Coffee Table Edition

My dream coffee table is the Ty Pennington round metal and glass table with rubbed bronze finish by Howard Miller. It's the perfect size (20" X 40" diameter) for our over sized sectional and it combines everything I want in a coffee table - the metal frame, glass and hard surface combination. There is ample storage space for our magazines and photo albums. The quality and craftsmanship is unsurpassed. However, the price is about $300 over our budget. 

$621.60 - Ty Pennington Round Metal Glass Table via Amazon.com

I did find some lovely alternatives. These moderately scaled contemporary metal round tables have a similar look with smooth clean lines and a art decor, mid century inspired design. They are sturdy and attractive. A few feature the glass and hard surface combo but so far none of them can compare to the Ty Pennington. My other alternative is to choose a rectangular shape coffee table but a round shape table is more ideal because it creates a sense of flow and provides contrast to the rectangular shapes in our living room. 

$49.99 - Vittsjo coffee table via ikea 
Wood and Glass combo. Made with tempered glass which is more durable but the size is too small. 

$142.99 - Round Glass Top Coffee Table via Overstock.com
Minimalist design but does not offer any storage space

$399 - Foxed Mirror Coffee Table via West Elm
Smoked glass surface with minimalist design. Simple and beautiful but not storage space

$294 - Hammary Nueva Round Cocktail Table in Aged Copper

via. Wayfair.com
Like the Ty Pennington is has a beautiful bronze finish. 

$399- TFG Martini Coffee Table with shelves in Java Oak via Mayfair
My second favorite coffee table. It does not have the glass surface but still feels airy. 

The Perfect Palette

In our pursuit to find the perfect shade of blue, the hubby and I played with a few paint colours. My personal fave, Pale Smoke from Benjamin Moore is a smoky shade of blue that is cool and light. It has subtle hints of grey. It also perfectly compliments Province Blue (an accent colour I adore). Our second round pick is Wales Gray (also available at Benjamin Moore) has a lightly colored stone facade with a bluish green cast. Both paint colours work well for our living room and dining room. The cooler colours really create a space with an expansive feel (ideal for our open floor plan) and a restful atmosphere. As homebodies the serene palette is very comforting. 

Inspiration Boards

Inspiration boards courtesy of Young House Love

My posterior is very pleased with the new sectional sofa we ordered from Cardi's. The immeasurable comfort it provides makes me forget all about the frumpy futon we had to sit on while we waited for the new sofa to arrive. We originally had a tufted leather sofa but it was way too small for us (me, the hubby and our precious pooch, Prince). We considered adding two sitting chairs to the living room but after our leather couch ripped at the seams, we decided to trade it in for a new sectional sofa. The contemporary look and the extra seating space was exactly what we needed for the living room.

Airy Greenness

I am a selective green thumb, which means I work well with low maintenance plants like cactus, succulents (because they require little water) and tillandsia aka air plants. Air plants are epiphytes, a unique type of plant that absorbs water and nutrients via the air through their leaves instead of the roots. Part of the reason why they are so whimsy and wonderful. I am hoping to add a few of these little green beauties to our home. They are a great addition to my mini terrarium collection too. I am particularly fond of the Tillandia plants in the sea urchin shells below.

Jelly Fish Style via Etsy

Tillandsia urchin planters via Etsy