I haven’t done a home decor post in awhile—mainly because I can never get it clean enough to be photographed!
Our living room has become a collection of normal living room things and baby toys/containment devices (lol!) everywhere. Literally. Everywhere. I’m eating my words and laughing at my assertion, before I had a baby, that I “would absolutely NOT have baby stuff everywhere.” Yeah, right! The way her face lights up when she plays with her toys, on her activity mat, etc is worth the mess of colors that now surround our main living space (though you can’t see them in these photos as they are all in an area in front of the couch and coffee table where there’s lots of free floorspace).
We’ve had our West Elm Tillary sofa for a few years now and I still get emails (sometimes weekly) about what we think about it. So here is my updated review: don’t buy this sofa! West Elm has beautiful sofas and this style appealed to us at first, but over the years we’ve experienced its impracticality.
Namely:
- The backs come off, and although they are weighted, if they’re not up against a wall or furniture they fall if someone’s been leaning back on them. It’s not fun to have to warn guests that they might make your couch fall apart.
- The areas where you sit most do get worn and the fabric becomes looser and because it’s so tightly fitted at first, you can see a ton of looser fabric and “wrinkles” where you sit a lot
- Overall, I wish we would have gone with a more traditional, less modular style
- It’s comfortable (when you sit on the parts that are against a wall)
- It’s so wide someone could sleep on it
- You can configure it many different ways though we never have because we like the “L” shape
- New sofa pillows- Kevin has officially given up on trying to curb my pillow obsession. Pick your battles.
- Coffee table now used as diaper changing station (no, seriously, we aren’t going up a flight of stairs every time Harper needs a diaper change)
- West Elm 2×2 console desk behind couch- it also acts as storage for more baby things, books and magazines—but it’s all hidden- yay!
- New mirror on wall
- New artwork on wall and on desk
- Toy basket for Harp’s books and other plush objects
- New faux cherryblossom stems
I laughed as I read this, both about saying you wouldn't have baby stuff everywhere (because that was totally me!) and about your husband picking his battles – I think mine feels that way about picture frames. Your home looks beautiful!
Love the way you decorated the room, but I really love the color of your floors!
LOVE the decor! I am moving soon and was going to buy the exact couch! Glad I read this! I do have to ask, do you think if you would have gotten it in a different fabric, the wrinkles wouldn't show up like that? Which exact fabric is this one? Thanks so much!
Don't worry my living room also became kind of nursery with a playmat and some toys haha ! I was also one of those girls who didn't want to have a room full of baby stuff, guess you just can't fight it 😉 I love your place, it's really chic and cosy at the same time.
Wish we had US furniture and decor stores here in France..
So many pillows, so fun!!
I love the grays and purples…it's a great mix of feminine and masculine and ultra modern too!
Love your style! We used to have a Broyhill sectional but sold it because I wanted to divide up the space with seating as well – bad decision. Now that we have one toddler and want more children I wish we had one big large sectional that we can all snuggle on. Saving up for one of the Pottery Barn sectionals ..thanks for sharing your space 🙂
Your home is beautiful! I love all of the pillows, I've been refraining from buying those covers on Jane and Groop Dealz until we move (don't need any more stuff to pack!). Just wait a few more months when Harper is more mobile- your living room will be totally redesigned, again! We don't have much to baby proof here because I'm packing everything away for our move but I'm realizing that most of the stuff is probably going to stay in boxes for a while once we do move because nothing can be within reach for her! Such a different world!
I think an area rug for the living area might make it feel more cozy and help define the space.
I think an area rug in the living area might help make it feel more cozy and also help define the space
we actually used to have one but it was cheaper and not weighty enough and it would always move when we walked on it. I think we need a new one for sure! Though I do like just the bare floors as well.
I also have a pillow hoarding problem! My problem is storing them when not in use bc I like to change out seasonally. I understand sofa problems too. I love mine for the most part but after 2 years the more we sit on it the more it wrinkles!
I love your livingroom!! I have the whole "my house is going to be clean and there will not be baby toys on the floor" mentality but I'm sure it'll change once I'm a mom lol
I would have sworn you had curtains at one point. Have you taken them down, or am I imagining this?
