There’s something about being nearly a year into living here that makes it feel like we’ve accomplished a fair amount of “evolution” over the last 357 days (not that I’m counting…). I guess it’s because living somewhere for a month isn’t really a lot of time for tweak-age, but twelve of those in a row – well, it’s enough time to get things going. Like living with a floor plan for 11 months (just to be suuuuure) and then knocking out a wall that we’ve wanted gone from day one:
It’s also enough time to make a few furniture and accessory changes as we transition from working with what we have (like random stuff carried over from our first house) and first-instinct choices to a few more thought-out decisions. Yup, these things apparently take time – at least in our experience (remember this post on that subject?). So here’s the story about a pretty sizeable three-fer tweak of epic rug, ottoman, and chair proportions.
We haven’t made any major furniture/accessory purchases since the just-moved-in phase when we got our sectional, our first rug, our bed, and our big dining room table. Then we went on a building/DIY kick for the next almost-year (making our $104 console table and our $124 wall-to-wall double desk and saving nearly 4K by laying our own stone patio and getting a ton of estimates to save 3K on our kitchen wall-opening). We’ve mostly just been picking up super inexpensive secondhand furnishings since moving in (like our $35 desk chairs, $25 dining chairs, and four secondhand kitchen cabinets for our in-progress remodel for under $100).
So after many months of building up the savings account and waiting for things that we loved to come along, it felt nice to actually buy them. And since we had some “store credit” towards Joss & Main from curating a sale with them as a side gig (more on that here), we loved that we could put that towards our living room tweaks, especially because it’s one of our most used rooms, so we’ll definitely notice and appreciate it. But now onto what we tweaked and why…
For the last almost-year we have loved our fluffy green shag rug (it was great for a wiggly crawling baby and a wobbly toddler – and was so thick and inviting that many an adult found themselves sitting/lying on the floor). But there are a few issues that have popped up as Clara has grown.
# 1. Let’s just say that finding milk dripped and goldfish or cheerios crushed into our plush rug was less than pleasing. Yes, we’re one of those casual families who doesn’t have a no-food-in-the-living-room rule (I mean, peanut butter & jelly or a bagel with cream cheese isn’t living-room approved, but dry crackers and a sippy cup of milk are). That’s just how we both grew up and we really appreciate the this-house-is-not-a-museum vibe, so we plan to keep it that way. And although vacuuming or a bit of scrubbing (for spilled milk) got ‘er done (and Burger was awesome about hunting down the occasional goldfish before we even knew it’d gone missing) the rug was still a bit higher maintenance than a lower pile one would be now that we have an energetic toddler.
#2. The size. In our first house both our living room and den rugs were just 5 x 8′ since the rooms there were so small. So although we knew that our new living room was much larger, somehow an 8 x 11’ rug sounded like it had to be big enough for our 25 foot long room. Well… try as we might to “adjust” to it, it always felt a little small (we’re definitely still learning how to decorate a larger space). Like our giant sectional was just baaaarely contained on the boundaries of the rug:
So when I saw this giant (10 x 14!) 100% wool rug for $599 (down from $798) on Joss & Main I got excited. And nervous. That’s not exactly peanuts around here. But it’s a huge rug – and rugs that size that we like are usually 1-2K (which made me fake ugly-cry on at least three occasions). It almost felt impossible to find something extra large, low pile, and our style that didn’t end in three zeros. So $599 started to sound pretty good. At least good enough to contemplate for a little while.
After mulling it over for a few hours, I decided to show John to see what he thought (we have a full agreement agreement, so we don’t buy anything that we don’t both love). That way if he nixed it I could just close the window and stop thinking about it. But when I went to show it to John, he had it up on his screen (he also gets Joss & Main alerts and had clicked on that rug and left it open on his computer to “talk to me about it” a little later). Crazy, huh? We were both secretly mulling over the same rug. It was meant to be. So we gritted our teeth and put in our order. I’m not going to say that we didn’t have sweaty palms, but we went for it.
