Happy Holidays!

December 17, 2022: Hi all. I'm still here, just been very busy (who of us is not?) I'm working on updating Maison Newton bit by bit, it's been awhile since I changed things up. Happy Holidays to all, soon the Winter Solstice will arrive and then the days will start to get longer once again, hooray!

Monday, February 25, 2019

HGTV's Copy Our Cover - The Look for Less Jan's Way Part II

Hola!

My goal is to try and find options to replicate in similar colors and "feeling" if not identically copy the exact pieces in HGTV's March 2019 "Copy Our Cover" feature:


Part I link: Chair options.

The Throw Pillow

The HGTV pillow selection is the Hound and Partridge Leopard 20" x 20" cotton pillow in butter yellow, $41.50 at zazzle.

The first option is from Society6, the Modern white chic faux gold foil Leopard Print throw pillow, $39.99 for the 20" x 20" size when not on sale, currently on sale for $31.99, pictured below:



The second option is from the roostery.com, the Catalan throw pillow in summer leopard in yellow, by domesticate, cover only, in 18" x 18" size (the only square size available), $37.  Available with pillow insert for $8 more, pictured below:


The Side Table

HGTV's selection is the Gabby Annie 24" H x 19 1/4" diameter resin side table, $471 at houzz.com.

I concentrated on looking for (1) similar shape (drum table; hour glass table) and (2) much lower price!  I didn't restrict myself to resin.

I love the glam of this table.  It's much smaller than HGTV's selection, but it's got an antiqued hammered copper metal finish from Uttermost.  This is the Cutler Drum Shaped Contemporary Drum Shaped Accent Table, 19.875" H x 13 1/2" diameter, at Sleek Modern Furniture, $140.80, pictured below:


This equally glam piece is about half the price of the Uttermost table above!  It's the Edgemod Signy Drum Table with Marble Top, an antiqued brass finish over iron base, 19.3" H x 15.75" diameter, $75.60 at Hayneedle, pictured below:


Next up is Holly & Martin's Ocala Hyacinth Accent Table (natural finish), 19" H x 17.5" diameter, $70.97 at Overstock.  The table is made out of iron, rattan and water hyacinth, pictured below:


I'm thinking I've developed something of a fetish for metal tables, hmmm, for my next selection takes us back to a gorgeous copper finish.  This is the Antiqued Copper Drum Accent Table at Pier 1, 24" H x 18" diameter (close to the dimensions of HGTV's selection), mango wood top with iron base finished in a copper patina finish, $199.95, pictured below:



I found this understated sophisticated beauty at Overstock.  It's the HomePop Hourglass Metal Accent Table in Gold with Mirror Top, 22" H x 17" diameter, $67.99, pictured below:

The Planter

I had a hard time with this match up, not because there is a lack of options but because there are far too many!  HGTV's selection was one of a pair from Wayfair, the Fegley Retro Chic concrete planters in teal at $30 for mixed set of 2, smaller one chosen at a mere 3 1/4" H.  That's pretty short, but it looks about 7 inches or so wide.  You may not be able to see it very well in the HGTV page here (but if you have the March 3019 magazine it's quite clear on the cover), but the coffee mug, which is an 8 ounce regular coffee mug, is a little over half the height of the planter - so the planter can't be only 3 1/4" tall!  But I stayed within those parameters when shopping for my picks.  There are endless selections if I'm not limited to a 3 1/4" height!

Both of my selections are from Amazon.  The first is offered by My Gift, Rustic Style Turquoise Ceramic Floral Design Succulent Plant Pots/Mini Herb and Cacti Planters, 3 1/4" H x 3" square width, $19.99 for a set of 3, pictured below:


This is the Dahlia 3" Vintage Style Floral Detail Succulent Planter/Plant Pot/Floral Pot in Teal, 3.7" H x 4.7"W x 4.9"L, $18.99, pictured below:


I like the rustic/rough texture and the pop of the pink flowers with yellow stamens - these delicate pink and yellow accents really pick up the color scheme in the room!

