Evolution of Design

As I take my living room from a fairly modern look to a cottage look, I've run into a dilemma.

I thought this would be the perfect time to walk you through how I make my decorating decisions. 

Not all that long ago I purchased this beautiful picture for my living room. 

It was kind of a kick off and inspiration for turning my living room into the garden cottage I envision in my dreams.

It is GORGEOUS!!!  And I adore it!!

Then I made my no-sew curtains!  Which I also ADORE!

Here is where the dilemma comes in.  If you have a keen eye, you might have even noticed it as you looked at both of these pictures.

What is it you ask?

The new picture looks to NEW compared to the darker, more vintage looking curtains!!!!!

Not sure?

Let's back out and take a look.  This is my living room as it currently sits.

Do you see it now that I've pointed it out?

If not, let's get even more detailed as to how I know these two don't work together.

Don't look at the picture above the couch.  Lets just look at the bright red throw pillows and the curtains for now.

Would you say these pillows complement the curtains?  Or clash?

I'd say they clash.  They are way too red.  The red in the curtains is a much darker, deeper red.

Now let's take a look at the picture and pillows without the curtains.

Now do you think the red pillows compliment the picture?  Or clash?

I'd say the red pillows are a complimentary color to the picture.

SO......if the pillows compliment the picture, but clash with the curtains....then the picture and curtains must not have complimenting reds.

Let's take a look again at the whole picture.

Now do you see the dilemma?

One of them has to go.  But which one?

Let's look at other aspects of the room that have been updated lately, to the cottage style I'm going for.

This vignette I showed you earlier this week.

When you see this vignette, do you see the curtains or the picture?

I clearly, without a doubt, see the curtains here.

This is how the pie safe in the room currently looks.  It's not done, but it's definitely going in the direction I like.

Do you see the curtains or the picture?

Again, I clearly see the curtains.  The picture just seems to "new" for the pie safe or bookshelf vignette.

So, when I take everything in to account, the picture is the delimma.  It's the thing that is not going to make the cut (along with the bright red pillows).

But I love it so much I'm going to find it a new place in my home.  I'm not ready to part with it, that's for sure.

So, my living room is heading exactly where I want and what I have envisioned in my mind.  But not every decision is right the first time unfortunately.

Decisions like these can be costly.  But I know me and I know that clash of the reds and the clash of too new vs. vintage feeling will drive me batty.   Well, battier than I already am. ;)

Thank goodness for Craigslist.  Or in this case, another room, :)