Since we’d been temporarily using a too-small placeholder-ottoman that didn’t have storage which used to reside in our first bedroom as a side table, we also found ourselves pining after this big tufted leather storage ottoman. Again, it’s not exactly a cheap addition to the room. At all. But nearly fourteen cubic feet of additional hidden storage was a huge draw (it’s almost 3 x 3 x 1.5 with an easy-open hinged top). Of course we also appreciated that it’s a correctly-sized counterpart to our giant sectional (as opposed to looking like a too-small donut hole) and that it isn’t hard and pointy for little toddler heads (but can be used for serving food & drinks with the addition of a nice big tray). Yup, she’s versatile. And we never could have sprung for it at 900 beans, but at over $500 off… well…
And then somehow this $169 chair (down from$339) said “how you doin’?”…
…which was especially convenient since the parson’s chair that we purchased for $70 from Target about four years ago was looking a little rough due to tons of use which led to one side of the faux-leather cracking so it looked like this:
So we waited patiently at the door for everything to arrive, pausing only to eat, sleep, change the baby, work on the kitchen, and blog. When everything arrived pretty much at the same time, it was sorta like Christmas. Literally, it kind of was (we declared these items to be our Christmas gifts to each other for last year, this year, and next year). Psst- pardon the rug wiggles, we still need to get a rug pad. And as for the art swap, I meant to blog about that a while back. It’s actually extra burlap-ish fabric that I used instead of the colorful paper. I love that it has more texture and doesn’t compete with the bright pillows and accessories.
Spending that kind of money on a rug and ottoman was definitely not a drop in the bucket for cheap-os like us. Heck even $169 for a chair isn’t usually our MO (we’re no strangers to spending $20-35 on thrift store or craigslist chairs). But it did feel nice to add up the sale savings ($199 + $521 + $170 = a whopping $890!). And more importantly, since we’ve worked our buns off to DIY so many projects over the last 11 months it meant that we were able to save a pretty nice chunk of change, so our bank account was thankfully just fine with the living room spree (we don’t like to buy anything we can’t immediately pay off – more on that here).
Of course we’re hoping to reuse the old round ottoman and the old living room rug in other still-evolving spaces (you know we’re use-what-you-got fans) and we might even try slipcovering the faux-leather chair in some fun fabric for another spot as well. So we’ll have to keep you posted on those cha-cha-cha-changes too. Of course we still have about a million other working-with-what-we-have items going on, like the wrong sized rug in the office, a too-small TV and media cabinet in the living room (we hope to build a nice media center to balance out our chunky distressed console table) along with many completely-missing elements (like a large buffet/console table with art and a rug in the entryway off of the dining area and an entire playroom and sunroom that have yet to be tackled along with all of our bathrooms). But we’ll get there someday.
Knowing that our first house took us 4.5 years to complete is a great comfort to us, because it takes away the we-want-it-all-done-now pressure. These things take time. But we’re feeling really good with our one-year-in progress (see a lot of that here). How about you? Do you have a “magic number” of months or years after living somewhere when you finally start to feel more settled and “evolved” (after feeling around in the dark for a few months while you get your bearings)?
Psst- To anyone looking to purchase the rug, ottoman, or chair – Joss and Main has flash sales (only lasting a few days) so of course by the time we got this stuff in the mail and took pics they weren’t for sale anymore. But lots of their stuff can be found on wayfair.com (though it’s not usually as heavily discounted over there) or you can get on Joss & Main’s mailing list here (that’s an instant invite, so you don’t have to wait). Hope it helps!
Danielle @ Casa Bower says
TO quote a Jim Carrey movie: B-E-A-U-TIFUL! Love the changes, It makes the room so much more polished.
Melissa says
Wow!! That’s all I can say!! I LOVE it!! You all are so talented!! =)
Sarah C says
Thank you both for blogging, you guys are the best. I was having such a bad day and all I have to do is pull up YHL to be cheered up.
On another note, some people comment on typos I comment upon math-y issues (it was one of my majors). Anyhoo, when describing your ottomen’s storage capacity, it should be cubic ft, not square.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- you’re so right! Thanks for the mathy tip!
xo,
s
Nicole says
It looks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! I love it!! The larger rug makes such a huge difference!