The Coffee Mug

HGTV's mug selection is the Recreation Center Grid 8 ounce clay mug, $40, bando.com.

Suffice to say I doubt I'd ever pay anywhere near $40 for a coffee mug, but I was appalled at how expensive "decorative" mugs can get!  I found some designs I really liked, but the mugs were often ridiculously large - I mean, seriously - who drinks their coffee out of a 21 ounce mug?

Something does not compute.  This is Target's Threshold 21 ounce Stoneware Mug Pink/White.  It is decorated with tiny little gold "flowers" and has a "brownish purple" handle (per a Q/A at the website).  It's dimensions are 3.75" H and 5.5" W, $5.99, pictured below.  I just can't see this mug holding 21 ounces of liquid!  Am I wrong?



This selection is also from Target's Threshold collection, a 15 ounce Porcelain Hello Gorgeous Stackable Mug Pink/Gold, 3.52" H and 5.35" W, $5.99, pictured below:



If you like options like I do, you may fall in love as I did with this painted pair of coffee mugs offered by World Market.  Either one of these would work well in the room's color scheme:  Hand Painted Mosaic Mugs Set of 2, 4.53" H x 3.74"W, 14 ounce each liquid capacity, in shades of black, white, yellow, blue, pink and turquoise, $15.98 for the set, pictured below:



I also took a look at Zazzle and found this mug - along with four variations for styling options for an additional cost:  Coffee mug with eclectic pink and yellow design, 11 ounce, 3.8" H x 3.2" W, base price of $16.75, standard mug pictured below:



Art in the next post, then the hardest selection of all - an area rug!  

Sunday, February 24, 2019

HGTV's "Copy Our Cover" - The Look for Less Jan's Way!

Hola!

So, here we are, nearly to March which according to the old saying "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" is never true where I live.  In this neck of the woods, you NEVER know what you're going to get for March.  Most people expect some kind of spring in large swaths of the U.S.  But here we might get more blizzards and ice storms and well below "normal" temperatures.

An ice storm on February 23rd; sustained winds of 50 to 65 mph or higher and falling temperatures on February 24th, way below freezing (and sub-normal) temperatures for the entire next week with snow expected (up to 5 additional inches) on February 27th. March welcomes Wisconsinites by spitting on us.  Gee thanks, Mother Nature.

Housebound once again because I refuse to try to kill myself walking on iced-over sidewalks in 60 mph winds, I'm entertaining myself by re-creating my own version(s) of the March 2019 HGTV "Copy Our Cover" feature. I really enjoyed it,  because I am partial to pink, although at present I don't have it in my home decor (with some important exceptions, as you'll see a few posts from now).

Here's the look:


The items total to $3,392.50 (that's my little scribble in the lower right corner).  So, I set out to find items that can give the look or the feel of the look.

The Chair

The chair featured in the HGTV article is the "Stevie velvet chair in ballet pink" at shopsocietysocial.com, for $1,200.00.  It's a swivel chair - fun!

But I wouldn't pay $1,200 for one chair!  So, here are some I found for less money:


Above is the Mercer 41 Jax Swivel Barrel Chair in pink, $429.99 at Wayfair.


Above is the Abbyson Jaxson Velvet Swivel Chair in pink, $394.39 at Overstock.  


Above is the Safavieh Couture Clara Quilted Swivel Club Chair in dusty rose, $361.67 at Overstock.

I couldn't find a skirted to the floor option in pink that was less than $1,200, but I did find this kicky alternative - see what you think: The sweetest deal of all - this is the Cynthia New Velvet Swivel Chair with loose cover in fuchsia, $185.99 from GDF Studio available through Walmart, pictured below:


I wouldn't call that color "fuchsia" by any stretch of the imagination; it's purple!  But I love the skirt to the floor and it's overall shape, and the fact that the swivel mechanism is hidden.

