4.09.2013

Magically Magical Den Updates

Contrary to the popular belief established by me not mentioning our house progress in like 9.38 years, we do still live here and, believe it or not, we do still complete projects. We’ve even done them in the past 9.38 years. They just haven’t made the blog because, well, let’s face it, not much at all has made the blog lately unless you are a tiny human being inside of me and/or a mermaid. And/or a tiny mermaid inside of me.

Wait, that just got weird.

Anyway…today, friends, that all changes! Because today, I am going to do a magic trick. It is a magic trick in which a room transforms slowly over the past 6 months but not that you would know within minutes before your very eyes. It’s magical. (Like most magic tricks.) So blink six times, wave one big toe above your head, then spin around shouting SPARKLY YELLOW PONIES BY THE SEASHORE KAZIZZLE KAMIZZLE KABLAMMO in your best Mongolian accent.

And LOOK AT THAT!

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When you started reading this post, that same exact room looked like this. I swear.

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Magic, right? New rug, new sofa, new curtains, new-to-us giant ottoman (seriously, it’s 38” across) new-to-the-room pillows and blankets and lamps.

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Aaaand new fireplace, new-to-us mirror, new-to-the-room desk and computer. (This trick keeps getting better and better.) When we got the couch and the fireplace in there way back in December (erm, I mean, way back 3 seconds ago), we decided we wanted the space to be more functional overall, so we moved the desk in. Using an entire room for a computer always seemed like a waste of space to us, anyway, and we love it being out of the “office” and right here in the middle of our living space.

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If the mirror below looks like it’s going to fall over, it is. Note to self: attach giant heavy specimen of mirror to the wall. I mean, make Rick attach giant heavy specimen of mirror to the wall.

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The current end tables are the nesting tables I got at a yard sale a while ago and are temporary until we find new ones that fit better.

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My next scheduled magic trick involves hanging stuff on the walls. So if you know the right combination of spinning-kablammo-ponies-chanting to make that happen for, like, free AND while I sit on the couch eating my 28th meal of the day watching Parks and Recreation, let me know.

liv rm before and after

What would you like magically done on your house? Who else loves Parks and Recreation as much as I do? Anyone need a physical therapist after following my toe-raising magic instructions? If you want to sue me, my name is Cordelia Swingleflop and I live in the deep woods of Colorado and I have never heard of Parks and Recreation or magic.

Linking up to Tater Tots & Jello!

44 comments :

  1. Love the rug and the blues and grays with your woodwork! I need to learn that magic trick for my home.

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  2. oh erin, it's beautiful!!!!! you made the wood trim look amazing- love the colors!
    ariel is one lucky little mermaid.

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  3. Everything is gorgeous - what a magical transformation!! Kiiiind of obsessed with that ottoman - where is it from?!

    And CONGRATS on the big news - just catching up now! :o)

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    1. I have no idea where the ottoman is from--the lady I bought it from (it was in a secondhand shop; I discovered the listing on Craigslist) thought Ballard Designs! I found a similar one on Overstock for over $500 and was pleased with my $75 find. :)

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  4. It's so pretty and tranquil and just so very nice! I must learn your tricks. :)

    And congrats again - I'm just so happy for you!

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  5. Wait... I was supposed to wave my own big toe over my head? I might owe someone an apology...

    That looks awesome. I love grey walls and I like that you made it work with the natural wood rather than painting the trim. What's behind that locked and blocked off door? Is it a secret? Is that where you keep the magician between remodels?

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    1. Um, you weren't supposed to notice that door. :P

      No, seriously it just goes to the hallway. We keep it closed because it's sort of a pointless door and we have a chair in front of it. As for why it's locked...I'm not really sure, haha. :)

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    2. Ha, yeah we had two doors in my family's old house that we pretended weren't there. It looks kind of cool though. Even if it's pointless as a door it adds dimension to the room and keeps that corner from just being blank.

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  6. Anonymous4/09/2013

    Erin, the parlor looks fantastic! Is that the famous mermaid pillow I spy sitting on the sofa? I seriously love this room.

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  7. Love love love this room! It look fantastic! And I totally agree with the desk in the room and making it multi-functional!

    I need one of those magic spells to fill our bedroom walls with art!

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  8. I feel ya, bro. Er sis. Eh whatever. You get it.

    I took a blog break for a bit but projects still happened. Now I'm trying to catch up on posts. I just finished writing one about Thanksgiving. And it's April. I win at life.

    As for your magic room, LOVE IT! This room looks fantastic! Any chance you could bring your magic toes to my place and help me with some cabinets?

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  9. I LOVE that rug! I've been looking for one that wasn't so blech and one that won't give my husband a coronary over the price. *sigh* I want someone to come in and magically take down the wallpaper trim and refinish the hardwood floors.

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  10. Oooooooo, Michelle likes that ottoman. And the whole room. I usually hate wood trim but I am liking yours with that wall color.

    You're back!!! Yayyyyy! Keep growing that healthy tiny mermaid!!

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    1. I'm glad the wood trim is working...we reeeally didn't want to paint it because it's original and fancy and it takes so much to strip paint off of wood to restore it. But it does seem like most homes you see in magazines and around the blogosphere all have white painted trim!

