Winterfying the living room

WINTERFY :

From the Simple Vintageous by Suzan Dictionary.

VERB -To bring warmth into a home located in a 4 season climate.
To remove all coolness from summer decorating.
To make inviting
" she winterfied the living room to make it as inviting as possible "
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I LOVE my white slipcovers - but they looked a little cold for this time of year
( free tip - furniture should not match the stuff that falls from the sky ) otherwise you'd feel all " brrrr "

And as much as this looks like an inviting corner to read a good book on a rainy summer Sunday afternnoon it definitely needed to be winterfied - don't you think?  (
Sadly, whether I like it or not, winter arrived here in Montreal this week.

Some very quick - very simple changes had to be done immediately.
Although White and Charcoal Grey are cool colors - it's the depth of the grey - that works in this case to bring warmth into the room.
How's that for an experienced decorator?
I kill myself sometimes - seriously - I type with a big cheesy grin on my face  because I don't have a clue what I'm doing half the time - I just know what looks and feels right for me -

I got rid of the back cushions that originally came with my sofa and chair - and found these fabulous cushions at Home Sense around 4 years ago - in the summer I remove the covers but for the winter they work perfectly ( and wash like a dream ) and the pillows are goose down so they're far more comfortable than the original polyfill backed cushions that came with the set.
You really sink into it now

John says - Every time I walk into a room those bloody bird cushions are there
Suzan says - Well I like them - so I move them around often
John says - Why can't anything - anything at all - ever stay in one place in this house?
John says - Even the dishes - I can't find them from day to day
Suzan says - Ok - let's not turn this into another major deal - we've got other fish to fry - this just isn't important enough to argue about
Suzan says - Where would you like me to put the bird pillows?

I won't tell you his reply - it's not appropriate for this blog but the birds are staying ( because there's absolutely no way they'd fit where he told me I could put them )

John says - There's too many pillows on the couch
Suzan says - The conversation about the pillows is officially over
Suzan says - Except to tell you that winter is coming - and it's the season for layering -

The drapes were purchases at Half Price Drapes when we moved into this place last winter - this is the first time they're hanging - I'm really happy with them - they have a satin sheen to them, they're quite " full " and I couldn't have chosen a more perfect match for those pillows ( of which I was not thinking of at all when I purchased them - it's just a happy coincidence )

I draped a throw over the ladder ( which John still hates having in the living room by the way )
Outdoor ladders are NOT meant to be indoors - dammit - dammit - DAMMIT !!!

Baskets and buckets and bookshelves hold reading material - which I do an enormous amount of in the winter ( we won't talk about my " little problem " with magazines and how I can't get rid of them even though I have never " revisited " one of them in my life - there may come a day when I WANT to  )
We're talking boxes and boxes of them.

O.K. so NOW - the fun begins.
I had a white coffee table in the living room - that you can sort of see in the first photo -
I also had a wood toned trunk.- after removing the legs from the white table I simply placed the trunk on top the wood helps warmify the room. ( it was too high with the legs on the table )

 John says - in a very droll type of way and his charming British accent -  Oh look at that - you've layered the coffee tables....................how unique
Suzan says -  Yes - I'm winterfying the room John
John says - WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE ANOTHER FIREPLACE INSTALLED ON TOP OF THE FIREPLACE?

He doesn't understand the concept of layering obviously

ANYWAY

It's the perfect spot for a chess game - because nothing screams winter like a chess game by the fire, right?

This was the only change John whole heartedly approved of.
Except I can't play it.
Although I could bring you to your knees, screaming Uncle, with a game of backgammon or scrabble - ( I'm not very humble when it comes to those games - I'm the best - really I am !!! )  I simply can't play chess - and much to John's chagrin ( don't you love the word chagrin?  I love it almost as much as oxymoron ) I have no desire to learn.
The boys play with him whenever they come by.
BUT I do love how it looks
I bought this set from Pier 1 ( years ago ) for John's birthday.

And so that's what I the staff did -
It took all of 30 minutes or so...............

John went outside to rake up the last ( hopefully ) of the leaves - he came in - took a look around and
John says - It's cold outside
John says - It actually does look nice and cozy in here

" Come in " she said " I'll give you "

Shelter from the storm..............................
( does anyone else remember that song?  hint - Dylan )

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Much love,
Me

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