Small living room updates

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My brother and sister-in-law are gone and now I’m starting to get busy to get myself and the kids ready for our trip to Germany. It is a fun trip and we are really looking forward to it but it’s not a relaxing time. It’s actually a very stressful time and I know I will be ready for vacation when we return. After being in someone else’s home (in this case my parents) for almost 5 weeks and never getting a minute to myself, yup the kids sleep in a room with me, I’m ready for a week all alone. The most stressful part is visiting friends and family nonstop and talking, talking, talking…. Sorry Dad! Don’t tell me to stay home again if I don’t like it 😉 ok? Because I do cherish the time with my parents and kids. I love snuggling with them every night and I know that I will look back at this time when they are all grown up. It’s a very special time. I do love it and am very lucky that I get to do it!

Anyways my friends here is what I was talking about in the post title:

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I did a little update on a box that I had standing around in our basement, it houses our incense but I was  getting very tired of it’s look, which I had for almost 13 years. I used to have a diamond pattern obsession (Do you remember my powder room walls? Click HERE to see them.)

All I did was paint it with some Kilz primer, sprayed the body mint and the bottom and lid got Rub ‘n Buffed.

It’s a tiny little makeover but I love how it looks on my coffee table that also got a little update.

Check it out:

simple jungle coffee table tray vignette by cuckoo4design
The alligator skin is a fabric swatch that I found at Joann’s Fabric‘s swatch sale a couple of month ago for $2. I placed it on a black Target tray that I had and also added some seashells from our beach trip. The magnifying glass was a recent Homegoods find. Aren’t the simple hosta leafs in my thrifted milk glass vase pretty too?
simple traveling coffee table tray vignette by cuckoo4design
coffee table tray vignette inspired by nature by cuckoo4design

And then LOL, do you remember my post about the H&M homeline? (click HERE to see)

H&M homeline animal throw pillows
They are most likely not going to end up in the living room but I just wanted to show them to you.
They are right down my alley, aren’t they?
H&M zebra pillow in summer living room by cuckoo4design
H&M zebra pillow in summer living room by cuckoo4design
alligator skin fabric with sea shells and brass candles
H&M zebra and giraffe pillow in summer living room by cuckoo4design
safari living room by cuckoo4design
And then the black horse pillow:
H&M black horse pillow
 
And then, ok….last and then (it’s getting annoying), but I found this next fella at Homegoods and he is making me so “happy chic”. I’m so in LOVE!
happy chic horse bowl

This post makes me happy and that’s how it should be, right? I hope you like it too.

Talk to you guys on Monday and have a fabulous summer weekend. I put myself on a healthy diet because we overdid it at the beach. Major gluttony, not even to mention the happy hours! What happens in Avalon stays in Avalon….I’m only kidding…it didn’t go that far. Anyways, water, fruits, veggies and organic chicken it is for me until we are in Germany. But I will eat whatever I want when I’m home 😉 Döner, Pfifferlinge und Semmelknödel, Prasselkuchen, Mohnkuchen here I come…

Tschüß

(Youleeya)

52 Comments

  3. I love them all. Everything looks so beautiful.

    Have a great weekend. I am free to do what I want except for tomorrow, and that will be a back yard mowing day.

    Reply

  5. Love the mint box! I must have missed the H&M post because I love those pillows!!! I might have to make a trip to our local one soon! Have a great weekend Julia!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Crystal! Unfortunately they only sell the H&M homeline in Euope. My brother brought them for me 🙁

      Reply

    1. Thanks and I sure did get the plates. I don’t have anything to hang them with yet so I’ll share them some other time.

      Reply

  12. Your room looks great…Love it! It is you!! Or at least what I imagine YOU TO BE!! Love all the goodies on the table! You did wonders with that round box!

    Reply

  14. You one busy girl this summer! I love the look of your summer table scape. I am really loving brass right now, and those candlesticks are so up my alley. Love it all!

    Reply

  16. I like that this post makes you happy Julia! this is exactly what blogging should be about 🙂
    loving the beautiful pillow too 🙂
    & the summer vignette very nice, your living is so bright and beautiful I love it!
    btw, I should be on water, veggies and fruits too (I’ve been having too many desserts)
    hope you will have a beautiful weekend 🙂

    Reply

  17. I love your updates! You styled the tray beautifully. I love your new pillows too. They are so fun! Enjoy your weekend!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Kelly and YES I think you have to go to Homegoods, maybe at least once a week 😉

      Reply

  19. Have a wonderful trip with your family, Julia! (Make sure to take lots of pictures of that beautiful German town.)

    Crushing on the pillows for sure. (Especially the charming zebra head!) I may have to break down and get it.

    Reply

  20. Ughh I almost wish you didn’t tell me about H&M home, I would have never known what I can’t have Why can’t we have that here. Jealous, love those pillows!

    Reply

  22. Everything in the room looks awesome and like such a happy place! Love those pillows!!!

    Angela @ Number Fifty-Three

    Reply

  23. Just a warning…I’m totally stealing your hosta leaves idea, ok? 😉 That is so smart…cannot believe I had never thought of trimming some of my greenery for empty vases around the house! And the giraffe pillow has my whole heart…I want him and I would talk to him, put him in a place that would allow him a great view, and perhaps even rest my head on him for a lil nap…he is perfect! 😉 And by the way, what do your suitcases look like when you are gone for that long??? I would be in serious trouble…worst.packer.ever.

    Reply

    1. Sure 🙂
      I love the giraffe so much too. I’m going through the struggle of fighting with my daughter about who gets to keep the animal pillows where LOL.
      My suitcases are bad and the stupid airlines cut the amount. I used to be able to take 2 per person. Now I’m only allowed one, ugh!

      Reply
  25. Katy from Kilz says:

    Hello! My name is Katy and I am the social media coordinator for KILZ brand products. Great job with your living room updates! We are happy to hear that our primer helped you and we would love for you to share your experience with our products by writing a review. Simply click on this link, select the product used and write/submit a review. We appreciate the feedback! If you ever have any questions on our products or on your next painting project, please contact us directly via email.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for coming to my little blog Katy! I truly love KILZ products.

      Reply

  26. Just discovered your page (thru Living Better Together’s Linky), and OMG I LOVE your style! I’m totally pinning your living room, lol! And I’ll be your newest subscriber too. 😀 Ps- Avalon, NJ??? We might be neighbors…

    Reply

  27. your living room is just beautiful! i love how light and bright it is, yet full of personality. definitely what i admire in a space. thanks for sharing and have a beautiful weekend!

    Reply

  28. I like your design ideas. Working with bright colors always gives me a spacious room feeling. The more zen a room is the more I like it. And zen doesn’t mean it should be empty. I’d say your ideas come very close to what modern zen can mean.

    Reply

  29. Oh, and by the way: is your name Hungarian? Konya – kitchen?

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your sweet comment and yes, Konya is Hungarian which is where part of my husband’s family is from.

      Reply

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