Hank keeled over in mid sentence today for a rare afternoon nap, and I thought, "Oh, he's so sweet, I'll take his picture," and THEN I thought, "and that way I can show everyone my new sofa pillows!" See? This doubletasking is how I juggle being someone who blogs too much with being someone who obsesses over details of her decor. It is a real balancing act.
I am blessed with two sturdy hand-me-down couches, couches that remain stout and comfortable despite their upholstery being, shall we say, outmoded. Outmoded being a nicer word than fugly. So I slipcover them eternally, all the while hoping for very selective housebreakers to come steal them so I can have new ones. I entertain myself by switching around the pillows, throws, and rugs. It makes a huge difference in a room. The other day I rolled up a rug I'd had in the sunroom and decided to transition to a more pre-spring look.
I had gotten those three tan wool Jonathan Adler pillows on Bluefly, like two years ago, but for some reason I'd had them up on the couch in Hank's room. Why I was wasting Jonathan Adler pillows on a child, I don't know. I brought them down to the sunroom and I remember now why I bought them in the first place. I love them--they are substantial and sturdy.
The black and white pillow is from Urban Outfitters. I've had that floating around too--I believe in shopping one's own house. Don't you do that? In the first photo I took, it was turned sideways so the bird was facing downwards, and I moved it. So did I style a photo of my sleeping child? Yes, yes I did. I drew the line at retucking the slipcover or turning the pillow he actually had his head on so the zipper wasn't showing. I'm not, like, a total freak.
Ah, that's better. And my favorite thing--also the only thing I didn't have somewhere in the house already--is that cashmere throw. Because I know you love deets, I'll tell you that sucker was $69 at TJ Maxx. I don't know what it would have cost retail. It feels like an angel's bosoms, I swear. My parents came in tonight to stay a few days, and my dad touched the blanket and said, "Why don't we have this?"
The takeaway for me is the color combination: I am loving the tan, white, black, and gray right now. It just seems fresh to me. I'm going to see where else in the house I can get that working. Since I share everything with you guys, I wanted to show you. It all looks better when it's straightened and tucked, but my model won't work under those conditions. You know how it is.
Happy Thursday everybody!
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30 comments:
Aw, what a sweet little napper. And, love the pillows.
Adorable child is adorable.
You DO always have the best pillows. I love the black and white one! I hadn't seen that one before. You need to show everyone the pillows you have on the little wicker loveseat in your bedroom. I coveteth those.
In fact, i think you should do a series: throw pillows in my house. I have a thing for pillows, though so maybe it's just me that would like that.
Hank is the sweetest thing! I love those flushed, napping cheeks.
Very tuxedo/professorial. I like it. The boy is a very nice accessory.
Mine? Let's just call it dirty dog paws/hippy tie-dye chic. Somedays I just roll that way.
I have no idea who Jonathan Adler is, but I can say he doesn't hold a candle to Hank.
You know, I think you've inspired me to go and buy some new pillows for my couches. I just have the ones that came with them and they are lumpy and funky. My couches are an earthy lavender - what color pillows should I get? I want something that pops. I was thinking something with yellows.
"Come, ruddy blondlings. Come to a place where countless generations have lain their heads. Come to Søfå. And nap."
Aw he is so cute napping. I hope he's feeling better.
The other day my 12 year old was on the couch after playing outside. The pillow now has a tainted boy smell and I won't go near it. Of course it was the nice faux suede burnt orange one.
Really nice pictures!! Love the pillows and the napping child is precious.
He WAS tired, we knew it! What a sweetie! Love those pillows. I need your expertise in my house...
Love it. Definitely makes me want to go shopping in my own house and see what I can come up with.
I love it! I have to say, the first thing I noticed was how cute Hank is but before I even finished that thought, I was like, "Oooo, I love that bird pillow." I'm glad it's okay to swap out rugs and pillows, because sometimes I feel like once I pick something I'm stuck with it.
Please do a series on pillows and rugs.
Great model.
