The living room

Hurrah. The living room has been painted :o) It's taken a little longer than initially thought.
I was going to say that it doesn't really look very different, because from the 'before' photo I am showing, the paint colour doesn't look massively different. But in the flesh the room has changed a lot, and there are still a few minor changes that I am still planning.
Anyway, I promised I'd show the room once decorated, so here it is.

The room has a fireplace in the centre, and a bay window at one end. We had two large sofas, one being situated in front of the window. This is how it looked at the start of the year (though the photo was taken on a rare Tidy Day last summer!). And this is how it looks today. and the window end .. The old colour was 'Eau de Nil' and looked horrible as a backdrop to the new sofa. Luckily, the rug and curtains work well, so there was no need to change them. Pleased about that, I particularly love the rug.

We still need to get some pictures back up, but I may get a few new ones first. The wallpapered wall will stay unadorned as it doesn't need anything else on there. Some pictures have been put back up on another wall. I have been meaning to paint this wooden frame, and must make sure I do it soon. I intend to paint the two small tables we have in there too. The wallpaper is from Laura Ashley, pattern 'Tatton', colour 'Champagne' (half price a couple of months ago!) and the paint is Farrow & Balls 'string'. They are a perfect match.

We have two lampshade covered ceiling lights. You can just about see a lampshade in one of the photos. Well they are set to be replaced. I feel that the wallpaper needs something pretty in front of it. You can have expensive or decadant tastes, but sometimes it isn't possible to have exactly what you want. Because of costs or other factors. In the ideal world, I would have beautiful sparkly chandeliers in the living room (and dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms ...!), but they are expensive and if you don't have high ceilings, impractical. We don't have high ceilings so have to bear that in mind. I have found two chandelier style shades that will be perfect. Once I've made up my mind, we can buy them. Here are my choices. I think I'm know which one I'm leaning more towards, but I really like both of them. This means I get the look that I like, but in a way that suits our home and finances.
Still 'Champagne' taste, but happy to compromise with my 'Cava' alternative :o)

So the room does look quite different. Before it had a busy and cluttered feel, but now it feels light, airy and elegant. One thing I refuse to do is remove traces of Gorgeous Girl. This is her home, and she is more than welcome to have her toys around the house.
However.
I wanted to thin out her junk, and make it more manageable. Children generate A LOT of 'stuff'!
Now it looks neater, and I can hide her basket of toys. I've placed it behind the door.
Door shut, and you can see the toys, door open (which is is most of the time) and toys are hidden from view!  Her dolls house is still centre of attention. And her little piano keyboard and pink keyboard are still in evidence. And her tiny pink chair is still by the TV! As you can see, it's very much a family room, and always will be. It's just that now it's a more spacious feeling and elegant family room.

I love our home :O)