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39 Comments

  1. So pretty Lory. Casual and comfortable.

  2. Ginger Valdes says:

    I think it looks great! Love neutrals for all the same reasons. I know you’ll love it when your walls are painted. I tried a pale yellow many years ago. That little crush lasted about 6 months. I feel ya!

    1. Oh yes, I cannot wait! Honestly, the hallway is worse than the family room, because it’s a deeper shade. it. must. go.

  3. Love the changes! So fun!

  4. Kathy Pelletier says:

    I think it is beautiful. It is amazing to me though, with just those few changes in color, the walls don’t seem as yellow.They took on a completely different look with the blues. I really thought you had painted them the TB. I think I’d live with it for awhile. I love it. I also checked on that beautiful rug and it is sold out :>( It looks wonderful with the sofa and floors. Your style is beautiful as always ! It looks even more amazing.

    1. Thanks, Kathy! Yes, the walls look less yellow in certain lights, but also when there’s not much color contrasting against it. I still want to pain, but it will be while. As I mentioned to Joanna, I will keep an eye out for the rug elsewhere and post the link. I know I’ve seen it… 🙂

  5. I love all the changes. You absolutely must paint those walls now. It will be quite a transformation.
    Like Kathy, I checked on your rug but it’s sold out. I think I would like a size bigger, in any case. I really think it would elevate the elegance level in my great room so I’ll be keeping an eye out.

    1. Thanks, Joanna! Yeah, I’m pretty convinced about the paint. It will likely have to wait until after the master bath renovation, because I don’t want anything to prevent that from happening… 😉 But soon! Re the rug, I will keep an eye out for it elsewhere and provide the link if I find it. I know I’ve seen it in several places.

      1. I have a master bath renovation coming up myself. Saving my pennies first to get what I desire not what I can afford. I’ll watching for your pics to come. I may steal some of your ideas. ?

        1. That’s always been my theory too. My dining room was empty for many years, until I could afford the furniture I wanted. I don’t regret it. The worst is spending some money on things you don’t love and then you don’t want to replace when you can afford better because you spent money on it. You are most welcome to be inspired by anything I post… 🙂

  6. Thank you for the promised TV! 😀 It shows it really is a beautiful, functional, FAMILY space that people live in–not just a pretty room to look at. I love that you chose to highlight that gorgeous fireplace with an equally gorgeous mirror and mantle clock, and situate the TV somewhere else in the room. I know it can be challenging to arrange seating that accommodates that, but who wants to stare up at a TV for the length of a movie, or have it the focal point of their space?

    The renewed decor is lovely. I have a preschooler and a toddler, so I’m still a few years away from having pretty decorative objects on low tables (omg, scissors at kid height!?!), so seeing your rooms is like taking a wonderful adult vacation!

    1. Thank, Erin!! Yep, I probably spend at least 8 hours a day in this space, maybe more. And I like that you noticed the TV placement because that was a big decision. The obvious choice was over the mantel but I just didn’t want that – but that did make it tricky to have the sofa facing both directions. Hence the large sectional! If you’ve never seen my older posts about when we first moved in, you might be interested to know that we added that mantel. Someday I will do a post on the progression of the room decor… 🙂

      And, yes, I too had little ones at one point, so I know what you mean about needing to be careful. That’s not an issue for us now, but the scissor is up on the console table, not on the coffee table, if that makes any difference.

  7. Great changes! Just a thought but since you’re paring down, I kinda see a fig bush or something of that sort where the Swedish table is now.
    It just seems like some “statement” greenery would bring in another level of texture. ???

  8. Norma Rolader says:

    oh so beautiful, cozy and inviting Thank you for sharing

  9. Bobbi Duncan says:

    Lory, I had to chuckle reading your post as I, too, had exactly the same dilemma! Like you, I love both the country and formal English and French styles, and found myself going too far formal in the family room. It’s difficult with these open floor plans to stay elegant and cohesive, yet not too over the top one way or the other. As far as your sectional goes: there should be spaces in our homes that fulfill our need for comfort–that is what our homes are for. Your sectional is lovely and certainly fits in with the style you are going for. Enjoy it! I’m coming for that gorgeous candlestick LOL! Please disclose where you found it. Can you believe we are having all these warm temps in Feb.? The Bradford pear trees are already getting their buds. Hugs!

