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
Lovely space! Could you share where you purchased the mantle? Maybe it’s custom? Thank you!
It was custom thanks Lee.
This is a perfect room! What type of flooring is this? Brand, Color, etc.
How did you make that mirror? Also, who was your builder or architect?
Do you happen to remember if your sofa is the Harper sectional from Art Van? If it is, how is it holding up? We are trying to decide about a sectional, and are having the hardest time. Your home is beautiful!
Hi Kari, the only info I can find on our couch is that it’s made by Max Home it says Amalfi Oyster on it and the color is med khaki. We have only had it 6 months but love it. Thanks!
Beautiful room, love it from every angle. May I inquire the size of your entryway? thank you!
Hi Ingrid I’m not home to measure but I’m guessing off the top of my head it’s 6 ft by 10?
LOVE , LOVE, LOVE your new home and everything about it. Great job!!! Your location with all the water views is spectacular. I’ve been looking for new sofas (I like the white slipcover look) and notice your sectional and chairs are not slipcover but upholstery. With kids and fur babies, how do you keep it clean. I was going for the slipcovers because of the easy clean-throw in the washer, but I like the more tailored look of the upholstery.
Hi Sandy they aren’t slipcovered but this fabric is supposed to be really easy to clean and we bought the lifetime stain warranty on them so if I can’t get a stain out they will send professionals to clean it and if they can’t get it out they will give us a new couch. So far I haven’t had any issues getting stains out, crossing my fingers!
Do you call the treatment on the wall above the fireplace board and batten? I’d like to recreate in a small bathroom. Do you have any suggestions on how to recreate. Thanks for any tips. Your home is beautiful!
I call it floor to ceiling board and batten yes. If you search that on Pinterest I bet you will find lots of tutorials for it!
Oh my goodness, I absolutely love this space. And am obsessed with the flooring. Im curious if your stairs are the same product, if engineered flooring is do-able on stairs?
Seriously cannot wait to see what projects you share next. Your space is inspiring.
Yes it’s the same engineered flooring you just need to buy special stair nose pieces. Thanks!
Wow, this living room looks so chic! I love the decor and the color pallete. Neutral and elegant. That light fixture, btw, so beautiful!!
Loving the new house and the living room looks great! I always look forward to your posts. The view is beautiful. Did you consider doors & windows that weren’t divided light? If so, what influenced your decision to go with divided light? Do you feel like they block the view at all or do they just “disappear” when you look out? I’m trying to decide which to use myself. Thanks in advance. Happy Summer!!
I just like the cottagey look of them, they add a classic vibe to the house and it feels warmer and more inviting to me. They don’t block our view at all in my opinion :)
Do you remember the color of your floors? Your link takes me to the floors but has multiple color choices. Love them!
HI Amanda I think they the color is Robin.
If you decide you need a statue of an old lady, please call me and i will gladly stand in your living room until the end of time. adore your new home. best of luck and much happiness there.
HAHAHA that made me laugh out loud! Thanks Joan.
I just started following you and Instagram a few weeks ago and I didn’t realize you lived in Grand Rapids. I am from Saginaw (I still have family there), but I’ve been in Nashville, TN for many years. Your IG stories make me miss Michigan! Your house is beautiful, and you are inspiring me to step up my game!
Thanks Marilyn glad to have you following along, and Nashville is on my bucket list!
Is your sectional the Lincoln (?) collection from Art Van?
Beautiful home! I love the floor. Would you remember the details on the brand and name of it? I know it’s from Builders Direct but haven’t been able to find it.
I love that sectional! Do you mind telling us what brand/model it is? Thanks!
The room looks fantastic, and those views are incredible. And I’m sure that couch is comfy, but can we talk about that amazing light fixture in the center of the room? The black iron is a great contrast to the white wood ceilings. Is it electric candles? A candelabra?
I love it!!!! You have done a fabulous job and your views are amazing! I am purchasing a new home and would like a sectional. The fabric and color you selected are perfect! I have dogs and a cat and I read that microfiber (faux suede) is very durable. I have an ArtVan in town as well. Can you tell me the name of the sectional so I can test it out? Thank you!
So beautiful! I am really enjoying seeing all the areas of your new home. It’s amazing! For photography, I highly recommend taking the Photography 102 class from shootflyshoot.com. They talk about shooting interiors, using a flash, editing, and more. It’s not a terribly expensive class, they run sales from time to time, and the guys are great teachers!
The link to the flooring takes me to an unknown page :(. What type of builders direct flooring is it please? I ❤ it:)
I’m interested in the floor information as well. Thank you for sharing your resources.
Your house looks amazing. I hope you’ve had time to enjoy it/