I have often wondered what my home speaks of to my guests.
There are times, when it’s quiet and I am home by myself – I will walk around our home. Usually it’s because I am picking up 2,675 Legos or sweeping up Goldfish cracker crumbs, but I can’t help but wonder what my walls would say if you entered my home.
Pretty crazy, huh?
I mean…houses can’t speak. Walls cannot talk.
But, oh if they could, what is the story they would share with you?
I am sharing our formal Living Room “dressed” in Cozy Winter Decor. Come on in!
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I am thrilled to be taking place in a one day Blog Hop with five of some of my fave bloggers.
I will share their links below, please make sure you visit each one and tell them I said hello.
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A part of me cringes at the thoughts of calling this our “Formal” Living Room. I can see where it could come across as formal to some. After all, one does not usually fill a room with blue velvet chairs and English antiques and not expect their to be an element of formality.
But this room is so much more, at least in my eyes.
It’s the room where I share my favorite pieces of Blue and White Staffordshire collected over the years while we lived in Europe and inherited from late family members. The pieces are changed and switched around on a whim.
That’s the beauty of a collection, isn’t it?
The antique English Hutch that we inherited from my hubby’s grandmother is filled to the brim with white ironstone and more blue and white. But, what this picture doesn’t tell you is how much anxiety and worry this piece cost me every time the Marine Corps moved us. I worried over this beautiful hutch, with it’s original glass inserts, like it was a child.
And I love all of the chips and dings in it’s beautiful veneer. Each chip is a memory of a former place we have lived.
But I can’t have too much formality in this room, I have to have some whimsey – because that is how our family is. We take things seriously when need be –
… but we also love to laugh. A LOT!
What’s more whimsical (and beautiful) than these antique Cow Prints I brought back in my suitcase on our last trip to England two years ago.
This Winter, I placed only a few items in the room, so as to allow the room to breath a bit. Because trust me, after the Christmas decor was taken down and put away – this room said “please, go easy on me!”
So I did.
A soup tureen filled with simple, Winter greenery and “snow covered” cuttings. A white lantern and mercury glass votive holders on a vintage blue book.
I replaced the heavier fur throw which I used at Christmas with this new Navy Cable knit throw I found on Amazon at an amazing price!
Be still my heart.
I also added a blue ticking pillow and a pillow I designed… “Dashing Thru the Snow” which is also available in The Everyday Home Society6 Shop. There isn’t a whole lot of “dashing thru the snow” around here these days, with temps reaching almost 70 today.
So what would these walls most likely say if you asked them?
They would say that even though this room is filled with precious family heirlooms and dish collections…this room is lived in. The walls would say “this is where the owners come in the morning and have coffee. It’s where Bill reads the morning paper to Barb and they discuss local happenings and politics and laugh at the comics. It’s where Barb sits and reads with her beloved babies, sometimes until they fall asleep and then she watches them – so quiet and peaceful – wondering what they are dreaming of.”
The walls would add, “it’s where Barb came to find solace when her sweet Daddy died, because this was the last room he sat in when he visited her before he died. But, it’s also where she comes often, with her computer and a cup of coffee or tea, and writes to you.”
“Oh yea,” the walls would add…”those awesome navy chairs that look so clean in these images. Most of the time they are covered in pretty kitty fur. Baby Lily loves this room, too.”
Yep, that’s my story.
The story of my this room. Each room has it’s own unique story to tell, just as a lived in home should.
What do you think your home would say about you? What is YOUR story? I would love to know. Please tell me below. xxoo, Barb
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” …finding joy in the everyday! “
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Welcome to the Cozy Home Decor Blog Hop!
Let’s Get Cozy!
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Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll
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So beautiful! And I love the memories you shared! I think people sometime feel my living room is too formal, but it’s exactly the way I like it and I never tell anyone they can sit or lounge there because that’s why I worked so hard to make it beautiful — for people to enjoy! A long look around my living room will tell you that I love the beach, as I use pieces of coral among my blue and white porcelain collection, and I love scented candles with deep, rich fragrances to encourage relaxation and coziness. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful space!
View CommentI absolutely love coral with blue and white. It sounds beautiful and I would love to see it. Nothing wrong with have at least one “formal” room in your home. Just because. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words and also for stopping by today. xxoo, Barb
View CommentBaby Lily looks like the belongs in that room. She is so beautiful and regal. Just like the room itself. And I’m sure she can be playful too, and maybe have a chat with the cows. Beautifully decorated Barb.