    1. Haha, thanks Bobbi! Are you talking about the altar candlestick? One of may favorite pieces! Got it in Florence at an antique shop near the Duomo. Supposedly a cathedral candlestick from the 1700’s… 🙂

  10. There’s so many things to love about this room, I don’t know where to begin. You’ve done a marvelous job! That gorgeous box for hiding the remotes is brilliant! Love the little scissors. I’ve always been fascinated by scissors, in general. The only thing I would change, and I realize it’s a quirk of mine, is that I wouldn’t have potpourri in the house at all. Potpourri is made up of decaying living things, like herbs, flowers, fruit, etc. It has never felt like good feng shui for the house; plus it’s a pain to keep the dust out of it. I use beautifully scented infusers and candles throughout the house instead. I, too, am eager to paint my walls in a neutral, perhaps soon. Thank you for inviting us into your lovely home.

    1. Thank you, Maria! Interesting attitude about potpourri. But really, one can say the same about all wood furniture then. I guess you’re not into dried flowers… 😉 I think of it as extending their life, rather than decay.

  11. I know, it’s totally illogical. My friends have pointed out the same thing. As I said, it’s just one of my quirks. But truthfully, what I saw first in your room was the overall feel of openness and comfort, with some classy elements thrown in. I loved it.

  12. What an excellent idea to clear out the entire room excepting the big furniture pieces and then you can get a vision of the room as you would like it. Phew! How’s that for a run on sentence? Lol I’ve been struggling with my family room, as well. It’s not that I don’t like it, as is, but I need a change.
    Your room looks lovely in mostly whites. I love the finials on on your mantel and the simplicity of just the two of them a great clock. I’ve pinned your coffee table styling for reference. I agree on keeping the sectional. We want pretty in our family room while not giving up comfort.

  13. I love it! I love your house and enjoy these updates you are making to bring everything into your style and taste. I have to admit, now that you’ve moved them, the blue and white vases, although beautiful, always seemed wrong in this room. I like the urns fit with the neutral palette and the French flavor much better.

    1. Thank you, Vicki, and I definitely agree with that. Sometimes you love something but it just doesn’t belong in the space. That’s when I move it and know that some day the perfect spot will open up for it. Those are the pieces I keep, but know it’s best to put away or move for now… 🙂

  14. Hi Lory,
    I enjoyed looking at the photographs–you have created a beautiful space. I am curious about the absence of any lamps–do you use a ceiling fixture, or did you remove some of them for the shoots? Thanks.

    1. Thank you for the kind words!! We do have overhead lighting, which I love for functionality, but I enjoy the look of lamps and chandeliers, too. I add them in most of my rooms, but in the family room, the sofa is so dominant that there really is no space.

  15. Patricia Wilson says:

    Lory, I love your French Country style, which I love, and have been following your blog for years. In your redesigned family room, I have one question? With the TV at the far end and the sofa facing the fireplace, the French chair next to the fireplace, how are you able to comfortably watch the TV?

    1. Thank you, Patricia! The sofa is an L-shaped sectional, so one side faces the TV. I actually would have preferred the look of a single sofa and chairs or a loveseat, but we love that corner part of the sectional to sink into. In fact that’s something I was going to write about soon… 😉

  16. Diane Corsaro says:

    I’m loving your posts. Your rooms are gorgeous. I have started redoing my bath and bedroom. It’s so fun seeing it take shape with just a few pretty changes. Thanks for all your ideas and how you go about doing them

  17. What a beautiful neutral living area, Lory. One of the challenges when keeping a neutral palette is figuring out how to add just the right touch of color and texture. Your space looks lovely!

  18. Tara Hannah says:

    My living/dining area is very similar to the layout of yours only my whole house is a bit over 1500 sf. Front door and a window on one wall, fireplace on the wall to the left with about 2ft of space on either side, then open space, then…hallway entrance and maybe 6ft of wall. I’m so stuck on how to place furniture & TV! :(. I adore your taste and style Lory ❤️ You did a beautiful job.

    1. Thank you so much! My first piece of advice is to pull the furniture away from the wall and create a conversation space in the center of the room. If you don’t mind TV over fireplace then that’s your obvious focal point with seating oriented toward it. If you prefer not to put the TV there, then you’ll need another flat wall – maybe the 6′ wall – and seating, still pulled away from walls, will have to be able to have sight lines to both TV and fireplace. Just always think of a rectangular conversation area and use chairs and/or ottomans to allow both seating and sight lines to where needed.

  19. Looks so nice and fresh.
    Where did you get the silver box to hold the remotes?

  20. Kathy Simonson says:

    I love your changes Lori. It is fresh and so beautiful. I want to make a change with my 4-season porch. I’m thinking I’ll go with a Pottery Barn slipcovered couch. I just need to figure out the color—some kind of white) but need to decide on a fabric that will hold up to dogs that jump on the couch. Any suggestions, I’d appreciate. Love your posts as always.