Okay, y’all. I’m vlogging again today. 🙂 It was just too much fun chatting with/hearing from you about the living room on Monday, and I have some new things to show you in there today!
Now, here’s what else you need to know:
1. Another reason I don’t want ceiling-height cabinetry on the sides of the fireplace is because I want the fireplace to “win”. Meaning, I want to the fireplace to be the main focal point on that wall. Think of the cabinets as it’s soft-spoken sidekicks. 🙂
2. The doorway between the living and dining room is not 11 feet wide….it’s 9′-2″ wide. Oops. :-/
Equipped with that new measurement, I did the math. I measured one of the (50″ wide) curtains hanging in our dining room. It’s only about 10″ wide all “stacked” together. Sooooo, if I use 60-ish inch wide panels (that measure 12-14″ wide when they’re pushed together while hanging) it’s totally possible to cover that 112″ inch wide doorway! Woo hoo! 😀
So here’s what I’m pondering now: Do I want curtains that can be pulled across the doorway opening for privacy (a couple times a year?), or do I want to skip the curtains and maximize my storage by building 3-and-a-half-ish-foot wide cabinets that almost completely span the width of those 4-foot wide walls?
I do love the idea of breaking up the vertical space on that side of the room with some more softness, but man I’m a sucker for storage too. Hmmmm. Choices, choices.
Thanks for thinkin’ with me!
PS- Our house didn’t come with any window treatments when we bought it (3 years ago), so I’ve been slowly but surely dressing the windows since then. I’ve been using these curtain panels (in Sandalwood) and these window shades (in Buckeye) whenever I see a good deal. For instance, the last 4 shades I bought were during a 35% off sale that included free shipping and when you bought 3 shades, you got 1 free. They seem to have those kinds of sales quite often, so definitely keep an eye out if you’re in the market for something similar!
I just loved that little video. I think you would make a fantastic presenter of your own TV show! You come across as funny and a lovely person to be around.
Well, thank you Jan! What a kind thing to say…I appreciate it so much! 😀 XO
You are a genius, Layla! I was just thinking about you today about what a perfect HGTV host you would make! You need to be the one to design/decorate HGTV Dream Home 2017! It would be amazing!!!
Ditto.
I love your video’s and really enjoy watching your mind work, it both funny and sweet with a little bit of crazy. I think we’d all like to visit to smell coffee with you, can we make it a regular date? ?
Hi Mandy!
Thank you! I would love to make it a regular date with you! Let me talk to my “camera man”. 😉
Love these videos! I’d say go for the curtains and behind them put shelves. So you will have: doorway, shelves up to the ceiling concealed by curtains, closed storage, curtains et etc
The stuff will be hidden anyway by the curtains, and visible only when the guests pull them to sleep “enclosed” in the room at night.
I’m sure your stuff is cute anyway, so being visible at night won’t surely bother the guests 🙂
Hi Antonella!
I love the *idea* of curtain-fronted cabinetry, but in order to execute that in this situation, it would mean you’d have a curtain rod sticking out a foot in front of the doorway way, all the way across it. :-/ Another reason I want the cabinetry to have doors is because I know that it will be a tornado of stuff behind them- LOL! I like the idea of not having to be neat! 😀
How about a curtain rod hung from the ceiling instead that across the wall? 🙂
I love your video’s! I was smelling and drinking coffee while watching:)
Have you thought of using an adustable metal rod or double rod around the doorway so you don’t have to worry about filial vs. cabinet. I know it would break up the look a little, but might allow for the space you need.
Hi Railey!
Mmmmm….coffee smell. 🙂
I’m not sure what you mean by “adjustable metal rod or double rod around the doorway”. Can you help me understand that? I’m intrigued!
Here’s an example:
http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-double-drapery-rod-white/-/A-11172328
They aren’t a thing of beauty, but they would be mostly covered by your curtains and you could refabricate the part that would show
Thanks for the link, Railey! So, are you saying use something like that *above* the doorway opening, and go with the wider cabinetry?
Absolutely!
I think I might want to flank my fireplace with that cabinet type unit that you are going to use elsewhere, but that you put where your built ins are going to go just to get a feel for the depth. You mentioned you got it at Homegoods? Is that correct? Just verifying because I’m going to see if I can find some myself.