View CommentShe is a little stinker don’t let that cute face fool you. Haha Thanks for your sweet words, Mary. Have a great weekend.
View CommentI absolutely love the formal living room! Can you tell me where you got the beautiful curtains? I’m glad I found your blog!
View CommentHi Nancy I just love them too. They are ready mades from World Market. Very nice quality, lined and all. You can find them on their website of you don’t have one nearby. Glad you found The Everyday Home Blog, too. 🙂
View CommentI love your grandmother’s hutch. How wonderful that it had been passed to you💛💛
View CommentYour room is beautiful. I have also inherited furniture from my husbands grandmother. I love the look of the white and blue dishes.
View CommentI live in Nashville, Tn. so we enjoy all seasons. Winter lasts at least three months here so any decor put out after Christmas is up through March. Thanks for sharing your winter decor ideas.
View CommentYou have a beautiful room and way of decorating. I love the pine branches with snow against the blues and whites in the room. The room looks so cozy! I felt better knowing that you ,too, have that lived in feeling when you mentioned cat hair. My home will never be as beautiful but we both share our love of pets.
View CommentLove your pictures and especIally the blue chairs, I can imagine Lily curled up on them, she is very pretty.
View CommentWhat a gorgeous living room. I’m afraid to say that mine is somewhat on hold. 2 dogs, 2 cats and 1 parrot – it’s all I can do to keep it clean and I’d rather not invest in lovely furniture right now. It is very lived in and cozy and I’ve been told more than once that it’s like home from my kids friends which is such a nice thing to hear. I always want people to feel at home there. Thank you for sharing and giving me lots of ideas!
View CommentSuch a beautiful room – makes me want to cozy up on that love seat with a book and a cuppa something hot to drink! What a beautiful kitty – her eyes match the room perfectly! How blessed you were to get to live in Europe – what beautiful memories you must have.
View CommentSo sorry you were “down”. Me too. Thought I had gotten some terrible disease! What I missed tho was thinking of all the DIY things I wanted to do but just didn’t have the energy to get up and do. Did you feel that way?
View CommentI can’t remember the last time I felt energetic to do anything. 🙁 I am writing a post tonight about what I have been going through. It is so frustrating and its hard for family and friends to understand, because on the outside I look fine. I have been in bed for 3 weeks and yes, I just lay there thinking of all of the projects I want to do and things I NEED to do. Ugh. Hope you have a great weekend…xxoo, barb
View CommentI hope you feel the prayers I’ve been sending your way. Hugs!
View CommentThank you my sweet friend. xxoo
View CommentLove, love, love…that cute kitty!! Oh, and I love the blue, pine cones, candle and snow…it doesn’t look Christmasie, just right for winter.
View CommentI love, love, love all the blue. It’s so hard to find decor in this color. It’s like designers have something against blue. Thank-you for this inspiration.
View CommentThe Blue Chairs– and I’d call the BLUE ROOM is stunning ! Those chairs are just PERFECT ! Love the entire home but the Blue speaks to me ! My husband’s uncle in Maine was a collector and he decorated a Blue Dining Room for me in his home because I LOVE Blue so much. I’ll try to post a pic on FB soon and tag you. Again–thank you, Sweet Southern Lady !
View CommentOhhh yes! I’d LOVE to see it. Please share. <3
View CommentBarb, your winter decor is absolutely lovely – just perfectly presented!
My favorite pic is the one is wee Miss Lily – she is a beauty!!!!! What a cute kitty cat!
I am your newest subscriber. : – )
View CommentI will give Baby Lily your compliments. She is curled up in my lap right now, half in my lap and half on the laptop so I am typing around a ball of fur. 🙂 Glad you found me – welcome! ~Barb
View CommentHi Barb,
I too have some blue and white plates and vases. I absolutely drink it in when I see decor featuring such items.
Your blue patterns that you have in your room is so pleasing. A room I would love to call my own.
PS. Lanterns are a must in my world too.
View CommentWow!So beautiful!!I am gathering ideas so that I can someday redo my living room.Much of your decor fits with what I would like to have.I also love how you shared your memories of favorite times in your living room.That is the kind of room I would like to create.
