There were days I wondered if I would ever write this post. It seems like we have been at this forever.
It's true that we moved in almost eighteen months ago, but we actually started remodeling this home fifteen months before that! The house needed a lot more than a refresh and although it wasn't our original plan, we ultimately ended up tearing everything out and taking it back to the studs.
Here is a before view and a during-the-process pic of the TV side of the great room to show where we started and what we did with it.
When we eventually sold the large family home that we had been living in during this project and for over twenty years before that, the buyer surprised us and purchased most of the furniture in our old house. It made for a very easy move for us but it also meant that the new place felt rather naked. All we had were these plastic lawn chairs in the great room.
Our buyers had requested a quick possession and the fact that they kept our furniture meant that we moved in without any beds, sofas, or dressers. So, I had a lot of decisions to make and I had to make them quickly. Even though we were fortunate to have our Florida home to go to while we waited for furniture, I wanted to get things ordered immediately. As a result, I made a number of hasty choices and although there were some lucky hits, I also had a couple of design misses.
One hit was actually a repurchase. Seven years ago, in the big old family home, I had ordered this Norwalk ottoman in a Sunbrella fabric for our family room.
It stayed with the house but I always loved the size of it and the storage it offered so I ordered it again in faux leather which is perfect for putting up our feet.
That was a win. On the other hand, I was unhappy with my sofa choice. I ordered two of them from a national furniture chain. We had seen this same style sofa in the store done in leather and it looked amazing but I chose to go with them in fabric. Sadly, they didn't translate well in the fabric. The large single cushion design always looked wrinkled and seemed to slide forward after someone had sat on it. I was also disappointed in the welting which wasn't straight and crisp like I had expected.
But things just have a way of working out.
Our twenty-something-year-old son decided to make a move to Florida too and those cushions and welting were not an issue to him at all. He was thrilled to have these sofas to not only sit on but sofas that were long enough for his 6'5" frame to stretch out on.
Win-Win.
As for us? Things were looking a bit bare again.
I had learned my lesson. I wanted to buy locally this time and I wanted to purchase furniture that was made in the U.S. I went back to my favorite furniture source, Phelan's Interiors where I had also purchased the ottoman and leather swivel chairs.
Ordering furniture during Covid is a challenge and we did have a bit of a wait, but just last week the new sofas arrived, and I LOVE THEM.
Created in a seemingly indestructible Crypton fabric in the color Prohibition, and finished with a silver leg, they are not only pretty, but functional.
There is still snow on the ground in Iowa so it still seemed a bit early for Easter and tulips but I did tweak the room with a few new additions and fresh nods of color.
It has been a long time coming but maybe there is something to that old saying that good things come to those who wait.
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You can see these additional posts showcasing our downsized empty-nester home here...
Empty Nester Reveal: The Foyer
Empty Nester Reveal: The Exterior
shop the house-
table lamp - one-of-a-kind but close match here
Norwalk Sparta Swivel Chair in Leather- customizable
Norwalk Baxter Storage Ottoman - Customizable
Decorative Telescope - Home Goods. Similar here.
Navy West Elm Basket Weave Throw, discontinued. Similar here.
Customizable Norwalk Louise Sofa
Fabric - Crypton. Color- Prohibition
also available through Phelan's Interiors
