I think I like it.
I definitely like my saddle. I was going to make a stand for it out of antique barn wood but why make a stand when you have a chair you can throw it on.
And after 10 years I still love my white lacquer buffet from EQ3. Which is why when I moved it from the dining room I was hoping it would fit in the foyer.
That monstrosity fits a LOT of stuff. Plus it balances all the old in my house. My chandelier, my floors, my doors, my skin.
The one thing I wanted to do was to make the foyer a bit more useful somehow. I mean, it's fine for the elite of this world to have an entire room dedicated to the lost art of accepting calling cards but those people probably also have an entire rooms just for their car. And maybe even a second bathroom.
The answer was to just drag a couple of chairs into the room. I can actually sit at the front hall table now and do stuff. A puzzle was on it for a while but I wasn't getting anything done because every time I walked through the foyer I sat down and stared at the puzzle. I didn't actually *do* the puzzle you understand, I just stared at it. But still. It was a time suck.
When I mentioned to a few people that I was half thinking of getting rid of the buffet (I wasn't sold on it in the foyer to begin with) they all said NOOOOOO. They said it like they meant it. They said it like it was a crypt holding the remains of any and every person they'd ever loved.
Clearly I had to ask Why such a strong reaction, weirdo?
Everyone said I had to keep the buffet because I love displaying things. And I love to change those displays. A lot.
The current vignette configuration consists of my favourite Picasso print (given to me by my Uncle because I always loved it as a kid even though it totally creeped me out), a modern vase with white tulips, a lamp from Homesense I painted white, a slightly beat up dessert tray I got at a flea market, a carved wood bowl and a little potted fern.
Next week it might be two huge midcentury modern lamps, a hunk of petrified elephant poop and a crystal vase. You never know. The point is I can change it all the time and it'll completely change the look of the room. Which for someone like me is a very, very good thing.
This is the room I look at every night when I'm in my living room playing Monopoly by myself. So I'm staring at it for a good 9-10 hours a day. I'm really enthusiastic about solitary Monopoly. Because I spend so much time viewing this room I really wanted it to be something I didn't hate. Something I maybe even loved. And it is.
I'd like a slightly bigger table in the centre. Maybe something antique. Wood. My number one choice as any of my old time readers know is the marble topped tulip table, but with the white buffet against the wall that would be a bit too same/same.
Kimi
What I noticed was the large blank piece of 'art' behind the Picasso. Very unexpected. But so is the saddle. Interesting touches.
Susan Whelan
I like the overall look too, but the puddling tablecloth fills me with dread. Being the graceful put-together person I am, the minute I sat at that table I'd push my chair back, catch in the puddles and pull all those glass bottles off, along with everything else.
It's handy to have a saddle available in case you break your tail bone. A saddle is the only thing you can sit on comfortably. Have a lovely day!
Melissa
I feel like you should have your riding boots somewhere in there so it looks like you could dash off to go fox hunting at a moments notice. Otherwise I love it.
Karen
The riding boots are directly opposite the foyer, in front of a ceiling high mirror. :) ~ karen!
Melissa Krouse
perfect...
Amber
On the bottles--if you like little bottles like that, make friends with a diabetic who uses a syringe and vial for insulin. I used to have hundreds of teeny little bottles a friend gave me for crafts--just had to buy corks.
(I used up a lot making Christmas ornament gifts, then moved 800 miles and have no idea where the rest went)
maggie van sickle
It is u. That about sums it up. Just artfully u. Clean and pure .
Red
I think it's time to dance some furniture around. Maybe do a tulip table with wooden chairs, or a wooden table with your modern chairs...I feel like there is just something not yet settled. Thinking ya need a touch more wood. Also the table covering, there's puddling and then there's a cloth that's just too darn big not matter what. Can't wait to see about those little bottles...
Shelly
White tulips are my absolute favorite flower. You're not going all "Breaking Bad" I hope.
Melissa
It totally suits you, a little of this, a little of that, a wonderful mix of old and new. It's you my dear, totally you.
I live for puddles, it's all very chic, so puddle on! It's like you're saying, I don't care to cat hair, or dog hair, or human hair, to which I say, to each his own. I love the puddles, can't wait to have puddles in my new home. So, there.
The buffet is perfect and looks great there! I love a place to display pretties, whatnots, and thingies. And it gets your creative juices going to change it up all the time. Same is boring, and you my dear, are far from boring.
TucsonPatty
As always, I love seeing what you have been up to instead of sleeping. I love the chandelier. I want one and have nowhere to put it. Perhaps just outside, on the patio, over the table and I won't hook it up, just let it shine in the sun. (Tucson, remember?) and get a short, small one. And put a damn puddling tablecloth over the table out there. I love puddling and I wish I had tall windows with white sheers puddling until the gentle breeze sends then gently wafting. Oh my. I now have the vapors, I think. : )
Sherry in Alaska
Just my opinion but I don't think it's really YOU just yet. Okay but not WOW. But then you only show us one of the sides............
And I was starting to enumerate what I like and what I don't and I deleted all that. It's your house. Have it your way! I suspect it'll change as you figure out what you really want from the space. "Ain't set in concrete" as they say.
Teresa Chandler
The saddle looks beautiful! I have two saddles in my "tv" room but they are on a tall saddle rack. I used to have one more, a hand-crafted child's saddle perched on a small wooden sawhorse ( I just realised how funny that is) but I gave that one away to someone who had both a child and a pony. Mine are really just there because it is too hard to keep them in good shape down at the barn. So as design elements they have no flair or style. The only one that did at all was the child's one. So, this is getting weird because you have chandeliers and wanted monkeys - I just had monkeys and a stack of saddles. If my table cloth puddles it is because I accidentally put the giant one on and was too lazy to take it off. It's almost like I'm a scary twilight zone version of you. Clearly, good taste depends on the cook more than the ingredients. See what I did there?
