I woke up at 6:30 this morning and it was still dark. In fact, for a short time, I had no idea what time it was. It could have been the middle of the night. Now we’re headed for a time change which will be even more disconcerting. Getting dark at 4:30? Do not like. Why do we still do this whole time change thing?
I digress. Next stop on the tour: the den. As you probably know, the den is our hangout, our television/movie watching room. Speaking of movies, we watched a simply dreadful Vincent Price movie last night in honor of Halloween, the kind of movie that is so bad you cannot stop watching.
I miss baseball.
Anyway, the den is also my blogging room. In other words, I’m in here a lot. It’s sunken, just two steps down from the living room. It feels like a little secluded retreat.
Looking into the den from the living room. We put those rectangular carpet pieces on the stairs to make it easier for Riley, and now Scout, to get down the steps. I’m not crazy about them, but I’d do anything for our dogs.
The Blogging Chair. Yes, that’s where the magic happens, my friends. The chair itself is old and has a beautiful shape, but was covered in a sort of naugahyde-like fabric. And it’s desperately in need of entire re-upholstery job, which is low on the Must Be Done list. So I use an IKEA slipcover that doesn’t quite fit, but works in a pinch. I got the teal/green table at auction, along with another table, for $25. The rug is from Pottery Barn. We bought it about 10 years ago. Can you tell I like red? Especially in a cozy space?
After several fruitless attempts at getting a good picture during the day, I resorted to an evening picture. And I like it. Because that’s when it looks the most warm and cozy and welcoming in here. The sofa? Old. We bought it when we first moved in together. It’s on its second slipcover. The springs are sort of shot, I eliminated the back pillows a few years ago because they drove me nuts and bought 4 red pillows to replace them. I like the shot of color. And that IKEA flowery print pillow (I have a few of them) is Scout’s pillow. Every night we move it so that it’s perpendicular to the position it’s in here and she nestles next to it. She sometimes obsessively licks it. It’s rather yucky at this point, but it’s hers.
The screen is an oak Craftsman piece from our former home in San Diego, which was a Craftsman style house. It originally had fabric panels but they had deteriorated, so I tied strips of fabric to the rods and placed it against the wall.
The floor lamp is a vintage find from our time in San Diego. It had a glass shade that didn’t match the lamp and I searched for months until I found the green and cream glass shade that completed the piece.
The large print on the wall is one of my favorite-ever auction finds. That wooden frame is scalloped. It’s big and heavy and I got it for $15. The coffee table was a steal at $10. The white side table was formerly brown until I painted it. Now it looks much more cottagey.
My dream is to have a wall of built-in bookcases behind the sofa. I’m going to make it come true.
This is the watercolor painting that is on the wall above that table. We found it in San Diego. We fell for both the charming scene of a windmill and the frame.
The vintage wire laundry basket was a Craig’s List find for $50. Have I touched that yarn recently? No.
Our most recent find: these gorgeous lamps that were our anniversary gift to each other. This one is lit….
And this one unlit. It’s been a few weeks now and I still can’t stop looking at them.
This is an original Currier and Ives lithograph that I found at auction. It’s old and fragile and has some stains and I love it. I’m amazed at how vivid the colors still are. It hangs above the large picture window.
One of my china cabinets is tucked into this corner. I bought this beauty the first year I was living in San Diego. It held my Fiesta collection, which has since been sold. (I’ve retained a few of my favorite pieces.) It now houses some of my favorite pottery and china, including McCoy and Haviland and some French pieces. On top you can see the vintage bird cage I bought at Vignettes in San Diego and some of my Roseville pottery. Behind them are some old books, including some of my dad’s school books.
You can see that the television is right next to it, where it has to be because there is a window to the right that we don’t want to block. Televisions are not all that attractive, but I’ll show you the cabinet on which it stands.
I got this cabinet, which has no back, for $5 at auction. I painted and glazed it and changed out the knobs. I really love it. It holds the cable box and the dvd player.
