The console returns. Yes, the console is like Rocky and Batman movies. The sequels keep coming. Maybe instead of The Console Returns we should say “Console: The Final Chapter” or “The Console Strikes Again” or “I Still Know What You Did Last Console.” No? Fine. We’ll stick with The Console Returns.
Yes, after many (many) posts about our big console build, this is the official finale. And this one is the most exciting for me because it’s all about the fun stuff I put on it. Haha. I’m deep, what can I say? I’m sure it’ll constantly change, but here’s what it looks like today:
The lamps were more than we’ve ever spent on lamps (I have some sort of imaginary $50-a-pop maximum and these were $59 each) but from the moment I saw them at Marshall’s I couldn’t. walk. away. I even texted a picture of them to my friend Cat and she said “You’re a magpie, gotta have ’em if they’re shiny.” So I said to myself: “Self, what’s $18 extra bucks when it’s true lamp love?” It did help that they were marked down from $125 each.
We also picked up that big capiz-topped black lacquered box from HomeGoods (on clearance for $15, down from $36) because I knew it would be awesome for stashing nearly all of the clutter that seems to collect on the sofa (a few magazines, books, notebooks, pens, remotes, and even my brush and lotion). And the sleek glammy vibe worked with the blingy lamps to bring some modern chicness to our rustic ol’ console beast.
Other than that I just brought in some stuff that we already owned, from a few stacks of pretty hardcover books that I love to flip through (which are also functional thanks to a handy coaster that I stacked on top for my nightly cup of tea and the smaller white capiz box that’s secretly full of my smaller sofa essentials (lip gloss, vitamins, nail clippers, etc).
And this cute $3 thrifted quatrefoil tray is perfect for all of the jewelry that I like to remove as soon as I sink into my special spot on the sectional (the chaise in case you’re wondering).
And here’s what we have going on in those hidden baskets in the middle compartment. The left side is full of board games since this the room where we usually get our game on. And the basket on the right has a lesser used remote (for the DVD player) as well as some books that we got for Clara from the library (we try to keep them all together so we’re not looking everywhere for one last book on the day that they’re due).
And of course we have a little ceramic animal action going on thanks to my old ZGallerie rhino friend. Probably just for a bit until Clara gets bigger and he becomes endangered. Then he’ll go live on the built-ins in the dining room again:
For some reason this shot kills me. The little ceramic rhino butt in the background gets me every time.
As for the bookshelf sides of the console, we found three of these $5 baskets at HomeGoods, so the one on the close side of the console on the bottom shelf is full of a bunch of Clara’s board books while the top shelf has some of our books and a fun little Cardboard Safari rhino going on.
… and two more baskets on the far side of the console have blocks and other small toys stashed inside.
We’re sure everything that we have on/in the console table will be constantly changing. For example, once Clara’s a bit more mobile I don’t think my beloved ceramic rhino will get to live up there anymore. Unless I want him to meet an untimely end like my ceramic pooch.
Heck, she might even try to murder the cardboard rhino on that side shelf (so far, so good though) so we’re just going to play it by ear. We might decide that we’d like more empty space for putting stuff down on the top of the console (we have that big expanse in the center for a large bowl of chips or something, along with plenty of room for more coasters for drinks, but you never know if we’ll want even more). So it’ll be fun to tweak it and watch it evolve as the rest of the room comes together over the next year or two (still on the list: breezy curtains to add softness, a larger and more balanced looking media cabinet, etc).
And now for the weirdest video we’ve ever made. We were in sort of a quirky mood so we thought it would be hilarious to make a sexy stroking-the-console-video of the whole thing in action (we even throw open that middle compartment for ya to see how it opens and closes in “real time”). The music kills me. And the slow motion. Yup, we’re still laughing about it:
Strangest video you’ve ever seen. Am I right? Oh and we have one more pic for ya. At night it’s all sorts of magical in the living room now that we removed all the weird ceiling fans and that off-center corner pendant light and use the console table lamps along with the desk lamp to illuminate the room.
This photo doesn’t even do it justice, but in person it’s so cozy and glowey and charming. And we can only imagine how the right curtains and a bigger and more proportionate media cabinet will take this work-in-progress room a whole lot further. Someday…
Psst- Wanna flip back through the whole console building journey? Here’s the first post, the second post, the third post, the fourth post, and the fifth post.
I give The Console Returns “two thumbs up!” per Siskel and Ebert ratings. You guys rock!
The whole room looks AMAZING! I love the way the console turned out, and I don’t miss that wacky hanging lamp in front of the window!
GREAT JOB JOHN & SHERRY!!! I love it so much, it looks so inviting and comfy! I know you had mentioned before that the rug needed to be adjusted but it requires 4 people to do it…when will you be giving the rug his final resting place?
