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In With The New

OUR 2nd HOUSE

When I first got the navy and white striped rug and put it in the living room – I thought, well, for such a big room, it is better than having nothing and risk getting a splinter from the floor boards.  Cause nobody wants a wood shard in their right cheek.  That’s the favorite cheek afterall.   

After 9 months in this room, I learned that this rug was not the rug for me.  Not in here.  Not with a toddler.  Not with our lifestyle.

I wanted something cushy for my tooshie, I wanted something that was easier to vacuum (the flatweave was so light that it would move really really easily) and something that hid dirt a little better (we are slobs, what can I say?)…(you can hear me rant a little more about how I dislike the rug here)

So after months of scouring Craigslist, I finally found a Pottery Barn 9×12 high pile shag rug in a super neutral color.  Armed with my Christmas money from my grandparents (I love being able to tell my Mummum exactly what I got with her gift), Jer, Will and I drove into Atlanta, met a cute young couple and bought it on the spot.   

This cutie patootie couple just had a brand new baby and they converted their guest room (where this rug previously lived) into the nursery…meaning that they were ready to say goodbye to it and give me a great price.  It always makes me feel better when I get to a sellers house and it is neat and tidy…it’s like that extra reassurance that they took good care of my soon-to-be-adopted item.  This particular seller, well, I could eat off their garage floor.   

I gladly handed over the $250 cash in my pocket and fluttered my eyelashes as the boys loaded it into the back of our SUV.  And boys refers to Jeremy and Mr. Seller — not Jeremy & Will….although the little man thinks he can do just about anything.  Testosterone 🙂

When we got it home, we also switched up some of the furniture.  We ultimately decided that we like the leather chairs…we don’t like the rest. 

We really really need a  sectional to make the room work.  We went back and forth about getting two smaller couches that face each other…but Jeremy argued that he really likes the additional seating facing the television.   

I really argued hard that the sight line from the kitchen needs to continue to be open…that if we put the couch directly across from the tv that it’s way too close to the back wall and too close to the screen for proper watching…so splitting the room up in halves is sortof the only way to do it.  So one half of the room is a little sitting area (with the leather Ikea chairs) and the other half is the sectional.

The tan chair is sortof representing where the sectional would end…so imagine the couch wrapping around that corner and morphing the chair into itself.  This is like XMen meets home decorating.

And then we want a big old fat ottoman – something with loads of function and pattern.  I imagine something tufted with a fun durable fabric that we’ll build so that it also has storage.  I gave the illusion of the size by sliding together two of our faux leather storage ottomans so you can see how it fills up the space.

Here’s the birds eye view so that you can see what I mean about the layout.  Ignore the giant couch – any sectional we get probably won’t be that long or deep (get your mind out of the gutter – we are talking about furniture)….

And imagine along the back wall – where the canvas lives – imagine under it an extra long shelving unit that is console height.  storage mania.  with baskets and with lamps…because this space needs some other lighting…and places for board games and extra blankets.    

But before we get ahead of ourselves with all this dreaming about new furniture and DIY storage – let’s just bask in the glorious newness of the rug. 

1.  It’s super plush.  We had two teenage boys already sleep on it…and they said it was more comfortable than a carpeted room.  Score.  Will and I play on it every single day and we never did that with the navy/white rug.  Our knees give it a enthusiastic two thumbs up.

2.  It’s heavy duty.  Since it is really high pile (the little fingers are like almost 2″ long) it tends to shed a little – but that’s no problem since I am vaccuming up Goldfish and raisins on a daily basis anyway.  Basically this rug forces me to be a better housekeeper.  Jeremy definitely approves.  And I love it because it’s soo easy to vacuum compared to Mr. Moves-A-Lot that used to live in here.

3.  It was cheap!  $250 for a 9×12 wool rug in perfect condition for a name brand is a great price.  There is a huge hole in the market for big solid rugs at a decent price point.

4.  It hides dirt….because it’s the color of dirt.  awesome.

Oh and since we moved the navy & white one into the reading room, we were able to switch out the FLOR tiles that used to be in there for the red plaid rug that used to live under Will’s play table. 

The neutralityness (that’s a word) of the carpet tiles ties in better with the new shaggy rug, dontcha think?

So that’s it….taking a step towards the living room that will fit our family.  Because something can look good but not work, ya know Paris Hilton? 

What have you been doing lately to switch up things to better fit your lifestyle?