Joanne says
I love the new look! That rug is BEAUTIFUL!! My husband and I are thinking of purchasing a sectional and I love how Karl looks, so I re-visited your posts on Karl. Do you still like him as much as the day you got him? We have 3 kids and 2 dogs, so durability (and comfort) is a must.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, love him! So dog and toddler friendly!
xo,
s
Emily says
Hi there,
I saw those same rugs on Joss and Main was torn over whether to order because I couldn’t tell how soft they were. What do you think? Comfy for bare feet walking and kiddos crawling? Would appreciate the feedback:)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, they’re great for bare feet (we’re bare-foot 99% of the time) and pretty good for crawling too! I wouldn’t say it’s as scratchy as jute, but it’s not super soft like a plush wool rug. It basically just feels like a knotted wool thin weave rug. I’m sure a baby could get raw knees crawling in place for hours on it, but scooting along (especially with pants or leggings) should probably be fine!
xo,
s
Ericka says
You guys hit this one out of the ballpark:) I thought your previous living room was nice, now it is so polished and put together looking! Way to go!
Harriet says
LOVE the new rug, and the ottoman! And I think it’s adorable that you guys wanted to show each other the same rug. :)
Meg says
your updated living room makes me so happy that i’m slightly worried about my sanity. three cheers.
Donna says
I think your updates are more to scale and took everything from a “fun” style to a more sophisticated (yet still casual) style.
It will be hard to find a place for Kermit! The colour is so bright that it would do well in a play-room, but you would end up with the same high-pile food problems that you have now!
I’m eagerly awaiting close-ups of the switched-up art. And can we get a picture of the ottoman open, with what you decided to store inside it? (And is it leather and therefore easily wipe-able?).
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It’s tufted leather and so far very easy to wipe down! Will have to snap some art pics and close ups of the ottoman full of stuff!
xo,
s
Katie says
Holy heck – the new furniture, rug and art look AMAZING! Well done!
Karla says
I love it.
Laura says
Wow, what a difference! The right size rug makes a great impact in a room, and you found a great one! The scale of the ottoman with the sectional is perfect, too. Well done!
stacy says
looks amazing. i cannot believe all that you guys have accomplished in nearly one year! we have been in our house one year last september and are still inching along. y’all do inspire me to get back at it!
i’m curious, have the previous owners popped by or do they read yhl? they’d be amazed!
YoungHouseLove says
They read our blog we think! At least they did when we moved in last year- hope they’re still following along now!
xo,
s
Kim says
Looks great! I think the first items were like stepping stones to get to what you really wanted-meaning, what you want is not always out there, but you need something to hold it’s place. Then when you find the one(s), especially at the right price, you know it’s right. As a forty something, can I say that it took us a long time and many mistakes to realize that more expensive, quality items are worth it. You will spend less in the long run because they will last, and you will love them as opposed to changing them often because they just don’t feel right. That said, you can still bargain hunt. We live with so-so items forever until we find the right thing, then we don’t look back. And it took us 8 months in the newly renovated house to figure out where to put things and for it to feel like home.
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
Oooh I love it all! It’s like the room has gone from child to teenager! Still the same, but a little more grown up :)
Thanks for being honest about the fluffy rug. Because you guys recommended it, I was looking for fluff for our baby’s room. Now maybe I’ll expand my search to materials that don’t hide goldfish crackers. And not because of the baby, because of Mike…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, gotta look out for Mike and those crackers…
xo,
s
Stephanie says
WOW. Good job guys!! That new rug looks amazing!
Mel says
LOVE IT! Totally on board for the new rug. Your living room is awesome. I can’t wait to see what you will do for a media stand. I think that will make the room. Any plans for it? Or is it kinda on the back burner with all you’ve got going on?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we hope to rescue a thrifted buffet and retrofit it or build something from scratch! Should be fun… once we finish the kitchen most likely!
xo,
s
Jenna says
Wow, you guys! It’s all fabulous! What is it the designers say about mixing the high and the low? You guys nailed it! It’s lovely!
Shunta says
can I just say my mouth DROPPED when I saw the picture with teh new rug and ottoman. Money WELL spent!!! It looks amazing!!! I really really like it!!! Man, that is super nice!
Paige says
LOVE the changes. The larger rug really makes the space feel more polished!
Tash says
Favorite room in the house. I am so envious of that ottoman I could scream!
Carrie says
Wow- the rug really turned up the sophistication of the room. I find rugs I love and they are all wool…darn this wool allgery!
Kati says
https://www.jossandmain.com/Signature-By-Strouds~E154.html
If you scroll down, they’ve got pillows in the exact same fabric as your dining room curtians!
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that funny? I love it!
xo,
s
Jessica says
The chair really brightens up that corner of the room! Nice work!
