Sources: Sofas and Pillows, Armchairs: Decor Rest l Coffee Table: Antique Concepts l Console Cabinets: Reemka Imports l Side Table: Homesense l Rug: Crate and Barrel l Poufs: Target l Mirrors: Camilla House Imports l Paris Art: Ikea l Chevron Art: DIY l Grass Decor, Lanterns, FauxSucculents: Homesense l Gold Chevron Pillows: Target l Bench Cushion: DIY l Flower Vase: Homesense l Television: Pioneer l Fireplace Screen: Crate and Barrel l Dining Table: Camilla House Imports l Dining Chairs: Homesense l Gold Polka Dot Vase: Target l Gold Branches: DIY l Dining Wing Chairs: Craigslist, Persia Furniture Upholstery, Fabric from European Textiles l Candle Lanterns, Wood Crate, Pair of Architecture Art: Homesense l Vintage Buffet: Queen West Antique shop now closed down.

I am so excited to share these pictures of our living room and breakfast area, in conjunction with the launch of my blog. You’ll get a good sense of my design style from this room and of what to expect from other room reveals in the future. As everyone knows, decorating a home is a never-ending project and sometimes it can feel like it will never be complete. I am the kind of person who wants everything done yesterday, yet have come to understand that this is nearly impossible, especially when you have little’s running around.

Happily, ten months after moving into this home, I can finally say that our living room and adjoining breakfast area is complete! It is a cozy and casual space, dressed up with small hints of glamour, despite all the toys that are usually spread far and wide. You’ll notice the conveniently placed straw baskets underneath the coffee table which have become a lifesaver for storing the mass of toys we’ve acquired over the last two years. I have learned that decorating for a family space means minimal table top decor, as these become targets for flying cars and trucks. If this were a few years back, the side consoles and coffee table would have been complete with books, candles, and lots of sharp or breakable items. Needless to say, I have drastically cut back on these things, and I’m sure this will be the case for many years to come. One other practical and attractive decorative element worth mentioning is the chevron fireplace screen. Gas fireplaces can get extremely hot and therefore present a serious burning hazard to small hands and fingers. I love the modern chevron pattern on this screen and how it works so well in the space, at the same time blocking the path of exploring toddlers. Thumbs up!

There are a few DIY projects that have made this room complete, including the two matching chevron canvases and the gold branch decor on the dining table. The hand-painted canvas art helped to keep the budget in check, as well as allowed me to achieve exactly what I had envisioned for the space. The gold branches collected off the side of the road were brought to life with some gold spray paint – a super easy and cost-effective table top solution. The two dining wing chairs were a craigslist score at just $25 a chair, and after some reupholstery, paint, and the prettiest trellis-print fabric, (upholstery by Persia Furniture) they fit just perfectly into my room design.

I hope you enjoy these photos of our living room, and they provide you with some inspiration for your own family-friendly space that is beautiful and functional at the same time.