the living room today

I recently changed up the living room just a bit and thought you might like to see. It all started with the purchase of an antique chinoiserie tea table (if you follow me on Istagram, which I love btw, you might recall seeing it this past summer.) 

This is how you see the living room when you come into the house.

When we first brought the table home I placed it in the bay window where the skirted table had been (here), but several weeks ago I moved the pair of antique French chairs to flank the fireplace, and placed the single antique tapestry-covered French arm chair in the bay window next to the table. (The pair of chairs are upholstered in a natural linen, though they always appear much whiter in the photographs.)  

 Ever since moving all the chairs all I want to do to sit in this room with a fire going, with a glass of wine and watch the sun set! (Check out my Instagram, which can also be seen on the sidebar, for one of our amazing sunsets from last night.)  The room has become a favorite spot for evening cocktails;)  I stole the vintage (solid) brass pharmacy lamp from the reading room, so am now on the lookout for a good replacement.

I've become a bit obsessed lately with little stands/stools/tables.  They are perfect for setting a glass of wine, a cup of tea or a magazine, or two.  This ornate vintage hand-carved stand has brass leaf inlay in the center of the top.

This little antique Chinese stand (purchased only last week) is the perfect height for a stack of magazines next to the chair.

A favorite oil painting, circa 1922, leaning against an antique French mirror shares the mantel with a pair of 17th century Italian gilt candlesticks, an antique English crystal-and-sterling match strike, an antique marble urn and an orchid in an antique brass jardiniere from Russia along with a trio of silvered-glass candle holders. 

Not much has changed on the antique French table next to the sofa.  The lampshade is brown, but when the lamp is turned on always reads as more of an orange-brown in photos.  The story of the antique grisaille ship painting on the table here.

And back to the chinoiserie table that started it all... .

This table is a China Export black lacquer and hand painted chinoiserie tea table.

Circa 1840.

The base is as beautiful as the table top and is topped by a "bird cage" mechanism that allows the table to tilt  for easy storage, if needed.

 

 The view of the living room from the stairs.

For reference, here is how the living room before HERE and to read about more of the details from the room HERE.