Creating the Second Layer: Our Farmustrial Chic Living Area
Just as we did a little bedroom refresh with our bedroom when Justin moved in, we’re moving on to the living room. Most of it has been pulled together, but, as we’re settling in together, we’re figuring out what space we use and what we don’t. After realizing we don’t use half of our 10′x13′ living/kitchen/dining area (you read right!) and overusing the other half, we saw that it was time to rearrange and change out a few pieces.
In the Editor’s Letter in the September 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living, Pilar Guzman calls this the “Second Layer”, which takes time to develop. After the initial unpacking of a new home, things seem in place to the naked eye, but that extra layer of finishing touches and rearranging to make sure the space works well takes time. She recalls Kevin Sharkey writing that “creating a home that reflects your personal style, and the actual living that goes on in it, is a process that happens over time.” The Thorps agree.
Here’s what we’ve come up with. I call it Farmustrial Chic. Farmhouse + Industrial chic. Ladies and gentlemen, let it be known that Stamp 48 coined that phrase (And google confirms no search results. So there, it’s mine!).
Jackson Dining Collection, World Market | Catalina Sofa, Crate & Barrel | Cormac 2.5′x6′ Runner, Crate & Barrel | 2-Pack Curtains, UK H&M | Decker Coffee Table, Anthropologie | Ladder Bookshelf, Home Decorators | Ikea Ingolf | Marin Green Salad Plate, Crate & Barrel | Papillions Plate, Anthropologie | KitchenAid Stand Mixer, Target | Ikea Kanist | Kitchen Cart, Target | Glass Cloche, World Market
Thankfully we have most of these pieces already. Previously, we had a wingback chair along the east wall, and a round kitchen table in the middle of the room. We hardly used this section. It was literally half of our tiny room. On the kitchen side of the room, we have such limited counter space, that we’re going to add in a kitchen cart in the middle of the room where the round table was. Not only will this give extra counter space, but will give us more desperately needed cabinets underneath. Next, we’ll add a rectangular table where the wingback was, which will again be more functional (and compact). Win-win.
Have you gone through the process of creating a “Second Layer”? What pieces have you swapped, added, rearranged, or gotten rid of in a room that you had previously considered “complete”?
