Our basement family room has stood the test of time. Hard kid use for 15 years. Cream colored carpet that is not longer cream. Couches that have hosted numerous slumber parties and that have become lumpy. A glow stick opened on the carpet that left a permanent stain (grrr Brady) ...you get the picture...this room needed a little attention (visualize this space as I can't find the photos I took of the basement at its worst).
With both kids growing up and away most of the year it was time to reclaim this room and spiffy it up. I wanted carpet as it is a basement and carpet makes it feel a bit cosier. I chose a couple of boring beige carpet samples from the carpet store and then on a whim I grabbed a sample called Peach Sorbet. Peach Sorbet won....Tom even okay-ed it!
You can see a snippet of the carpet here.
I so, so love this carpet color. In addition to new carpet, I ordered a new area rug and a couple of new couches. I also fluffed the room with tons of my vintage finds. I think the family room deserves a tour!
Can you tell I like color? I repainted the bookshelf above in a coral color. It was previously navy blue and had lived in Kate's room, then Ben's room and finally migrated to the basement. My vintage linoleum poster (found at the Alameda Flea Market) fits perfectly in the corner.
Tom wanted an area rug in front of the couch (it protects the rug a bit from wear and we had one there before). I got this polka dot one at Overstock.com. The coffee table was an estate sale find years ago.
Corner table. It does double duty as it has a file cabinet with a round table top under the tablecloth.
I love the new couches. I wish this one was a bit longer, but I made it work. The color is a greeny/blue.
Amy made the Oregon pillow for me as a birthday gift.
Lots of vintage eye candy everywhere.
My father in law is cactus crazy and gave Tom this cactus. I had to add a vintage twist to it of course.
The self portraits are a favorite. The kids did their own in first grade. My mom had saved one that I did in first grade. The one of Tom, Kate drew. I used to teach a ton of parent art lead classes in elementary school and I led the class on self portraits for Ben's class. Kate being a younger sibling, sat in on the class and drew Tom. (from left to right; me, Ben, Kate and Tom) There is storage in the white cabinets above.
Chalkware floral collection.
I still have a few unfinished projects. I need to recover this metal chair (I think with this sweet vintage towel). The chair is a great coral color and was found on a road trip south with Amy.
And you know how one project leads to another? Next is putting new treads on the stairs and then adding a runner. The stairs look really bad now as Tom has already started that project with some sanding. Post coming when he gets them finished.
Love how colorful and cheerful this room turned out!
Happy, happy, happy day!
Oh, my! Love. Every. Single. Thing. The colors are delightful! Thanks
Posted by: mary scott | July 13, 2014 at 08:23 PM
Turned out beautiful Laurie! Love the color of the carpet and the whole room! It's fun to see all the wonderful vintage stuff you've amassed and put together. Like the shelf holding all the pottery and the child's vintage washer and the plastic fish in a bowl next to it! Very cute!!Of course your hobby horse head mount. Great use of the vintage linoleum sample! The couches and throw rug sort of pull everything together. One of my faves is the chair you had recovered! I forgot....your grandpa's?
Love the whole room :-)
You give me inspiration almost everyday!
Posted by: Doreen | July 13, 2014 at 08:32 PM
The colors are great! I love how they are a bit mild, but still really colorful. If that makes sense. And I'm happy to see that the child's toy washer with the 3 fish on it found the perfect spot! That's my all time favorite M.E. piece! :)
Erica
Posted by: Erica | July 13, 2014 at 08:32 PM
What a treat it is to visit your family room! Such wonderful ideas and inspiration. I think I will get out my vintage tablecloths and make some skirts for my chairs! Soooo cute! Everything is just wonderful!
Posted by: Patti | July 13, 2014 at 09:03 PM
Oh my gosh - it's just so wonderful. It's fun spotting things I remember you posting about over the years- the fish washing machine! The HI pennant! The FROSH hat. What fun! I even spotted the pressed penny collection. We have one of those too, but they are getting harder to find. Thank you for letting me in your sweet house! Now I want a basement. And there are NO basements in Arkansas.....
Posted by: Shara | July 13, 2014 at 09:18 PM
Oh Laurie, it is so perfectly YOU!! I hope you are sitting on the new couch and relaxing.
Posted by: Kathy | July 13, 2014 at 09:57 PM
Very nice. What's that long picture on the wall? It's neat. Love the linoleum poster! And I'm totally psyched to see that Space Ghost Big Little Book in your stuff. I'd been racking my brain for a collection challenge, but coming up empty. Now I have one: Show us your Big Little Books! It looks like you have a few.
Posted by: Eddie Mitchell | July 14, 2014 at 03:45 AM
Ahhhh....just perfect, I wouldn't have expected any less! I think the old advertisements on the wall just might be my favorite part??? I don't know, it's all so great!