Right now I'm planning on doing the area rug last - simply because I found so many options that I fell in love with that offer options with the colors (including options to go with the "fuchsia" above), but there are so many of them.  Next up, the one featured throw pillow and the side table!

Thursday, February 21, 2019

HGTV "My Favorite Room" - the Look for Less Jan's Way! Part III

Hola!  Here's the final part of this "look for less" - covering hunting for the black and white throw pillows/cushions.  After going through my initial selections, I narrowed it down to the five below.  I also calculated the amount of the room I would furnish with the pieces I selected versus the HGTV picks.

Part I -  Sofa, Chair and Art
Part II - Area Rug and Coffee Table

I have some favorite places to go when looking for pillow covers:  H&M, Ikea and Bed, Bath & Beyond.  But this time I didn't find anything that rang my chimes in terms of trying to be true to the prints on the pillows used in Cynthia Smith's living room.  I also tried Society6, Amazon, etc.  I ended up selecting most of the pillows (not covers) from Wayfair.

To refresh, here is the original room and HGTV's picks for some of the items in the rooms to achieve the same look:





My goal in pillow shopping was to try and capture the overall "feel" and scale of the two printed pillow covers on Charlotte Smith's sofa, as well as looking for 18 or 20 inch sizes, as the pillows used look to be the same height or even slightly taller as the back of the sofa and side cushions.

This pillow pattern was my number one favorite, and also cost more than the HGTV pick - so definitely NOT the look for less!  But considering the much lower amount I spent on everything else, I thought I'd splurge:  This is the Fenella Floral Pillow in Black and White, offered by The Pillow Collection.  The 18" square size is $59.95.  The 20" size is $67.95.  The pattern is on both sides of the pillow. Pictured below:




And since I broke my own rules (above) once, why not do it twice?  I really like this pillow cover - but it's NOT a black print!  EEK!  I'd buy it anyway if I were recreating Charlotte Smith's living room for myself :)  From H&M Home, simply identified as Patterned Cushion Cover - White/Leaves!  A true budget saving $12.99 for a 20" x 20" pillow cover with concealed zipper opening.  Pictured below:


And I broke the rules a third time, wowsers.  This pillow cost $56.99 in the 20" x 20" size, the Wild Leaves Throw Pillow by Julia LaRosa, Deny Designs, available at Wayfair.  Pictured below:  


And I broke my rules again for this pillow.  Oh what the heck, go wild girl friend!  This selection, also from Wayfair, is the Chidley Floral Print Linen Throw Pillow by Red Barrel Studio, at $54.99 on sale for the 20" x 20" size.  Pictured below:



Another rule breaker found at Wayfair, Valentina Ramos Bird Throw Pillow, Deny Designs, $46.99 for the 20" x 20" size.  Pictured below:


The Final Tally

HGTV's tally includes: (1) sofa, $1,895; (2) chair, $899; (3) art, $189; (4) area rug, $420; (5) coffee table, $251; and (6) two throw pillows, $80.  Total:  $3,734.

My tally includes: (1) my preferred sofa (the bench seat sofa), rounded to $800; (2) chair, Quinton Arm Chair, rounded to $266; (3) art, 27" x 36" poster/print, rounded to $27.50 plus $20 estimated for a properly sized width set of black aluminum poster hangers, $47.50; (4) area rug, Tuscan Wool Moroccan Shag Rug, $286, because I don't like fringe or tassels on area rugs; (5) the used LaBarge coffee table at $250, which captured my heart; and (6) Fenella floral throw pillow, rounded to $68, the H&M Home green patterned pillow cover, rounded to $13, and the Ramos Bird throw pillow, rounded to $47.  I opted for 3 throw pillows, all 20" square size, why limit myself?  Total: $1,777.50.  

Success! I enjoyed the challenge.


Wednesday, February 20, 2019

HGTV "My Favorite Room" - The Look for Less Jan's Way! Part II

Hola!  Part I has my picks for the sofa and the floral print chair.  In Part II, I'm presenting my picks for the area rug and the coffee table.

