*Or “How I fell out of love with turquoise and so decided to obliterate my house of it… sort of”
Yeah that was probably too long for a post title. See, here’s the thing – not unlike most restless 4 year olds, I get bored easily. Even if I love how a room looks at a certain time, after a while, I stop seeing it – I stop appreciating the things around me and I start itching for change. Β If you read my 40 Facts about Me, you’ll know that I was always itching for a new environment around me when I was younger and this normally meant me picking up sticks and moving house (which I did a lot). I’m older and more settled now and I have no intention of moving at this moment, but that wish for a change in my environment hasn’t really gone away.
So I decided recently to give my living room a bit of a refresh. One of the things that’s been bugging me lately was quite how much turquoise was in the room. Now, I used to LOVE turquoise and it was nearly in every single room in my house. But I have sort of fallen out of love with it recently – don’t get me wrong, I totally *get* why I liked it at the time. It’s fresh, it’s fun, it’s all around just a pretty colour. But I think the over-saturation of the colour EVERYWHERE in interiors over the last few years has sort of spoiled it a bit for me. And if you’ve been following me for any length of time, you’ll know that when I gave my dressing room a ‘mini-makeover’ one of my reasons was to tone down all the turquoise. And as I’m giving my kitchen a bit of attention this year, the turquoise has also been pared back there too. So it was only a matter of time before my living room got the de-turquoising treatment as well.
With seldom-seen-on-the-blog Pablo overseeing the work,Β I started by just removing all the turquoise things in the room including all my coffee table books with turquoise covers – there were 6 of them! – as well as the large ceramic artichokes in front of the fireplace. I thenΒ cleared the surfaces so I could start from a sort-of fresh slate. I had recently purchased some new plants (Spring is definitely in the air) and so created a few new vignettes. Other than a couple of inexpensive plants because my maidenhair ferns didn’t last through winter, I didn’t spend a dime.
You’ll also notice that the hanging chair is still in the space. Now, this is not permanent and the two little vintage hoop chairs will definitely be coming back in here. Due to it’s size and weight and because we can’t yet move it into what will eventually be my new officeΒ (more on that soon), for now the chair is taking up temporary residence here in the living room and the lighter and much-easier-to-move-around hoop chairs are hanging out in the master bedroom. I figured I’d work with it because it’s a damn cool chair so I don’t mind.
As you might also notice, the only turquoise item I didn’t take out of the room were the curtains because at the time of taking these pictures, I wasn’t sure what I was going to replace them with. Well, I have made a decision and purchased a new set (!!) which I hope to be hanging soon. Of course, once they are up, I’ll share them.
I did, however, change the vignette on the little side table that sits aside the hanging chair as well.
I also changed the art behind the lamp on the little chest of drawers and used the vintage brass swan trinket dish that was in my dressing room.Β That peacock print is also destined for the new office but I like it in here for now.
I had changed up the cushions on the sofa after Christmas to a simple palette of gold and white alongside my beloved Santa Maria Desert Flower cushion. Are you surprised I didn’t use my leopard print cushions in here? Well, ya never know… it could still happen – just sayin’.
My fiddle leaf fig which I’ve had now for a year is doing SO well, isn’t it?! It’s definitely bigger and it has so many more leaves on it now. I am so damn proud of that plant – I have to say, the self-watering pot was worth every penny and I know without it, I probably would have killed it by now. (Want to know where I bought it? Check out my post here.)
A fresh coffee table vignette always makes me happy and this actually changes constantly. I got that cute little watercolour box as a gift from Habitat – they have teamed up with Birchbox this month and designed it especially for them and I was literally looking for a little box for that spot when the postman showed up with this. It was like fate! Plus, there was all kinds of lovely beauty products in it so ya know, win win. (And no, this isn’t a sponsored post, they sent it to me free but I wasn’t asked to cover it on my blog – I just thought you might want to know where it was from!).
It has a little bit of turquoise in itΒ but it works really well, don’t you think? I think that’s the thing, you might have stuff that you wouldn’t think would be an appropriate accessory but sometimes you Β literally have to think outside the box (see what I did there? Ha!).
Need a reminder of what the room looked like before with all the turquoise? Here ya go.
So, that’s my new look for Spring – it’s not a huge change and I’m sure it’ll change again but for now, I’m happy that I got my little shake-up and things are looking ‘new’ to me again and I’m happy with the softer palette of pink, yellow and gold with the glossy greens in all the plants.
And despite the look of shock and surprise that I’m actually taking pictures of him, I think Pablo approved of the changes.
So have you ever fallen out of love with a colour? Have you created any fresh new looks for your home this Spring? What do you think of the changes so far? I’m all ears.
It’s lovely! I’m not hugely into turquoise myself, so I certainly won’t miss it from YOUR living room ;-) I do like the fresh whites, with the plants and your rather sophisticated colour palette now, it’s somehow calmer without the turquoise. My opinion. For what it’s worth. ;-) xo
Aww thanks! Yep, I think it’s a bit more sophisticated too! Hopefully the new curtains will help too ;) xx
I always love getting a peek inside your beautiful home and the small changes make such a difference! You look ready for Spring – happy Monday!
