Building a new home: Living Room improvements

With the new year here I'm jumping back into home projects.  Because I don't know about you...but I sort of have to be all in, or all out.  If I'm in home mode--I'm in home mode.  Or if it's pattern-making time, I'm in the studio drawing and sewing.  It's hard to be pulled in multiple creative directions---which is why we often have cereal for dinner.  Remember those details?

Well some of you have asked about a home update on Instagram (@danamadeit) so here are some changes in the living room.

And if you've missed any of my previous home building posts, here's the short version:
Two years ago we built a custom home in Austin, Texas.
And for the next thirty years, we'll be decorating it. 

Check out my previous posts documenting the whole process:
We’re building a new home!
Groundbreaking Party
From foundation to frame 
Stucco, shingles, and Exterior Paint
Interior Paint colors and the back Deck
We moved!…and an ode to the old house
Backsplash, Shower Tile, Flooring, Countertops
The giant Ball Chandeliers and other lighting
Guest Room makeover 
Mosaic Bathroom Tile and Wallpaper
New Dining table, benches, and chairs
Large Craft Table for the Studio


So the day we moved in---ON Valentine's day. How sweet is that?---the room looked like this.
(Read more about our gray + white paint colors, our fireplace + tile, and our floor tile)

The gray couches we bought in California 6 years ago, right before we moved here.  Actually they were delivered to us IN Texas and there were major delays, so we sat on camping chairs for a few months.  And those are fun memories.

So the couches work great in the new space.
Next up: the rug.
I love this rug!  It's from West Elm.  And I found it at the outlet (in San Marcos if you live in Texas)  It's 9x12, which works great in this room.

Most of all it doesn't shed like 10 cats in the house, like the last rug did.  Casey was happy to get rid of the "tauntaun carcass" as he called it.  

Next item: piano.
The kids started taking lessons a couple years ago, so it was time for one.
We found this beauty on Craigslist, which was cared for by a piano tuner and restorer.  He had also had an amazing baby grand in his workshop which he was restoring from fire damage.    

He brought the piano to our house, tuned the thing, and played some amazing music...which reminded me of how I'd like to be Lady Grantham one day.  Because I could use a household of cleaning help and I'd love to have a private musician play for us upon request, in the parlor.
If we had a parlor.

It was hard finding the "right" piano that fit within our budget.  Obviously I wanted it to sound decent, which it does, but it's not great.  But I also wanted the style to be simple and not too swirly or ornate.  And I LOVE the way this one looks.

And of course I wasn't sure about the brown color at first.  But as I mentioned with the dining room table, I'm warming up to browns again.  Or rather, I think you can mix browns and grays together nicely.
I toyed with the idea of painting it because I've seen so many cool versions....

And once we got a new TV console, I loved the brown next to the white.

And once the crappy piano bench that the piano came with broke one day (phew) I pulled the IKEA bench over and I loved it even more!  This combo works great together.

It's hard to pick out a full room of furniture.  

Well, maybe not if you're an interior decorator.

But I find that starting with the key pieces that are either large (like a couch), or important/special (like a piano), or by purchasing a furniture item that really jumps out at you (like this TV console I loved the first time I saw it)....well, those are good places to start.
And then you can slowly work your way through the room, piecing it together.  And by the time you're done, you'll be sick of it.
Haah!
Isn't that how it seems to happen?
But then you can sew new pillows, throw up a new family photo and call it good.

Okay.  Here's where I need your help and input.
This little chair.
Or rather, this space where the little chair sits. 

The chair was great in the old house.  Remember how I had to redo the china cabinet before I could open it?  Well I still love that chair.   It's just too small for this room and I can't buy another.
(I miss the old house)

So it's time for a new piece of furniture.
And I have looked and looked for months...and almost hit purchase multiple times.  And then I'll chicken out, or someone else will give me a different opinion.
So I'm hoping you can help steer me in the right direction!

Here are some choices I've narrowed it down to.  You'll find links to all of these on my furniture board.  

This area of the room definitely needs more seating to pull the socializing aspect together.  So it's either two chairs, a love seat, or settee.  My two favorites are the green settee and blue chair above.  I love the yellow loveseat way too much.  But it's also too large for the space.

The coffee table is also going away and needs to be replaced with one rectangular table, or two squares, or rounds?  I don't want the room to become overly mid century modern.  But I do love many of those styles.

There are plenty of yellows, greens, and blues throughout the house.  So any of those shades work.
(read more about lights, wallpaper, shower tile, exterior paint)

I worry that the green couch will be a lot of green near the door.   But it all depends on which angle you looks at it.

AND I think I might replace that white bench behind the couch with some upholstered benches?  Maybe those could be yellow?