In the corner, our spinet desk, which used to be in the spot by the stairs where my desk now lives. I closed the cover, so it would look a bit less busy. The wicker magazine holder is vintage and we bought it years ago in San Diego.
That’s a framed Norman Rockwell print of Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts – one of our favorite places.
The beautiful Lost Lamb print came from Debra of Common Ground. I saw it on a blog post that showed one of her retail spaces and I wrote her immediately. It has the most beautiful frame. The shadow box was from a vendor’s space in Heidi’s shop. The lady who ran that space was a friend of mine and she died rather suddenly a few years ago. Heidi gave me this piece as a memento. It was originally finished in a dark stain and the back was mirrored. I painted it and covered the mirrors with toile scrapbook paper. It now displays my miniature pottery.
Can you tell that I have a pottery obsession?
We’ve come full circle. Just inside the entrance to the den is this music cabinet. Another auction find for about $25. I have a lot of sheet music, but it also stores other things that need to lie flat, like prints and dollhouse wallpaper. Some of my favorite vintage books are on top along with a silver candlestick (one of a pair) given to us as a wedding present by the founder of the Old Globe Theater, Craig Noel. Craig, who was a dear friend to both of us and a mentor to Don, died a few years ago. Underneath? Dog toys that are never used anymore but I’m sort of sentimental about. I can’t get rid of them. And to the left is a basket with quilts and throws.
The den is decorated but not decorated. It’s meant to be cozy, comfortable and enveloping – the kind of place where you can flop down on the sofa, cuddle, read, write, and pet a beloved dog. There are several pieces of furniture but I work very hard at not cluttering a space. Cozy clutter? Yes. Stuff everywhere? No. I edit what I hang on the walls and what I display. And, as always, everything has a story. Everything has a meaning to us.
If you ever came for a visit, I would probably drive you nuts sharing all those stories.
Scoutie on her pillow.
More tomorrow.
Happy Friday.
I just love your den! It’s cozy and welcoming and full of things to delight the eye and mind.
I also have a print of Main Street hanging on the wall of my dining room. (Do you ever eat at Once Upon a Table? One of our favorites when we’re in Stockbridge.)
Where do you go to auctions in NY? You have such a skill in finding bargains and making them special.
Oh, and we were also flipping back to that awful movie! Yes, baseball withdrawal begins.
I know of it, but I don’t think we ever ate there.
I go to local auctions, Sylvia, but I haven’t been to one in a long time!
Bookcases behind the sofa? PERFECT!! I have the same Norman Rockwell print hanging in my hallway. I started playing Christmas music this morning. I don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving, but I do love all of the classical pieces for two months.
Give Scout a pet for me.
Tana
I know – wouldn’t bookcases be perfect there? I’ve anted them for 8 years now. I was going to try to build them myself, but I think I’d need a carpenter, as we have baseboard heating that would have to be taken into account in the design.
Claudia, how many things we seem to share! I use my wire laundry basket to hold my throws and lap quilts in the parlor. I recently purchased a china cabinet very similar to yours for my glass pitchers, McCoy pottery and mercury glass. I have a few of the same prints on my walls and sweet little shelves for my tea cup collections. Were we separated at birth? After a wild and windy Halloween night, our skies are blushing this morning. Thank you for the tour of your charming room, again, you have brightened my morning. Enjoy your weekend. Hedy
We have a wild and windy day today, Hedy.
Maybe we were separated at birth!
What a beautiful den, Claudia! And I love the inviting entrance. Who wouldn’t love to spend time there. Scout looks very content, and staking a claim on that pillow! lol
She pretty much stakes her claim everywhere!
Claudia – Your den is so cozy and decorated so nice!! Bookcases behind the sofa would be beautiful!!! Everything is very inviting and I like how you chose everything that was special to you and Don!! You have a flare for decorating!! Thanks for the tour!! Francine
Cross your fingers that I can get those bookcases in the next year, Francine!
