This is going to be a snappy quick rundown of my complete 48 hour mental breakdown. But don't worry. It'll be fun.
Part of my living room is on my front porch. This is unusual for me.
In 2018 I declared I was buying an English Roll Arm Sofa, right away. I'd hated my sofa for a decade and would absolutely DIE if I had to live with it another day.
Which lands us here almost 5 years later, reading about how I've just thrown half of my sectional into the street. Like a sad television cable.
So I didn't die from living with my sectional another 5 years, at least not quickly.
Instead, every night when I went into my living room, a little piece of my soul croaked. It was the piece of my soul that has a good eye and knows not to mix 50's and 70's aesthetics.
I just can't get this living room right. Not in 25 years have I ever felt 100% comfortable with it or in it. That's tough to accomplish when you have a wood burning fireplace. You have to really screw things up to make a room with a wood burning fireplace yucky.
When I'm anxious I rearrange furniture
Or maybe I'll declutter a drawer. I always feel accomplished and in control when I'm done. Except for this time when I rearranged furniture for 48 hours only stopping to hydrate and marvel at how bad at this I really was.
Only I'm not, which is what has been so frustrating.
In my defence, every 3 hours or so I thought I was done. Then I'd leave the room, come back in and start all over again. Things weren't clicking until fortunately - I snapped.
That's when I decided to take my sectional apart to see what the room would look like with just a couch. I figured I could at least see how nice the room could look with less sofa in it. And that would appease me.
I'd be able to stop moving furniture and accessories in circles.
I was right.
Chucking one hunk of my sectional on the lawn made me feel like I'd just had Bunny Williams redo my house.
karen bertelsen
I thought I hated everything in my living room, as it turns out. It was just 4' of the sectional that I hated.
That wasn't the end of it of course. Sunday night I worked moving, rearranging, shoving and storing furniture from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. I worked myself into a complete frenzied panic.
I was NOT going to bed until my living room felt like me. It didn't even have to be grade A design. I just had to feel like it felt good to me.
Because my dining room feels like me.
My foyer feels like me.
You guessed it. My kitchen feels like me.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
But my living room has always felt like ... not me.
This is an especially bad photo of an especially bad time in my living room but you get a good idea of how large a bossy pants that sectional was.
What I did was take the right section, the one in front of the window - and threw it away.
That freed up an ENORMOUS amount of space in the room for me to rearrange chairs, make actual pathways to walk. Since owning this house I've never once been able to walk in a straight line at any point through the living room. Zigging, zagging and scooching was always involved in a trip across my living room.
Now?
Well. Now it's kind of perfect. Now it is me.
Those are photography backdrops under the couch because I don't have anywhere else to store them. #littlebrickcottage
These are all just quick shots I took at about 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon which means it was already getting dark out. So they aren't great images, but you can see there's more room in the living room.
More room to walk, vacuum, carry wood in. I could break dance. Do you know I could now break dance in my living room if I wanted.
Because I took a section off, the 2 ends of my sofa are different.
To cover up the fact that the two arms on the sofa are different, I just threw a blanket over the one arm. Problem solved.
I still need a new sofa. But at least I feel comfortable and like I'm sitting in a room meant for me.
At least that's how it went until 3:30 p.m. today. I looked at the photos I took. I didn't like them. Things weren't right and I had a pretty good idea of why. (I'll explain that in another post)
So it started all over again. I am currently putting the final sentences on this blog post from yet again, a completely different living room.
And I think this one is it. But I'm going to sleep on it.
I'll update you on this volatile situation on Friday. But I think I finally love my living room.
My porch, at the moment, I'm kind of hating.
Steph
After almost 20 years in my last house I had finally finished my living room. I loved it so much. And then I moved after 6 months with it. 3 years later and I'm still trying to do it in my current house. I really don't want it to take another 20 years! I will be anxiously awaiting your new reveal (and any tips you have with it)!
Valerie Nagy
I think that the room looks so warm, elegant and cozy! After that, personally, my main problem would be letting that piece of sectional go, cause I’d be over thinking….what if I should keep it to give away when I get rid of the rest of the sectionals? What if I change my mind? What if I cannot find a sofa of thos quality that doesn’t cost 6,000 for velvet or nice fabric? I am the most indecisive home decorator, ever. I feel your pain. Just went through a little remodel myself and thank goodness my daughter is taking my old sofa off my hands and recovered the cushions. 😜 otherwise, it would stay on my side porch forever.
Karen
As soon as I can find someone to take it to the dump for me it's gone! I am DONE with it. ~ karen!
Babs
So who knew you were a celebrity? Well, to us readers you still are!!!!!!!!