Yes, but they are on our kitchen window. We decided not to do the entire house since it's not a home we will live in for a very long time.
I really like your taste! The gray colours are so lovely – I need to update the paint in my house, move away from browns and creams to shades of gray and whites.
The pillows look great, I cannot believe they were so affordable!
I am obsessed with your decor! Your house looks like what I want mine to look like but can't seem to make happen. Beautiful room!
I LOVE your home decor! Can you please come over and decorate mine? 😉
Marissa
thesimpleswan.blogspot.com
A Fashion, Beauty, & Mommy Blog
I think your home does look cozy!! Especially with Harper's toys! 🙂
I can relate to almost every aspect of this post from the L-shape couch conundrum to the saggy sofa material to the no baby toys all over, please. I have these exact same issues. Ahhh, the joys of motherhood, right?! Beautiful home though!! I wish my home looked half as nice!
Your house looks great! I am a firm believer in TONS of pillows as well. Thank you for your honesty regarding your couch from West Elm. We are currently in the process of couch shopping and I appreciate all the advice I can get.
Love your style! Everything looks great…and I'm with you, gotta love pillows! That BM color is my favorite too. Calming, clean and modern. Great taste! ~Jenn
http://www.twobytwomom.com
Super cute! When you get ready to purchase a new sofa definitely go to Ethan Allen. We purchased our first sectional from them 15…yes 15 years ago and we are now just having to replace it. Eveyone that comes to our house asks where we got it because it is super comfortable and cute. The quality is just beyond what we expected and they put scotch guard or something on the fabric so if anything spills on it just beads up. We do not have one stain after 15 years and the only reason we are getting a new sofa is because the trim around the cushions is finally starting to fray a little. I can't say enough good things about it.
Wowww everything is soooo gorgeous, it seriously looks like it's out of a magazine!
Yup, we used our dining table (that we never ate at in our last house) as a diaper station was she was a newborn.
Better not tell any house guests about the diaper station !! Hehe
Oh it's out in the open, LOL 🙂 I removed the changing pad for these photos!
Love the paint color on the walls! What is it? And are there 2 different shades? The wall with the LOVE print looks darker than the wall that stretches into your dining area? Thank you!
https://veronabrit.blogspot.com/2012/03/painted-house.html?m=1
Looks great! My kids are 3.5 and 14 mo and all breakables are gone now. I'd love to see posts to see how you update the room as Harper grows and is able to reach things you don't want her to. I'm sure you will still find a way to keep your home stylish. 🙂
You've kept the baby stuff pretty contained. 🙂 I stick by my "only one toy downstairs at a time" and she understands it. Though when she was H's age we had all of those contraptions and playmats in the living area, too.
Your home is beautiful! I love the colors and the pillows. Agreed that baby stuff is huge! I feel like I'm always stepping over a toy, mat, swing, etc everywhere I go.
Love the adorable centerpiece on your dining room table!! No need to buy fresh flowers everywhere week 🙂 mind sharing where you got it?
Love the adorable centerpiece on your dining room table! No need to buy fresh flowers every week 🙂 Mind sharing where you got it?
Love your style and blog. Can you let me know where you purchased your kitchen table and chairs from? and also what color are you walls? I love that gray color.
Ahh… I love your home! Its so clean and tidy and the colours are awesome! I love your view through your windows too! Very nice home decoration!
Ahhh! Seriously in love with your dining room table & chairs and kitchen!
Your home looks gorgeous and peaceful. I like the details of decor!
Pieces of my world by Dominika
Where did you get your beautiful dining room table?? It's exactly what I'm looking for, by the way your house is beautiful!
Hi Laura! It's the Restoration Hardware flatiron table
Hi Veronika!
Did your table come with wheels? If so, did you alter it to use without? Or does it come with that option? Love the table.. uncertain about the wheels. 😉 Thanks.
Hi Veronika! Thanks for the review and update. I'm curious — do you remember which fabric and color that is? It's hard to tell from the photos if it's the Marled Microfiber vs Faux Suede vs Performance Velvet. Thanks!