Very charming, cozy spot. I like how you step down into it. That is what we are planning on doing for our addition. I had to do the same as you in our former house, the dog could no longer walk on tile or slippery floors so we had to carpet the kitchen. Carpet in a kitchen is not good, but ya gotta do what a do needs. LOL
I didn’t know you were putting on an addition, Dawn!
When Riley was so ill, we had non-skid mats all over the living room and kitchen because he had such a hard time walking.
Your den is such a cozy retreat. I love that you have stories for so many of your treasures. Everything looks like it fits together so well. I love the Lost Lamb print. Sometimes I sit and look around at our great room and get the warmest feeling as I think about where each piece came from and how we came to own it. A neighbor recently gave us a large bookcase that I have absolutely stuffed with books. I get the biggest kick out of it when someone who’s never been in our house before sits on the sofa and looks around. I can just read their mind, “someone here sure loves to read.” That would be me and the books I love never leave the house. Isn’t it something how our homes speak more about who we are than mere words could ever say?
It is, Janie.
And one of the best things I could ever hear would be “Someone here sure loves to read.”
Beautiful, Claudia. We don’t see enough of this room. It’s just so cozy.
S
xo
Thank you, my friend!
Your home speaks of the kind of people you and Don are! Your “stuff” tells of your travels, dear friends, beloved pets and memories together. Thank you for sharing it with us. Love Scoutie and her favorite pillow.
She’s pretty adorable, Dottie.
Claudia, What ever your “Style” is called I Love it. You have such a way with things,Other people (Like me)
would pass by, because I wouldn’t know what to do with it. Very nice, I Love everything so far.- Judy A-
Thank you so much, Judy.
I feel the same way about memories in all of my things… must be useful or bring me joy. Bookcases would be wonderful behind the couch!! One never can have enough bookcases! The wire basket w/ the yarn…. well, our 2 kitties would think it was just for them. Oh, the time they would have!! Also love all of your prints & pictures. Whenever I go into a thrift or antique store, if I find something embroidered or stitched, I feel so sad. All of the hours it took to make it, and someone ended up donating it because they no didn’t want it. Inevitably it almost always makes its way home with me. And Scout w/ her pillow is a perfect picture.
Love the tours! Have a great day. chris
I always feel sad when I find something embroidered or stitched, too. And also family photos. It’s so sad!
Your den is the kind of room you just nestle in and enjoy TV, a book, Blogging or petting your beloved pet! I always love to see your miniature pottery shelf and the little pieces I sent you. Makes me happy to see they found a happy home! Scoutie and her pillow is a sweet photo!
I look at those pieces every day and think of you, dear friend!
Claudia, what a talent you have for finding the best bargains. What’s more – YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM! Almost everything I like is either beyond my $$ range or needs more “primping” than I could do well enough myself. So my finds end up being mostly books, or linens, or something glass that just needs a good wash or polishing-up with Bon Ami. PS – how appropriate that Scout’s pillow is so pretty & feminine. PS – I’m experiencing baseball withdrawal too. It helps to keep repeating “Spring training is only about 4 months away…” :>)
Well, necessity is the mother of invention, Janet. We simply can’t afford ‘new’ so I’ve learned to creatively repurpose and redo!
Cannot wait for Spring Training!
I love your tour Claudia. When is a good time for me to come visit to hear the stories behind the story.\\
I’m like you I have lots of cozy clutter. It makes me feel good. One piece is a figurine that I got at a flea market. It is a small young boy. He has chips, and at some pint both of his legs were glued back on. He spoke to me from the selling table. I could get rid of all other found treasure, but never him. He cost me 50 cent!
You have inspired me to start my own collect of pottery. I have 3 Mcoy, 2 Hull, 1 Roseville, and another Roseville on the way. I love the color it adds to a room.
Anytime, Trudy!
Isn’t it amazing how something you found for 50 cents can become so precious?
The den is so cozy; I’d be right at home curled up on the sofa reading. Those lamps are absolutely beautiful, even more so when lit! You have so many lovely one of a kind tables, each one perfectly placed. Thanks for taking the time to tell the stories behind the pieces, that makes them so special. Give Scout a hug from me. I’ve enjoyed the visit!
