The Gathering Room

The gathering room...yes, it is.

This room was intended as a breakfast room.

When we first moved in we used it as the main dining room.

This room was the main hangout and I didn't feel like it was working for us.

I decided to move the big table out and a big couch in.

Magoo said this was a horrible idea and flat out refused to do it.

One of the perks of having three sons is that I had my own crew of movers.

We moved everything while hubby was out of town.

That's how I roll.

The breakfast room was now the family room.

People thought I was crazy to do this, but it works for how we live.

I've done this all over the house...who says rooms have to be used as the architect intended?

He doesn't live here.

If he did, he'd slap himself for making the pantry too small and a list of other "fails".

He was so obviously a single man who didn't have a clue about true space needs in a home.

I hope he has gotten married and had a few kids by now so he knows better. ;)

I've changed this room so many times with additions of

 big ottomans and different tables and chairs.

Dog houses, dog beds and rugs were moved in and out.

The biggest obstacle came when the TV's began to be flat screen giants.

I made this cafe curtain from a plain piece of muslin

and dyed it in Annie Sloan Aubusson.

You can visit my previous post on that process here.

It's hung by simple clip rings so that we can slide it open and closed.

By 3PM in the summer, we are blinded by the sun in this room

but I hate having to close up the entire window.

You can see how bright it was around 6PM and with solar film applied to it.

I disliked having the built in desk and considered ripping it out,

but decided to place the TV there instead.

The shelves are filled with cookbooks, dust and dog hair.

Sophie has a hideout underneath, behind the curtain.

This is the most used room in the house- it's basically the kitchen area.

We can cook, eat,  lounge, watch TV and just hangout in general.

The leather sectional has survived atrocities caused by teenage boys and their fathers-

and by little dogs and big dogs alike.

I gave up years ago.

Just trust me when I say that a leather investment piece is worth it.

Details in the room coming tomorrow.

Enjoy your Saturday!

We're keeping our fingers crossed for rain.