Granny Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Living Room Makeover (in pictures and too many words)

I can finally present to you the makeover of our living room.
When we first moved into this house in January of 2009, the sitting room was bright and light, with lots of large windows overlooking the garden.  There was also a very clean (and new, I think) wall to wall woolen carpet in an off white colour (au naturelle).
It felt good ! 
Suffice to say that the clean and cosy feeling didn't last very long. As soon as we entered the house with plenty cats and the one dog at the time, it was over !
We tried.  
After lifting up a corner of the carpet, we noticed there were tiles underneath,  nothing one would want in the house these days, but in good condition.  Up came the carpet.
Second hand rugs were put down (Bert got slightly addicted to buying 2nd hand rugs on ebay - we even have a prayer mat, that he couldn't resist buying) to make it feel cosier.

Let's just face it ! Our sitting room suite that we bought in the year 2000 didn't look too good anymore and in the room with the tiles and our antique furniture it was just a 'bit' fuddy-duddy.

Sam, the greyhound, changed the couch into his bed/basket. 
Then came Millie, the destroyer, also a hound, but of Spanish origin what is also known as Galg(o)a.  We got an extra couch from Ikea (cheap) and within the shortest time it was ruined.  So I re-upholstered it (with cheap fabric)...., then she had a go at the old sofa.  I made a fitted cover for i (made from ex-curtains)....

We have been living in our garage whilst our living quarters have been revamped. Yes, that's right, our kitchen, entrance hall, cloakroom and stairs have all been and are still in the process of being revamped.   That is  a story for another time.

We have now left the old couches in the garage and guess what ? That is now the dogs' den during the night and when we are not at home.

The dogs' den in the garage.

Sam doesn't mind !

So here we go with the 'befores and afters'

before - note the old sittingroom suite.

Orange and green colour scheme - go !

Ah ! Fresh !

Okay, the suite is from Ikea - Ektorp range. Not too expensive and very comfy.

Lovely fuddy-duddy. But you've got to admit that I did a fantastic job on the upholstery of that red sofa.

Ta-dah!

Notice the roman blinds that I made somewhere in March.

Before

After

Before

After

The floor is white washed and oiled oak.

A fair few of the artwork has been painted by my bestest of best friends,  Jo-Anne Yelen

at Brushwood Studios

Before

After

Before

After

Shabby chique painting is an inheritance from Bert's mum.

Before

After

Let's just say I have been ogling this coffee table in Ikea for so long.

It's a must-have for me, with my collection of stones and seashells gathered over the years.

The dogs.......

.....they each have a new  daybed for the sitting room and they behave... so far.

As for the cats ...

....they will always be ... cats !

I've long ago established that we (I) have too much stuff in the house, but that will never really change. I love creating a 'nest' with all the things that are dear to us and have sentimental value.  That is what a home is all about, isn't it ?

What is worrying Bert at the moment is that I want to get a whole new colour scheme for the christmas tree decorations.

Patricia xxx...x