I think our den is the room I share most on the blog… because a bit of it is always changing! No lived in room is every truly complete. If you’re anything like me, you realize things like this as the days go by… I really need a stool here, I need more light there, I have a new family photo I HAVE to display, I don’t actually like that, or that light is so bright it’s blinding to name a few. Since I last shared our den two years ago, I’ve added a stool and a lamp by my chair, swapped out the pheasants on the mantle for foos and replaced the chandelier.
Before we get going, I’d love to remind you where I started… a spacious, well lit and totally out-dated room. Things could definitely be worse!
With gallons of paint, furniture and lot of family heirlooms, this is now the place we relax, watch TV, have family movie nights, work on puzzles, drink our coffee, spend our sick days, open birthday gifts and entertain. It’s the heart of our home.
Sources:
Paint – Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth (walls) and Benjamin Moore Alabaster (trim)
Curtains – Basha Dot (sadly, it’s been discontinued), made by me
Bamboo shades – JC Penney in pecan
Floor – unstained white oak
Rug – Indoor/Outdoor French Leopard by Ballard Designs
Chandelier – Shades of Light Fretwork Lantern
Honey and I tend to claim the chairs by the fireplace. Mine is on the left by the window and I call it “the spot“. I added the garden stool for my coffee by morning, sweet tea by afternoon and wine by night. In the winter it’s toasty by the fire. The rest of the seasons I have a wonderful view of all the goings-on in the outside word. And every day of the year it gives me a vantage point clear across the house to see what the boys are up to.
The custom mantle, using the same dental molding found throughout the house, was designed by me and built by contractors we hired to renovate house. We added the gas logs by Real Fyre.
The chairs are by Rowe Furniture and are VERY well made. I can’t recall where the bench was from as it’s been in my attic for ages.
The pie crust table is an antique from Mother’s house. The lamp was from G. Scott Interiors, the alphabet tray by John Derian for Target, the oyster plate by Alison Evans, and the Peanut Man from Byrd Cookie Co.
I have used the same plates, Butler’s Pantry by Lenox, in most every downstairs room. The antique girandoles are from my grandmother and the antique books were Mother’s. The foo dogs are from The Enchanted Home.
Mother gave us the antique sideboard right after we were married to use in our dining room. It was just a hair too long for the space in this house, so we retrofitted it to hold TV components – the perfect solution for my traditional style.
The collection of Atelier antlers are from Ballard Designs. The candles are flameless and the candle holders are by Aidan Gray.
A found cluster of oyster shells is a nod to home in Savannah and it sits atop a collection of favorite books.
When we bought the house, the little nook to the right of the TV was where a wet bar had been. It had been removed and was literally begging for a banquette!!
I designed the banquette and had it built by the contractors that renovated our home before moving in. The table was custom made for our space by Anne Hathaway out of salvaged wood from Georgia plantation home where Daddy-O’s family is originally from. Honey made the bench and I had it upholstered in a full skirt. The little sheep skin throw is from Ikea.
The lamp shades from Restoration Hardware and the oyster plates are by Alison Evans. We keep our ticket stubs in this glass memory box to look back on from time to time. The signed print is by Ray Ellis, a favorite Savannah artist. This is the best little spot for reading, homework and puzzling. Most weeks of the year you will find one here!
Mother made all of the pillows for me. The contractor that built the bench had the cushion made as well.
Moving right along, next up is the sofa. It is Monterey by Ethan Allen covered in an indoor/outdoor fabric. And I ABHOR it. It is the worst piece of furniture I have EVER purchased in my life. I have thought about contacting them so many times … The lady that sold it to me SWORE by the indoor/outdoor fabric. Saying it was stainless, maintenance free and perfect for a family with two young boys. I tell you what, that lady lied through her teeth. Even water stains the thing. It looks nasty 11 months out of the year until I have the Guardsman people come clean it (I bought the 5 year plan). All staining woes aside, the fabric is also drooping on the waterfall skirt. It looks BAD. Okay, deep breath.
On the upside, Elsa couldn’t have a care in the world about the stains. Try as I might, I cannot get this dog off the sofa. She really is the best accessory though. The throw was a lucky Home Goods find, and the lumbars were custom made (I have no idea what the fabric was called).
The antiqued mirrored coffee table was from Horchow. The lantern was from DC2 in Savannah and large clam shell was from Pottery Barn. I have more antique books from Mother’s collection here and I always try to keep fresh flowers in my Nate Berkus for Target vase.
Over by the door to the porch is my DIY chalk paint mirror in Annie Sloan’s duck egg blue and more Alison Evans oyster plates. I have a mirror in every room.
The antique curio on the little wall next to the kitchen holds collection of pictures and overflow from dining room china cabinet. The lamp was from Stein Mart and the Staffordshire dogs were from Scott Antique Market. I have Mother’s collection of vintage Nancy Drew books here – they were favorites for both of us as little girls.
The family silhouettes include myself and Sister as children in Disney World. Over the years I’ve added my littles and cousins Bird and CeeCee, all done by Clay Howard.
We fixed the bar with updated corbels and painted the bar height stools in the trim color and recovered them with a pleated skirt. The toile fabric is Chatelet Breeze.
The small table next to door holds a collection of books by Savannah authors (and one by my son) and a cloche with picture of boys and one bronzed baby shoe from each. The oyster painting is by Bellamy Murphy of Savannah and was a 10th anniversary gift from Honey.
So that’s a tour of every inch of our den as it stands today. That being said, tomorrow is a new day and who knows what may change :-)
The Delightful Home {Dixie Delights Home Tour}
DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED
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