Living Room Tour: A Little Glass Box

<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm so excited to start sharing some of these beautiful living room tours with you! It makes me so happy to see real homes, filled with affordable AND beautiful furnishings along with lots of great DIY projects. I hope your as inspired as I am by these lovely bloggers!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">First up is Courtney from </span><a href="http://www.alittleglassbox.com/p/lil-diy-action.html" style="font-style: italic;">A Little Glass Box</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Here she is, sharing her lovely rowhouse living room with us...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic240.jpg" /></div><br />This past summer we moved from the East coast to the West coast. Coming from a 105 year old row house in Baltimore I was used to decorating small narrow spaces, but this rental house presented me with quite a design challenge. The living room is only 9.5x8 with three walls of windows. I immediately knew it would be difficult to incorporate color and texture without the help of wall art and the space for multiple upholstered pieces of furniture. However, I didn’t let this challenge deter us because this little house may be smaller than we were used to but it packed a lot of visual punch. The rustic wood ceilings were the original floors of the house before it had been rebuilt and the gorgeous light poured in from the windows making it impossible to do anything but embrace this space. Decorating it has been a labor of love but worth every minute because it has taught me a lot about using every inch of space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic380.jpg" /></div><br />I purchased our couch from Macy’s in 2010 which is the perfect neutral jumping off point. We were worried that it would look too green against the grey stone flooring but it fits in perfectly with the help of the Dhurrie rug from West elm in Sorrel. The bench I am using as a coffee table is actually a craigslist find that was in some rough shape. With a coat of Rustoleum spray paint in Navajo white and some new fabric purchased from Calico Fabrics, I was able to give it new life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic249.jpg" /></div><br />The room gets its rich layer of color by mixing different patterns of pillows and I am able to still enjoy some of my art work by hanging it lower than normal and in an unexpected location.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic242.jpg" /></div><br />The ‘spool ‘side table was actually made from an electrical wire spool that we nabbed for free from home depot after all of the electrical wire had been sold. We stained the discs with Behr’s semi transparent stain in Sable. It is wrapped with a bathroom rug purchased from West Elm to look like thread on the spool. It is one of my favorite pieces in the space. It is the perfect side table as well as some extra seating or book holder. In such a small space it is necessary for items to serve more than one purpose.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic334.jpg" /></div><br />This room also opens up to our entry way which meant that I needed to use this space to not only set the tone for the house once you walked in, but to act as our own little mudroom while looking pleasing when sitting in the living room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic177.jpg" /></div><br />I repurposed a hutch that was in our dining room in Baltimore and transformed it into decorative shelves by painting it Martha Stewart’s chinchilla grey and creating cardboard backing inserts with a pattern to mimic the look of wallpaper. It’s a great piece to hold my collections and also stores practical everyday items in the cabinet below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic165.jpg" /></div><br />Because we don’t have an entry closet I simply added some hooks; baskets and a bench to increase our usable space. This is a trick I like to use as a previous professional organizer. My handy hubs helped me to create a coat rack out of spare wooden hangers we had laying around and some reclaimed wood. We love it. It now houses jackets, hats, and shoes for all of us, including our little man Oliver Tate. The stool was a retro flea market find that we simply recovered and it creates the perfect place to put down my purse. The basket, which is locally crafted, houses sticks and pinecones from our daily family walks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic370-1.jpg" /></div><br />We really have grown to love this space and it functions very well for us. It has been incredible in teaching me that the size of a room does not dictate or determine the design impact it will have or the ability it will have to make you happy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic241.jpg" /></div><br />Our design aesthetic is versatile, comfortable, eclectic and adaptable because I am always changing things around and our needs are always evolving. I hope this space can inspire others to think outside the box and explore alternative possibilities from the norm.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/album%202/pic318.jpg" /></div><br />Sources:<br /><br />Wall color is Whispering Wheat by Glidden<br /><br />Corona Couch in Stone from Macy’s<br /><br />Blue print pillow from John Robshaw called Ghana<br /><br />Orange print pillow from Z Gallerie<br /><br />Cream faux sheep pillows from last year’s winter collection at Pottery Barn<br /><br />Navajo pillow from Cost Plus World Market<br /><br />Dhurrie rug in sorrel from West Elm<br /><br />Small Leather poof from Goodwill<br /><br />Upholstered bench from Craigslist<br /><br />Fur throw from Restoration Hardware<br /><br />Side table from Goodwill with Anthropologie rhino head knobs<br /><br />Hutch shelving in entry from Trohv in Baltimore<br /><br />Lamp base purchased at Marshalls<br /><br />Lamp shade purchased from Trohv in Baltimore<br /><br />Mercury bubble glass vase from Marshalls<br /><br />Gold tray from Goodwill<br /><br />Picture frame from Homegoods<br /><br />Paper Mache bird from In Watermelon Sugar in Baltimore (sprayed in Rustoleum’s gold metallic paint)<br /><br />Entry way stool from San Francisco flea market<br /><br />Entry hutch painted Martha Stewart’s Chinchilla grey<br /><br />Stencil for cardboard inserts in the back of the hutch from Hobby Lobby<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you for sharing <a href="http://www.alittleglassbox.com/p/lil-diy-action.html">Courtney</a>!! Your living room and entry spaces are amazing!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you'd like to share your living room on LGN, email your submission to jenny at jennykomenda .com. </span>

Living Room Tour: A Little Glass Box

I'm so excited to start sharing some of these beautiful living room tours with you! It makes me so happy to see real homes, filled with ...

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Calamondin (Indoor) Orange Trees

If it smells like an orange blossom (candles, perfumes), I usually like it. I grew up in Arizona and can recall the smell of orange blossoms on command. It's one of my favorite scents - just smells like home.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/indoor-fruit-tree.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/173910_7ZLslouW_c.jpg" /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><br />So how could I resist placing an order for a <a href="http://lemoncitrustree.com/calamondin.html">calamondin orange tree</a> yesterday when I read that the best part about the trees is they blossom and produce fruit year round? I can't imagine anything better than smelling real orange blossoms in your home all the time (though fresh homemade marmalade is a close second place).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/marthastewartlemontree.jpg" /></div><br />Cliff notes on caring for calamondin orange, meyer lemon, or key lime trees (which all make great, hardy indoor plants):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/CE-Blueberry-Calamondin-Marmalade-3.jpg" /></div><br />- Plant in 1-3 gallon pots, depending on the size of your seedling.<br />- Keep in as much direct sunlight as possible and temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees (you might want to keep the tree outdoors in the summer and in for the winter)<br />- Fertilize in the cold months<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/mla103148_0108_citrus_xl.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Calamondin-Orange.jpg" style="height: 369px; width: 355px;" /></div><br />- Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. Over-watering will quickly kill these trees.<br />-It takes a seedling 2 years or so to start producing fruit. So pay attention to the age of a tree when you're purchasing. You can buy one year old <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N4INW4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=littgreenote-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217153&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B001N4INW4">seedlings for cheap</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B001N4INW4&camp=217153&creative=399349" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, but it will take a while before you get to enjoy the pretty fruits.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Orangetree_photofromDesignSponge_viaSea-Life-Styleblog.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">design*sponge</span><br /><br /></div>-It takes another whole YEAR for the fruit to ripen! Not so great for harvesting, but awesome for ornamental purposes.<br />- The flesh of the tiny fruit is super sour, but the peel is supposed to be pretty sweet, a lot like a kumquat. Perfect for flavoring drinks (frozen calamondin halves as ice!) or for jellies or cakes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/calamondin.jpg" /><br /><br /></div>- Also, if you live in a citrus producing state like FL, AZ, CA or TX, you can't buy citrus trees online due to agricultural laws. You should have some luck at your local plant nursery though.<br /><br />I'll be sure to report on how my little tree arrives and (hopefully) thrives. Do you have any experience with indoor citrus trees?

Calamondin (Indoor) Orange Trees

If it smells like an orange blossom (candles, perfumes), I usually like it. I grew up in Arizona and can recall the smell of orange blossoms...

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Trimming out walls with ribbon

These two images make me want to go clean out <a href="http://www.mjtrim.com/">M&J Trimming</a> and then come home and hot glue silk (like the yellow) or grosgrain (like the black) ribbon to every edge and corner of every wall in my house.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/NuevoEstilloGirlsRoom.jpg" /><br />Nuevo Estillo<br /><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/MSLorangefoyerfinal.jpg" /><br />Martha Stewart Living</div>

Trimming out walls with ribbon

These two images make me want to go clean out M&J Trimming and then come home and hot glue silk (like the yellow) or grosgrain (like th...

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Reader Request: Ikat Fabric for Drapes

