Hi Everyone,
Today, I have tackled the remainder of Mel’s beautiful living room furnishings.
So, if you missed the information about the kitchen, please go here because this post will make much more sense, if you do.
This is just me, having fun. Of course, if Mel were a real client, I would show her a whole mess of things, go back and revise, show her some more, revise again, and probably have it pretty much nailed by the third or fourth visit.
I hope y’all are holding up well during this busy holiday season. Last night, I took a breather and did something really bizarre.
I actually watched a movie.
What’s bizarre about that, Laurel?
Good question! What’s bizarre is that I NEVER do that. Well, not on a Friday night by myself.
In other news, I was having a wonderful week until 2:00 AM on Thursday when I got up to go and tidy up the kitchen before bed, and I couldn’t believe my eyes, but right there, in the middle of my WHITE kitchen floor, was the MOUSE. The exterminators assured me everything was sealed up.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
And that’s all I have to say about that. The exterminator came and found the mouse about 36 hours later.
Anyway, the Hot Sales are all updated, and I discovered some awesome open box deals at William Sonoma Home and Pottery Barn. Like a very nice dining chair for 57 bucks. What??? So, please check out the Hot Sales.
Okay, let’s dive into Mel’s living room furnishings.
When figuring out living room furnishings, I often begin with a rug. For Mel’s eclectic decor, I wanted something traditional but not stuffy.
Eventually, I found this rug at Williams-Sonoma Home, and it’s on sale! (You’ll find it in the widget below)
Below is another view. I do recommend getting samples, if possible.
There’s a young designer, Josh Young, who’s created a lovely collection for Williams-Sonoma that’s a combination of European traditional mixed with some urban sophistication and California earthiness.
It makes for a very comfortable, stylish, yet accessible look. He’s like a young Ralph Lauren.
An example is these brocade pillows and a hurricane candle holder. We’ll see more from his collection in a sec.
Mel’s living room is so lovely; however, there are two things I would recommend changing, and one is the coffee table. Here’s why I would like to see something else:
1. The coffee table matches the kitchen table, and that is something to avoid, especially if they are so close together.
2. It feels quite heavy next to the modern sofas with thin steel legs.
3. While some wood tones in the living room a good, I’d love to see something lighter than in the kitchen, but not too light. Or, some black would be wonderful too.
There’s a widget coming up where I will share pretty much everything. However, below are a pair of cool Chinoiserie vintage coffee tables. These might be a little jazzy for some, but I think they’re wonderful.
They are advertised as end tables, but at 15.5″ tall, they are definitely coffee tables. I love them and have had them in my Vintage Hot Sales widget for a long time. If anyone is interested, you have bargaining power. I’m sure they’d be thrilled to get them out of their warehouse.
I added some other vintage coffee tables to the widget.
This is a stylish vignette, and I could see something like this coffee table also working for Mel’s living room furnishings. However, I’m not so fond of the wheels. Well, casters. I like them when they are smaller and on sofas and wooden tables.
However, the Everson coffee table from Pottery Barn is very similar, but sans wheels and a lot less money, too!
It also comes as a console table. So, it’s one or the other, or neither, but never both.
Let’s go back and look at a close-up of the Plantasia wallpaper.
Now, let’s look at the floor plan of the dining area and new living room furnishings, and then I’ll share the widget.
Starting at the top of the page is the dining area. I didn’t add in the ten chairs because life is too short. Ya know?
Moving down to the living room, I added a slim console table behind the sofa for two reasons.
1. It’s not so great looking at the back of a sofa.
2. It’ll be a terrific place to put in two lamps.
Presuming there’s no plug in the floor, but we know there’s one behind the Christmas tree.
So, I would use two small extension cords and connect the two lamps, running the wire underneath the table and maybe the rug. Then, tape it to the floor for a short distance. That’s not a major path.
I have added two small demilune tables on the walls flanking the opening to the main entrance. There could be two more lamps and art above the tables.
The only other thing I’d change would be the mirror. I’m not adamant about it; I seldom am. And I do like the mirror, just not here. I would maybe put this one in a bedroom, dressing room, or bathroom.
Okay, here’s the widget. As I always do, there are captions with more information and also, clicking on them will take you to their source.
Okay, that’s all for now. Happy Winter Solstice!
I’m unsure of my schedule this week, but I should be getting a little post out before Christmas.
My son Cale is coming on Monday afternoon! I can’t wait to spend some time with him.
xo,
***Please check out the big sale going on of my rockin’ interior design PDF guides. They are all 20% off (bundles are even more!) The sale is ending December 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Prices increase on January 1st. If one of these guides has been on your wish list, now is a good time to order. They make great gifts, too!
Below are the guides with a short blurb and links to more info, which will also take you to the order page.
Clicking on the links in gray will send you to the pages to learn more about each guide.
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As of October 2025, there is a newly released 2nd edition with 12 new no-fail paint colors you’ll want to know about. All owners receive lifetime updates.
 Money-back guarantee. This is a must-have guide for anyone struggling with paint colors. If you don’t believe me, there are dozens of testimonials from readers who purchased these guides and loved them.
This should be required reading for everyone who has a website and wishes to get the most out of it for their business. You do not need to be a heavy-duty blogger. But, once or twice a month consistently will do wonders for your business. However, there are some things you’ll need to learn that I did not know in the beginning. Believe me, when I say, in the early years, I made every mistake and then some.