To refresh, here is the beautiful living room of Charlotte Smith from "atcharlotteshouse.com" blog, and the items that HGTV picked out to duplicate part of the room in its March 2019 magazine:




In the first part of this post, I showed you my picks for a less expensive green velvet sofa and a pink/red/green floral print arm chair.  Now the area rug and the coffee table!  

The Rug

HGTV's pick was a 8' x 10' reasonably priced wool rug with tassels (the rug in Charlotte's Smith living room has tassels) at $420 from birchlane.com.

From Rugs USA, this is the Marrakesh Shag Rug, hand-knotted 100% wool in the 8' x 10' size, $296 with free shipping.  The color is a creamy white with what appears to be black to create the diamond pattern and tassels.  Pictured (partially) below:


Also from Rugs USA, a version without the hand-tied tassels in the Tuscan Wool Moroccan Shag Rug, 8' x 10', $286. Pictured (partially) below:


There are also options at Overstock.com for lower prices (some under $200), but it's hard to tell in some cases if they're black and white/cream or a grey color and white/cream.  Here is one option in wool and one in synthetic (a lot lower price):

NuLoom Handmade Moroccan Trellis Wool Shag Rug, ivory/black, 8' x 10', $409.99
Strick and Bolton Saura Moroccan Trellis Shag Area Rug, made from polypropolene, white/black (?), 7'10" x 10', $179.99

The Coffee Table

I love, Love, LOVE Charlote Smith's coffee table.  It looks like a vintage or antique brass table, or it is a very good reproduction.  Even the thick glass that tops it has the hexagonal shape!

I think HGTV's pickers did a great job in selecting a good match for that great coffee table, and at a reasonable price, at $251.  The metal work on the lower part of the table echos the duplicates the hexagonal shape of the original and the design of the legs is very similar.  I also appreciate the use of the brass finish.  Isn't it funny how just a few years ago, NOBODY wanted anything BRASS in their homes.  Now it's once again the rage :)  Only goes to show you, decorate for yourself, don't just follow the latest trends. Classics like brass, polished nickle, black, white and marble are timeless.  

Now - to the hunt!  When I started looking around, I found that the coffee table in question looks like, or possibly even is, a vintage LaBarge brass crafted table.  It's still a mystery to me who LaBarge was (I didn't come across any biographical information) and when he produced his (her?) furniture, although I have seen references in passing to "Hollywood Regency" style, which was a popular design look in the 1930's and 1940's.  

 In any event, looking around, I found examples of alleged original LaBarge tables that look similar to the table in Charlotte Smith's living room that are priced over $2,000!  The table below costs $250 (with free shipping within the United States) and is used - I have no idea if this is a reproduction or if it is an actual LaBarge table, and if it is an actual LaBarge table, it could be worth a lot more money.  I found it online at Etsy, "Vintage Regency LaBarge Brass Hoof Coffee Table with Glass Top."  Look at those feet!  Pictured below:



I am wondering if Charlotte Smith's table may be an original LaBarge that had the animal feet removed?

At $250, my first selection costs $1.00 less than the Joss and Main "Jaidan" table HGTV selected as a great look-alike.

The next table I selected isn't a vintage offering, and maybe not to everyone's (or anyone's?) taste other than mine, but I thought it would work well in the overall design even if it isn't very faithful to the original table:

Found at Amazon, the 9081240gl 18"H Contemporary Style 5 mm Clear Tempered Glass Top Hexagonal Champagne Finish Metal Base Living Room Coffee Table, by Major Q, $169.80 with free shipping.  Table is 34" x 30".  Pictured below:



Differences:  No lower tier of beautifully sculpted metal curves around the hexagonal shape; the glass top is inset into the metal, not resting on top.  However, the glass is hexagonal in shape, not round like HGTV's selection.  The style is modern, not traditional, but I could see this design working in many different decors since it's very clean and sleek.  The metal finish looks somewhat "antique" or "vintage" too - it's not bright, new shiny brass.  I like the mellow look.

