SHOW AND TELL {MY LIVING ROOM}

When we moved into our home I knew I wanted our living room to be special.  Since we had two living areas I always saw this one as a more grown up space (no TV’s or toys here) and yet I wanted it to still feel inviting and livable.  I didn’t know how any of that would translate into the design of the room and I knew I had to get it right so I reached out to friend and design guru Claire Zinnecker of Claire Zinnecker Design.  I have known Claire for a couple of years through our contributions to Camille Styles and continue to fall in love with her style (her transformation of Camille’s studio is jaw dropping).  I knew I wanted to shoot our Third Anniversary Photos in our new room and so it forced us to stay on task.  I begged her to take on my special little room and she knocked it out of the park.  I couldn’t be happier with our room and am already dreaming of the things she will do to the rest of the house!  Throughout the process I learned a few things about design (and working with a designer) so I thought I’d share some tips in case you are thinking of sprucing up a room in your home.  And of course, if you are looking for an amazing designer to help your vision come to life then please check out Claire and her work…you will love it (and her)!  It also doesn’t hurt to have a photography superstar like Molly Winters to capture the mood.

Scroll down to check out the pics that Molly snapped and if you see something you like you can shop the room below…

CHOOSE A STATEMENT PIECE

I had a few things before we started our project but once Claire found that navy couch everything else just sort of fell into place.  I would have never thought of navy but it gave the room some depth and looks polished and is super comfy with my Katie Kime pillows!

HAVE A PLAN…AND THEN GET OUT OF THE WAY

This means being honest with yourself about the budget.  Even if you can’t afford to do it all at once, it helps to make a cohesive plan up front and then you can piece it together as finances allow.  Claire made it so easy by sending me tons of choices from the beginning and then I let her do her job.  You need to let the professionals be the professionals but if you aren’t liking it then speak up!

NEVER SAY NEVER

That cow skull has been living in our garage since Trevor and I met and I always rolled my eyes at the thought of it.  It took Claire finding a way to create balance with some other girly items that made it totally work.  Now it’s one of my favorite parts of the room and Trevor gets to smile extra big at me eating my words!

DON’T BE AFRAID OF A GALLERY WALL

I love pictures but I have been hesitant to put too many up in the new house because I didn’t want to clutter the walls.  We decided on a massive gallery wall that I can see every time I walk through my front door.  I love all the memories and I love them all in one place.  When creating a gallery wall find something that’s cohesive (for me it was the white frames) and then just go for it!  I organized it all on the floor and then started from the center and worked out.  

IF YOU DON’T LOVE IT SPEAK UP

Ultimately it’s your money and you are the one that’s going to have to live with the final result so if something isn’t working then speak up!  The original rug didn’t work, the first lamps I picked were too small.  We made shifts along the way and it came out exactly what I wanted.  Don’t be afraid to change directions.

Anthropologie Willoughby Settee, Hickory – Navy // Katie Kime Pillows – Navajo Print and Mums the Word // Ballard Design Side Tables // Lulu and Georgia Cowhide // Lulu and Georgia Lydia Lamp (Snow) // West Elm Elton Chair – Performance Velvet in Dove Grey // West Elm Marble Oval Coffee Table  // West Elm Abacus Floor Lamp // West Elm Mongolian Lamb Pillow Cover – Platinum (16″ Sq.) // West Elm Metallic Diamond Pillow Cover – Silver // West Elm Taper Candles – white // West Elm Unscented Candles – white // West Elm Brass Candlesticks – no longer available // Z Gallerie Tic Tac Toe Board (similar)