Aww thanks! And happy Monday to you too! xxx
I know just what you mean about getting sick of certain colors or patterns after the blogosphere is totally saturated with them. Ha, I remember doing a 4-part series on my blog about the awesomeness of chevron but a month or two later I cringed at the sight of chevron. I think those of us in the home decor field tire of things more quickly than anyone outside the field can understand (certainly my everything-is-fine-as-it-is husband!).
I have slowly been editing down the turquoise in my life as well. While, like you, I still love the color, I’m all about the sapphires and cobalts these days.
Ha! God yes, about the chevron! I loved it too for a bit and then dear god IT WAS EVERYWHERE. Totally true though, I think those of us who are a bit more interior-obsessed are more sensitive to it than anyone else ;) I’m totally on the deep blue train myself!
As for the cushions – hey I’m not making any promises, they might end up in here too! lol xxx
And good to see the Santa Maria pillow is still the star of your sofa! Frankly I’m shocked the leopard velvets haven’t creeped into there other than for your jungle post!
I totally feel ya! I have been doing that with the blues and grays in my house. I loved them at the time, but now it feels old hat. Love the changes and can’t wait to see the new drapes :) xo
There’s a lot of grey going on right now isn’t there? And yet, my living room paint colour is probably the one that most people ask about! I guess that’s the problem with trends, nevermind that I painted it that colour nearly 5 years ago now *headdesk* lol xxx
Love it Kimberly. I totalky understand where youre coming from love. I.moved alot too and i crave change far more frequently than the average person i think so i get rearrangitis all the time!!! The new changes are fresh and pretty. Cant wait to see the new curtains
Aww thanks darling! What is wrong with us creative types anyway?! Never happy unless things are in transition ;) xxx
you’re such a faffer! I’m a zhoozher so I get you! Haven’t had time to change things out but I am itching to do so. Looks great. Is Pablo a new addition?
Hahaha! I know I’m a faffer and I know how to zhooze as well like a good’n!! LOL! Pablo has been with us longer than Meisha (more than 11 years!) but he’s a bit camera shy and he’s blackest of blacks so he’s really hard to photograph ;) Bless him, he hung out with me the whole time I was doing this though, think he approves! xxx
I have fallen out of love with dark brown walls. I always wanted to have them so I went for it. We broke up after 3 long years…
I like the new look in your livingroom although I also liked the turquoise details very much. It wouldnΒ΄t bother me at all if you left the curtains. They still totally fit in there I think. But itΒ΄s your livingroom and I know how it is when the love is gone. ;-)
I still like the turquoise-trend (according to my pinterest boards) so I hope itΒ΄s not out yet. And if it is, I just ignore the facts. hehe
have a lovely day!
Ahhh yes parting is such sweet sorrow, isn’t it! Nah, turquoise is definitely not ‘out’ and is definitely still trendy, but totally agree – if you love it, you should embrace it, the heck with what’s ‘in’ and ‘out’ ;) xxx
Pablo is adorable!!! So can’t wait to see the new curtains. I’m itching for new things too right now. I get the same way and it drives the hubby nuts.
I also love that parrot print. Wrote a post last year about my obsession with the parrot and parakeet prints that Jonathan Adler sells in his shop.
OOOh! Love the changes you’ve made, subtle but effectful!Spotted your birchbox as well…Nice! Can I just say: I am soooo jelous of your hanging(?) rattan egg chair!!! LUST! Nice post
Fallen out of love with turquoise?! You devil woman!! ;) I am always drawn to turquoise/aqua/bluey/minty colours. Even when I try to pick something different, I always realise I’ve ended up with something in those colours! It’s funny that I commented only the other day on your post about decorating with books, how I always love seeing your aqua Domino book!
That being said, OF COURSE your room looks great with the changes you’ve made – you always make it work! I will be sad to see those curtains go, as I have long admired them, and considered something similar for my living room. I’ve got white wooden venetians in a bay window, and thought some turquoise long curtains like yours would look good – just to frame the window and bring a bit of softness. I am excited to see what you’ve bought instead, though – I’m sure I’ll love the replacements too!
Your living is perfection!
Maria x
“The careful hunter positioned herself in a rather vulnerable place, so as to not look too suspicious and to cast away any doubt. The current owner of the curtains in question just finished expressing her disinterest in the illusive turquoise curtains. The hunter, carefully yet casually perched in the comments section, inches her way towards the curtains. They are within her sight. The owner, sees the hunter, and in an unexpected twist, welcomes the hunter with a warm embrace. They are afterall, internet friends. They basque in the sunlight together with a can of pina colada in hand.”
– David Attenborough
Ahhahahahahaha!!! Awww I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING!! xxx
Hahahahaha – that cracked me up! You know what, when I read my comment now, it totally looks like I was angling my way to a free pair of curtains, but I really wasn’t!!!
“Oh, those curtains you don’t want any more… I’ve always wanted some JUST LIKE THAT – isn’t that funny, eh? What’s that? I can have them?! No, no, I couldn’t possibly! Well, alright then.”
Honestly, it hadn’t even occurred to me, I was just jabbering the thoughts in my head as usual!
Bahahaha, I’m only messing Maria! In no way does it sound like you were angling for the curtains. Srsly. I read your comment after I found out via our email thread that you bagged the turquoise wonders. And then decided to set you up.
:P xx