And here's a look within a look for less: The same table design by a different manufacturer, ACME, is available at Target on sale for $127.99, reg. $159.99 and at that these prices it will come with free shipping.  Even not on sale, it's nearly $11 less than the Amazon option.  

My next selection is a pair of nesting tables, also from Amazon, the Geometric Glass Nesting Coffee Table in gold finish, by WE Furniture (Walker Edison Furniture Company), $195.69 with free shipping.  The larger table is 28" diameter and 16" high.  Pictured below:



Differences:  Many!  The larger table is 28" diameter and 16" high. This is noticeably smaller than the original table at about 34" x 30" (depending which line you measure width on) for the glass top, or any of the suggested substitute tables.  The smaller table in this set is 18" diameter and 12" high.  The smaller table should fit underneath the larger table, adding an extra design/visual dimension depending upon how it's turned; and in a pinch, even though it's small, it can hold drinks and a few plates.  

In Part III, I'll share my selection of throw pillows.  I looked everywhere, and came up with six potential options.  But preferences for prints is very personal.  The ones I picked may turn a lot of people green, and vice versa, LOL!  I'll post Part III tomorrow.

HGTV "My Favorite Room" - The Look for Less Jan's Way!

Hola everyone.  I received the March 2019 edition of HGTV Magazine in the mail a few days ago and started paging through it.  I savor those magazines like fine wine, which for me is a $12.99 bottle of Beringer White Zinfandel :)

The very first room that was in the article "My Favorite Room," garnered from the favorite rooms of bloggers from around the internet, caught my eye.  It just looks so "summery," comfy, and pretty.  Here's the two page spread on that room.  The first page shows the existing room; the second page shows some items selected by HGTV to recreate the look in your own home.




To save you some time from having to greatly enlarge the print (like I need to) in order to easily read it, the items shown in the "get the look" page are:

Art:  "Apple Tree," by Hagermann, 36" x 46" scroll, $189, styledeviestore.etsy.com
Chair:  "Hadley" polyester and wood chair in azaela, $899, potterybarn.com
Coffee Table:  "Jaidin" 18 1/2" x 32 3/4" diameter metal and glass table, $251, jossandmain.com
Pillow:  Floral 17" x 17" cotton pillow cover, $40 each (times 2), whitlockandco.etsy.com
Rug:  Twinar 8' x 10' wool rug, $420, birchlane.com
Sofa:  "Milo," 80" wide velvet sofa in emerald and washed pine finish, $1,895, onekingslane.com
Total cost for items listed:  $3,734

I did not include the basket and faux plant ($155 for both) or the five-pointed star paper lantern ($34.50 for one) in my hunt.

As always, I thought - no way would I pay $1,800 plus for a sofa or $899 for a single chair! I think I can do better, at least on some of the items, without sacrificing the look.  So I set out to recreate my own less expensive version of Charlotte Smith's (atcharlotteshouse.com) much admired living room!

My Sofa Picks

First thing I shopped online for was the sofa.  The article noted that the original was an Ikea sofa, so I headed there first thing.

Sadly, I didn't find anything remotely similar in green velvet to this sofa at the Ikea website.  So, I headed next to All Modern, because the sofa's style reminds me of mid-century modern to contemporary, and they have great stuff at All Modern, at great prices!

I fell in love with the Mercury Row Dupuis sofa, at 80.3" in  emerald green velvet.  It's got a reversible bench seat, which I prefer because if three or four people are squishing on the sofa nobody has to sit on a crack in the cushions!  I also like cushions that I can regularly rotate/flip.  Two back cushions cut down on hitting one of the cracks between the cushions and the two side cushions are a good size.  Also noted is the modern "tuxedo" style where the back cushions and arms are at equal or nearly the same height, similar to the original sofa I'm trying to duplicate.  Back and side cushions are also reversible.  Currently on sale at a hefty 42% off, price is originally $1,497, sale price is $799.99 plus free in home delivery. Pictured below:



Differences:  Not a two cushion seat nor a three cushion back; arms are not as wide nor inner angle slanted as much; and legs are gold finished metal bracket shape, not wood.

