategically you won't need window treatments. Just my opinion...I don't live there. : ). Love your blog!! What gorgeous pieces. PLEASE don’t be offended, but if this was my room here’s what I’d do:
Put bookshelf back b/n 2 windows.
Move piano under window near door and don’t block the flow of the room with a chair in the doorway path.
Put nice red couch under black&white pics wall.
That way the piano player can see outside and have natural light above them plus this eliminates needing anything above the piano.
I’d group those 3 white framed pics in a line/row above your existing piano(b/n 2 windows) if you really don’t like to move the piano. Use what you have, so you don’t have to buy more stuff.
I think the bookshelf really anchors those two windows. I’d line up all the single chairs nicely under the window by the door if you’re not moving the piano. Then you’ll have more room, room appears bigger & less cluttered. You have some great pieces! If it’s placed strategically you won’t need window treatments.

Just my opinion…I don’t live there. : ).
Love your blog!!

]]> By: Mia http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1610 Mia Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:23:59 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1610 Whenever I try to find a new look, I google images. Like: Living Room Then, I click on the images link and keep looking until I find something that will work in my house. Whenever I try to find a new look, I google images. Like: Living Room

Then, I click on the images link and keep looking until I find something that will work in my house.

]]> By: Jill Scott http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1609 Jill Scott Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:57:28 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1609 I thought your bookcase looked nice and tidy. Nice arrangement though. I thought your bookcase looked nice and tidy. Nice arrangement though.

]]> By: Organizing Mommy http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1608 Organizing Mommy Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:08:30 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1608 It must feel good to get it all put away!! Happy New year. I have a list obsession going on at my blog. Want to play? It must feel good to get it all put away!! Happy New year. I have a list obsession going on at my blog. Want to play?

]]> By: Kara http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1607 Kara Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:47:37 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1607 Your home is so warm and inviting!! I love how it is simple and beautiful. I have 5 young children and have found that simple is so much better!! I love your red sofa-it looks so child friendly!!! Your home is so warm and inviting!! I love how it is simple and beautiful. I have 5 young children and have found that simple is so much better!! I love your red sofa-it looks so child friendly!!!

]]> By: Jess http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1606 Jess Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:36:32 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1606 I love the new look! Great job! A giant mirror above the piano would look awesome. I love the new look! Great job! A giant mirror above the piano would look awesome.

]]> By: momstheword http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1605 momstheword Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:45:47 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1605 I am not a professional either. But you definitely need something above the piano. You need to decide what your focal point is. Is it the piano or the pictures above the sofa? Have you tried putting the couch as a natural divider where the chair is (you know, the lone chair by the door)? It would face the piano but be a natural divider in the room. Just a thought. I would probably take the chair by the door out of the room and bring it in when I needed extra seating. But that's because my kids needed alot of playspace in the living room. You have alot of kids so you probably need the chair. Buy some inexpensive material and swag it over the windows if you want covering. I have a lace tablecloth draped over a rod in the dining room as a window covering. I tied it on with a ribboned bow. I am not a professional either. But you definitely need something above the piano. You need to decide what your focal point is. Is it the piano or the pictures above the sofa?

Have you tried putting the couch as a natural divider where the chair is (you know, the lone chair by the door)? It would face the piano but be a natural divider in the room. Just a thought.

I would probably take the chair by the door out of the room and bring it in when I needed extra seating. But that’s because my kids needed alot of playspace in the living room. You have alot of kids so you probably need the chair.

Buy some inexpensive material and swag it over the windows if you want covering. I have a lace tablecloth draped over a rod in the dining room as a window covering. I tied it on with a ribboned bow.

]]> By: Rebecca http://thehappyhousewife.com/real-life/new-year-new-look/#comment-1604 Rebecca Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:39:47 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=2847#comment-1604 We have a 2 drawer chest in our living room. It works as video game storage, we store games and the controllers, etc in there. Its just a basic, picked up off the curb model, but you can find all sorts of styles and options for 2 drawer chests out there. I would recommend looking at thrift stores and yard sales first, cause that's how I roll. My recommendation for above the piano...a puzzle! We got one from my husband's grandparents when they moved to Florida, and its always a conversation starter. You put it together with all the kids, give it a few layers of modge podge and then frame it. Of course keep in mind the size; we did one over Christmas so I could move one to another room and I can't find a frame for less than $80 on sale to fit it. I am making the husband miter some door trim we have in the garage and craft me a glassless frame. As for windows, I like open windows...except that ours let in too much cold, so we finally opted for buying some thermal curtains. I have seen people display quilts in their windows for curtains, and I sort of want to try that with our big window some time, but I only have one nice quilt and it doesn't go with my living room colors since its a spring green and purple. You can always experiment with one though. I also like the idea of fabric swags. (again can't do that cause we would freeze, or have double the heating cost) We have a 2 drawer chest in our living room. It works as video game storage, we store games and the controllers, etc in there. Its just a basic, picked up off the curb model, but you can find all sorts of styles and options for 2 drawer chests out there. I would recommend looking at thrift stores and yard sales first, cause that’s how I roll.

My recommendation for above the piano…a puzzle! We got one from my husband’s grandparents when they moved to Florida, and its always a conversation starter. You put it together with all the kids, give it a few layers of modge podge and then frame it. Of course keep in mind the size; we did one over Christmas so I could move one to another room and I can’t find a frame for less than $80 on sale to fit it. I am making the husband miter some door trim we have in the garage and craft me a glassless frame.

As for windows, I like open windows…except that ours let in too much cold, so we finally opted for buying some thermal curtains. I have seen people display quilts in their windows for curtains, and I sort of want to try that with our big window some time, but I only have one nice quilt and it doesn’t go with my living room colors since its a spring green and purple. You can always experiment with one though. I also like the idea of fabric swags. (again can’t do that cause we would freeze, or have double the heating cost)

]]>