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  11. Love the ottoman!! So pretty! The room colour is gorgeous too and looks great with wood trim (I usually hate wood trim so that's a compliment!!). I really need that fancy magic trick for a few rooms in my house...

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  12. gor.gee.yussssssssssssssss!
    It all works. I'm 'specially crushing on your pretty pretty mirror. Please have Rick attach it in its place before the lovely mermaid in your belly comes and knocks it over on her sweet head... ;)

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    1. It's funny you mentioned that...Gingerbread stood up with her paws on the mirror last night (!) and it wobbled but didn't tip. I had Rick put it on the floor (it's really heavy) in case she tried that stunt some other time and it didn't end as well. :P Sooo next time it's up there it will be fully secured. ;)

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  13. Pretty! I love the curtains and the new to you ottoman. It looks fabulous! Oh and the rug and the lamps =)

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  14. WOW that is the same room??? love it!! and that ottoman! I just pinned a similar one made from a tire...i thought you were going to tell me you made it from an old tire!
    and i also love the mirror, it works perfect in the room. great job to you guys..and to tiny mermaid!

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  15. I seriously love your decorating. I think we have the same style. Exactly the same style. I could live there. You are amazing. ;-)
    -Katie

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  16. Hard to believe that's the same room at all! Love the rug and the way it plays against the simpleness of the sofa. Well done!

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  17. It looks great! I really thought you were going to say that the first picture was your inspiration photo from a magazine or something. I love it!

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  18. Omgoodness, Erin. This room is ridiculously amazing. Seriously. LOVE! Everything. Including the scary-about-to-fall-on-your-head-mirror.

    Fly here? Again? (Agh! I just realized it's been a year!) Bring your back of tricks, por favor.

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  19. I am actually, literally watching Parks & Rec right this second. THE ROOM IS AWESOME. I need more details on that ottoman, please. We need a new one and they're rarely big enough but that one looks perfect.

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    1. Unfortunately I have no idea where the ottoman originally came from. :( The lady thought Ballard Designs (I asked when I picked it up) but there’s no real proof, and who knows even when it was purchased. When I was trying to decide if $75 was a good deal (it was) the only similar ones I found online were super expensive, like $400-$500 or more. (!)

      I was stuck on how to DIY a giant round ottoman but I did find this one when I was looking (before I found the CL one) that would be much more doable if a non-square/rectangle shape is what you’re looking for:

      http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Alloy-Zara-Fabric-Ottoman/7536987/product.html

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  20. Ummmmm.... WOW. I need a little of your magic. Like, now.

    It looks amazing. Everything! I don't even know where to begin. I love that Henry sofa - it was one of our top contenders while sofa shopping. And the big ottoman/coffee table is genius. The curtains are fabulous and the wall color is perfect.

    Just amazing! You have such an eye.

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  21. So, so pretty!! I love it all, the pops of yellow are perfect. And congrats on the itty bitty baby bump! :)

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  22. Gorgeous update! I have so many things I'd like to do at our house!

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  23. What a gorgeous room! I love the rug:)
    Krista @thehappyhousie

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  24. Anonymous4/28/2013

    Love the room! What color are the walls?

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  25. Thanks! The walls are Glidden Seal Grey.

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  26. Love, love, love! Beautiful room and so glad I've found your part of the www!

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  27. Hi! I really like this room, all comes together really nice.
    Where did you get the tray thats on the ottoman?
    Also we love parks and rec!!! Watched it all and owned it all. I just keeps getting funnier and funnier. I certainly hope Anne and Chris have a baby together, what do you think?
    Xox

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    1. The tray was a gift but I believe it was from Target!And yes, Parks definitely keeps getting better. :) My guess is that Anne will have the baby w/o the help of a clinic...

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  28. Can I ask if the rug you bought is the charcoal one, or the navy one? I love the rug in your photo, but it's hard to tell which one it is. I've been eyeballing this for my own living room, and your room may have just convinced me to pull the trigger :)

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    1. It's the charcoal one, but it definitely isn't charcoal. :P It's more of a cobalt blue--not dark gray like the online picture suggests. The only thing we don't like about it is that the white detail is higher than the blue, so vacuuming can be tricky. But I love how it looks! :)

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    2. Thank you! Now, if only I could score a find like you did on that rattan ottoman. It's incredible!

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  29. The room looks great! No joke, I saw the thumbnail image in the Popular Posts on your sidebar and I wasn't sure if it was a for real photo of your room, or whether it was a West Elm catalog photo. Everything really does look pulled together in that shot!

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  30. Anonymous9/10/2013

    Love the room! Can I ask what the paint color is called and who makes it? Also, where did you find that rug?

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    1. The paint is Glidden Seal grey and the rug is from Rugs USA (the link is in the post). Hope that helps!

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  31. OMG! I love this! What is your wall color? I have been scratching my head wondering how to make the dark trims in my house standout (or just paint the trims which seems like a waste...). Please please please share your paint color! :)

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    1. Hey Jenn--the paint color is Glidden Seal Grey. Hope that helps!

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  32. Great room! I've considered this rug before, but I thought the blue was too bright. I'm so glad you mentioned that this in the "charcoal" rug - so different from the online picture. Anyway, is the rug soft?

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    1. So sorry; I'm just now seeing this comment--it went to comment moderation because this post is so old! Anyway, yes, it is very soft! And "charcoal" is a very misleading name for it.

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