A Few More (Shoddy) Pictures of the House, Plus a HUGE Thank You to Sanders

I really, truly appreciated all your thoughtful comments and feedback on my last post. Leopard rug is scheduled to arrive Monday, so more updates on that soon. In the meantime, so many of you asked for the paint color I used in the front room that I thought I should repost it with the name of the color.

It's Benjamin Moore Dark Harbor, mixed 25% darker.

Let me just take a minute to say that I am a picky mofo. I can tear perfection into a million imperfect pieces. That's why Sanders is such a gem. In case you just started reading or don't remember, Sanders is the paint genius who manages my local Benjamin Moore -- he's also the brains behind the Ask Sanders column. Without him I would I have hideous turquoise walls that make me cry angry tears of anger.

If you live in Austin or thereabouts (one reader drove up from San Antonio just to meet with Sanders!), go see him before he starts his own paint consulting empire and starts charging for his advice. He's that good.

Plus look at his sweet little face! I love me some Sanders.

 Moving on: more Dark Harbor pictures. Wish I'd thought to shoot this with a color card so it would be truly accurate, but I think this is close. It goes from navy to almost billiard green, and everything in between.

Can't believe I am posting this horrible picture, but it's been raining forever so I haven't had a chance to reshoot without all the toys. I think I took one picture of this side of the room and gave up because it is a pita to shoot without off camera lighting. Anyway, you can see that DH does go a lot lighter when faced with direct sun.

While we're all staring at this dumb picture, let's talk about built in shelving. The front room is teeny tiny, so to save space I really wanted to build a nook around the sofa, kind of like this:

But with far less beige... Anyway, there are two problems. First, the chair rail. Yes, we can remove it, but blending in the texture is going to be a job x infinity. Second, I don't know if we have enough depth on that side of the doorway -- it's about 12." Any advice on how to handle this? Ideas?

Once again I am depending on you to solve all of my problems.

Why not get busy with world peace while you're at it?

Buying Stuff Makes Me Feel Better

Shallow? Absolutely. True? Without a doubt. I can't tell you how much it sucks to be under house arrest because of pregnancy complications. I can't lift anything or walk a lot, so me and the outside world are no longer bffs. Plus I've been super ultra mega sick, so for the last week Better Half Ben and the sweet inlaws have wrangled Ike, leaving me in relative peace to get some R&R. In other words, it's just been me and the computer. Danger!

So, yeah -- I bought this rug. After your response to the last post on leopard, I decided I could risk $240 on something that will at the very least be a kid friendly, plush landing pad. I realize no one will confuse this with Mr. Leopardo, but Momma ain't made of money. I think the colorway will be decently neutral, and the spots aren't gargantuan like some of the other creepy leopard/leprosy rugs out there. Now, where should this bad boy live?

Look! I took an actual real picture of our house! I'm painfully aware that it looks like shitballs, but this is what happens when you can't haul around a tripod. Ok, let's discuss my plans for this area. The dining table used to be back here, but I hated it so this will be an open, not hideous kid play station with a comfy sitting area for me. The rocker is getting sold, for realz. I have an antique Chinese scroll for the long wall. The lamps need new shades (help! I usually have very strong lampshade opinions but these guys have me stumped...). The art can stay or go. I would like to flank the credenza with a pair of matching chairs -- something plush but colorful. Maybe these?

If I had the budget I would do these, but the sellers must have a brain tumor or something.

If I were decorating someone else's house -- someone with more money than me -- I would force them to have two wingback chairs reupholstered in cut velvet flamestitch fabric. I should have bought this chair, but I let it get away from me and it makes me want to punch a wall.

I digress. Basically I want to keep a palette of neutrals and jewel tones. I could switch the painting for this guy:

And do emerald/teal/neutralish chairs... assuming I can find them.

And then there is leopard rug himself. The dimensions of the space I bought it for are tricky, so if it doesn't fit I may move in a Persian rug (two Persian rugs in the same space... hmmm?) and put leopard in the front room (per Karly's suggestion).

Look, that's our front room! Doesn't the presence of actual REAL pictures from our house make your head want to explode? It does mine, but that may just be a sinus infection. I know Leopard would look nice in here if he doesn't work in the play area. It's always nice to have a backup plan, right?

ps: please notice the wallpaper samples in the hallway. There are sooooo many more now. I have way too many things going on at once.

So, let's recap some of the issues at hand.

1) To leopard in the play area or the front room? I will wait until it arrives to assess.

2) Which art do you prefer -- the seascape or the abstract? I also have a fabulous antique mirror I could do if the rug+chair combo gets busy and that wall needs something more neutral.

3) What kind of chairs? Should I spring for custom upholstery? I'm super scared of the price tag.

4) What the hell kind of lampshades go on those lamps???

5) I need tylenol, pronto.

Ok, buddies. I will be refreshing your comments every three seconds, so boss me around and tell me what to do.

Leopard: Trend or Classic?

Remember when zebra rugs made everyone go all swoon! and lurve! and heart it so much! Ah, the 80s. Kidding -- that was just a few days ago. The internet in all its infernal efficiency has shortened the trend cycle almost to death, as in it's busted before it even begins. Case in point: I find myself yearning to jump on the leopard band wagon because it's trendy and I have been inundated with eight trillion hot ass pictures of fancy leopard sundries that make me want to run out and tattoo leopard spots all over my face. But if I invest in reupholstering a pair of wingback chairs in leopard velvet (something scalamandreish that magically costs about $40/yd hahaha), or -- even more attainable -- a leopard rug, will I regret hitting a wave that's already crested?

But I'm also lusting for leopard because it's dirt colored. Thank you, evolution, for considering the unavailability of showers in the wild for our feline friends. I, for one, support all things invented by necessity. And if you have a toddler you know patterns and dark colored fabrics are a necessity. Toddlers are a lot like wild animals.

Also leopard is just really pretty.

So what do you think? Is leopard a classic -- worthy of an investment piece? Or is it better used in small, easy to swap doses -- like pillows and throws?

Due to a major case of analysis paralysis (and a very tight budget), the fate of my living room decor depends on your opinion.

[via This is Glamorous, Barclay Fryery, via My Interior Life, Aerin Lauder's couch two ways, Miles Redd]