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Comments

  1. That’s what she said! Haha!
    Seriously loving the price of the rug and it’s super versatile, it will last long!
    Ah! That’s what she said.
    Ok, I’ll stop being a dork!
    Love your blog and many prayers for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

  2. Looks great Katie! The rug under Will’s play table looks awesome, I love that pattern. One thing we have done to better fit our lifestyle is to buy a new range, we had a grease fire on Sunday and thankfully, it only destroyed our old range and left the rest of our kitchen intact. We are also enjoying our new pretty bathroom! Thanks for the Facebook shout out, pretty much made my week :).

  3. Hi! Great rug! Even better buy! You don’t know me, but I really, really, really want you to change the layout of your room back to the way it was with the striped rug. Please, please, please put the coach directly across from the TV and black chairs where the wooden/white cushioned ones were. Thanks for considering this idea.

  4. I love the new rug. It’s so great to find something you have been looking for at a great price. I just spruced up our master bedroom. We have been in our current house for almost 3 years and had yet to do anything in our master bedroom. My husband was traveling last week and I decided to tackle the room as a little surprise. Grey walls, striped curtains and a textured charcoal duvet and I’m in love.
    PS- congrats on the baby news. I will be praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy 🙂

  5. Hi Katie. I have a rug just like this in my living room, we all love it and often have family film night and just all end up on the rug with loads of blankets snuggled in front of the fire hehe!! I love reading your blog BTW and I love to see what new projects you are doing. You have a lovely family and home. Congratulations on the new baby 🙂 x Amanda from England

  6. Oh a sectional would be AAMMMAAAZZING! Where will you put the white couch?
    My house? aww, your too sweet!
    Can I bother you for a close up photo of the built-ins?

  7. I feel your pain/hatred of the flat weave rug. When my bf and I moved last July, we bought a flat weave rug from Ikea in white. It was $60 and 8ish by 6ish (odd Ikea sizing I guess). We figured it wouldn’t be a forever rug but expected it to stay around for a while. “A while” turned into 6 months! That rug recently made it’s way to Goodwill because it could not for the life of it stay unwrinkled (particularly around the coffee table) and was filthy even though I vacuumed often, spot cleaned, and we always take our shoes off as soon as get home. Luckily we scored a thick wool/cotton blend rug from RugsUSA for $200. It is SO cushy under our feet. Lesson learned!

  8. Hi Katie, I really like the new rug. I loved the old one but I can understand how it didn’t work for you. I’m currently in the market for a new rug and you’re so right… it’s so hard to find one on the cheap. Back to the new rug… it makes the space look very homey to me.. makes me want to cuddle up and read!

  9. Hey Katie,

    How do you vacuum a shag rug? We have one in our house and the only way to vacuum it is to remove the end off the vacuum and spot suck with the hose. If there is an easier way to get ‘er clean, I’d love to know about it. Thanks.

  11. I know this has absolutely nothing to do with this post (Although I love the rug, and am insanely jealous because we need a new one to cover our white carpet asap). This is about your sister’s wedding! My sister is getting married, and it is going to be a DIY wedding in all its glory. Do you have any idea where your sister got those tall vases that held the baby’s breath? That was one of my favorite touches of that whole gorgeous wedding, but we are having a terrible time locating any vases.

  12. The room is looking even better (meaning it was looking good before too). As on Nate Berkus once said “Katie Bower you have an eye fro scale”.

  13. I can totally see how you’d want a sectional now. I think that in a large living room, or in a space that is hard to define b/c of a ton of open walls or walkways or just weird layouts, a sectional is really the ultimate solution. It says “THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM SPACE!” Yep, a sectional yells at you. 🙂 Loved the bright happy navy stripes, but think this beige shaggy (nonskidding) rug is a great choice for the space.

  14. I like it! We are moving to Northern VA in just a couple weeks and the new place is chock full of hardwood floors, which is awesome, but at the same time means we need rugs! And rugs are so dang expensive! I’ll have to start stalking Craigs list!

  15. The rug looks GREAT! How is vacuuming it? I really want to get a shag rug, but I’m not sure how my dyson is going to like it.

