So I had something totally different planned for my post today but we’ve had a rare sunny day here and the sunlight was streaming into the living room and it just looked so nice I figured I’d take some pics and share with you how the room is looking right now.
You may recall the last time I shared the living room after our little big Spring Refresh, the hanging chair was still in here. It was all in preparation for the office which at that point hadn’t been completed and the few weeks that followed meant the room was in a bit of a chaos. There were bits and pieces meant for the office being stored in here and then once we finally got the office complete (you can see the reveal here), I decided to remove everything from the gallery wall in the dining room. The pieces of art that I didn’t know what to do with then took over in the living room piled up in stacks along the wall and yes, I will admit they stayed there for quite some time. Ahem.
It was only last week I finally committed to finding those loose pieces a temporary home (they are in my upstairs hallway now in a more organised ‘stack’ and yes, they still need to be addressed but at least they are out of my eyeline now) and clearing the space. I feel like I finally reclaimed the living room again which has been in a bit of a state for what feels like months now. Yes, this is the reality of constant projects – it effects every room in your home and you feel like you are in a infinite state of flux. I needed my living room back though.
My peonies have FINALLY started blooming though – from the influx of them on my Instagram feed it seems everyone else’s bloomed ages ago and mine were still in tight little buds waiting for a bit of sunshine (much like myself). The summer has been a bit rubbish over the last 6 weeks or so (sigh) which will account for how late they were this year but finally being able to clip their big fluffy heady blooms has been a total joy for me. Are we finally entering summer in Manchester?! God I hope so.
As I said in my post on Monday, my leopard print cushions have come to live down here for now. I love to pile my sofa with cushions but I decided to scale it back a little for the summer. And I don’t care what anyone says – yes, leopard is totally a neutral and I think they look rather fab against that big wall of tropical blooms in my wallpaper.
It was so nice to put my little vintage hoop chairs in here again. I adore the hanging chair but it did take up an awful lot of space (and this is not a big room so space is precious) and I just feel like the petite chairs work better in the bay window.
My coffee table got a little zhushing as well as I had moved the big gold tray into my kitchen so for a while the coffee table just had a couple of weird bits on it like little décor orphans with no direction. So once I reclaimed the space, the vignette on the coffee table had to be addressed. I kept it fairly simple (for me) – a stack of books, the gold tray I got from H&M and a few little bits in a restrained colour palette (for me) – black, white, pink and gold.
I feel like I can breathe in this room again and just relax. While I do love my ‘organised clutter’ – I mean, I’m a total maximalist and have never tried to imply anything else – it feels good to sometimes scale back a little in the summer. I feel like winter is the perfect time for piling on cushions and throws and THINGS and make a little nest but the warmer weather and longer days feel lazier and looser somehow. So I guess my home is putting on it’s simple summer dress and slinging on some sparkly sandals and calling it a day.
Do you decorate your home different in the summer? What do you think of the little changes in here? I know it’s not a huge change or anything but for me, it feels more chilled. Now where’s my cocktail? You can make mine a double.
Ha, love this. I have recently learnt that even if you think you’re only decorating one room, somehow the entire house ends up getting in on the act!
I love everything about your living room, and I totally know what you mean about peonies – mine only appeared recently (over the other side of the Pennines). Must be our northern england weather. I have been too scared to cut mine for fear I’ll kill them (never had them in the garden before) – do you literally just cut the stem? Don’t want to kill them off for next year. I need to plant some pink too (my fave) as red are lovely but they don’t work with my interior colours!
Thanks darling and it’s SO TRUE! The whole house ends up in a chaotic mess when we are working on a single room ;)
As for the peonies – of course you can cut them and it won’t harm the plant at all. :) I normally cut them long and then trim them to whatever size is required for my vase. Because of the way they grow, you’ll often have a mix of buds and blooms on one ‘branch’ but the buds will still bloom (I just end up cutting the heads of the ones that start fading) and you can have a nice little bunch for a week or so! They don’t last long so we might as well enjoy them while we can!
Oh and the whole plant will fade in winter and grow back fully again the following year!
Hope that helps xxx
Gorgeous! Please share you secrets to success with your fiddle-leaf fig! Mine is constantly struggling. Your’s looks beautiful!
I owe everything to the self-watering pot I have in here – seriously, I’m sure I would have killed it by now but with the self-watering pot, there’s no worrying about over or under watering them (which is what usually kills them, they are temperamental little bastards) ;) They aren’t cheap but work SO well – I figured the tree was quite expensive so I was protecting my investment and I’m so glad I did! xxx
They are temperamental little bastards. Off to the nursery to buy a self-watering pot. BTW, love your style and your site!
I love it! So fresh and light. And the hoop chairs are just perfect in that space. This is wonderful inspiration for a summer update!
Aww thank you darling! I’ve considered so many times replacing those chairs but I still rather love them :) xxx
Such a pretty, pretty living room! It’s so light and fresh for summer–I love it!
Thank you Jessica! :D xxx
Leopard is absolutely a neutral. I always treat it as such. I love yours paired with the floral wall. Also im super jealous you can grow peonies there. Love the summer look friend.
Damn straight it’s a neutral!! ;) Ahh yes the one thing the previous owners left us (aside from a lot of crap) is that gorgeous peony bush! Thanks darling! xxx
Love your room! Ages and ages ago when I first married, I had a hoop chair just like yours. (We are talking 47 years ago) I wish I still had it. I have no recollection of its demise. Glad you are getting some sun. Here in South Carolina, my peonies bloomed in April.
Awww that’s so cool! I do love my little chairs :) Thanks so much – can’t believe you had yours in April! We were so late with ours this year – I’m blaming it on the cold & rainy Spring/Summer here in the UK ;) xxx
Love it all so very much Kimberly :) It is so bright and cheery in there for the season. I totally change it up every season. Right now my living room is bright and palm printy…that will probably change when the weather starts to cool down. Any excuse for new pillows, am I right? xo
I ADORE your living room my dear, palmy wonderland that it is! And hell yeah, you can never have too many pillows! (in fact, I need some new ones but don’t tell Wayne…) ;) xxx
Lovely as usual! I’ve been jonesing over blue and white porcelain for about a year and after hitting up some estate sales I have a decent collection. The combination feels cool in the summer and I mixed in a little brass, loving it!
Oh I looooove blue & white porcelain and mixed with brass? I reckon you’re on to a winner with that combo! xxx
Hi! I just discovered Swoonworthy whilst searching for UK based Cozamia stockists (I’m OBSESSED with Nancy’s work) and I have to say I’m really happy that I stumbled upon you! We have just bought a new house and it is totally bare, no colour, a blank canvas and I can’t wait to start covering the magnolia with some vibrant colour and personality. It’s going to be a huge project and will take time but your ideas and tips are inspiring and your home embodies the vision I have for our home. There’s no doubt I’ll be a regular visitor to Swoonworthy from now on! Loving your work Kimberly.
Awww that is SO NICE! Thank you so much and congratulations on your new home – it’s so exciting (and a little daunting) to work on a blank canvas :) Best of luck on your new little venture and welcome!! Lovely to have you here :) xxx
Looks so fresh and beautiful. I love those vintage chairs and your chesterfield sofa forever has my heart. Nice job doll!
Srsly swoonworthy room. I love the little changes you’ve made, and your leopard print cushions – I’ve been eyeing them for bloody ages! I need to hurry up and get a pair already x
Well I’ve been poking my nose around your blog for only ten minutes, and everything in your home seems to be exactly my taste… the gold pops of pink and marble all tied together beautifully. I’m in love!