Friday 6 March 2009

Things had to change.....

Whats one to do when the children have all flown the nest and rooms become redundant? Well even though the children have been gone for several years now...we are still in the family home. A couple of years ago we did try to move as we felt the space we have wasn't being utilised to its best.....but after putting the house on the market hubby and I realised that we weren't yet ready to leave it. Don't get me wrong its lovely to have the space but well to be honest I had these visions of our home being constantly visited with teas/dinners...the hum of constant family members in and out....well reality is that it doesn't happen that much. Through no fault of anybody....its just that life is so busy for them. Anyway just after Christmas I started to get itchy feet again....not that I feel or felt that I wanted to leave just more the fact the home was feeling lonely....can anyone understand this?
So action was and has been called for...to change our home to suit me and hubbys needs.....first of all we changed the snug into a breakfast room.....(previous posting). Then we were left with a dining room with a large oval table in it, (first piccy is of previous table/dining room) which wasn't being used etc....also the room where it is has just become an access route...so again me and hubby sat back and thought...aha!! we need a smaller table just for four......decent size enough for friends etc for dinner but small enough for me and hubby to sit. (As and when family come to tea/dinner the table in the new room will be utilized...we will pull it away from the wall and there is a centre leaf so it will sit 6/8 or 10 if need be....maybe a little cosy but hey thats the fun of it.)

So this last weekend we had a redo of the old dining room and we now have a lovely 2nd lounge with a cute round table and four rattan chairs situated in the alcove.....in truth I was absolutely sick of the way I was doing our home...it was becoming stiff and pompous...We needed to make it more relaxed hence the rattan dining chairs and pads instead of the upright wheatsheaf chairs.

Our much loved knole sofa....which for the past few years has been no more than a furniture decoration...(it used to sit in the alcove where the round table is now)......it was hardly ever sat on but now.....hey woohoo! it has a new lease of life....hubby and I now have a lovely 2nd lounge.....I am one chuffed bunny and now the then once unloved room has now come to life and feels part of the home. As they say "change is as good as a rest".

6 comments:

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Wow Teresa...I love your new table and chairs!! You really have made some nice changes in your home. I know you must be enjoying it. I know what you mean about children. Now that my daughter has her own home, we mostly seem to congregate there...so much easier for her and her family. Have a great weekend...hugs...Debbie

Anonymous said...

what a great job. It looks so beautiful.Job well done.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Teresa, I love repurposing rooms to better suit our needs. I've never believed in wasting prime real estate with a room that is not used. Your table and chairs look perfect, and so does your new loung area. Great idea. laurie

Artis-Anne said...

What a great idea and it looks wonderful Teresa so very cosy :)
I am with you 100% and as you know we have the same dinner set as you have in the photo and have placings for twelve peple which is what we used to be able to seat, but no more (we also got rid of our large table some time ago ). It was a our best set and we had another for daily use. So we have re-thought it, and now use it as our everyday one .
Lifes too short to wait for high days and holidays ;)

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

Gosh you are lucky - mine are like boomerangs - they keep coming back ..........

Tea Time With Melody said...

It's been a while since I have visited your blog...so much going on..I love the breakfast room, novel idea. I am waiting for my last child to leave home here shortly and yes, I will be redoing the bedroom LOL Not too much in case he floats back home but just enough to get started.