At a slightly higher price of $860.99 on sale plus free in home delivery (42% off original price of $1,497), Mercury Row also offers a similar look in a larger sofa in the Dupree sofa at 85".  The Dupree has three reversible back and bottom cushions and two side cushions, in emerald green velvet, and warm brown stained wood legs.  Pictured below:



Differences:  Three seat cushions, not two; side cushions are square, not rectangular and not as generous in size; not a "Tuxedo" style sofa (where back cushions and arms are nearly the same or equal height); and inner arms are straight up/down, not angled inward like the original.
.
The Arm Chair

Finding arm chairs is easy.  Trying to find an arm chair covered in a print that is similar in color tone and pattern to Charlotte Smith's chair and in a style even remotely resembling the style of her chair:  HA!  I failed miserably, I admit it.

But I did come up with some options in a range of prices all costing less than the Pottery Barn "Hadley" chair covered in "Azalea" ($899), which I could not find at PB's website.  I found the chair, but not that particular upholstery option.  In any event, I just can't fathom paying more for a single chair than I'd be paying to "get the look" in an emerald green velvet sofa.

So, here are my less expensive chair options:

Simona multicolor floral linen armchair by Handy Living, at Overstock, $343.39 (on sale through today, but this chair is on sale at several different sellers online, all for varying prices).  Pictured below:



Differences:  Many!  It's a floral print but the "green" is rather grayed out; still, the background is white, but there's a lot of lavender in the floral print and the red/berry color is darker than either the "target" chair or the color in the "target" botannical print.  Still, it is a true arm chair; the back is nicely tufted, it has a true reversible seat cushion, I like the turned wood stained legs (although they're not Queen Anne style) and while not having the rounded shape of the "target" chair, it has nice arms and a good back, and looks like it would be in proportion with either of the "look for less" sofas I chose.  The price point makes this option very attractive.


My next selection is also from Overstock, the Candid Moment Ebony Chair by Skyline Furniture, currently $488.99.  Pictured below:


Differences:  Many!  I like the crisp white background and this floral print, while also featuring birds among the flowers, has a somewhat brighter color tone to it than the "Simona" chair above.  However, the green is definitely "greyed out" on this upholstery.  This style is more in line with HGTV's suggested substitute "Hadley" chair.  It has a tight seat, no separate seat cushion, and also features turned wood stained legs.  I'm not a fan, however, of tight seat furniture.  Being able to flip and rotate seat cushions extends their life, an option one doesn't have on a tight seat sofa or chair.

I found this option at Wayfair.  It's the Huntington Chesterfield Chair in "Creamy Ivory Multi Floral with Birds," by Three Posts, $206.96.  Pictured below:

Differences:  Many!  For one thing, this isn't strictly an armchair, it's a Chesterfield style which is a more traditional take on a Tuxedo style sofa, where the back and arms are all the same (or very close to) the same height.  But the colors are vibrant.  A visit to the website and use of the magnifying tool will help reveal the richness of the print. The colors are vibrant although again, there is little green in this print.  This is also a tight seat chair, no reversible cushion.  This print has birds included like both of the options above (I think of them as a bonus).  I like the richly stained turned legs, the nailhead trim and the tufted back.  This option also checks in at the lowest price of the three chairs offered as substitutes for the original.

Now, here's a different style chair but in the same material as the Chesterfield style chair above.  It's also at Wayfair, the Quinton Armchair by Andover Mills in "Creamy Ivory," $265.99.  Pictured below:


Differences:  Upholstery still is not as good a "match" as I'd like.  This does, however, have a reversible seat.  It also has the dark stained turned wood legs.  Sizewise, this is slightly smaller than the "Simona" chair (substitute #1 above) but I like the "Quinton's" proportions better.