Hi Veronika! Thanks for the review and update. I'm curious if you remember which fabric and color it is? It's hard to tell from the photos if it's Marled Microfiber vs Faux Suede vs Performance Velvet. Thanks!
It's more of a herringbone microfiber
Hi! Where is the dining room tables from? I absolutely love it and am looking for a similar one!
Hi! I was wondering where your dining room table is from? I love it and am looking for something similar. Thanks!
It is from restoration hardware's flatiron collection- there is a post about it on my blog 🙂
Hi Veronika! I love the decor of your living and dining areas! I am thinking of creating a similar style in my home. I have an infant and I wonder how your light colored dining chairs are holding up with little ones in the house and if you have any tips for this concern. Thanks!
they are holding up great— we don't use our dining table much and when we do, our daughter sits in her highchair 🙂
Love your home. Where are your dining chairs from?
What is the wall color?
bejamin moore revere pewter
What color is on your walls?
BM revere pewter and martha stewart flagstone (the darker color)
i love the floor stain color! i'm getting hardwood installed in my house and would love to get this color. do you know the color/mix of the stain and the brand of the stain used on your hardwood floors?
I wish I knew, but our house was a model home and we did not select the finishes, they were already complete. sorry 🙁
Do you think this chandelier would look good in a small condo living room? Like size of our living room? Or would you do larger?
I don't know what size your living room is but I have it in my daughter's room as well and it looks great. So it works in larger and smaller spaces.
I've come across your blog twice and thought you had such a lovely home and you did a wonderful job decorating it. Imagine my surprise when I was scrolling through Facebook and a local furniture company "Comfort Furniture Galleries" on facebook (comfortsd.com) was using your living room as their advertisement photo. If you allowed them to then that's fine, but since you listed all of your furniture and it didn't come from them I got the feeling they may have swiped it (I mean it is a lovely setup).
Thank for your alerting me to this. They did indeed use my photo without my permission. I wrote them a note on the Facebook post. I don't mind if someone wants to use my photo, but they should give proper credit. I also feel as though they are representing that my funiture is from that store which is not true. Thanks again!
I love the color of the walls. What color grey is it?
Our home is painted in Benjamin Moore revere pewter. The darker accent wall is “flagstone” by Martha Stewart.
What a beautiful room…it just flows. Where did you find your dining chairs?
They’re from a local store called home source
Is your sofa the microfiber material in “Shadow”
Not it will be the performance canvas in warm white!
Hi! I am in love with your dining chairs and am looking for the exact same ones! Would you mind sharing where they’re from? Thanks!
They are from a local store in the Galleris area called Home Source https://www.homesourcetx.com/product/lawford-chair-natural/
What color wall paint did you use?
the lighter color is revere pewter by Benjamin Moore. the darker color is flagstone by Martha Stewart 🙂
Do you know what type of flooring you used the brand and color?
No I don’t— sorry! This is our old house and it was a model home so we did not make the selections on the finishes. I personally hate dark floors and do not recommend them. They are difficult to maintain and always how dirt. We (regretfully) got them in our new home as well and I am kicking myself over it.
Great space! We are moving into a new place before baby comes and I’m consumed with interior decorating decisions right now. Where did you get your table and chairs from??
table is RH and the chairs are from a local store in the Galleria are if you’re in Houston!
What material is your couch? Is this the performance velvet in Shadow or a different fabric?
Where are the dinning room chairs from? Love them!
They are from a local store in the Galleria called Home Source. I actually sold them recently!
Can you please tell me the two colors that are on your walls . I love the combination! Thanks so much!!!
Benjamin Moore revere pewter and Martha Stewart flagstaff
Where did you find the chairs at your dining table?
Thank you!
From a local store called Home Source
Hi!
I know this post is from years ago but I have a question for you regarding the sofa. I have the Tillary as well and I was wondering if you figured out a way to tighten the fabric? It’s such a comfortable sofa but definitely doesn’t wear well over the years. I’m looking for ways to revamp and refresh it. Any suggestions would be welcome 🙂
Thanks!
I haven’t actually! We just moved it to our playroom and use it in that space. My style has evolved so much over the years that I would not select this sofa for our home today. It’s not aesthetically my favorite, but it works amazingly in our playroom space!