I was delighted to receieve this Room Talk submission from an American reader! Whitney, of Whitney McGregor Designs, talks us though her very own living room.
“We moved into our home almost two years ago and, as recent college grads (at the time), we were working on a VERY tight budget, so, of course, we headed to IKEA for the staples (sofa, ottoman, bookcases, jute rug)! Our house is old, in a not so charming way, so although my inclination is to fill my space with vintage, I think doing so in this case would have just made the room feel dated. We needed modern and streamlined, but on a budget. Enter IKEA! I then accessorised with vintage and repurposed items. The side table and French chair are thrift store finds (the table $5, the chair $40). I painted them both and reupholstered the chair myself. The lamp on the side table was a DIY project (here) and was so fun and simple with really great results. The white faux wood blinds were a very calculated decision, although they are not generally my favorite choice for windows. This large window faces a popular park and so, in order to maintain our privacy, we lived for months with some unsavory drapery panels left behind by the previous homeowner. After staring at these for far too long, both my husband and I wanted something simple and unfussy. We settled on the blinds and we’ve been very pleased with the functionality and clean look of them.