I'd love to know your thoughts.
Which one do you like?
Or share a link to something else!  I'm open to new ideas.

And already since taking these photos, I've added some new plants and artwork to the room.

But I'm still searching for more.  I can't stomach the price of these Gray Malin prints, so I'd love to know if you have any good artwork leads!
Baby steps to home improvement.

a Merry 2015 Christmas Card from our family to yours

Happy New Year friends!
I hope your holidays were a much needed break from the normal routine---but still packed with parties, gifts, and treats.  I'm pretty sure I gained 5 pounds in donuts.
Mmmm. Donuts.

My husband is on a personal quest to find the best donut shops in the US.  And since we took an impromptu trip to the South....well....there were more donuts to eat.
But we'll save the South for another post.
Back to Christmas card mayhem.

You know it's funny, for a few years I never did Christmas cards---I'm not really sure why?  I think it felt like such a time commitment.  And it totally is.  But one day I decided that it's kind of like giving a small gift to all our friends.  And I often feel like I should stuff each envelope with little stickers or something extra that our friends can use?  Maybe next year.

So.  After four years of consistency, I guess I can say I'm a Christmas Card person. 

It's really fun to look back and see how our own kids have grown.
And how some things never change.

As you all know too well... it's a hassle to wrangle them in.
There are plenty of motivational speeches (candy bribes),

Encouragement,

Presumed innocence,

And threats.

Doh.

So this year we just want to say: we feel you.
Through the good, and the chaos.
Because you love 'em to death.

and as the song says....

From the Willard family to all of you:

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

And hooray for a New Year!

Thank you for being part of the adventure with us. 

Here's to a bunch of sewing, and making, and spending time with your families this year.

Cheers!

Check out our Christmas cards from past years by clicking on an image:

sewing + gifting: Zipper Pouches

I'm definitely a creature of habit.  When Casey's out of town, I'll eat the same meal for dinner four nights in a row--till I realize I'm being weird.
And then I just keep doing it till he gets home.  Cause why disrupt things when you're in a good Strawberry Asparagus Salad zone?
Exactly.

And when it comes to sewing gifts, I guess I'm not much different.
Skirts, pillow cases, crib sheets...zipper pouches! 

I love sewing zipper pouches!
They're so easy, and cute, and yep....they're perfect inside all those tote bags.

So I guess the unpredictable part of the Zipper Pouch gift, is the way you mix it up.
Because I love a good surprise fabric inside.
Like wearing a red bra?
If I ever did that.
Maybe I should....

I love fabrics that coordinate with the outside but make you excited to see what's hiding within.
(this pouch is actually for me.  I couldn't part with it!)

And I also adore a good zipper, with metal teeth, and an interesting pull.  And the color and size of the zipper often determines which fabric I will use.
Who knew there could be such analysis of zipper pouches?

I buy most of my zippers here and here.
In fact a bundle of zippers makes a really fun gift.  I gave some to one of Lucy's friends who's gotten into sewing.

I just stuffed them in a little zipper pouch.  Done!

Because the stuffing and gifting is also the fun part.
And there are so many fantastic things to stuff inside!---handmade bias tape, piping, candy, fruit, recipes, jewelry, note cards.

I made this striped pouch for a good photography friend who doesn't sew much. So I thought these sample swatches would be an easy way for her to get crafty and make a garland.

And of course there's my favorite Wonder Clips.
Perfect for any sewing friend. 

And if you're feeling extra punchy, tie some vinyl or a pom pom on the end.  It will only make you happy.

Ready to make gifts?
Here's the video again to get you going:

NEW VIDEO: How to make a Pillow or Cushion with Piping attached

We've learned how to make Pillows.
We've learned how to make Piping.
Now let's combine those two together!...with a really fun trick.

We'll turn this: 

Into this:

....in one continuous step!

Yep!  We'll create the piping AS we sew it to the pillow, or a seat cushion.

I love shortcuts.

I know you do too.

Just hit the PLAY button below and enjoy!


MADE EVERYDAY with Dana is a fresh new sewing show, where we create everyday items you will love and use.

To watch other episodes:
• Click the VIDEO tab at the top or
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel so you’re updated as soon as the episode goes live.

Don't forget the Sweet Potatoes! Don't forget the Pie!

Tomorrow's the big day!
Turkey and stuffing and rolls, oh my.

And if you're last minute planning (I may or may not have gone to the store twice this morning....and found a good parking spot both times. Thanksgiving miracle)....well, here are two recipe favorites from the Willard house.

CANDY CRUNCH YAMS
and
NEVER FAIL PIE CRUST

Give them a whirl!  They never disappoint.
Happy Thanksgiving friends!
(check our more Recipes HERE)