A Quick, Easy Update in the Hearth Room

Happy new year! You may remember when I first showed our hearth room that I mentioned wanting to paint the trim on our bar and the bar stool legs. I tackled that little project a few days ago and it only took a couple hours, but made a big difference. Here is the before, with dark trim and black stool legs...

 

And after...

 It's amazing to me how far a little bit of paint goes. Just that small strip of trim and little bit of gray makes the whole room seem brighter and cleaner. 

 

I painted the stools in Silver Fox by Benjamin Moore (the same color as our living/dining room) to go with the grays and browns in the wicker.

 

I also restyled the shelves and changed out the mantel a little, and I feel this is at least a bit closer to how I'd like this room to look. I had been looking for something tall to go on either side of the arched window above the fireplace, and these old shutters fit the bill at just $4 each.  

 

I've also decided the jute rug is too brown with the limestone fireplace and leather chair, and so I'd love to change it out with a gray trellis rug (something like this) to lighten the feel a little. The jute fits perfectly with my plans for our guest bedroom, so I'll move it in there. But since there are about 10 things that cost $100-500 a piece that I'd still like for the house, the rug may not be happening too soon : )

 

My paperwhites were slow growers this year, with only one little bloom so far. They still provide a pretty pop of green though!

 

I think this corner is my favorite. I used entirely what I already had, except for the metal box on the middle shelf, which I picked up during a sale at my favorite antique mall. 

 

On both sides, I used pops of black to stand out against all the white trim. 

 

I am much happier with this room now with just these simple changes. But I also probably need to keep in mind that we've only lived here for three months.

 

We hosted a New Year's Eve party and several people commented at how "done" everything seemed for the short time we've lived here. Sometimes I get impatient and want to have every piece of furniture purchased, every curtain hung and rug in place. But as a friend pointed out, what would you do the rest of the year if it were all done now? As I've always said, the hunt is half the fun, so I need to remember to enjoy hunting for just the right piece or accent or finishing touch. 

 

It'll all come together in time, right? : )

{live beautifully}
Courtney