Tuesday, December 9, 2014

the best laid decorating plans

 I had mentioned in my last post that I had ordered a bench from Overstock and was
going to try to make my little front entrance area more foyer-like and guest friendly.
I had it all planned out...a bench to sit on when coming or going to take off or put on
shoes and boots, plus a good spot to dump purses and packages. I was going to
remove the mirror and hang a cool coat rack. I was thinking of trying to find a long
piece of reclaimed wood and installing various types of vintage hooks and knobs
on it. I'd hang that on the wall above the bench and then put some pretty art prints 
above the rack. 

The bench was delivered yesterday and Brian put it together. I put it in place and...

NO.


I actually love the bench itself. The retro look, the color, the texture, the cool legs.
But, there's a couple of problems. First of all, it turns out that trying to turn that little
 wall space into a foyer just doesn't work. That area needs to be blocked off somehow
 and as you can see by the (terrible) design of my small living room, there is no room 
to do so. Blocking off that area wouldn't leave any room for foot traffic. Secondly, the
color of the bench is all wrong for this room. All the blue accents in the living room are
turquoise, not aqua. I thought this lighter blue would blend in, but when you see it with
the turquoise wicker chair (it's hard to see the color of the chair in this photo, I know)
and the turquoise blanket on the couch, etc., you see how the aqua clashes with the
 turquoise.


When I think of blocking off a small, open area to make it into another space, I think
of a friend's house where she did just that. You see how she used a bookcase right
inside the entrance to her living room to make a little office area? I love this. But it
doesn't block the flow of foot traffic, so this idea works perfectly in her home.


So, it's back to square one with putting the console table back in place. (No, the sun
didn't miraculously just come out - this is an older photo.) I wish I could use the bench
elsewhere in the house...it would be lovely at the end of our bed, but we don't have
any room. So, the little blue bench is going to be taken apart, boxed back up, and 
sent back.


 Brian's now taking the bench apart and boxing it all up for me. All without 
complaint or saying a word about my continual rearranging. What a smart man.
And one who now deserves dinner, so off I go.
 
   

23 comments:

  1. Maybe if you had a bigger rug centered around the bench. I don't know how you would block it off. My thought on the bookcase would be it would be a climbing wall at my house.

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    1. Thanks for the idea, but as you can see in the top photo, there's already an area rug in the seating area. I don't want to be covering up every inch of my hardwood floors with rugs!

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  2. Sorry, Melanie. I don't think the bench looks bad there at all, but I don't know your space the way you do. I know how frustrating it can be to have the item you like work poorly for your vision of the room. I hope you find the right piece soon.

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer - but I'm just putting my "old" console table back for now.

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  3. I really like the retro look of the bench and in the photo it looks nice against the wall behind your door. But I know that pictures don't show how something functions and if it doesn't work for you, it's just wasting precious space. Bummer! I bought a kit to convert our recessed light over our sink to a pendant cage light, but it looked ridiculous because our soffit is so low, so back to Lowe's it went!

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    1. I'm just thankful Overstock has been so wonderful and helpful with the return of this item. I thought it'd be a big hassle, but it's not!

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  4. I know this doesn't sound like a big morsel of advice, but given you will never close this area off (and I have the same problem), why don't your try a long runner in front of the door going straight forward. Then put the bench under that window on the left? It's not so much a cozy foyer as it is a path showing your entrance off. Elongating it so to speak. Our peninsula dividing the living room from kitchen does that job. And...you could hang your coat rack in the space above where you have the bench now. What do you think? In essence, that wall could be a big entryway.

    Jane xx

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    1. That sounds like a nice idea, but the problem would be the runner. It would be running parallel with the area rug in the seating area. (See the 2nd photo). Thanks for the idea though!

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  5. Oh, I know the disappointment of an idea all worked out in our heads and then when we go to implement it, nothing looks like we envisioned. But I'm sure you'll figure out another way to get the look you were going for. The bench was very cute...
    Mary Alice

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    1. Thanks, Mary Alice. I wish we could've used it elsewhere!

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  6. I like it...I am not there in person to see how it works though.
    Balisha

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    1. You're right - it helps to see the room in its entirety.

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  7. I actually like Jane's idea. I think the bench would definitely look better under the window. The space where it is now needs a bench with a back. There's really no way to block that area off but using the whole area as an entryway could work. You could move the stool with plant to the corner by the front door, put a coat rack and move the wooden chair somewhere else. But at this point, it really doesn't matter since you've boxed the bench up and are sending it back. :) Best wishes, Tammy

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    1. I agree that would've been a great idea except for the runner because it would've gotten in the way of the area rug. However, I might try implementing a different color bench under the window and putting a coat rack by the front door like Jane suggested.

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  8. I am sorry that it didn't work out! It is a lovely bench, but if it isn't right, then it isn't right! You will work it out in the end I am sure! xx

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    1. Well, working it out meant returning the bench and putting things back the way they were!

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  9. It's too bad that the bench didn't work out because it was really cute, but I see what you mean. I've also purchased a few items in the past for my home that I was so excited about and as soon as I saw it in my space, I knew it wasn't going to work. I know how frustrating that can be so I hope you'll figure something else out for that space... :)

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    1. Not sure if anything else is going to work out...I put the console table back in that space. Would like to do something different in front of the window area, but haven't figured that out yet. I think my cats would appreciate a cat tree there!

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  10. To me you gave up to soon! I think it could of worked if you had something more substantial on the wall instead of the clock. Like a shelve with hooks on it to hang purses/coats. I think the spot is a prefect place for a foyer...it's at the door. But, you got to be happy, and the bench is on a trip back.

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    1. Unfortunately, the color of the bench itself was "wrong", too. Wouldn't have worked out anyway.

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  11. First, I love the bench and am sorry that it doesn't work.

    Second, I try things all the time and then have to go back to square 1. I have to realize that the space I have "is what it is" and I can't make it something different.

    Good luck coming up with a new idea and kudos to Brian.

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    1. I've tried so many different ways of rearranging this living room...can't tell you how many times I've moved furniture. We need more seating in the living room too, so now I'm looking into purchasing an armless chair...so more rearranging will be going on! ;-)

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  12. I really liked the bench, but I think you're right: the console is actually better there!

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind comment - I read and appreciate each one!