I’ve heard it said that the good we do comes back to us but I never imagined that included coffee tables. Many months ago I helped a friend pull together a new apartment. Now, circumstance is taking her in a new direction and she offered me the table back, one of my all-time favorite finds.
And it just so happens that I recently purchased a vintage Moroccan berber carpet on Craiglist for the absurdly low price of $150 (the rug is 7’ x 11’ in amazing condition!). I know the rug is not to everyone’s taste. My friend Doreen came to dinner last night and thought it was one step up from hideous. “The style brings back bad memories of the 1970s,” she said. Fair enough. But the colours — cream, brown, black and orange — are my exact palette at the moment so the purchase seemed fated, somehow.
A few other things have changed in the room. Now that Punch is gone, the console table could come out from behind the sofa – Judy is perfectly happy with the narrow runway I’ve left for her. And I took commenter Lin’s suggestion of raising the artwork, which really owns the wall now. Together with the smaller, lighter coffee table, the room feels MUCH more spacious, albeit busier visually.
And then there’s “that” chair, the sole survivor from a trio you’re probably long past tired of reading about. My friend Ingrid very kindly gave me a plush Mongolian lamb pillow that’s the perfect size to cushion the spine-crushing back rests. A few coats of black lacquer and a new seat cover and now the chair will be able to hold me over until I’ve saved for the $600 lounger I’ve picked out to go with the Bertoia Diamond. The “hair chair” as I’ve taken to calling it, looks like Cousin It from the Addams Family but I sort of like the quirkiness. And it’s comfortable now! Thanks Ingrid.
You’re probably thinking, ‘Does this man ever stop decorating?’. Um, no.
August 22nd, 2010 at 12:46 pm
I’m digging the rug Chris, I think the lightness is good against your dark walls.
A friend here is moving into a new home and her living room has mahogony paneling. Her husband wants dark floors, while she’s lobbying for an ivory colored treatment.
I always seem to want more contrast in rooms, so I’m squarely on her side for her new place and I think your new rug is perfect for yours.
August 22nd, 2010 at 1:01 pm
I love that you never stop decorating. One’s space should grow and change just as we grow and change.
Your home is looking fabulous right now but I know it’ll look fabulous no matter what you do!
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I would never in a million years have given that carpet a second look. BUT…it totally works in this room! You have a fantastic eye.
I’m moving to a new house in October. Will you help me? I need all the help I can get!
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Good afternoon, you never stop living and the same with decorating. It is always a work in progress, as we grow, we stretch, what one liked two years ago, today seems blase…Loia always up for a challenge
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Chris, your new place is coming together beautifully!
August 22nd, 2010 at 8:00 pm
What a difference you’ve made in a few short months! You took a standard, boring white box and turned it into a beautiful place anyone would look forward to coming home to at the end of the day.
Oh. and so glad you took the advice on the painting. It was really driving me nuts the other way.
August 22nd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Chris i can’t believe i was just at your place a few days ago, and in that time the place looks even better than when i saw it. and i loved what i saw. but this rug, and that “hairy chair” it’s so damn gorgeous. congrats. we all have to just follow your lead and hope that at least we can come even just a close to your exquisite taste and style. bravo.
August 22nd, 2010 at 10:12 pm
I’m loving your new space! I’ve been checking daily for new posts from you and I was thrilled to see your new pictures. I love how the new rug totally transforms the room!
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:18 am
So warm and inviting!
August 24th, 2010 at 2:14 am
You rock! I wish I had an an ouch of your creativity.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Hello,
Love your blog and your exquisite decorating style!
~ Gabriela ~
August 25th, 2010 at 6:06 am
Thanks all. As you can see I switched up the photos; the skies were so gray over the weekend but yesterday I had an opportunity to reshoot with natural light.
Neville, I would be happy to consult; I should probably come see what you’ve got before you pack it all up and we can discuss what you’re looking for so I can watch CL for you.
August 25th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Love the rug! I will have to scroll down to see what you had there before, because this is so perfect it has erased my memory. Love the changes, you are an inspiration.
August 27th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Chris the place looks amazing. I too would have shunned the carpet, but OMG it looks great, well done. Love to hear about the latest purchases and re-positions. What’s next, I wonder? Can’t wait!
August 31st, 2010 at 1:01 am
Oh, nice. The addition of a few orange highlights has really pulled the room together.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
It looks fabulous as usual. I was wondering who upholstered your lovely sofa?
September 10th, 2010 at 7:20 am
V, the sofa was upholstered by the very talented Vladimir who now runs a shop on Hamilton’s burgeoning Ottawa Street North antiques strip. Vlad runs a shop there called Adenda (188 Ottawa St. N., 905.540.0142); highly recommended!
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Really great style-imaginative, colourful, cozy. I have a lot of moroccan accents in my home.i’ve been there and love the country.The warm colours fit in nicely with our cold (mostly) climate. I also love vintage-check out my ad on Craiglist for Blue bird vintage-Home and Kitchen Accents-