I’m a big fan of James Farmer, an interior designer based in Perry, Georgia. I recently picked up one of his beautiful books, Arriving Home, from one of my favorite local home decor shops in Savannah, Proper English. Reading the book and browsing the gorgeous photography inspired me to make a few changes to my own living room. It was in desperate need of elevating and I couldn’t wait to get rid of the old TV stand and outdated 42-inch Samsung TV that had been occupying valuable floor space since we moved in.

My husband recently had knee surgery on a torn meniscus and “gnarly cyst” as the doctor put it, which meant several weeks in recovery at home. It was a very productive few weeks on the I-want-to-do-that-but-never-have-the-time list. He got ceiling fans installed in all of our guest rooms where previous light fixtures had been, installed a mini-split in the garage, which means it is now temperature controlled, and most importantly got a brand new 65-inch smart TV installed above the fireplace!

It’s funny how doing just one little thing can inspire action in other areas. I had been waiting to reclaim this floor space for many months, so once it was free, I got to work. The thing is, my budget was minimal, and I wanted to use things I already had from other areas of the house.

From the attic, we pulled down a pair of gorgeous palm prints which fit the asymmetrical walls perfectly—one wall is 59 inches and the other is 39 inches—and coordinated with the existing paint color and coastal vibe.

Once the TV stand was removed, I rearranged the furniture for better flow and added additional seating for entertaining—two classic wing back chairs with coordinating fabric from each our guest rooms. They have a greater impact when paired together. In the photo above, one bookshelf stands on the wall next to the fireplace, throwing off the balance.

My kitchen baker’s rack cabinet was full of these very unique fine China plates made in England, featuring fish, lobster and coral which I inherited from my mother-in-law. I only ever use them on Thanksgiving or for special family meals, but I’ve always loved the design of them. Adding them to the walls not only freed up valuable storage in the cabinet but would make for beautiful wall art and symmetry above palm tree photos and mirror.

To make the space feel bigger, I placed the white mirror from the angled wall horizontally above the couch and flanked it with sconces I inherited from my mother. The sconces provide balance and symmetry while also adding soft lighting and a warm glow to the living room in the evenings. This freed up the angled wall to hold the single tall bookshelf, which was a much better fit here. I saved three food-inspired DVDs from a large collection we donated for the top of the bookshelf: Fried Green Tomatoes, Ratatouille and Julie and Julia. I couldn’t bring myself to part with these classics!

I purchased a large, soft area rug to layer over the carpet which ties all of the coastal colors together and doesn’t compete with the busy and colorful pattern of the curtain panels. The tall gold, blue and white vases on either end of the mantel may be my most favorite find! I paired them with conch shells sourced from the bottom of the ocean in the Bahamas—perfect for this space because they sit low and don’t obstruct the view of the TV.

Other updates included replacing the standard 18-inch couch pillows with larger 24-inch designer pillows, which were to scale. The deep navy blue color of the new pillows pulls out the navy blue in the curtain panels and complements the rug. We also replaced the previous lumbar pillows on the wing back chairs with fun wild Georgia shrimp pillows, giving personality to the space and nodding to the chef in the home!

Rather than purchasing console tables for either side of the fireplace, I pulled this antique trunk from one of my guest rooms, which I scored from an estate sale years ago. The trunk mixes old with new, adds storage to the room and acts as a wonderful tabletop for the lamp. I styled it using an antique silver tray and crystal-cut rye and gin decanters from my mother-in-law, complete with fresh green limes. A bright platter of oranges decorates the coffee table alongside a stack of designer books.

Pay close attention to the walls. Before, I had a family collage that was too large for the space on one side of the curtains. I replaced it with a stacked art moment featuring three custom paintings in coordinating frames, acquired during our travels to St. Thomas and Nantucket, along with a favorite art piece from St. Simons Island in the breathtaking Golden Isles of Georgia.

THE FINAL LOOK:

THE TRANSFORMATION AT A GLANCE—SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT:

• Symmetry & Balance: Anchored the fireplace and mantel with symmetrical decor on both sides to create a visual focal point.
• Layering & Texture: Added a soft, area rug along with fresh accent pillows to introduce warmth and depth to the seating.
• Meaningful Wall Art: Framed three special travel pieces and incorporated cherished heirlooms, like family wall sconces, to elevate the artwork.
• Optimized Layout: Repositioned the furniture to improve traffic flow, open up the room, and create an inviting conversation area.

Peep some of the details up close and see the room at night with the candles and sconces all aglow:

What are your favorite updates? Let me know in the comments!

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