Melissa says
Well that sure looks worth every hard-earned penny to me!!! I LOVE how it gave your room such a sophisticated look without losing the fun/casual/a-family-lives-here charm with all the bright colors! Great job – and Merry Christmas to you!
Katie G says
LOVE IT! Style & posts like this are what make YHL so successful IMO (along with the great personality of the Youngsters, too, of course!). I love the inspiration this post provides, not only for styling large spaces, but also for working within a cheap budget (especially for a massive rug) & practicing patience when making a house a home.
Christie says
I was JUST drooling over this rug online last night. So happy someone took the plunge and bought it! :)
Donita says
I love your style!!! The three new additions are perfect. That ottoman, OH MY!!!! :-) Merry Christmas to you!!!! :-D
AlisonG says
Very nice. So glad you got the side job and were able to get these things in the middle of a kitchen remodel. I see a post coming of the new chair legs being painted in orb to match Karl’s legs. Merry Christmas to you.
andrea worley says
love all the upgrades! that rug is ahmazing!
Patti says
Patti here again … EEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Love it!!!
Barb says
B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!
Elesea says
I am drooling over your new rug. Which is kind of embaressing since I’m at work :)
Seriously, it looks wonderful in your living room, I love the pattern and the pretty color. Another homerun guys!
-E
Jen D. says
Ok. I thought your old living room was fun and bright and I was a bit jealous (and still am, of Karl) and wanted to hang out on the plush rug.
But DANG! When I compare the two pics it is like going from a college dorm room or Target-inspired-fun-first-apartment (no matter how lovely!) to a home. Awesome job.
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says
OMG, love. Love! It really looks awesome.
Haha, those similar changes for us – new rug, ottoman, etc… – is what led us to building the media wall you featured last week! (Thanks again for that, by the way. Still reeling from the excitement!)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re so welcome Kim! We loved sharing your genius!
xo,
s
Kim says
BTW, could you use the t.v. console by the entryway in the dining room ?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe if we rebuilt it (it’s very low now, so it would be a bit awkward since we think we need something buffet-height in there with art over it).
xo,
s
Molly cash says
Just when I think it can’t get any better you go and get some awesome rug, fantastic ottoman and cutie patootie chair. Darn you great decorator! Come to my house and help me make it magazine worthy! You guys have once again outdone yourselves. Mad skills!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Molly! I’ll be right over to pick out stuff for your house- haha.
xo,
s
Katie says
Looks gorgeous, you guys. Money VERY well spent. And very frugally spent, too! :)
amybeth says
i can’t get over how great this looks. so gorgeous. yay for you guys! :-)
Emily says
I don’t normally post, but I just have to say that I like this sooooooooooooo much better!
Kelley says
$herdog Millionaire!!! That looks faaaaabulous! A larger rug can make allll the difference in the look of a room. We recently learned that ourselves! Love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahaha. $herdog Millionaire is cracking me up.
xo,
s
Kirsty says
Guys, it looks Ammmaaazzzinnngg!! It really does! I love how a few little changes just pulled the whole room together and changed the vibe to something a little more grown up and elegant. 4.5 years to finish a house is nothing! Seriously, we’ve been in our home three years and it’s finally looking more ‘us’. I think taking your time to let your style evolve in a new house is so important. Loving your work guys! x K
Ashley @ Any Lovely Thing says
Whoa My Gorgeous! I LOVE the new buys. Seriously. Love.
Hanna says
I’ve actually been eyeing a similar, if not identical, rug on overstock.com:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Moroccan-Olive-Ivory-Dhurrie-Wool-Rug-10-x-14/6372292/product.html
I have to say it looks much better in your living room than on the monitor! The color is so much nicer!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I think that’s the same one!
xo,
s
Ann says
These latest changes look even more luxurious but I love that they are actually more practical. So clever!
Andrea says
The pictures look GREAT with the burlap in them! And I can;t even begin to explain how jealous I am of that storage ottoman :)
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
I love love the rug!! And the ottoman is great, plus you gotta love the extra storage! The burlap also looks really great in the art behind the console!
Sarah K says
I just have to tell you guys that I love this transformation. I think you did a great job taking it from “ooo that’s cute” to “WOW, now that’s a magazine worthy room!” Job well done!!!!
Molly says
I am so excited for you! I think I might be a pattern addict but seeing a little more pattern in your room gave me a huge smile :) It looked great before, but it looks extra awesome now. Great purchases!