I love my couch but never thibk to buy it pillows. They'd end up smelling like the dog's butt anyway.
Thanks guys! Hootie, that comment made me smile. And how did you get all those special diacritical markings? Man of mystery.
Michele R! You need to air that baby out. Or febreze the heck out of it.
Jenni, that is a good question. I guess it depends on how "dusty"/earthy the lavender is. I think yellow would definitely pop--have you seen those Dwell pillows for Target with the yellow in them?--and I also like the idea of those feedsack pillows in a linen-y color. They're starting to show up in different places.
Urban Outfitters is a great place for high-designy but not expensive pillows. Especially if there's free shipping involved.
Tres chic, Matron. Hank could totally sell any sofa with his nap modeling. You should sign him up with an agency right away.
The sofa housebreakers comment reminded me of an episode of The Dick Van Dyke show where a gang of thieves steals the Petrie's dining room table and chairs, and then he thinks their sofa's been stolen.
(Spoiler: Laura sent it out to be recovered - if only she'd had your mad skilz with decorating, they could have really had that living room rocking.)
Forrest, I love that you just added a spoiler alert to a discussion of a 40 year-old TV show. That show was rad.
Hey, what's old is new. Especially to some of your sweet young readers. They gather at your feet, thirsting for the knowledge of homemaking you pour into their empty vessels.
BTW, my 10 year old daughter thinks you are super cool. And she has adopted some of your lingo - the other day she informed me she was going out to play with one our neighbors - "you know, Mom, she's like my frenemy neighbor."
Your influence is great, Matron.
The whole thing is adorable.
WHOA! Literally just accidentally stumbled over your adorable site! Also a suburban mom, newbie blogger, and have a cutie little boy (who occasionally passes out on the couch)
So fun, I'm sure I'll be back!
Oh, that boy of yours! Great photos.
Pillow and rugs and blankets, oh my. Fun stuff. I enjoy your bird pillow. Has a Lemony Snicket vibe?
I'm dying to paint my bedroom in shades of grey.
And I want so badly to add more pillows to our lives but these doggone kids I live with use them as toys and goodness knows what else. I have to be feeling pretty brave to ever lay my head upon one. Sad. I'll just settle for ogling yours til they all grow up.
Look at that Hank man! He's such a cute little guy.
You could get a seamstress to make slipcovers for the couch like Kim did to your Grandma's house. Then you wouldn't have to deal with the tucking and untucking.
Also, there is nothing better than being wrapped in cashmere. My boys have you to thank for introducing them to the luscious fabric.
Hi Zhush! Thanks for coming by!
Stephanie, did I introduce your boys to cashmere? Via baby blanket? I think I remember that. I do love the stuff. When Laura was littler she had some cashmere pants. Try as I might I could not fit into them.
Getting caught up around here! A few things: 1.) I want to eat Hanks toes, is that wrong? They are so cute! Then I'm going to steal your pillows. 2.) The jeans/pj thing? I don't get it either 3.) 3 inches? Please girl, we got a foot in Dallas...we were like the frozen tundra! xo!
I too LOVE Jonathan Adler (I have a link to his store on my blog). And you make me want to buy a cashmere throw.
Didn't you do a pie chart about straightening your slipcover a while back? I think of your pie charts almost every day when I "straighten the sofa", something I spend approximately 60% of my time doing. You must pie chart again soon.
Hanks so cute, pillows are so cute.
I can't take my eyes off that black and white pillow. It's just awesome.
You certainly did. You're simply the best, better than all the rest...
I think that's your superpower - cashmering it up, yo! That and decorating with throw pillows.
It is this style alchemy I feel I lack, where you articulate the elements of it and stand back + recreate for an echo in other spaces. I don't know.
If the sofas are stout & well-made, re-upholstering is a sound choice between new and time spent straightening.
Aye. All I can say is that Hank's just a precious little monk!
Nibble nibble scrumptious.
Love me a sleeping child on a couch!!! Aren't they the sweetest things? Also, the pillows look great and I LOOOOVE the shutters in the background!
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