I was laughing reading your post about moving furniture. My husband thinks I am crazy doing so but it sure brings life to one's piece of home. Looking forward to the addition of the English Roll Arm Sofa. It would certainly suit you.
Also, glad to hear your mother survived the "rona". My mother turns "97" in 11 days and she too survived the "rona". I guess these two gals are from good stock.
Happy Thanksgiving by the way from your US neighbor!
Karen
Thanks Babs! But I'm the one who should be wishing you Happy Thanksgiving, lol. Our Thanksgiving was over a month ago so I'm always envious that you still have it to look forward to. ~ karen!
Diane Bellesen
Your love of a rolled arm chesterfield brings back a childhood memory of mine. That’s the type we had when I was young, unfortunately it was well worn and needed reupholstering. Luckily my Dad was a custom reupholsterer, so my Mom started nagging for him to get it done. Instead he made her a completely new one in the style of the day. It was the sixties so everything was low back and arms with very straight lines. It was very fashionable in high end furniture in that period and it was upholstered in a lime green and dark brown frisée. My Mom hated it the minute it came in the door and to add insult to injury, my Father reupholstered the old set in a beautiful fabric and gave it to his brother. Dad never lived that one down.
Hope you find the one you’re dreaming of.
Karen
I don't know why, but that makes me want one even more, lol. ~ karen!
Sandy
Would it be possible to tear out part or all of the wall separating the foyer and the living room?
Sandra
Hey Karen! Your dream sofa sounds wonderful for your space ...is it on a slow boat ? Maybe you will disagree, but I'll say it anyway, how about a new wall colour !? I used to work for Benjamin Moore, so you can understand where I am coming from....more colour! I hope you do get your sexy sofa though...the one with the arms. Ciao xo.
Karen
Hi Sandra! I know you worked at Benjamin Moore! This go around is more about the layout and how a sofa will fit in the room. I still have to reupholster, pick colours, blah blah. I've considered painting the living room an old fashioned blue. Sort of a dirty robin's egg blue with a slight bit of green. But this room is DARK so I haven't committed yet. ~ k!
Christina
YES to the dirty robin's egg blue. Darker colors in a room with less natural light are the best, especially when the rest of the rooms with natural light are white. It is the best, coziest contrast.
Theresa G. Chickering
Is that an old Stubben jump saddle? Please tell us all about it.
Karen
It's not a Stubben, although at the time I got it I loved it because it does look very Stubbenesque! It's my eventing saddle. I rode/showed from grade 8 until University. I had garbage bags FILLED with rosettes. I wish I still had them. :) ~ karen!
Theresa G. Chickering
I'd love to hear of your riding adventures, if you're ever pressed for topics!
Kootenay Kat
I'm reading this post while listening to Eufy clean my floors for me. I would like to sincerely thank you for that tip a few years back! I went straight to Amazon and bought him (yes him...I kinda like a guy who's into cleaning...and cooking). I've never looked back since. Best self care purchase EVER!!!
Although the cat is skeptical.
But I digress
I totally get the whole couch scenario. I am still a firm believer that sectionals (unless you have a massive 400 sq ft living room with a conversation pit) should reside only in the tv watching/couch potatoing rec room.
Is Potatoing a word? What the heck...it's the English language. Apparently we can butcher it any way we like and Webster's will officially adopt it next year.
Adorkable is my favorite new word.
Anyway.
I digress again.
I love a regular old, traditional couch (preferably with rolled arms) facing the fireplace, with comfy arm chairs on either side. Best way to have a cup of tea and and a conversation, or read the newspaper, or a good book, or any book for that matter.
This life is a grand adventure! Sooo happy to have you as one of my tour guides!! And, sooo happy to sit back, on my couch with the rolled arms, and watch you do all the heavy lifting.
And I bet your Eufy loves the new space too. I've needed to de-clutter some obstacles, space a few things out just right, and slightly raise the height of a few things so he can get under them without getting stuck. But I seriously needed to do that anyway.
If I haven't said this before...thank you for your massive contribution to all the laughter in my life. YOU ROCK!
Karen
Thank you! And I'm glad you love the Eufy. I actually moved mine to the upstairs and bought a newer mapping Eufy for downstairs! My ideal happy spot is a couch facing the fireplace (quite close). But in my living room it's hard because of where the wall opening is. YOU ROCK! (too) ~ karen!
Lynn
I am same although hubby is more so. 😆 he tells all it me an I just laugh.
Due to arthritis we have both pretty much stopped 😳 not that the want is not still there.
Shannan
The suspense! Can't wait to see the end result, Karen. I love your posts and hardly have a chance to keep up lately, my little babers is now 8 months old and he's doing all the things and I am on the move right behind him. I'm gonna binge a bunch of your posts late at night when everybody is sleeping and aren't demanding my attention.