Thank you!
Hi Lori!
I’ll definitely use matching door styles on both the cabinets on the doorway wall and the cabinets on each side of the fireplace. (They just won’t be the same height) And, yes, I got the console at HomeGoods. Isn’t it cute? 😀
Hi, Layla. This is all coming together so beautifully. For your opening to the dining/kitchen, I was thinking – what if you had something more like a valance – I know that valances on windows are out, but I was thinking about either lace, or Victorian fretwork painted white, or a custom piece of stained glass in blue, white, and sand colors – showing the sea or boats. That way you won’t have to give up any of your storage and it will visually give a break, without closing the rooms in. You may hate this idea, but thought I’d throw it out there.
Thank you, Ronda! 😀
I don’t think a valance would give us the privacy or softness I’m after…but oh how I loved reading your beautiful descriptions! So lovely!
You’re adorable and I love your little videos that make your personality shine! Can’t wait to see more!
Thank you, Catherine! You made me smile! 😀
Just curious, why do you want to close off the doorway between the rooms?
Hi Vicki!
It would just be for privacy when we have overnight guests. The living room is our “guest bedroom”. And who knows, we might want to “camp” in there with Sweet P, too. 😉
Fun! I vote no curtains across the doorway unless you hang them from the dining room side. The full width built ins will look better than bunching 11 feet of curtains into that little space. Plus the view into the kitchen is so pretty.
Oh! It’s actually only nine feet, Angela. (I messed up in the video!) And from what I can tell, it’s only going to take one normal curtain panel (because they scrunch together so much naturally), so I don’t think it’ll look too bad if I decide to go for it. We’ll see!
I love you vlog! So fun to hear you! I agree with Angela. If you do 60″ panels they will 1) be cramed into a small space by the built-ins and 2) that is just barely enough fabric to cover the space. The curtains won’t look very nice when stretched almost flat across the opening. I would give something up… The built-ins, the drapes or the wall space on the dining room side of the wall to make room for a generous sized drape.
Hi Sara!
I thought about them potentially “not looking very nice” when stretched across there too, but I decided that that was okay, since it will just be for (very occasional) privacy. Hmmmmm. I wonder if I should give up the privacy, but keep “dummy” panels there for the softness I envision? What do you think?
I have to say that I am loving these videos and getting to see a “real” glimpse into your home that is just not a still photo – makes me feel like we are “real” friends and YES I’d love to come over and smell coffee with you, because I don’t like the taste of it either!…I find myself talking back to you as you go…LOL – I have to say I really like the look of the curtain panels on the fireplace wall, but will the curtains closing off the room be as sheer as those? I love the idea of having them there to soften the look of the hard lines of the built-in, but I think for me, I would like them to be a heavier weight curtain so that when closed they would offer a little more privacy from the kitchen and dining room area
Thanks, Cheryl! I’m so glad we could smell coffee together! 😀
The curtains by the fireplace aren’t actually sheer. I’ll post a better photo in my next blog post. And, yes, I would use the same ones on the doorway wall, so everything is nice and cohesive. 🙂
Why not put slider doors on lower cabinets of built ins? (Where furniture is in way of doors opening?
Ooh! Great idea, Sarah! I’m toooootally going to look into that!
Love that idea! I think the curtains will look great on the doorway, just not sure I would like them on the fireplace wall. But I will wait and see when you have them up, it may change my viewpoint. I personally would go with a flatter look, like a roman shade or cream bamboo maybe, but that’s only my taste, not yours.
Love the vlogging by the way!!!
Hi Marianne! One of them is actually up in the video if you want to see how it looks on the fireplace wall! 😀
Hey! I have been reading your blog for several years, but this is the first time I have commented. First of all, love your style! Second. I am LOVING your video logs. So much fun!
Hi Layla!
Other than, you are just adorable & I have no idea why HGTV has yet to pick you up, all I have to say is that once Sweet P comes to stay…. You will want as much storage as you can fit into your home! And, you will especially like closed off storage so you can hide toys & such in usable places.
Thanks for being “real” with us!!!
