It's Here!

On Friday, I was giddy knowing that I had a full weekend coming up with absolutely no plans. My husband and I had protected it against any commitments and were looking forward to unwinding and relaxing. And on our doorstep that afternoon was a new cover for our sofa from Bemz that I had almost forgotten we had ordered. Bonus!

One of our first purchases as newlyweds in California was a bold blue Karlanda sofa from Ikea. It's held up surprisingly well over the years and we still love it. The only problem was the cover had faded into a dull navy, so it was time for a change. We considered a lot of different colors but ultimately chose a medium gray. It actually brightens up the living room -- and the pup seems to approve, too. It's a nice step toward getting the room how we want it. Next up, replacing two old black chairs with a sofa or loveseat and swapping out some pillows, lamps and artwork to add color and pattern. It's always an ongoing process, isn't it?

Photo by me.

Love Seat

I lamented awhile back about the lack of a cozy corner in our living room and how I was hoping we'd get a chaise to remedy the situation. Well, my husband had the very thoughtful idea of buying such a chair as a Valentine's Day gift to each other. So we poppoed over to Ikea and got a gray Karlstad chaise.

I love it! I already broke it in this morning, lounging in the bright morning sun with a latte and a magazine. And my husband took a turn with it this afternoon doing work on his laptop. And our pup seems to have claimed it as her new observation spot.

Oh, and my husband surprised me white tulips, one of my favorite flowers. All in all, it's been a great, cozy, love-filled weekend.

Photos by me.

Wanted: A Cozy Spot

My husband and I are constantly tweaking our home. We like the idea of improving on the house and making it perfect for us.

We also love our weekends and have developed a little ritual in the mornings. My husband usually drinks his coffee while watching television from our beloved blue couch. And I like to read magazines or a book by the windows while drinking my latte.

But here's the problem: My spot isn't the most comfortable. We have a nice brown chair in the corner, but I never gravitate toward it on these mornings. Instead, I prop an oversized pillow by the windows. This works for awhile but then it's not so great.

What I want to do is find a cozy chaise for this corner. Something simple and clean-lined but also really comfy and inviting. I like Ikea's Karlstad chaise both for its looks and price. Hopefully this will be the answer to my lounging conundrum.

Here's the corner in question:

Here's where the comfy currently happens:

And here's what may be the solution:

Photos by me and from here.