  18. Shagalicious stuff, the new rug looks very cool. I can certainly imagine how soft it is…
    I have to admit I’m totally jealous of how many huge windows and doors you guys have. I’d never dare blocking the deck exit in my house (we only have one) but it works in yours 🙂

  19. Well, mine is more of a shorter shag…with fingers rather than a overall shagginess so I just use the normal vacuum. I will say that it sucks up more fuzz so it fills the canister up faster but in general it gets clean with just the regular ole run.
    xo – kb

  21. Seriously – it doesn’t work. If I put this couch directly across from the tv…either it’s too far back and we can see the tv but there is only like 24 inches between the couch and the wall…or if we scootch it forward then we hurt our necks looking at the tv and there’s too little room in front of it for a coffee table. If only the room was like two more feet deep or I had a different couch!
    xo – kb

  22. Mind if I ask where you got your textured charcoal duvet?? Sounds like exactly what I’ve been looking for (I’m in love with everything dark grey).

  23. I’m a new reader (hi-ya!), so I’m not sure if you are a Crate and Barrel fan, but right now they have all of their sectionals 15% off until April 1. I’m begging, pleading, and baking cookies for my husband to agree to buy the Kline two piece section in gray.

    New rug looks very snuggly. So glad that shag is back in style 🙂

  24. Perfect. It takes time to build a home. We recently moved and almost everything we bought we replaced shortly after because it just wasn’t right. Yay for a good steal!

    Did I miss the video of you telling Jeremy? I keep coming back to try and find it.

  25. Love the rug – what a great find!

    I like the idea of a sectional, but have you considered getting a 2nd of the couch you already have to mirror it (i.e. place it where those leather chairs are)? It’s nice because when you have company, everyone can sit and talk nicely … or you can lay down while you watch tv.

  27. hahaha, you definitely got me with that last comment. That rug looks so dang comfy I could cuddle up and take a nap.. well except that I’m not living in your home. Minus that teeny detail. And for only $250! What a deal!

  28. Looks great! FYI…..you can be any carpet from a store bound on the edges….my hubby is in flooring and does this often for customers! Also….many shaggy rugs/carpet shou
    D be vacuumed with your beater bar off. I was shocked when they told us that at the last carpet show we attended. I however still vacuum mine with it on…..lol!

  29. I like it!! Totally not what I was expecting but it definitely works!! What a find 🙂
    If I can recommend a sectional – room and board’s orson. It’s fantastic and you can pretty much build what you want (we have a corner seat and a right and left couch). It’s worth every penny. Every single one.

  30. I love me some craigslist. You should (i’m sure you were planning on it) keep checking them for some sectionals. If you’re lucky, you could get a sectional, leather ottoman and rock band thrown in there too 😉 haha That random story is here: http://aaronandkristenwindle.blogspot.com/2011/06/stalking-craig-and-his-list.html

    My husband wanted something that we could lay on and “not touch” because our last couch was tiny. haha. Good luck!

    ps- the new rug looks perfect!

  32. i love the rug! and can’t wait to see where the furniture lands.

    the bummer (!) is that i finally noticed the walls because it’s fairly neutral in the room now. i can’t wait to see where you take the toothpaste colored walls when you get a chance! (wait… will that even happen with some babe occupying your uterus?!!?!!)

  34. That is a fantastic price for a rug of that size! I also love the flor tiles you used under Will’s play table. We were considering using the carpet tiles as floor runners. We were also considering using a bunch of the flor tiles in the family room, as opposed to a large floor rug. What is your take on the flor tiles: Are they easy to vacuum? Also, would it be cushy enough to lounge and play? We have a toddler that would need a soft area. Thanks in advance for the input. Oh, and congrats on your pregnancy! Prayer is so powerful and it was a pleasure praying for you and the family. So happy for you! Hopefully me and hubs will be blessed the same this year 🙂

  35. I enjoy reading your blog. Congratulations on your baby news! We are refinishing our hardwoods. Could you please share the stain color of yours? I’m looking for a medium brown color like your floors. Thank you!

  36. It looks so good, I really love neutrals, they warm up a space and make it feel so cozy I think. Once you guys get a sectional you should put the white couch in the reading room!

  37. LOVE your new rug!! It works perfectly for the space! I know what you mean about scoping out the people you buy from on Craig’s List. We bought our couches from Craig’s List and I was so happy when we pulled up to a gorgeous, mansion that was impeccably clean inside. Makes you feel a lot safer. 🙂

  39. Love the rug! I actually wound up buying the same one at an estate sale last year. It was the final day of the sale so I got it for $118. It looks great in the space!