If you can have your cake and eat it too, I say why not. Go for the smaller built ins AND the curtain panels. You will get everything you want and need: function and form. I like the idea of the open curtains sitting perfectly in that space that won’t be taken up by extra cabinetry. The softness of the curtain panels will offset the hardness of the cabinetry as well, so you will have contrast. It will also tie the room together with the other curtain panels, therefore making the room look more cohesive. Oooh, I just had an idea, why don’t you do a quick pick my presto on it so it can help you (and me, lol) visualize it.
SUCH a great idea, Colette! I’ll go take a photo of it now and presto change-o it for Monday!
I love your vlogs! I have a window that is very close to a built in and I think my panel first look too crammed. ? You have amazing style and I have enjoyed following you in your last house as well! Can you share the source of your rug in that living space?????. I have been searching and I am having a hard time finding something neutral that I love.
Oops! I meant to say that my panel does NOT look crammed at all. Go for the small built in and panel! ??
If you have glass fronted doors on the cabinetry, you could soften it with fabric behind the glass, so you have the best of both worlds. Perhaps?
Hi Ally! I love a glass-doored cabinet, but with a toddler on the way, I’m thinking the less glass in here, the better- LOL! 😀 I also sort of want the doors to just “blend away” into the background, so the art and accessories can do all the talkin’!
Layla, I LOVE the curtain you choose! Big surprise, I know . . . And I’m loving how the living room is coming along . . . Everytime I see the gallery wall I love it more!
I think you should maximize the storage on the built ins! You will never regret it . . .
Whatever you choose will be FABULOUS and I can’t wait to see . . .yahoooo! XO
Oh my gosh! Your hilarious and adorable all in one. Your personality is so fun. Love the house and the ideas. Keep vlogging!
I love watching you! You’re adorable in video. I especially love how you point at us! ?
How about hanging the curtains closely behind the “built-in” cabinets… obviously, they would be less built in, but could still look pretty close… then you can still shut the curtains when you want to. See curtains and cabinets. I pretty much love everything you do. 🙂
Thanks, Colleen! 😀
I think my heart is set on built-ins there. They won’t be as easy for Sweet P to tip over!
I love your ideas! We recently put up curtains for a dividing wall and I love the way it looks. I will try to post a photo for you if I can get my glitchy iphone to work. I have 4 extra wide panels to cover our 10 foot opening and they can scrunch up pretty small. They have the large grommets on the top and that helps them to compact pretty small at the top when open if that makes sense.
I think the fabric for the door opening would be great. Oh and I would totally go smell coffee with you. I don’t drink it either.
How fun to see you on video and see what a cute personality you have! You are so sweet and fun! Keep on decorating!
I love your ideas, your home and you! Think you should definitely consider more storage as opposed to curtain idea though. As appealing as the soft lines are, you just cannot get enough storage, especially when you get Sweet P home! And, if you go with custom built-ins, hard(er) to change your mind later when you need/want more storage. Since the privacy issue is only a few times a year, I’d go with more cabinets.
Thanks for sharing your home, ideas, thought processes and sources with us! Gosh can you be any more adorable!? I am at such a standstill in our home and these little glimpses and ideas into your charming space really help! (I would also LOVE to know the source of your rug! It is so pretty and I have noticed it before wondering where you got it.) I think everything you ‘ve done so far is fabulous and so tasteful and I know whatever you decide will be great. Your style is spot on! I do like the soft look of those drapes along with the shades. The fireplace turned out PERFECTLY and the idea of the built-ins, the picture light along with the half curtains on the bookcase/tv wall is so smart. Can’t wait to see the finished room but in the meantime you’ve done a great job. Well done you two!
Love all your ideas ,but what I can’t wait to see is toys everywhere and sweet pea running around .That will be the best part of the room.:)
First off, more videos please! Love your decorating style and did you say you don’t like coffee but, do like the smell?! SAME! I thought that made me a little crazy but, I guess not. Cheers 🙂
That made me laugh when you said,”We did it. Rebels.” I love the vlogs! I am sooooo entertained!
