Trial and error

Sunday 24 March 2013

Sigh. If I thought February was dreary, I have to think again. March is WAY worse ! I mean look at that grainy dark picture. Really sad when on a Sunday afternoon in late March, you're locked inside because outside there's still tons of snow and freezing temperatures. And worst of all, NO light.

I can't stand this any longer. Everything is bla. I have zero energy, a stressful job, a stressful life (Woody got neutered this week. Everything went well, but still I was so nervous for the little guy...) and absolutely no relief, i.e. outdoor thrifting. All I want to do is eat and sleep...

And obsess about this damn corner in my living room, which stubbornly refuses to improve. Much like the weather.

Let's face it. The whole thing is a mess. When I took the Tomado shelves out of the loo, I thought it would be a good idea to put them in here. You know, create a little more room for displaying things...

Yeah, brilliant / stupid idea. More like, more room to clutter things up. I don't know. I don't like anything here. I'm missing a shelf, the floor vases look all wrong, the oldfashioned lithograph - a 20 € find from a very rare visit to the Brussels flea market - doesn't really go with anything, etc, etc.

The only thing I do like is that little ensemble of WGP planters and vase. But look at the other side. What a pathetic display !

Just a quick look at the other side. The plants aren't doing great either and I really should try and find a more discreet place for the cat tree (but of course the cats love it there, so I can't really be bothered to move it). Everything is bit bla too...

Except... That lovely vintage cushion ! I scored it Friday night at my favourite vintage shop in downtown Brussels, Brocéliande. And let me tell you. I love it ! It's just the thing that might energise me enough to try and figure out what to do with the rest of the sitting area.

One more  photo. I can't help myself ! Oh and btw, that cute little african style cushion is also from the same shop.

Now to stop moaning and bitching and try and save the situation: I'm thinking of either getting Tomado shelves in a different color (metallic white ones maybe ?) or going down the Ikea route and getting their stylish PS metal sidebord (which could also provide additional storage for all my Hygge Hour shop finds) or maybe go back to this situation in May 2012 or...

Any brilliant ideas, dear readers ? How do you manage to get out of a decorating deadlock ?

14 comments:

  1. hmm. how can´t you be happy, surrounded by all this accumulated beauty? Maybe it would help to switch the sides? If you put the sideboard in the place of the string shelfs, it wouldn´t look so cluttered and you would have more space / air for displaying your great findings (love the hedgehog!). have a nice sunday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I know. I'm an ungrateful spoiled brat :-) And it's the stupid weather getting to me. Besides eating and sleeping, I also just feel like complaining...

      Unfortunately I can't move the sideboard to that side. It's too long.
      And I also don't really feel like spending more money buying different shelves or that Ikea cabinet. I just wish I had a brilliant idea of how to style that corner with the stuff I already have...

      Delete
  2. I love it! really, it looks great! all the best to woody! the weather is annoying, still 25cm of snow in front of my door + cold wind from the sea.... I miss flea markets and spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I miss them too !
      Woody is doing fine btw. He's curled with Flo on my desk - right next to me :-)

      Delete
  3. I have to agree with planktonfisher, that corner looks great! But I know how it is when we are not happy with an arrangement. Here in Boston March has not been nice either. I really hope it changes soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I know exactly how you feel about the lingering winter... it is never ending here in NYC too.
    Can't wait for tee shirt weather!

    Your home looks amazing - I have lots of house plant envy here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've already been wearing T-Shirts... under three layers of wool :-)

      And I had a look at your blog. It's beautiful !!! I'm trying very hard to cut back on my meat and fish consumption, so I'm definitely going to try some of your vegan recipes. Yummy !

      Delete
  5. I love the WGP. I think its mainly the vintage litho that is throwing the space off. I could see a humongous piece of mid-century fibre art there instead. Although that might just be because I'm currently obsessed with fibre art wall hangings.

    Some other suggestions to try are to switch the shelves so that the left shelving unit has just the single shelf and the right has the two shelves. Then you could move the floor vases over to the left so they can be better seen. I'd probably flip the WGP ensemble over to the left top shelf to give some height to balance the lamp on the right. Which is something I liked from your March 2012 arrangement.

    Just some thoughts. Oh and the hedgehog feels neglected - he wants to move to the coffee table or sideboard on the other side of the room. ;P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike ! Just this morning I came across a massive fibre macramé art hanging on ebay... I'm obsessed too, ever since they started popping up on The Brick House blog :-) Only problem, they're totally elusive over here in Belgium. And the one I found on ebay is in Houston, Texas... So I need to figure in the equally humongous shipping fees !

      Thanks for all the thoughts ! I'm going to try switching the shelves, the WGP and the hedgehog ;-)

      Delete
    2. Or fools seldom differ! The Brick House blog jump-started my fibre art obsession as well! I'm in Canada and whenever I prowl around thrift shops for any - I always end up only finding macrame owls and dreamcatchers. Boo :( However, I just recently acquired a gigantic colourful Ewald Kroener Wandteppich (sounds so much better than wall carpet) from Germany. I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival - the shipping was 50 Euros. Bah.

      Delete
  6. Are you kidding? Your apartment looks sooo amazing, you're the queen of MCM!! But I DO know what this winter's weather situation can do to a perfectly sane person... It's gotta end soon, though! Really, your place looks perfect, don't worry! I absolutely love that steel lamp, by the way:-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stumbled upon your blog recently on a trip down the internet rabbit-hole—and I love it! You've inspired me to actually DO something in my house instead of just dreaming about it. Looking forward to the upcoming changes.

    And, I'm super curious about the lithograph. I have two similar images I bought in a junk store in Coos Bay, Oregon and have not been able to find out anything about them. They are signed by Albert Wiese (I think—if I'm reading the signature correctly. Can you take a closer photo of your lithograph and post it? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Did you know that that you can earn cash by locking premium pages of your blog or site?
    Simply open an account on Ad Work Media and add their content locking widget.

    ReplyDelete

Fat Cat All rights reserved © Blog Milk Powered by Blogger