Someday. Haha. Probably not anytime soon because it’s not too big of a deal in person (sometimes in pics I want to shift it one way or another, but it’s not important enough to call a friend or family member to come help me lift the sofa just yet, haha). I’m sure some of you eagle-eyed readers will notice when we do finally shift it a bit someday though!
xo,
s
It looks GREAT!!! You have inspired me!
I am off to de-clutter
We have one of the same lamps in our living room – I fell. in. love. when I saw it (at HomeGoods). My husband (affectionately?) refers to it as the Epcot lamp, per all its big, silver, textured globe-ness. Oh, AND we have that same Hobby Lobby concentric circles mirror that you have over your desk – I am feeling all proud of myself for my YHL twins. :) It’s looking great in there – love all of the console updates!
I think it all looks great together! My favorite shot is the evening one. The room takes on a more moody vibe, which I wasn’t expecting with all the bright colors. Loving the departure from your last home’s style (of which I was also a fan).
I really like the new lamps.
Love the addition of the console table! I love how it divides in the middle to give you easy access to the items on the lower shelf, since it is so long. Looks spectacular!
What a room!! Looks amazing
Your room is looking gorgeous, I love all the transformations you’ve done. I was having a hard time imagining the console table finished but I trusted y’all’s judgement and it looks great! That last picture looks so warm and inviting…
I’m like a magpie too. I told my husband, before we got engaged, that I didn’t care that much what my ring looked like as long as it was sparkly! The room looks great!
I love the fact that you will reference yourself as “self” when you are talking yourself into or out of something! Love the console! And fingernail clippers are a necessity behind your couch? What the what? ;)
Yup, I clip my nails (and Clara’s) on the couch. Don’t worry, I do it over a blanket and collect them all in the end. Works for me. Haha.
xo,
s
It looks great!! Are you guys planning on just leaving paper in those frames? Because I think that looks awesome! :-) And those lamps are amazing! They were the first thing I noticed. Nice job with the whole thing!!
We’re not sure about the art in those frames (we go back and forth between leaving the paper and doing something with more pattern or more sophistication like giant cropped black and white pics). Should be interesting to see where we end up…
xo,
s
That last picture really shows the difference in the room! It hardly looks the same from when you first moved in. Now, if only my living room could look so great . . .
Nail clippers in the living room? That totally stuck out and I had to ask.
Yup, I clip my nails (and Clara’s) on the couch. Don’t worry, I do it over a blanket and collect them all in the end. Works for me. Haha.
xo,
s
I was surprised I didn’t see any sign of the dental floss! I floss every night while watching TV….and have been known to trim my nails there as well. It is so convenient!
There’s floss in the small white box with my nail clippers and vitamins and lip balm! Haha. Don’t tell!
xo,
s
love the look of the room now. the console table added such a good balance between modern and rustic. I LOVE those lamps too–so great. Looking forward to curtains!
Love Cat’s comment-“You’re a magpie, gotta have them if they’re shiny”:)….every room needs a shiny object or 2 in my opinion. Great job!
I have to give you credit for sparking my love for white ceramic animals. I have to admit, it’s a sick addiction. I’m glad to know I am not the only one!!!
P.S. – I LOVE YOUR BLOG.
Mina
http://www.meetmina.blogspot.com
Doesn’t marshalls have the best lamps! I have gotten to the point where I can’t even look at them or a pair of new beauties end up coming home with me! The console is fabulous, maybe you all should take up selling handmade furniture…in case your aren’t busy enough lol :)
HAHAHAH I love the video, it was hilarious! And love the lamps they look great.
Love the console’s bling!
Also, I keep lotion in the living room too, haha.
That video is hilarious. Job well done at making me squirm ever so slightly. I love everything you’ve done!
It’s wonderful! And, by the way, I don’t think you need a bigger media console. The one you have makes the TV less of a design element in the space, which is just fine by me. Just an idea so that you don’t feel that you HAVE to buy/build something else. I love it just the way it is. (And we, your readers, love you guys just the way you are, too.)
Aw thanks Julie! From this angle it doesn’t look too crazy but from the sofa looking over at that wall with two giant sliders and a tiny TV stand and tube in there it’s definitely a little out of wack. And John loves to complain that he can’t read subtitles or the weather forecast since this room is so much larger so we’re a lot further away from the TV than we were in our old house. Someday we definitely hope to upgrade, but it might not be for a while since there’s other stuff with more of a priority on the ol’ to-do list. So it’s nice to hear that you don’t think our set-up is intensely ugly. Haha.
xo,
s
LOVE IT! Its beautiful. I am inspired to build something! I have been wanting to make a head board for a while now, only problem its a king and I am not sure how divide the board. :(
PS We drove from the DC area to the Richmond Easter on Parade Festival yesterday! It was HOT out but such a cute BIG town!
