Now that I have saved some money since purchasing our new home in August, I have decided it is about time I start decorating! I am taking the advice of many people to do this one room at a time because I think it will keep my ADD in tact and help me focus on the task at hand. I LOVE designing (obviously, considering I am an urban designer!) so this is something I have been biting at the bit to start on. Since our den is the room that is the most ‘complete’ I figure that is as good of a ‘place’ as any to start. So I thought I would show you guys what I’m workin’ with here before I start on the ch, ch, ch, changes. Here is the den when we moved in:

Much of our current furniture is leftover from our old home in Charleston, and as you can tell is slightly large for the size of our current den. This is the configuration we are working with now:

The chair and a half is ‘shoved’ in the corner because that is the only place the darn thing would fit! I love that chair (heck and our couch) because they are so comfy, but it drives me crazy that I can’t fit it in a different layout. I’m thinking about getting a cover for the chair and ottoman and moving them to a different room, but I’m pretty sure the hubs does not like that idea.

This is what we are currently working with:

1. Cheap-O IKEA Lack side tables (we needed some side tables and I didn’t want to spend a lot of moolah until I found something we loved. Plus I figured we could repurpose these elsewhere in the house)

2. La-Z-Boy Daphne Couch, Chair and Ottoman (As you can see, these fit much better in our old home and I was unfortunately obsessed with Red at the time)

3. Throw Pillow from Crate and Barrel

4.  Red/Gold Striped Curtains which I intend on chucking as soon as I find some new ones!

5. & 9. Lamp set that we received as a wedding gift. Will likely repurpose these in another room and find something that fits my intended theme better.

6.  Vizio 50” Flat Screen, courtesy of the husband because 36” just isn’t big enough!

7. Coventry Media Console purchased from Overstock. Had to have something that would fit that big arse TV!

8. Vases, one from Crate and Barrel, the other a gift from my mom

So right now our den is a mismatch of random things picked up over the last four years. It is time for some real design up in here! Here are some inspiration photos (I apologize I do not have the sources because I have been clipping them into a folder over the past year).

(Lonnymag.com ‘I think’)

I love the starkness of the inky blue with the white curtains and crown molding. Oh and those rattan shades are fab too.

Source Unknown.

I’m hoping to find a huge mirror like this one for behind the couch to make the room appear larger and reflect all the great natural light we get in the room.

Source Unknown.

To keep the room from looking too dark with the blue, I’m thinking of painting the area above the chair rail in a navy shade and the bottom in a bright white.

Here is my shopping list for this nautical inspired room redux:

1. Curtains in a natural shade

2. Accessories that exude a natural feel in materials like rattan or jute

3. A large rug, either patterned (brown?) or jute

4. Side Tables

5. New table lamps and a floor lamp (or maybe just new shades for the existing lamp)

6. PICTURES. I would like to find a large mirror like the one in the photo above, and maybe some shelving (IKEA?) for some accessorizing

7. A coffee table

8. This gorgeous chair from Urban Outfitters I found courtesy of Bryn!

So as you can see not TOO MUCH to purchase, but still need some things to pull this room together and make it feel like home. Stay tune for updates on my choices and inspiration board!