Lake House Living Room Decor
First off, I want to thank you all for the comments and suggestions on my last post! You guys had a million ideas. I started responding to all the comments and World War 3 started in the basement over a yellow Lego (apparently the last yellow Lego in the universe completely intrical to each of my two angels current Lego creations). Many of you wanted my oars from the old house back, and I actually have a plan for those over the stairs now. I’m just waiting on something I ordered to arrive and I’ll keep you posted!
Ok, onto this beast of a living room. I know I have kept you all waiting on this one with good reason! This room is so unbelievably hard to photograph because I don’t have the right equipment. I really need a wider angle lens to be able to fit the entire room in the frame, and I think I’m going to have to break down and buy an external flash because of the crazy amount of light that bounces in here; every photo is blown out or pitch black. I’ll quit boring you with my photography woes and just show you what I got for now to give you an idea of the room, but photographers hit me up if you have a favorite wide angle lens you suggest or ideas how to shoot this room.
Let’s talk about this couch. The Mr. had like zero requests for this house and really let me run with what I wanted except he put his foot down on one thing – a comfy couch. Our living room furniture at our last house was pretty, but we never sat in there. It really wasn’t comfy and there wasn’t a place for all of us to sit. He wanted a huge, deep sectional that he could actually sit on in person/lay down on for an hour in the store like a couple of weirdos and make sure it was comfortable. There are not a ton of furniture stores near us that had anything that fit the bill.
We had a thrilling date night furniture shopping a few months back and could not agree on anything. Enter a couple of margaritas at the mexican restaurant next to the furniture store and all of a sudden this couch seemed fantastic!! ;) The Mr. loved this couch and couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t get on board. I will say it is unbelievably comfortable. And enormous. Our whole family can actually lay down on it at the same time and I would say it would seat 6 adults totally comfortably. It’s not my dream couch because I would rather have more of a linen fabric vs. this has a bit of a micro-suede feeling, which makes it super practical being white and every muddy paw print washes right off. It does fit the space perfectly though so it might grow on me. The Mr. was right again, just don’t tell him ;)
Ok, enough about my couch buying experience (I just thought I should warn you all not to drink margaritas and couch shop) I do really love how this room turned out and we totally live in here when the weather stinks.
I don’t have it totally styled perfectly, I sort of just threw some old stuff in here so it doesn’t feel so empty and cavernous. One thing I do love and will be staying is our Dash and Albert rug. I had this rug picked out before we even broke ground on the house. The stripes look black in the pics, but are actually navy. I wanted something with a classic feel and pattern on the floor, but the jute makes it really practical and it hides sand and dirt really well.
It’s hard to pick if the ceiling or the windows are my favorite – it’s a pretty close race. I have gotten a lot of emails asking me to share the exact dimensions of the ceiling situation and honestly guys, it would not be helpful to you unless your room is the exact same dimensions and the pitch of your roof is the exact same, my best advice is to hire someone who knows what they are doing (or drink some margaritas and give it a go)!
This next photo looks totally weird and shadowy (well all these photos are a bit weird and shadowy), but it was my best photoshop attempt at showing you the view out the windows. I really need to figure out a video tour to capture it better.
I realized I didn’t grab a great pic of the fireplace builtins, but I’ll let you in on a blogger secret – typically when I shot my last home I moved my entire couch out of the room so I could get an unobstructed shot. I basically take my whole house apart and put it back together to get nice photos which is why everything looks perfect and not cluttered or messy. This is not that, because it’s summer and #reallife I just pulled my camera out and took 20 minutes worth of pics.
I hope to do a more detailed post on the cabinet and how the tv is hidden inside this fall maybe.
Ok, I’ll stop rambling. Can you tell most of my conversations this week have been with a 6 and 9 year old and I’m in need of some adult conversation?
SOURCES (affiliate links):
Rug – Dash and Albert
Couch – Art Van (local store in Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Chairs – Hand me downs from my mom
Tan striped pillows – Target
Blue Striped pillow – Target
Jute Pillows – Target
Ticking stripe pillow – Pottery Barn
Coffee table – thrift store find
Fireplace stone – J&N Stone Quartz Style, Color Price
Mirror – DIY
Lights – Find all my light choices in this post here
Paint Color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams
Wood Flooring – BuildDirect
Your pictures are great and your room is amazing. The windows, the ceiling, the light fixture, the furniture ❤️ It all works and looks lovely. I’ve enjoyed watching your building journey. So fun!!
Love, love, love your space and your choices. I also have a husband that wanted a comfy couch, then bought him a leather club recliner and he never a sits or lays on the couch. Go figure!
I just love your home and so enjoy every post. The view out the windows to the lake is stunning. I think I would get up every morning and stand there and look out with my cup of coffee in hand and thank my lucky stars. Enjoy the journey.
STUNNING!!!! I love how cozy and welcoming the room is even though its HUGE! and that VIEW!!!!! I’d never leave….so the couch has to be comfy!
What a gorgeous view!!! I would turn the bench around and sit and look out at the water all day! I don’t think I’d get anything done if I lived in your home! Enjoy it!
The view makes it a dream house. You did a great job with the design and the decoration. I really love it.
Love, love the room. Just fresh and beautiful. I have a rug question. I love the rug, but the one in the link picture looks different and darker then the one you have. Is that the exact same. The one in the link has three stripes in each section. It looks to me like yours is showing four. I love the rug!