View CommentI also love your piece on white pitchers and decorating with them.I am envious that you picked daffodils as I am at home in the middle of our second snow storm this week.Ah spring!I know it will come to us eventually!!Have a great day!
Oh, now I think that is the most darling kitty I have ever seen in my life!!! Love your blue and white china too! I would say that my house reflects my love of antiques.
View CommentI love your decorating style – the blues and whites are so homey and inviting. We downsized and did away with the formal living room, but we also like that homey, cozy feel. Grandkid-friendly!
View CommentHowdy, great right insight!
View CommentI could enumerate every thing I saw in your living room but hope you’ll know how much I love your style and your room. Your inherited pieces are gorgeous also, fortunate to have relatives with good taste who are generous. I personally love some of older style furniture but maybe that’s cause I remember it from childhood.
View CommentWe live in a single wide mfg. home (on 1/2 acre out in country), try to make it cozy and comfy with our thrift store bargains rethought and an area rug thrown down. It’s small but perfect for us two seniors and our 2 furry kidz.
How wonderful you got to see Europe, what incredible experiences you must have had. Not always so easy being a Marine wife.
How interesting to get to see England, where did you find those lovely cow photos from there? Have always dreamed of seeing England and Cornwall after reading about in books. The antique stores and markets there must be filled with incredible pieces.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Lovely family treasures ! Love the cow prints ! I’m all about Farmhouse ! Ha ! Your kitty is adorable too !
View CommentLove your “formal” living room! To me it’s very warm and welcoming, and that precious little kitty makes it even more beautiful. I too have a very Victorian chair in my living room and no one but the kitties sit on that one! Love your style of decorating and enjoy your blog so much! Thanks for all your inspiration!
View CommentLove your winter decorating ideas for that weird lull in-between all the Christmas decorations and spring decor. I always feel lost and have no idea what I could do for a painless transition, but your photographs have helped to give me some great ideas.
Something you said in your article, “. . . but I can’t help but wonder what my walls would say if you entered my home.” Have you ever read the book “Conversations With Your Home” by Carole Hyder. I have the book and have enjoyed reading it, as well as picking it back up from time to time for inspiration. You may indeed find out what your home is trying to tell you!
View CommentI hate to think what my home would say about me! It might be “Get rid of some of those magazines!” Or, “Geez, when are you going to clear out that office?” Most likely it would say sternly, “Yeah, the kitchen looks good but your bedroom is a MESS! And, by the way, who’s doing the floors these days, anyone?”
But, then again, it might say, “That little Christmas tree in the corner of the LR with it’s white and silver ornaments and twinkle lights is so pretty.” And, possibly, it might say, “I’m noticing how great the plants are looking these days. One of those African Violets is just about to send up a big bunch of blossoms! And the Christmas decor on the piano is very nice but when will you be taking that down?”
There’s a lot that could be done to improve this place, for sure. But I’m grateful to have my little ranch house and am never bored thinking about how I want to improve it.
Thanks for sharing your “winter living room” Barb. I love your blues, especially the two blue chairs. And the china hutch with all the blue and white is beautiful. An inspiring bit of eye candy on this bleak winter day in Michigan.
Hope the New Year is off to a good start for you!
View CommentLove your ability to add “cozy” to this room! Beautiful story! My living room would say, “Cyndi loves Victorian and angels!” Love your inspiration….Added 2 Christmas pillows at Christmas to my fireplace. Searching for 2 Victorian ones now! Printed 2 of your “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, one in black frame for my coffee themed kitchen, one for a friend’s gift tin basket as a hostess gift. My heart saddened when I read of your depression but happy you are better! You are a great inspiration!!!!!
View CommentBeautiful and what a precious story of the room
View CommentBarb, your living room is just lovely! I love blue and white, too! I pray that you will be blessed with a wonderful new year. Blessings to you and your dear hubby.
View CommentWent on the society 6 site to check out the pillows and i must say I am very disappointed in the use of the f—- word on a lot of the other merchandise. I have enjoyed your blog but am sorry to say at this time I will be unsubscribing. Hope you change your mind about the language you use on your merchandise in the future
View CommentBess I don’t know what you are talking about. Those were NOT my pillows if you saw those. I would never use that word in anything I design and do not use that word on my blog. I hope you would know that about me.
Here is the link to MY pillows…https://society6.com/theeverydayhomeblog/s?q=popular+pillows There are other designs on this site by other designers but I have no control over that. I only control what is in MY shop.
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