I love your new table lamps! They make the living room look so inviting with their beautiful glow at night. And the video? It totally crack me up! Between the cheesy music and the slow motion, I don’t know which is funnier!
I just love this post! Great job at the console!
Jessie
Aww, the room is coming together so well. I especially loved the night time pic. I am impressed with everything you guys have done so far and at how quickly you are getting your new house together. I thought it would be cool if John could some how figure out how to make a media cabinet using the same type of wood as the console. That might be really hard though. Who knows, if anyone can do it it would be you guys!!
Yeah we definitely talk about tackling that if we can’t find anything to tweak at a thrift store or on craigslist! Could be fun…
xo,
s
Looks awesome! I was just waiting for you to decorate it :)
Love the mood shot at the very bottom of your post: cozy and yet so hip and fresh!
I know, I know, I know… the console is supposed to be the star of this show (and it looks AMAZING styled!). But… the real star of this picture is what’s missing. What a difference with Random Dangly Light gone! Great work on this room!
“I Still Know What You Did Last Console.” Best. Sequel. Ever.
I don’t know how you two do it!
I didn’t care for the table when you started building it. I didn’t care for it when it was finished and behind the couch. But then you style it an it’s totally awesomesauce.
I really should learn to trust your judgment until the final result. :)
The room looks awesome! Love the lamps! AND…I am still totally in love with the console…love the stain colors! Good work as usual!
ok, thats it!
you have to explain to me how you got sue the napkin on that cushion. how has it not ripped? how does it stay so perfect? howwwwwwww??!
I finally decided to stop tucking her around the cushion and make real covers! Details as soon as I can edit the pics and write the post!
xo,
s
I’ve been so busy lately that I keep telling myself I don’t have time to comment (I visit your blog at least daily). . . but that video made me nearly pee my pants!!! Bravo.
Hey,
love your console. It looks so stylish! And yes – the music kills me. I’m sitting here in the study I share with my husband, taking a break from grading exams and I play the video… my husband wanted to know whether I was watching porn :-)
It looks amazing! I was wondering how the rustic top would blend into your pretty modern space but the accessories make it work seamlessly! I love everything you guys have done in the new house so far! Looks great. And I love the light at night!! So cozy and relaxed.
Brill-iante!!! Fab-uloso!!! Maaa-velus!!!
So proud of you and John. It is SUPER WONDERFUL!!!
What? No Clara in this video and post. Miss her smiling face.
B.
She’ll be back tomorrow! In a major way (I have ten million pics from this weekend to edit down, haha).
xo,
s
I only discovered your blog a week ago but I must say I’m addicted! Since you did a wonderful job at building the console have you thought about building the entertainment center too?
Yes that’s definitely a possibility! Depends what we find at thrift stores or on craigslist!
xo,
s
WOW!!! It all looks great. Love the lamps, love the nite photo….and you guys are a hoot with the video!! Too cute :)
Oh yes, I do love the night time photo and all the extra storage that you have with the xtra long console. The rhino butt shot reminds me of my dachshund’s back side. Laughing as I type. susan
I “heart” your console! It turned out even better than I had imagined it would. I love the atmosphere of the room. Especially after you removed that eye sore of a hanging lamp. EEEK! And the video…lmao! You guys are great!
Looks great- love everything… you guys have such great vision!
That video was AWESOME!
The evening shot of your room is really nice! So inviting ~ I just want to sit down and watch some Bethenny with you!
okay that video…. you guys are Dirty!! But yet sooooo funny!!! Thanks for the laugh :)
Great job. I love the lamps. I feel inspired to add the finishing touches a round table in my living room. Thanks for the ideas!
i love it!!!! I am even more excited now to see what you guys do with the kitchen!!!! Cant wait!
The little ceramic rhino butt shot is classic. It totally gets me too.
It looks great! I love that everything has it’s place. Lately I have been really into buying trays, catch-alls, etc. It’s a weird addcition, but I just can’t get enough! I love when everything on the coffee table or desk has a place to go.
loving the new lamps – the contrast between the rustic console and the shimmery lamps is divine!
I have to admit I was a little skeptical about this rough wood console at first, but I’m totally loving it. And I love how you’ve decorated it, especially the lamps. And the secret storage and the white rhinoceros. You guys are amazing. I don’t know how you find the time to shop, paint, plan, build, decorate, take pictures, post here, raise Clara and Burger, make dinner, wash clothes, clean, do yardwork, do magazine and newspaper stories….I’m exhausted. Bravo!