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There is so much information, and much I’ve never seen anywhere else. The window treatment glossary alone is several pages. There’s space planning for every space, art placement, window treatments, lighting info, proportions for mantels and much more. The price for this guide will go way up in January. This will be your last chance to get it at this price forever.
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All of my design guides are on sale through December 28th.
 Prices increase on January 1st.
PS: Please also check out the newly updated HOT SALES and HOLIDAY SHOP– Much of it is on sale!
Thank you so much for your wonderful support this year — I appreciate every one of you.
xo,
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11 Responses
Loved this walkthrough — the way you start with the rug and build the room around it makes so much sense. These kinds of detailed furnishing decisions are exactly what people look for when searching for the best interior designers Hyderabad as well. So inspiring!
I have been thinking about this lovely home since you first posted. If she were my client, I would suggest adding some personality in each room. A large, subtle wool living room rug would be the starting point for adding color to the rooms. There are so many lovely rugs available, the client will be able to choose whatever combination of colors pleases them. Painting the walls, a few colorful pillows with texture and adding window treatments will add coziness to the room. A piece of art over the fireplace would be wonderful. I like your suggestion of a table with lamps behind the sofa. Larger end tables and a floor lamp for reading will help the opposite sofa. Yes to adding crown molding!!
No worries about stains and messes on white sofas, eating is done in the dining room and or kitchen counter! On the long wall in the dining room mask out a really large area with a good quality painter’s tape and use black chalk board paint to fill in the middle. Have a supply of colorful chalk for the children and parents to add fun messages, artwork, reminders, a calendar or whatever else suits the family. It holds up amazingly well over years of use and gives personality paint or wallpaper cannot.
For the dining room floor I would suggest a large vinyl floor cloth in a pattern that includes some of the colors from the living room. Easy to clean, no trip hazard in a busy area and gives personality to the large expanse of wood flooring. Arrange the large plants so they are grouped in the corners for more impact.
Thank you Laurel, I always look forward to reading whatever you post! Happiest of Holidays to you!
Oh my goodness, Laurel!, I wish I could buy every single item in your widget! I hope that someday Mel will update us on her lovely home. I’m so excited that you’ll be with Cale soon. We’re on a little holiday with our two grown sons right now, and there’s nothing better! I keep wishing they’d get married and make me a grandma, but at least we get them home every Christmas :]
Also, can I say “ditto” to Gaye Ingram’s sentiments? She perfectly describes many of my thoughts about you and this blog. You are a gem! Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah, Laurel!
Re your mouse. You were guillty neithr of murder nor manslaughter. You did not know about the sticky tape or that the contractors had left a mouse door open under your stove. But life does not always present easy choices. Your immediate resort to a strong cleaner to wipe down all surfaces in your kitchen made clear you understood one of them was some mouse-carried disease that could lay you low. And you’ve already been laid low in the past and need no further acquaintance with that experience. Re: the reader who said she could never read your blog again because she would be reminded of the late departed mouse, we have a phrase for that in the South: cutting off your nose to spite your face. Poor choice. I first encountered your blog when it was fairly new, I think. I was refreshing my home of 30 years, and I found your wit and solid instruction on design principles an engaging combination. Plus, you helped me resolve my indecision re a white paint. Like many of your readers, I’m here for the long run. Your blog is sui generis. The narrative and personal approach you took from the start was genius and remains so. Horace or one of his peers said literature should both instruct and delight or entertain. Your blog does that beautifully. May your new year be as happy and successful as those of the past. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you so much, Gaye. I very much appreciate your kindness.
I didn’t know the trap was back there. I didn’t put it there. And I thought the exterminators had plugged everything up.
I notice you have a Bertazzoni range – how fabulous is that?! It’s like the equivalent of having an Italian sports car in your kitchen.
I’m wild about that beautifully tailored, upholstered white sofa. For whatever reason, I am drawn to white sofas, but they are probably not the best choice for me, as I have two cats.
Happy Winter Solstice, Laurel, and enjoy your time with your son.
Another terrific post. Glad you looked at warming up (a little) Mel’s lovely living room.
First, mice: we had an infestation and used traps and poison (bad idea) with limited success. Then one day bought three plug-in ultrasonic pest repellers and the mice were gone within two days. We use one (it’s always on) in the basement and in the garage. They cost about $8, use little electricity, are silent to humans and most pets and annoy and disrupt rodent’s nervous system so they want to leave your home. We have given them to friends and it solved their pest problem too.
I think you can find them by clicking on Laurel’s Amazon link.
Hi Laurel,
Knock wood, I haven’t had a mouse yet in my old house. YIKES!
Since you mentioned hiding lamp cords, have you bought one of the many available cordless lamps on the market now? I’m curious as to what type of light they give off.
Happy Holidays & say “hi” to Cale for me. Enjoy your time together.
Designs are lovely as always, but please, please, please NEVER use sticky traps for any animal. It is slow death by starvation and dehydration, and an inhumane terror to the victim. And no poison either, because if they get outdoors for their horrible convulsing death and another animal eats them, they too are poisoned. Think bald eagle, etc. They should be outlawed. Snap traps only!
Love these posts and your tasteful choices in furnishings and accessories. Your writing style is a bonus I always look forward to. So refreshing to see. Enjoy your time with Cale and post mouse!