Hi Nola! Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. xoxo
You decorate with meaning and intention…I love that. For some reason I’ve glossed over the fact that your den is sunken…love that too! That fact alone makes it cozy. Have you written a post about your life in San Diego? You have so many treasures, it seems, just from San Diego. Enjoy your day! ;)
And it’s surrounded by the porch, Donna. It would be hard to write about San Diego because I lived there for 8 years and there’s too much to tell!
Well, those days when you wake up at 3:00 a.m….you can start writing then. I’d be interested to hear about your bungalow, I think you said you lived in. Food for thought! ;)
Wonderful! Of course it is very comfortable! How could it not be. It just fits in with the rest of your cottage. I love old furniture and you have taken different styles and made them all fit together. Love it all!
Thank you, Teresa!
I like your den!
it is cozy. I like the age of all the artwork on the wall. Not the new artsy stuff…but truly loved pieces.
This room looks comfy and like a true Family Room…You, Don and Scout!
I was also looking… there are no curtains. I think that helps with the openness of it.
I’m heading to check the other rooms now… to see if there are curtains there. ;)
Pat
So far…NO Heavy drapes. Nothing weighing the light down! I love it.
Pat
I have thought about adding curtains to this room, because the blinds can be a bit difficult to deal with at times. But I tend not to go for drapes. First of all, it’s too hard to decide on them and they are too expensive!
Very cozy and well loved! I love the artwork, the windows, your collections and your furniture, with each piece having a story. Thanks for sharing! I’m inspired now to share our space.
Good! You should share your space, Chy.
Oh Claudia! I have been searxhing for my” style” for decades. I think I found it! Loved stuff!! And thdy all fit together so well. Love the tour!
Thank you, Karen!
I’ve enjoyed touring your home. It is very cozy and lived in, which is as it should be. I would feel very comfortable there, especially if Miss Scout was there with her pillow!
Oh, she would be, Sandra!
I love the stories you share about the furniture/items that have found their way to you and the cottage. I especially enjoy seeing your McCoy pieces … McCoy was my grandma’s maiden name, and for that reason, my mom collected McCoy for many years. Sadly, when she sold her collection I wasn’t all that interested in it. Sure wish I had a few of those pieces now! Bookshelves in your den would be perfect.
Isn’t that always the way? There are things that were my grandmother’s – things she gave away when she moved in with my parents – that I wasn’t interested in at the time and I so wish I had now.
Oh, what a lovely, cozy room – it makes me smile! We built in a wall of bookcases, around a window, in our livingroom. We used the cheapest wood that we could find and painted them white. We have doors on the bottom shelves and left the shelves open above, for our books and old pottery. It’s one of the best things that we’ve ever done for our home. Shelving is pretty easy to build,too.
I don’t know how easy it would be for ME to build, Susan! I wish I could – it would be a lot cheaper.
I love this den. This is such a cozy room. My big living space has 3 steps down like your den, and I just love it! You are so right, book cases would be wonderful in there. I know you’ll make it happen and I can’t wait to see pics of them! My favorite picture is Scout and her pillow.
Bookcases with some crown molding, I’m thinking!
Claudia, I like thinking of the three of you snuggled together in this room. We are the same way about so many of our things. They all have a history, and I would probably drive you crazy telling you about everything, too.
That would be fine, Beverly – I’d love hearing about your things!
I also love that your den is sunken..such a cozy room..
Thank you, Nancy!
I think this is one of my favorite spaces in your house. Cozy and comfortable and light and airy all at the same time. I love all the fun wood pieces you have used for storage in here and that french laundry basket. Would love to find something similar for my yarn.
Check Craigs List or Etsy, my friend. I’ve seen them both places.
What a cozy room! I could definitely see spending a lot of time in that room reading and being on the computer. I think the china cabinet in the corner is my favorite piece of furniture; it’s just gorgeous. I love how most of the things in your home have a history…and I’m crushing on all your pottery collections.
Oh, thanks so much, Melanie!