Cupcakes and Cashmere

Living (Room for Improvement)

October 27th, 2011

On a rainy day a few weeks back,  I decided to change around the entire layout of our living room. The room itself is rather awkward – it’s long and narrow, and our old setup only made it feel more cramped. I rotated the seating area, moved the TV from over the mantle to the console table, and traded in our wooden coffee table for a sleek, marble version. The room is far more inviting (and conducive to both cocktail parties and TV marathons) and while there’s still much to be done (I’m contemplating what to have on the mantle and how to fill up the massive empty wall), it’s since become my favorite room.



Details:

Coffee table (currently 20% off): Blu Dot
Tray: West Elm
Couch + matching chair: Z Gallerie
Rug: West Elm
Chair, Toucan, Prints: Vintage
Console: Crate and Barrel
Side table: West Elm
Pillows: Room Service
Lamps: Gilt Groupe

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  • http://hotpinkcouture.blogspot.com/ Olga

    Aw it’s such a beautiful room! I love what you have done with it! No wonder it’s now your favorite :)

    xoxo Olga
    http://hotpinkcouture.blogspot.com/

  • http://bitstreats.blogspot.com/ betty

    It looks really cozy, even though you have lots of things in there it still looks organized and pretty

    http://bitstreats.blogspot.com/

  • http://blackgrayyy.blogspot.com/ Noora Katariina
  • http://7legs.wordpress.com 7legs

    Eye candy! (& covet the globe collection)

  • http://www.glitterandganache.com Tabitha

    Hmm. Sorry if I comment twice, mine seems to have disappeared! Anyhow, I LOVE your seating arrangement, and am especially enamored with your built ins/globe collection. I’ve had to curb my globe collecting for the time being because I’ve run out of space! And a question: Do you feel too far from the TV when sitting on the couch? I’d love to try an arrangement like this in my long (ish) living room, and that’s my only concern…

    http://www.glitterandganache.com

  • http://www.paris-on-my-mind.blogspot.com Bubbs…

    That vintage chair is SO lovely! Oh also…have you thought of perhaps framing a large section of beautiful wallpaper for the larger wall? I think a really elaborate wall paper print (like the one on that lovely chair) would look amazing!

    Bubbs…

    http://www.paris-on-my-mind.blogspot.com

  • http://pretpenser.blogspot.com V

    I love changing the forniture around when you’re in the mood for it!
    xx

    http://WWW.PRETPENSER.BLOGSPOT.COM

  • http://i-should-coco.blogspot.com/ Bridget

    I absolutely love your upholstered patterned chair – it’s gorgeous x

  • http://missbobino.blogspot.com The life after

    It is such a beautiful and homy room. Love it!

    http://missbobino.blogspot.com

  • http://missbobino.blogspot.com The life after

    Oh I forgot, the arm-chair is fabulous

    http://missbobino.blogspot.com

  • sam

    I like your old setup better… it seems weird to have a chair infront of your couch. But I do love all your furniture and decorations!

  • http://thestylistadiaries.blogspot.com Victoria

    What a great layout for your long and narrow living room. You definitely planned it out very well! I absolutely love the rug and the deep black lamps. Everything goes so well together. Great job!

    xoxo,
    Victoria
    http://thestylistadiaries.blogspot.com

  • http://theeggoutwest.blogspot.com/ meag

    absolutely in LOVE with exposed beams. rustic yet cozy. you did a fantastic job~

    the egg out west.

  • http://peppermintandivy.blogspot.com/ Tariro

    I love how subtle everything is! It seems so cozy!
    xo,
    http://peppermintandivy.blogspot.com/

  • http://www.hitsandfits.com Hits And Fits

    The re-design looks great! And I love how little Luna makes a cameo in that last image :)
    - Ava

  • http://fashiongalfireman.blogspot.com vanessa (the gal)

    i am in LOVE with your living room! it really turned out great! and the new table looks perfect for this space. ummmmmmm, now you have my wheels turning on a little living room make-over in our house. GREAT POST!

    xo- vanessa (the gal)

    http://fashiongalfireman.blogspot.com

  • http://www.renaypiper.com renay

    love your blog, your photography is super and your content is always refreshing. love the living room – and i don’t usually plug my own work but when i saw your mantle, colors, and the zigzag design of the rug etc, i couldn’t help think of this painting on my home page, 36×48″…

  • http://adahliavolk.wordpress.com Chrisy

    Looks great Lady! The new coffee table really brightens up the space and it coordinates nicely with the mantle. I am sure you will think of something fantastic to do with it. It will be fun to decorate for the holidays!
    adahliavolk.wordpress.com

  • http://chocolatecurvesandcocktaildresses.blogspot.com/ Shayne

    What a beautiful room. I love when people design their livingrooms to be fashionable yet inviting :) You nailed it!