The Art

I thought I would have a hard time finding something similar to Charlotte Smith's beautiful vintage apple botanical print, but I found it straight off!

Great Big Canvas offers this print on canvas, as framed and unframed prints, and as wall peels, in three different sizes.  The largest size, though, is 27" x 36".  The Etsy substitute offered by HGTV is 36" x 46".  The difference in prize, though, now that's pretty sweet!

The largest canvas size offered by Great Big Canvas (27" x 36") costs $117.49.

The largest framed print in standard black (the 27" x 36" print) is 34" x 43" and costs $172.49.

The largest size poster print at 27" x 36" is $27.49!  Frame it yourself or add a pair of poster holders and you've got the look, albeit smaller. Displays2Go offers a pair of black aluminum hangers, for instance, at $13.51 for the 36" wide size.  Shop around, prices vary greatly.  It depends upon the color, material and size.

I'm continuing this "look for less" in a second post covering the rug and the coffee table.  Because of the number of options for the throw pillows on the sofa, that will be in a third post.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Winter Cozy Living Room 2019

Hola!

The weather has been atrocious here, complete with rounds of seemingly endless snow and Polar Vortex cold.  February has been SNOW MONTH 2019 here in southeast Wisconsin, Geez Louise!  We're already close to if not above our "normal" seasonal average (30-40") just in February alone, with possibly another half a foot expected tomorrow.

Looking to the southwest from my front door.  My driveway entrance is plugged solid with snow.  Plows came through at 1 a.m. this morning and plugged up the small walkway that I had laboriously shoveled out for myself yesterday to get into the road without climbing over a snowbank or going down somebody else's driveway.  You can barely see where it used to be!  Means more shovelling once peak temperature arrives about 2 p.m. later day, but since I don't need the driveway (no car) I just do a small pathway for myself from the driveway into the road. 
Looking northwest from my front door.  Hard to tell how tall and how thick  those snow banks actually are! Bright sunshine yesterday and today are helping evaporate some of the ice and left over snow now quite removed from sidewalks.
View out my front door, looking across the street nearly due west.  Those snowbanks are GIGANTIC!  You can sort of tell by looking at my sidewalk entrance into the road - at the peak  the bank on the right is about 4 feet tall from the ground, about 4 inches taller from the road side because of the curb.
Spring seems very far away at this point.  I want the feeling of and actual warmth, lots of afghan and throw options and cushy pillows to cuddle into close by the fireplace.  So, for the time being, I've kept most of the red decorative accents that I introduced during the just past Christmas season.  I also kept my old red and black "oriental" style wool rug that I put down for Christmas.  It adds an extra layer of luxury and cushy softness underneath my stocking covered feet!  

The red throw with faux fur rim is so soft and cushy!  Two more throws on the ottoman guarantee more warmth when needed, the black faux fur which is luxuriously soft and a larger plaid wool blend that is extra warm.  

The view toward the front door.  That's my new slide under the sofa all purpose table with the lantern on top of it- great for holding my computer when I work in the room in the evenings when I want a fire going and snuggle on the sofa.  When not in use by the sofa, it serves as a convenient catch-all table at the front door.  The lantern holds a timer set battery operated candle and normally hangs outside when snow isn't expected.  That atrocious green accent wall behind my hutch is going to disappear this year, I swear!  I've been meaning to paint it ever since I moved in - in July 2014!  The rest of the room is painted in a soft and neutral light greyish-green color, soothing and warm during this time of year but cool enough for the bright summer sunshine that floods in through the west-facing picture window in the summertime.  It was the color on the walls when I bought the house, and I like it so much I'm not changing it.  I had a gallon of paint made up to match!


The decor and the furniture arangement will change once (if) spring actually arrives and decides to stay :)