You are right Pattie, I apologize I linked the wrong rug! They are super similar but I have the Jute Ticking Rug in Indigo from Dash and Albert sorry for the confusion! I fixed the link now :)
Wow! An absolutely amazing room! Those windows!!!! And I love the one photo where you can see every amazing light fixture. You did a beautiful job…dream home right here!
Thanks so much Deb!
Thanks Deb!
Love your living room! Can’t wait to see your TV setup in the cabinet – great idea! Really like your rug! I’d also like to know what size you used for this seating arrangement. Your photos look great to me!
Hi Linda, this rug is 10 x 14 I believe and our room is 22 x 22.
Hi Linda I believe this is a 10×14 rug
You can borrow my camera that has a wide angle and external flash and play with it for a couple weeks if you want to Kelly. Mostly I’m using a pro or my cell phone now.
That would be amazing Kay, I would love to give it a try before I spend the money. Thanks for the offer!
Oh! WoW!! To be honest, at first, I thought you were daft for selling your other house and going through the angst of building. Well, don’t I have egg on my face!! The house is turning out totally beautiful and the view is phenomenal. And margaritas are always good when making decisions — a lot easier to do. And I wish I could give you photography advice. I go through the same issues on lighting but I’m learning. Depending on whether you have a full frame or a crop frame camera — there are a lot of great lenses out there. If you have a full frame I believe a 28mm would work great and for lighting issues. I believe a light umbrella might work out — you wouldn’t get the super dark photos and you get set up a white sheet opposite the umbrella to bounce off the light. I can’t wait to see the rest of the rooms. Hugs!! Give that little guy who’s posing a pat on the head!
Thanks for the tips Marisa, I should try the white sheet idea in the fall when I have more time.
All i can say is, “wow” and “love it all”
Thanks Erika!
Your house is simply stunning. Every room is gorgeous. That view is priceless. I can see why you can’t decide between the windows and ceilings as your favorite thing about this room … I love them both. That ceiling, though. Obsessed. The windows and view beyond are amazing …love everything. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Sandy!
Oh my word……words fail me in trying to describe what I feel when I saw the pic with the outside view…..you would find me there….just sitting….maybe some beautiful music playing….just sitting and abiding….and resting…..I may or may not do my quilting….or maybe just sit with a lovely cup of tea..,..,and just spend the rest of my time trying to figure out how I was so blessed!
Another scenario, if I got a rare burst of energy….is to put on some old music like Huey Lewis’ Power of Love and crank it up and just be bop around…looking totally ridiculous if anyone was to walk in and see that this old lady could still move like that at all!
???
hahaha that made me laugh out loud, have a great week Marie!
Your living room is stunning. I can’t imagine how amazing it must be to enter your home and see that view! Everything including the sofa ? Looks amazing!
Thanks Beth, the Mr. will be happy to read the nice sofa comment ;)
Can you tell me the dimensions of the rug and room where the furniture is? Beautiful room and looks comfortable!
Hi Jennifer it is super comfortable in here. This room is 22 x 22.
Where can I buy this floor plans
Sorry Laural they aren’t available for purchase – thanks!
I love these plans too! Are you able to link house plans that are similar?
The room is beautiful – but one question that I have always wondered about – when we position our sofa/chairs that way what do we do about lighting? Did you have plugs installed in the floor – which would interfere if you ever wanted to rearrange furniture – or do you run cords across the floor? I have a large family room as well – I have lighting in the ceiling, an overhead light in the cathedral area, and 4 lamps on tables, as well as lanterns with battery candles on the mantel. So many pictures I see on Houzz do not have any lighting at all. Can you help? Gorgeous job – every detail.
I have those same questions. Anxious to hear some answers ;-)
Hi Sandy I have a plug in the floor under the middle of the rug so I can run a cord beneath the rug if I ever want to put lamps in somewhere. I had planned on a floor lamp by the couch but so far I don’t mind not having one. We get so much natural light in here that I’m not sure I would need a lamp.
Looks so beautiful!! The view is the best! I’m a photographer. I love my 35mm, but a 24mm might be even better for your needs. In terms of trying to show the view, one trick you could try is to put your camera on a tripod and take two photos–one where the outside is all blown out but the room is properly exposed, and an identical one where the room is dark but outside is properly exposed. Then you blend then together in Photoshop! Easy peasy and no need for an external flash!
Hi Meghan, I’ve watched a tutorial on how to blend them together but I only have lightroom right now. Maybe the better investment would be photoshop? Worried about the learning curve with that one.. I’ll look into a 24mm thanks for the tips!
I usually admire without commenting, BUT THAT VIEW OF THE LAKE!!! INCREDIBLE!!! I, too, look forward to your posts. You have created yet another amazing home. Your rug has inspired me to purchase one for my home! Thank you and enjoy your summer with your family!
Hi Tracy thanks so much!! I accidentally linked the wrong rug the first time, so I hope you didn’t already purchase the rug. It should be right now – thanks!
Your husband isn’t the only one who has to lay on couches to see if he likes them. Just as my husband was laying on a couch in Art Van some friends from church walked up….talk about embarrassing! :)
Your house is beautiful, I look forward to every post! Love the openness of the tall ceiling and all the natural light from the windows. I also love the DIY mirror about the fireplace, you did a great job.
LOL! Glad we aren’t the only crazies who need to try before we buy ;)
Do you have more details about this couch? I live on a lake in Washington and this couch looks perfect. We have been on the hunt for a while and can’t find the right on yet. I’m using this page as inspiration!
It’s the Harper Couch from Art Van Furniture, it’s a midwest chain :)