  44. I think right now we are thinking something fairly durable – whether it is leather or microfiber or slipcovered 🙂
    xo – kb

  46. Probably the biggest change I’ve made to better fit my lifestyle is foregoing a brush in favor of running fingers through my hair. Ah, life with a six month old.

    The room looks really good. A sectional sounds perfect.

  47. How ironic that I read this blog post today since my dog threw up RED dog food on my navy blue/white wool rug. Needless to say, I totally understand why you decided to switch out the rug. It’s a smart choice. How do you keep your white couch clean?!

    We’re sectional hunting too, so I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

    PS – Not sure if you’ve seen the Alina bedspread from Ikea. It’s not a duvet, but still beautiful: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00162648/

  48. i think your best bet would be to do 2 couches facing each other and two chairs facing the TV. Don’t you end up lying down to watch tv anyways?

  49. I loved the looks of the old rug, but totally get the fact it wasn’t functional! Think you got a great deal on the new one, and it’s so neutral, you will have it forever, you could even cut it down and have it rebound in the future for another room if you ever needed to.

    I think the sectional is a good idea, based on the size of the room. Plus you could always get one that’s got a shorter end (the ‘L” shaped part). I’ve been trolling Craig’s list for a sectional for our play room, and Ikea one’s pop up once and awhile. Figure I can always get a new slip cover if I can snag one!

    But what I really want is for you to paint the room!!! Like I can talk…I’ve been painting my bedroom for three years now, I’m on color #3, and think I’ve finally got it right, but only have one wall done.

    Prayers your way for a wonderful pregnancy!

  52. $250 for a 9×12?! I’m jealous! I’ve been looking for a decent rug on Craigslist for our family room for quite some time, too. Why are there so many ugly rugs out there???

    Just wondering: What are you planning doing with the coffee table that you painted blue with white ovals? I love that table. In fact, it inspired me to make an oval stamp for a curtain painting project last summer. So, thanks for the inspiration!

    http://kccd.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/the-fam-damily-room/

  54. I love posts like this because these are the types of things I sit and ponder for hours upon hours. We have a sectional on its way to us (and by on its way, we are in the middle of the 16 week wait for it to get here) and I just know that I’m not going to be able to figure out how to set the room up.

    Love the rug change, I would have been drawn into the blue and white stripe because I’m such a sucker for stripes but this new rug looks fab (and obviously a lot more functional).

    Can I ask a somewhat unrelated design question? I love to design but I can’t seem to figure out the line between a finished room and something that’s overdesigned. Like too many things hung on the walls, too many accessories, too many patterns. Have any tips/tricks? Thanks!

  55. Yep, we’ve recently made changes! We rented out our basement to a good friend who is house-sitting for us while we go to Europe for six months (hello from Lisbon!), and we had to move all the furniture out of our TV room down there. What was our “reading room” (family room with no TV) is now a regular family room – and we love it. We thought it would be crowded, but it is cozy. Granted, when Q had a sleepover last weekend before we left, all five girls squished in to sit side-by-side to face the TV, but it worked.

    I’ve been all kinds of happy for you lately. Baby happy, and now rug happy, and tiles-under-the-play-table happy.

  56. When you finally are ready to buy the sectional, might I suggest a trip to either Furniture Land South or Hickory Furniture Mart here in North Cackalacki? I got my leather sofa in Hickory for a steal! They do a big spring sale – usually the first week of May if I remember correctly. My Mom goes to a place in GA a lot too – but I’ll be darned if I can remember where. I wanna say Dalton, but just not sure if that is right. Also, believe it or not, Costsco is a GREAT source for sectionals. 😉

  57. Katie- I like the new rug.

    Soooooo since you’re dreaming here in this post, I wanted to add that there seems to be an issue with the layout vs. the TV. Have you guys considered moving the TV, maybe to the right or left of the fireplace. Remember we’re dreaming:) So you could put your new canvas where the TV is now and then move the TV to where the bookshelves are(yes you would need to remove the shelving) and the added bonus is your TV is lower.
    Wow…I didn’t know I would get this detailed, but anyway, just a thought!

  58. Its the height of the TV that is the problem.. my husband works in television and will tell you that it needs to be at eye level. I fought him on this too – but once we moved it down, it was so much better, no matter what couch arrangement I had! He was right – but please don’t tell him that. 😉

  59. I think your living room looks great! I loved the old rug, but I really like the new one too! I’m just curious, since the couch doesn’t work across from the fireplace, what makes it so the chair works in that location? Or does Jeremy just not mind looking up at the TV?