  • http://eternallyfashionablylate.blogspot.com Stephanie

    I love the color scheme you have for this room!

    eternally yours,
    Stephanie

  • http://shanelesheek.blogspot.com/ Shanele

    Nice work! Great rearrangement. What I would do for a living room…

    Xo
    http://shanelesheek.blogspot.com/

  • http://majorbaggage.com Nancy

    I am envisioning a neat stack (verticle or horizontal) of Birch branches in the little nook of your fireplace frame. Great for Fall and then fun to add a little sparkle for the Holidays! Although might be a little tricky with the kittens…

  • http://www.onefavoritething.blogspot.com Breanna

    Sooo fabulous!! I love the globe collection on the shelves. All of the details are exquisite. You have excellent taste.

    http://www.onefavoritething.blogspot.com

  • http://petiteandhungry.blogspot.com Petite and Hungry

    your living room looks amazing!

    http://www.petiteandhungry.blogspot.com

  • http://thedailytiara.com The Daily Tiara

    Looks great!! I really love your new coffee table!

    http://thedailytiara.com

  • http://alisialynn.blogspot.com/ alisia

    I love your living room! the new layout looks great and I love the character of the actual room-the exposed wooden beams, rounded doorway, wooden floors and wall color. it’s pretty fantastic

    http://alisialynn.blogspot.com/

  • mads

    can this be mine? please. stuining room, wish it was mine

  • http://ashleykosher.blogspot.com Ashley Kosher

    I love the built in book shelves! Also really digging the color of your couch! =)

  • http://www.signaturemix.com Signature Mix

    I love rearranging furniture and figuring out the best layout for a challenging space. Your living room looks lovely. Really perfect set up for a cocktail party.

  • Kirsten

    A long mirror on the empty wall will make the room seem wider than it really it is and open the space up further… Just a suggestion

  • http://www.modernsuburbanites.blogspot.com rhiannon
  • http://www.cruisinoversixty.com SizzleandZoom

    I have to comment about your beautiful marble coffee table. Two things: The marble is beautiful. The clutter on the bottom tier takes away from the beautiful marble top. I would leave everything off and just one stand out piece on the top.

  • http://nicolefalkagent.blogspot.com/ Nicole

    Very inspiring! I love what you did with your living room!

    http://nicolefalkagent.blogspot.com/

  • http://live-life-cherrybee.blogspot.com/ cherrybee

    oh woah, it looks great like every of you interior things!

    thumb up!

    love cherry bee

    http://live-life-cherrybee.blogspot.com

  • Mira

    Very beautiful… So inviting & inspiring!! Thanks for posting this! love it. Wish you could come redo my living room.

  • http://fiveminutestyle.blogspot.com Stacey

    I love your living so beautiful and relaxing!

    xoxo
    Stacey

    http://fiveminutestyle.blogspot.com/

  • http://hollymeetskeith.blogspot.com hollymeetskeith

    I love the chair placed next to the armchair! Looks so bohemian and easy going!

  • http://www.karollourenco.com.br karol lourenco
  • http://www.mimosasnthemorning.com Allyson

    LOVE THE LIVING ROOM!

  • Erin

    I don’t like it… chairs facing away from the tv in the space just look awkward. They would be much better in the corner by the window or at the back of the room. Then you could move the couch up a bit.

  • http://www.thingscollection@blogspot.com Camilla

    love the wood ..
    camilla

  • http://www.empirestilettos.com Caitlin

    Very jealous of your space. While I definitely can see how it is narrow it still fits a lot more than my tiny NYC living room. LOVE the bird on the mantle!

    http://www.empirestilettos.com

  • http://www.mythriftychic.blogspot.com Tori Thompson

    Amazing space! I always struggle with making my clutter look “eclectic” :D This space is really fun!

    http://www.mythriftychic.blogspot.com

  • http://www.cottonwoolclouds.co.nr Lauren

    this is reaaaally lovely, emily :)

  • http://www.styleclouds.de Styleclouds

    It looks fantastic! You really have amazing taste Emily! xo, Christina

    http://www.styleclouds.de

  • http://www.prevailingetquette.com/ Kelly

    Looks very nice! I am in love with that chair!

    http://www.prevailingetquette.com/

  • Britt

    Your place looks great! I just moved from the suburbs to downtown Vancouver and am currently in the middle of re decorating my brand new 2 bedroom. Thanks for the inspiration! xo

    vanillandlace.blogspot.com

  • http://lucylundstrom.blogspot.com Lucy

    Really everything about this room looks great, but I really love your globe collection. I am always trying to find the perfect globe to put in an awkward place on my own bookshelf, but I’m kind of loving your idea a whole lot more!

    http://lucylundstrom.blogspot.com

  • http://bevyblogs.blogspot.com bevy

    I like it! I’m just not sure any man could like watching TV past the seating in front.

  • http://bintheknow.wordpress.com B. in the Know

    I love it! Your home is so beautiful – the more you show of it, I love more and more. You have truly turned a beautiful spacce in to a lovely home.
    Much love,
    B