Karen
Thanks Shannan! I feel awful having to tell you this but, you aren't going to have time to binge a bunch of my posts for the next 13-30 years. ~ karen!
Shannan Williamson
A gal can dream about her imaginary free time to-do list, can't she? Lolol And I've spawned 2 cute little time suckers, little is 8 months, big is going to be 8 years, so up that number to maybe the rest of my born days? Hahaha.
savannah49
I, too, am an "it has to feel right" furniture mover! That gene has been passed down to our middle son and his wife is most pleased!
p.s. Every time I see your tree trunk side table I sigh because I never got to finish mine. :(
Sandy
Would it be possible to tear out part or all of the wall separating the foyer and the living room?
Penny Porter
Me too. Been one since junior high. Always makes me feel good because I love change. I have been a commercial designer for 40+ years. Had to do it in CAD not the same. One of my residential secrets (not really a secret my installers use it) is to put the big pieces on "skates" (flat plastic with foam lining). Goes much faster and helps get that exact angle you can't seem to get right. I now leave the skates on most pieces when I get the urge.
One Thanksgiving I was having a huge crowd. I moved the dining room furniture into the living room. It was nice having a small cozy living room off the kitchen. I kept it that way until Easter!
Karen
I've considered the same dining room / living room switcheroo in my house. :) ~ karen!
Paula
I spent 8 months in 2021 looking for an english roll arm sofa. I finally settled for something else because I couldn't find what I wanted. If you do fine one, let us know where.
Joan Cameron Gordon
I too am a confessed serial furniture re arrange. I have a self inflicted monstrosity of a leather sectional cluttering up my living room and brain, but I bought it myself, thinking it would solve the seating issues, and now feel it must die a natural death before I can replace it with the coveted roll arm green velvet sofa of my dreams.
Perhaps I will take your cue and heave it, before I spend 5 years I can't get back
Love the "Cy"!
Carole
Hilarious (and I say that with love; I do feel your pain). I totally get it. As the story goes, one of my parents' biggest arguments early in their marriage was that Mom kept re-arranging the furniture, as part of her house-cleaning process. Dad hated coming home to an unpredictable New Order. As a "compromise", she ultimately gave up and went from one extreme to the other ~ left the furniture in place and kinda sorta cleaned around it, occasionally. We grew up with a lot of dust bunnies, pet hair and clutter as a result. Dad was okay with that and my parents stayed together (with a few more ups and downs along the way, of course) for over 52 years, until my mom's passing from Parkinson's.
As for me, I fixed my couch problems by purchasing denim slipcovers. :-D Good luck!
Kippy
My mother was a serial furniture rearranger. On more than one occasion I’d come home from school and go to sit on my bed but find out she’d switched where my desk and bed had been.
Very small living room so not many furniture placement options nor room for sectional.
Did Philip offer to help with rearranging or did he high tail it with the cats to another room?
Trish Kinnee
I confess, I too am a habitual rearranger. When my daughter calls and asks what I'm doing, I pause and then say "Guess." She knows the living room will be rearranged ... again.
I've been told I'm a nightmare for a blind person. The cats gather and watch in fear.
But it is satisfying ... for about 3 days when something just isn't right.
Oh, I actually took a saw to a sofa in order to remove it from my house.
Deborah
I have the same moments of annoyance with my perfectly good sofa, a sectional. I also have an old house with rooms of weird proportions. I was seized with the urge to immediately put the short end of the stupid sofa on the porch and launch myself into a re-design, but then it hit me; how would the giant hairballs (sheepdogs) arrange themselves around me at night for TV time without the sofa real estate. You can maybe appreciate my dilemma.
Christine Hilton
Ugh.l get it.l am a retired designer.l can look at someone else's room and fix it in 10 minutes.Not so easy in my own space.ls that a real Cy?
Sarah
I have to know more about the Cy Twombly signature!
Karen
Oh, lol. K, well, that used to be a huge orange and red monstrosity from Homesense. I painted the canvas white and then forged Cy Twonbly's signature on it knowing it was the only way I'd be able to afford a "Cy Twonbly".😆 I have a friend who is an art writer for the NYT, Cultured, Basal etc. and I showed it to her thinking she'd be offended. She deemed it brilliant and loves it so I feel good about it. ~ karen!
Kat - the other 1
I was wondering why someone was signing your wall. Lol.
Mom would kill anyone who did that. Lol
Deb from Maryland
I, too, am a furniture mover for emotional satisfaction. It HAS to FEEL right, and it's not about what mix of styles the room includes. You are awesome at design and I can't wait to see what layout you landed on. :)