  62. Hey Katie,
    First time commenter here. Just a couple of things, first, I found your blog via YHL, and gotta tell you I was hooked immediately. I appreciate the truthfulness you bring to your blog. Secondly, I laugh thinking about you and Sherry being BFFs in blogland, I sit here at work and laugh out loud when you two post videos, and when I see the similarities in your sense of humor, and wit. Thirdly, why I actually wrote, my wife and I are going back and forth on mounting our TV above our fireplace in our soon to be new home (we close 2 weeks from today!!!!), I say it is too high, she thinks it will be fine. We don’t have the cathedrals like you do, but I wonder if you ever think it is too high when you sit and watch from the sofa? If we mount ours above our mantel, and properly place it to visually look right within the space, the bottom of the TV frame would be 4’11” from FF. Do you happen to know your TV to FF? and what are your thoughts on height and neck strain?
    Thanks for reading, and of course, thanks for posting everyday! You give my brain a mental break here at the office!
    Talk soon,
    Dave

  63. “Looks good but doesn’t work”-Hilarious! Rug looks great. Make sure never to give Will playdoh . I grew up with shag carpet (yes, I’m old) and I remember getting my Slime stuck in that stuff. Ewww. Also not good to play with on a driveway. Sometimes you gotta learn by experience! (BTW, Slime is the 70’s version of Gak)

  64. On the theme of rugs, I just replaced the old urban outfitters rug in my kitchen with this cool old antique persian rug that I found on ebay. It took some searching, but I ended up finding one that was only $95, and the random sizing (~3.5 x 7) worked perfectly in my little nyc kitchen. Like you, my husband and I absolutely have to have a rug that we can spill on and not fear permanent obvious stains, so persian style rugs with lots of color and pattern totally fit the bill for me 🙂 For some reason I feel like an old person saying this, but one key issue surrounding rugs is buying a good rug pad. It is incredible the difference on your feet and/or bum when you spring for the higher quality, cushy rug pad (overstock is my go-to for them). In the past year or so, I’ve started replacing my sad little, thin nonslip rug pads with the better guys, and it’s like having a brand new rug!

  65. Oh man! We bought a giant sectional about 4 years ago. Paid a fortune for it and it still looks brand new which means my husband won’t let me get rid of it. I have slowly grown to hate it. There is no way to change things up with a huge sectional like that. You can break it into pieces, but it just looks weird. I’ve tried different ottomans, rugs, pillows and accessories, but it still doesn’t change the feel of the room. If you purchase a sectional I will be very curious to see if you get tired of the arrangement as well or if it’s just me! 🙂

  68. You didn’t mention a rug pad. It needs one, the rug will hold up a LOT longer. Nice neutral color to work with. I think you should add some pillows the same color as the walls, to tie them together. Great price!

  69. If you know anyone who has a wholesale license – (for example my stepdad works at a church, and because the church purchases flowers on a weekly basis, he can use their wholesale license) – look for the wholesale florist in your town. They should have a big supply of vases, inexpensively.

    Also, there are online sources like save-on-crafts or Amazon. Google “bulk glass vases” or “floral supply.” Norn’s vases are particularly lovely, but you can find something that will work called a 24″ tower vase.

    I have more hints on how to save money on your wedding flowers on my website. Hope this helps!

  70. oh great, now I can’t stop singing “Stars are Blind” lol love the rug (old and new). Happy Baby by the way!

  73. Katie (and family),

    Congratulations on the new pregnancy! What a blessing! God is good…all the time. Love the new living room look too. Score on the PB rug!

    Where did you find the red/white floral throw pillow on your couch in these photos??

    Thanks!

  75. I love this room…it is beautiful! What is the wall color????
    Thx,
    Katie

  76. Haha…toothpaste? I have no idea! It’s one of those colors that was here when we arrived…so we don’t know the color yet.
    xo – kb

  77. Hi Katie –

    I have been stalking a rug like yours (perfect color/texture for my family room) and thought I had found it on ebay. Ordered a PB Benson shag rug off ebay in pale espresso since it looked like yours in the pic but it arrived yesterday and it is way too dark and maybe even a different shag. Rats! Any idea the style name/color of your old PB one? Thanks.

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