Oh my, I am loving your videos!! Could you be any cuter? I think not. 🙂 I love what you said in the first video about doing some of the things in the future but you thought about it every day. I can so relate!! 🙂
I love your videos and can just see Kevin smiling in adoration on the other side of the camera. Y’all are precious! Seems like you’ve made your mind up about the panels on the built ins. Being a strong willed southern girl myself, I don’t see you backing down from it. I personally am not a fan of incorporating in something you only use once or twice a year unless you just love it. I think the built ins are enough on their own and I’m worried there will be too many panels if you add them. I would build out for storage first, then if you are still feeling it add the panels after but I wouldn’t give up storage for panels. Something about when you said “…built ins then panel, shutters then panel, cabinetry then panel”, I started feeling like I was in a padded room. But girl I could be so wrong and I know whatever you do will be gorgeous! Can’t wait to see it! Praying daily for you both and Sweet Pea!
Hi Ashley!
Thank you for the prayers…we appreciate them SO much. XO
And thank you for calling me a “southern girl”! I’ve only been here 12 years, but I guess that’s long enough to be considered Southern, huh? 😀
As for the padded room- not to fret: I’ll show an illustration of it in a blog post next week. There will only be like 10″ of curtain panel showing in those areas, and they won’t be on every wall. 😉
wow……LOVE LOVE hearing you…this is such a great idea….i do not have a blog, but i love my house and love hearing your ideas….i’ll check in on you often
A sliding door that moves across from the storage shelves to the doorway? Carpenter nightmare????
Yeah, that, and it would probably look funny to have the door sliding 12″ out into the room. (Is that even possible?) Plus, I don’t want anyone to see the mess I plan on keeping inside that cabinetry- LOL! 😀
Layla,
Just an FYI. It was difficult to watch your video because there were two ads that kept running videos at the same time. One had Verizon then later Intel and it was to the bottom left of your post. The other one was directly beneath your post and I don’t know what they were advertising. I just thought you would like to know.
Cindy
Thanks for the heads up, Cindy! Were you able to shut them off by clicking an “x” on them? I haven’t seen those on my end, so I’m curious to know more about how they are operating. XO
I really like these vlogs because it’s great seeing/ hearing your thought process. Love everything you do. I’m glad you’re going with fabric. It’s less common AND, with barn doors in use, all of your storage will be exposed.
Since you haven’t completely finished your wall yet, have you considered pocket doors? We used to live in a century house that had French mullioned pocket doors that we left partially closed, exposing the first panel of windows. You could use frosted glass for privacy, but the French doors would add another layer of character to your home.
Hi Nancy!
I did think about pocket doors, but I think doing that would eat into my cabinetry area too much. It’s also more than we want to get into cost-wise. But MAN it would be pretty, huh? 😀
I love your videos and your shiny personality! 🙂 Would love to see more videos. It also gives us a better sense of your space than just seeing the flat photos (though I love those too).
I’m feeling like the curtain panels would be a bit much for the wall between the living room and dining room. You’ve got a lot going on visually in the room already. Why not keep that wall simple with the built-ins that span the full width instead of breaking it up with more curtains? Maybe you could get one of those folding room dividers to set in the opening for when you have guests.
Your living room is sure coming along great. It looks so welcoming.
Just another thought/idea… maybe just do storage with doors on just the lower portion of the walls and open shelving on the upper part (for books etc.) Add a ladder on a rod iron track that goes across the whole thing. I think you could still hang your curtains (maybe on the same rod?). Anyways… I love your house and your creativity!
I would go with cabinets instead of curtains. Once your cute little boy comes to live with you, you will never regret more storage space. Kids = tons of stuff 😉
Oh, I’m actually trying to decide if I should go with cabinets AND curtains, or just cabinets, Nicholine. (Such a pretty name!) Choices, choices! 😀
Love the vid! I say scratch to curtains to cover doorway. Buy a room divider adhere curtain panels to it. Place it in corner of dining room to tie color scheme of both rooms. Haul it to the doorway when guests are there. Otherwise use as great spot for hide-n-seek when sweet-pea wants to play. Umm this comes across very bossy.was going for suggestion mode.Need to smell more coffee before commenting.sorry,Ihave a cold.
I agree it’s always hard to pass up storage space, and once Sweet Pea moves in you’ll need more storage than you imagine!
So maybe instead of drapery panels that would cover potential storage space. What if a rod hung in the “doorway” opening, using what are supposed to be ceiling mount rod holders? Guests could pull the drapes for privacy and you get your visual softness and storage space too.