I really think Flea Market Style magazine needs to showcase your house. You above all others really bring vintage to life.
Thanks for the peek!
*Still waiting for a kitchen tour! :o)
Posted by: Melissa | July 14, 2014 at 05:23 AM
so amazing, like walking into another world. It's your use of color that really makes all your collections POP. Wish you would give a lecture/tutorial on throwing fear aside and go for it COLOR. Love your 'ride the rainbow' style.
Posted by: Su Gardner | July 14, 2014 at 05:30 AM
Love it! Turned out great! :)
Posted by: Melissa's Antiques | July 14, 2014 at 05:30 AM
Comfy-cozy for sure. Love the colors and how you use old/found furniture and decorative pieces. You've got an eye for detail!
I wish we had a basement like that. Ours floods from time to time so it's not a room we can use like that. More like an old, dark damp cellar!
Posted by: Jill | July 14, 2014 at 05:53 AM
Chris and I are pouring over each and every picture. Love your color choices and special details. It's so cozy and YOU!!!
Posted by: Musings from Kim k. | July 14, 2014 at 05:56 AM
You truly do have a talent for display. Your choices of color and theme are excellent. I love the basement room redo. It's just so you.
Sheryl
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | July 14, 2014 at 06:02 AM
I'm in the process of doing the same type of overhaul of my upstairs bonus room. Originally when we built the house, we expected the kids to want to use it to hang out with their friends, watching tv and playing video games. After 5 years, I am still the only one who ever goes into that room so I have told everybody that they had their chance and the room is now totally mine by default. I love all the sweet vintage touches you did. I'll bet you could go into that room a hundred times and find something different every, single time. So far that I have seen, my favorite are the fish in the bowl. So cute!
Erica
Posted by: Erica | July 14, 2014 at 07:56 AM
Wow - that is SUCH a fabulous room! I love all the color and all of the wonderful vintage things, the carpet is perfect, and the couches look so comfortable and inviting!
It's totally fantastic - every last detail. Thank you SO much for sharing it with us!
Posted by: HeidiAnn | July 14, 2014 at 08:10 AM
It is so much fun to see how a collector decorates with the things that they love - you have done a wonderful job in making this room light, airy and fun! I love everything about it, but that long print above the couch is just fantastic!
Posted by: JoyceG | July 14, 2014 at 09:44 AM
I got so excited when you said it needs a tour!! I love what you've done! There are so many lovely things, but I think the self portraits are my favorite! Thanks for sharing, I always love your tours.
Posted by: Alison Z. | July 14, 2014 at 10:27 AM
I love it Laurie. It reminds me very much of Mary Engelbreit.
Posted by: Danielle @ Blessed Serendipity | July 14, 2014 at 11:22 AM
Wow!!! Your family room is so YOU. I really love that carpet color. It goes so well with the walls. Fun to see all your stuff displayed down there.
I need to know what the long picture over the sofa is too.
OK, off to pin a few thousand photos from your family room now :)
Posted by: Pam @ House of Hawthornes | July 14, 2014 at 12:22 PM
I did a post way back when on the long print over the couch and here is the link.
http://magpieethel.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/basement-picture.html
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | July 14, 2014 at 01:57 PM
I love it! So colorful. I want to do that with my basement, but for now it's just a junk storage area! Maybe someday. . . Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Mary Steinbrink | July 14, 2014 at 02:01 PM
Wow, you family room is amazing and your touch is just so beautiful with displaying your treasures!! Love it all!! xo Heather
Posted by: vintage grey | July 14, 2014 at 06:37 PM
It looks amazing and so well put together in the Magpie Ethel style. I like it because it looks comfortable and just right. Little pops of whimsy everywhere you look. Love those fish in the tank and the wooden "Come and get all the facts!" box and you phone collection. Plus love the polka dot rug! Ties all that goodness together so well! Good job.
Posted by: Marci | July 15, 2014 at 03:25 AM
It is darling! In the words of Liz Lemon from 30 Rock "I want to go to there"
Posted by: Kim G. | July 15, 2014 at 09:57 AM
This room is very inviting and of course full of fun. I like it very much because I feel I could spend a lot of time there and be comfortable!!
Posted by: Annette | July 16, 2014 at 11:03 AM
I just love what you have done to this room ! I would have never thought of using a rug sample chart .... clever, clever you !
Posted by: Lisa W. | July 22, 2014 at 07:33 PM
thanks for sharing your happy place, makes us happy too! love the congolum poster and fishys in the bowl, too fun.
Posted by: marasmarket.blogspot.com | July 23, 2014 at 05:50 PM
Great colour choices. Very inviting room.
Posted by: Susan | July 25, 2014 at 03:31 AM