Karen
Lol, I do indeed see what you did there. :) ~ karen!
Heidi Ruckriegel
My daughter's cat would have a field day with those little bottles. She loves testing the effects of gravity on objects.
Lois Baron
Lordy, my cat too! And she loves to chew on emery boards.
Audrey S
Your mix of styles is, as always, impeccable. Well done!
Karen
Thanks Audrey. :) ~ karen!
Laura
I love how you've created strong bones on which to hang anything that is striking your fancy. It strikes me as a beautiful still life.
Mark
I don't know how you do all this stuff, Karen. Do you ever sleep? Or do you have a team of people in the background doing it all?
Karen
I wish. Nope, just me. ~ k!
Jennifer Lee
Elves. I bet it's really elves.
Mark
I was going to go with minions, contributing to Karen's plan for World Domination!!!
judy
I don't like the drapey look of the cloth on the table and the rug? beneath the table. It insults my sense of neat and tidy. I also find the solid chair juxtaposed with the clear chair jarring. On my laptop I had to look twice to see that the form on the right is indeed a chair. I am no decorator as you probably noted as soon as you began reading-just you are so candidly honest in everything you do that to just say oh it's beautiful seems ...not right....phoney? typical ADD...the reason why nobody consults me about nothin? AnyHoo the rest of it is as usual lovely.
Karen
Ha! Well I can assure you it's "clear" that it's a chair in real life. And I'm the exact opposite in terms of "perfect". I do not, in any way, like things to look neat, tidy, and perfect. :) It actually insults my sense of ... well, my sense of me. ~ karen!
judy
Dearest Karen...this is the reason I follow you,you are truly the most talented,industrious Woman on the Planet and the wit and humor is beyond compare. I'm going to be more of a critic in the future-even if I have to make stuff up- This reply had me falling out of my recliner. My idea of Decor.....
Lisa K
I had a feeling about both chairs and I really like both chairs but my gut told me they need to switch places.
Ellen in Illinois
I agree...the white chair covers up the saddle..and it looks a little heavy. A switch of the chairs would solve that. And if you saw my house you would think "well look who's talking"!!
Jennifer Lee
I like it, too. I really like your see-through chair. I think it's quite a feat, to have an ornate crystal chandelier, and still have the room look minimalist. Your white tulips make me ask if you ever watched a TV series called "Fringe"---? There is a connection between "Fringe" and white tulips. I'm half-way through the third season of five, so no spoilers, please. Also, I thought you'd like to know that petrified poop is called a coprolite. Honest.
Karen
Nope, I've never seen Fringe. Just a fan of white flowers, tulips in particular because they have a mind of their own. Coprolite. Got it! LOL. I shall use the proper word next time. :) ~ karen!
Alice
We loved Fringe!
ronda
all the good shows get cancelled much too soon! ahh ... Fringe ...
Robert
You actually liked the last 2 and a half seasons? It has took me almost 2 years to go through them even when I did catch the first season and a half on it's original run on TV and I decided that it was time to actually watch the whole thing around Easter 2 years ago when I binned until season 3 in like 3 weeks and then I just couldn't be bothered and I'm only in episode 7 of the 5th season
ronda
but isn't being far-fetched the name of the game for science fiction?
Robert
Oh ! It is, but that's not why it's been so hard for me to finish the whole thing. I just don't seem to actually care about the second half of the series and I'm not entirely sure why.
It's the same with the Walking dead, I could not been bothered to watch after the first episodes of the second season.
But yes, all the good shows get canceled much to soon! RIP Pushing daisies and Hannibal, you'll live forever in our hearts and digital media
Carolyn
Did I miss something? I want to know what the little bottles are for because they are calling out "Mine!".
Linda in Illinois
I know they are laboratory bottles but what is in them is another question, and the mason jar of what looks like indian corn seeds is interesting as well. I'm going to guess at cross pollinating something for Karen's garden??
LuAnn
My question is kinda about the unmentioned "elephant in the center of the room".
What's in the little glass bottles on the table? Enquiring minds... ya know?
Karen
Patience Luann ... :) ~ karen!
Alena
They are for this year's marijuana harvest that Karen will be sending at Christmas time to the blog readers.
For strictly medicinal purposes, of course.
Sabina
Hahahahaaaaaaa!!!!!!
Ellen
Perhaps Karen is planning on becoming a witch or she already is one. ? Do I see eye of newt in one of those little bottles?
Tina
It's beautiful. The only thing I dislike, my complete pet peeve (maybe because I have 3 pets) is draperies or tableclothes that puddle on the floor. All I can do is stare at it for any random cat hair.
KATHLEEN H
I was told by a very wise designer once to put my drapery rods close to the ceiling and let the drapes puddle a little bit. But I worry that people will get tangled in puddling tablecloths!!!
I think the puddles on my drapes hide the cat hair!!!!! Hahaha
mbaker
I do agree with you, Tina. The drapery is a little too similar in colour to the skin underneath it. Plus the effect is for hiding things, like the shape of a table or what that table is made from. Right now it's really just creating a big beige blob in the center of the room.
nancy
The tablecloth is so gorgeous it doesn't bother me - as much. But I would step in the puddle and jerk all those little bottles all over the place. Probably in the middle of the night.