Ok, I tried to read through everything to see if anyone said this, but I got lazy and went straight to the comments! Ha…(BTW, I ditto all who say it’s super fun to watch your brain in action and I love it because I do the whole running around trying to make my husband see my vision, too…that’s why they love us!). Anyway, this totally eats into the 3″ space allowed by the studs, plus a little, BUT, my first idea was “pocket door” of curtains BEHIND the cabinets, with however much fabric you want showing at any given time. I would hate to sacrifice the storage space, tho. I’m only saying it because brainstorming only happens if you brainstorm, right?! Love it all so far…
Aaaaanddd…I just saw that suggestion above now…lol. not fabric pocket doors, but real ones. Ok, moving on…
Oh, my word! I wish I could yell this to you right now because I JUST got it!! Ok, how to explain… using the wall that you showed us in the video, do the built in but on the 12″-16″ from the left (doorway over to built in) INCLUDE a “pocket” in front of studs but behind the cabinetry from top to bottom where the curtain will tuck in. From the front, though, it can still be like a 6″ deep shelf with no doors for simple/pretty stuff. It does take away from covered storage, but not all available space.
The small window looks great with the curtain- it seems bigger… and I understand what you mean about that part of the room needing to be quiet so everything can breath! I feel like a kindred spirit watching these idea videos.I am all about the ideas, and the trouble shooting, and tweaking until it is just right! I think built ins is the right choice-Since you can wait, it is worth doing what you really want. I look forward to the presto this week {after reading through the comments} It is nice to be able to offer guests privacy when they come to stay-so even though they aren’t for every day, the curtains are a great idea.
I’ve followed your blog for quite a while but don’t think I’ve ever commented. I love the videos. It is wonderful to connect a voice with a name and your sweet personality shines through. Re the curtains to provide doorway closure/privacy. Our master bath is not yet remodeled in our 1989 home and has a wide doorway looking into the double sink area. I dislike it for two reason: no privacy when getting ready if someone else is in the bedroom and there is a skylight above the sink area so a ton of light comes in and it is a nuisance if one is trying to sleep and the early morning sun is just beaming in. I don’t know what someone was thinking when they built it that way! When I noticed your beautiful and bright kitchen through that doorway, I thought that your guests might have the same problem. Early morning light might interfere with sleep so this is a secondary reason in addition to privacy. My solution was to hang a curtain. I used a black floral (Kind of a Jacobean print since my home is Georgian/traditional) fabric and doubled the fabric so there was no front and back, sewing 2 panels together. I used the skinny bronze rod with acorn final and clips. It works super well as a room divider and when closed completely keeps out the light. It slides open and closed very easily and we use it daily, closing it at night. When I’m getting ready early in the morning, the light from the adjacent bathroom doesn’t wake my hubby. It really has been a great inexpensive solution until we can remodel. We might even keep it when we remodel instead of the cost of pocket doors! Can’t way to see your finished project and your Sweet P playing in that room! Hugs!
If it were me, I’d opt for a beautiful screen to stand in a corner and when guests were using your sleeper sofa, sit the screen up beside the sofa..I would nix the idea of curtains in the doorway and go for shelving. Our living room also serves as a guest room and I am searching for just the right screen…..
First off, layla, i love you. Please speak to HGTV producers so we can watch your tv show. You are a delight. Can I produce your show? Secondly it’s crazy amazing to watch your video because I definitely get your “space” better and I love hearing your design process. Thirdly, I would skip the fabric for closing the space and use the area for storage which will be more portal than privacy. Love ya!!!
I’d skip the curtains and go with storage. Seems cleaner to me. Loved getting to be in your space via video. And I love the smell of coffee too, just not the taste! Happy decorating!
Layla, First, it was a treat to hear your lovely voice. Have you ever considered having a large pocket door in the opening? I don’t know if they make one that large, however,it would be a solution that is not visible when not needed. Another possibility is French doors. Not all of them have clear panes.. I somehow think all the curtain ideas might create a hodgepodge look, which does not appear to be your style at all. May the Lord continue to bless you as you patiently wait for your sweet boy.
How about a folding, screen that you could use for dare privacy needs, and at other times, store it in a corner of the sunroom or something? Then, cover your shelves in your favorite way.
Rare, not dare