LGN reader Meghan is decorating her toddler son's room and has fallen in love with <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod102140089&ecid=NMCIGoogleBaseFeed&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=H4U4F">these ikat drapes</a> available at Horchow for $250 a panel. Yipes!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIhntWvUkE7pBFeMosOA7yd8sbx_W_qZiV5X9Q4aU0R_V3t4XlhmR-UpxhVgHo5DD4s-Cntk4-a8CcYtuM_SNtUYKALL3frMyM7f63Bi5cez1ItirXDB6qi-Jp6WDxxp9Xm6Lzyhjxi9n/s1600-h/Picture+6.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431658459494996786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIhntWvUkE7pBFeMosOA7yd8sbx_W_qZiV5X9Q4aU0R_V3t4XlhmR-UpxhVgHo5DD4s-Cntk4-a8CcYtuM_SNtUYKALL3frMyM7f63Bi5cez1ItirXDB6qi-Jp6WDxxp9Xm6Lzyhjxi9n/s400/Picture+6.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 321px;" /></a><br />She would love help finding the same panels for a (much) lower price, or some similar fabric with which to make her own curtains. Meghan's especially fond of the green in the fabric, which coordinates with a vintage green dresser she recently purchased for the nursery.<br /><br />I think <a href="http://www.robertallendesign.com/trade/fabric_detail.aspx?product=186674">Robert Allen's Khandar</a> has a similar feel/color scheme and I actually like this pattern more than the Horchow drapes. Available <a href="http://www.lsfabrics.com/fabric_catalog.php?cPath=1_235&pid=10951">here</a> and <a href="http://www.insidefabric.com/p-287486-khandar-jewel-by-robert-allenhome.aspx">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOxkF6xJ0fd-vecglh0gVII8ubd9U6qtzojcyhZRhulGTuDgPISW9PQAOfRm4bDeUB0UJX4G1PgOWR2ws8Sy27lh-mBoffS_mskbMIz7BMZQAzMW_GCzfMP-X5Xt8SMAJuygirg7g_M2y/s1600-h/RA+Khandar+186674_f.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431658470473853346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOxkF6xJ0fd-vecglh0gVII8ubd9U6qtzojcyhZRhulGTuDgPISW9PQAOfRm4bDeUB0UJX4G1PgOWR2ws8Sy27lh-mBoffS_mskbMIz7BMZQAzMW_GCzfMP-X5Xt8SMAJuygirg7g_M2y/s400/RA+Khandar+186674_f.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />Here's a <a href="http://www.housefabric.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=43009">different colorway</a>. This one is an outdoor print, which would still work fine as drapery.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ79iC1oZTgYhcNwP9M9cw_pMcp31QTJWB4ZnTwqMi-9yJS4jhpQDLLRZTN928aS0xb6F4aIOYzoyChQJFrVERKyYBnP8jUpednY9x-BsnevKMSjjnqmgUO8z3L5-Vfazx8z0ahrrNJ-ms/s1600-h/43009.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431658450568496066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ79iC1oZTgYhcNwP9M9cw_pMcp31QTJWB4ZnTwqMi-9yJS4jhpQDLLRZTN928aS0xb6F4aIOYzoyChQJFrVERKyYBnP8jUpednY9x-BsnevKMSjjnqmgUO8z3L5-Vfazx8z0ahrrNJ-ms/s400/43009.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 290px;" /></a><br />Let's help Meghan! Do you recognize this pattern?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ6sKXDh7EuOBL3OUi7zcba5R8g5QIo2i_KLxNsm0jCIuhJrHQJIhUas_7xZczhUyDy9tIMfEM-yHO4wopJT0Ur3U5Y69kkTuqlWYt39CuTS5xv2Wa_4RivMr7wO_k71JAVsiTP82YS2v/s1600-h/Picture+7.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431658465724111890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ6sKXDh7EuOBL3OUi7zcba5R8g5QIo2i_KLxNsm0jCIuhJrHQJIhUas_7xZczhUyDy9tIMfEM-yHO4wopJT0Ur3U5Y69kkTuqlWYt39CuTS5xv2Wa_4RivMr7wO_k71JAVsiTP82YS2v/s400/Picture+7.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 319px;" /></a><br />And, on a related note, check out <a href="http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/">Janell's</a> incredibly thorough <a href="http://isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com/search/label/Drapery%20Panel%20Instructions">series on sewing drapes</a>. Her finished panels (also an ikat pattern!) look so professional. A must read if you're considering tackling your own curtain project!<br /><br /><div class="ii gt" id=":14f"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ97nLJeBkUJFnnc5kVjXmqGoD4Djq2TxVFr3u2i3OSLIwu5sU7Io_y6sJC4MjVwn8GVvObTF-CJkKAEObY_jOlGucXFBNIGT-81I-8wmWuyhIFyjgrDOCr9ydXVmITNWCd_2F0zs0ugCm/s1600-h/IMG_8748-1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431658458257853010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ97nLJeBkUJFnnc5kVjXmqGoD4Djq2TxVFr3u2i3OSLIwu5sU7Io_y6sJC4MjVwn8GVvObTF-CJkKAEObY_jOlGucXFBNIGT-81I-8wmWuyhIFyjgrDOCr9ydXVmITNWCd_2F0zs0ugCm/s400/IMG_8748-1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 252px;" /></a></div>

Reader Request: Ikat Fabric for Drapes

LGN reader Meghan is decorating her toddler son's room and has fallen in love with these ikat drapes available at Horchow for $250 a p...

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