Where We Live...Part 2

*Thank you all so much for participating in the Inspiration Friday Party! It was so much fun and I promise to reveal the winner very soon.
I had a blast picking out the prize!*

We all have them. The rooms where we spend most of our time. Where we really Live! I have seen some of your Family Rooms. And, most of them are not being taken over by toys, tents, tunnels, toddlers, trains and...tantrums!

Preparing to get the photos for this felt like preparing for the Olympics. Ok, maybe not the Olympics. Maybe it was more like preparing for the Fun Run in the 3rd grade. But still, I really had to psyche myself up for this one because to get pictures when this room doesn't look like a Daycare was no small accomplishment!

So, this may be the only time you get to see this space.

Enjoy it!

This is your view after you come through the Foyer. To the left is the Breakfast nook and the Kitchen.

This is how the space looked when we first saw it...

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see those cabinets flanking the fireplace? They need some built-ins on top of them, right?

Well, I thought so too until I got a bid for them and quickly realized we would have to come up with Plan 'B'! We are talking in the THOUSANDS folks and after trying to figure out how to make them ourselves or find them ready made and match up the stain we kind of gave up for a little while.
Then, on one of our many excursions to Lowes we found these shelves...

Our first thought was that they would just be temporary until we figured out what we REALLY wanted to do. But, after living with them for awhile, we realized something...

We actually kinda liked 'em!

I think that built-ins in that color of stain would have made the room really, really dark. I like seeing the painted walls behind the shelves and it fills the space without dominating it.
And at $12 a shelf, it was WAAAAYYYY cheaper! I think things are always prettier when they cost less, don't you?
I must confess, though, that having the TV showing was a big sacrifice on my part. I would love to have it covered up but it would have been tricky and it was a compromise I had to make!

Here is a closer look at the shelves...

Because of the recessed lighting it is almost impossible to get a picture without a glare and believe me, I tried.
These photos are of all of my hubby's and my grandparents. I love having that little bit of history around the house!

And just because I can, I have to show you a closer look at those pictures on the bottom shelf...

These are from 3 years ago and no matter how hard I try, I can't bring myself to switch them out for updated ones. These just melt this mama's heart!
Where has the time gone?

Look at those faces!

Shake it off, Vanessa, Shake it off!

Here is a Before and After of my Fireplace refreshing

You may remember (or are trying hard to forget) that they had these lovely brass bars that I never could figure out what to do with. Then I discovered you could spray paint them so...

I sprayed their little hearts out using a beautiful Copper color!

And here is the mantel dressed for fall...

Moving on...

This is your view as you look back toward the kitchen.

Recognize those floral pillows?

I showed you the fabric for them a couple of weeks ago!

I finally got around to dragging my sewing machine out of the play-room closet and setting it up at the dining room table. No dedicated craft room for this gal! And, because my rascals are always trying to "help" I have to hustle and get these done as quickly as possible. I think I had them done in 2 hours flat!

How do you think they turned out?

 I showed you in my Living Room how we used cubed ottomans as an alternative to a coffee table to provide us with extra seating. We did something similar here in the family room.

  I wouldn't be a wannabe Southern Girl without my Southern Living magazine proudly on display! I found these benches at my home away from home (TJ Maxx) and couldn't believe my luck!

 They matched the room perfectly and not only provide great extra seating but they also lift up for Storage! 
Those pictures also show the new carpet! 
You don't even want to know how bad the old carpet was...
Oh you do?
Well, let's just say that almost white carpet with a low pile and 2 rascals and one husband don't mix! And because of the width of the room and the aforementioned low pile, there was a very obvious seam down the middle. This seam began to slowly unravel until one day, First-born Rascal decided it would be fun to just pull one of those loose strings in the seam! The lovely ball of carpet that formed in his hand was just the motivation we needed to get rid of it! 
Couldn't be too mad at the boy when he got his mama some new carpet, now could I?
This is the view opposite the window wall...

We have had those chairs for almost 12 years! We bought them soon after we got married and they have held up pretty well!

The mirror was over the fireplace when we moved in so it was FREE! It really helps to give more dimension to this wall and reflect the light from the windows.

This topiary saw me coming a mile away!

I saw her from a distance...we eyed each other...she saw the word "Sucker" written on my forehead and she knew she was coming home with me!

Now I suspect, that some of you were Skeptics!
 I am very certain that several of you doubted me when I said that this room NEVER looks like this.
So, I submit to you as Evidence...
Exhibit 'A'!

Do you see that pile of washcloths sitting there? I promise you that if I had known the girl liked playing with them we would have a lot fewer "My Little Ponies" around this place!

And Exhibit 'B'!

Just couldn't stand it if you thought I was a big fat liar!
Do you believe me now????

And while we are on the subject of rooms for family living, my parents (a.k.a. Nonna and Poppa) are coming into town this week and we are so excited to see them! If you don't hear much from me in the next few days that is why. I know you all wait around with baited breath for my clever and witty comments to appear on your posts!

Have a great week and be sure to check back in the next couple of days to hear who the winner is!

I'm linking up with these parties!

Fabric Fun Thursday
Before and After
Tabletop Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia