The console returns. Yes, the console is like Rocky and Batman movies. The sequels keep coming. Maybe instead of The Console Returns we should say “Console: The Final Chapter” or “The Console Strikes Again” or “I Still Know What You Did Last Console.” No? Fine. We’ll stick with The Console Returns.
Yes, after many (many) posts about our big console build, this is the official finale. And this one is the most exciting for me because it’s all about the fun stuff I put on it. Haha. I’m deep, what can I say? I’m sure it’ll constantly change, but here’s what it looks like today:
The lamps were more than we’ve ever spent on lamps (I have some sort of imaginary $50-a-pop maximum and these were $59 each) but from the moment I saw them at Marshall’s I couldn’t. walk. away. I even texted a picture of them to my friend Cat and she said “You’re a magpie, gotta have ’em if they’re shiny.” So I said to myself: “Self, what’s $18 extra bucks when it’s true lamp love?” It did help that they were marked down from $125 each.
We also picked up that big capiz-topped black lacquered box from HomeGoods (on clearance for $15, down from $36) because I knew it would be awesome for stashing nearly all of the clutter that seems to collect on the sofa (a few magazines, books, notebooks, pens, remotes, and even my brush and lotion). And the sleek glammy vibe worked with the blingy lamps to bring some modern chicness to our rustic ol’ console beast.
Other than that I just brought in some stuff that we already owned, from a few stacks of pretty hardcover books that I love to flip through (which are also functional thanks to a handy coaster that I stacked on top for my nightly cup of tea and the smaller white capiz box that’s secretly full of my smaller sofa essentials (lip gloss, vitamins, nail clippers, etc).
And this cute $3 thrifted quatrefoil tray is perfect for all of the jewelry that I like to remove as soon as I sink into my special spot on the sectional (the chaise in case you’re wondering).
And here’s what we have going on in those hidden baskets in the middle compartment. The left side is full of board games since this the room where we usually get our game on. And the basket on the right has a lesser used remote (for the DVD player) as well as some books that we got for Clara from the library (we try to keep them all together so we’re not looking everywhere for one last book on the day that they’re due).
And of course we have a little ceramic animal action going on thanks to my old ZGallerie rhino friend. Probably just for a bit until Clara gets bigger and he becomes endangered. Then he’ll go live on the built-ins in the dining room again:
For some reason this shot kills me. The little ceramic rhino butt in the background gets me every time.
As for the bookshelf sides of the console, we found three of these $5 baskets at HomeGoods, so the one on the close side of the console on the bottom shelf is full of a bunch of Clara’s board books while the top shelf has some of our books and a fun little Cardboard Safari rhino going on.
… and two more baskets on the far side of the console have blocks and other small toys stashed inside.
We’re sure everything that we have on/in the console table will be constantly changing. For example, once Clara’s a bit more mobile I don’t think my beloved ceramic rhino will get to live up there anymore. Unless I want him to meet an untimely end like my ceramic pooch.
Heck, she might even try to murder the cardboard rhino on that side shelf (so far, so good though) so we’re just going to play it by ear. We might decide that we’d like more empty space for putting stuff down on the top of the console (we have that big expanse in the center for a large bowl of chips or something, along with plenty of room for more coasters for drinks, but you never know if we’ll want even more). So it’ll be fun to tweak it and watch it evolve as the rest of the room comes together over the next year or two (still on the list: breezy curtains to add softness, a larger and more balanced looking media cabinet, etc).
And now for the weirdest video we’ve ever made. We were in sort of a quirky mood so we thought it would be hilarious to make a sexy stroking-the-console-video of the whole thing in action (we even throw open that middle compartment for ya to see how it opens and closes in “real time”). The music kills me. And the slow motion. Yup, we’re still laughing about it:
Strangest video you’ve ever seen. Am I right? Oh and we have one more pic for ya. At night it’s all sorts of magical in the living room now that we removed all the weird ceiling fans and that off-center corner pendant light and use the console table lamps along with the desk lamp to illuminate the room.
This photo doesn’t even do it justice, but in person it’s so cozy and glowey and charming. And we can only imagine how the right curtains and a bigger and more proportionate media cabinet will take this work-in-progress room a whole lot further. Someday…
Psst- Wanna flip back through the whole console building journey? Here’s the first post, the second post, the third post, the fourth post, and the fifth post.
Kristin says
I have to say, your post is making me more excited that a HomeGoods is opening 1 mile down the road from me on Sunday. No more 45 minute trips to the nearest store for me! I am SO excited!
Catherine says
The chaise is my special spot on our sectional, too– my husband calls it “the girl-spot”. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I claimed it right away and John was about to protest but he realized he’s too tall so his feet hang off the edge. So I got it. Haha.
xo,
s
Jessica says
Are the lamps silver or bronze? They each look different in the lighting of the different pictures…
The lamps are a little reminiscent of the silver ones at Target. Do you know which ones I’m referring to?
YoungHouseLove says
They’re silver. I think I know the Target ones you’ve mentioned. Those are cute too!
xo,
s
rachel says
Definitely love it! I love the bolder version this house around :) Lookin good!
Tae says
That video was so crazy hilarious. and i absolutely love your console!! it’s beautiful and the way you’ve styled it, too. i noticed you wrote in few comment responses that there’s a possibility for black and white photos in your frames, and although i’m sure i’ll be enamored of whatever you guys decide, that would probably by my vote!!
Also, just wanted to say thank you so much for giving me that final push toward Pinterest. Oh my goodness. It’s really amazing and fun. i love following your pins, and I’ve been a looong time YHL reader, too, so long that it took me a while to start calling it YHL because i still had TYH stuck in my head. if you’re interested or have time, here’s my Pinterest page: http://pinterest.com/tchyrel/
thanks again!! i look forward to your inspiration everyday!
Martina says
This whole room is looking really lovely. Good job! We have a big Tylosand sofa from IKEA configured into an L-shape and it’s also perfect for sleeping and lounging. There are 2 favored spots that are developing butt-dents (and we’re not big people.) It’s so comfy though. I love your rug. It makes me want to reintroduce rugs into our house.
Kate @ Travelmoon says
That console looks just fabulous! Definitely makes the room look finished, especially with those shiny lamps!
georgia says
Love love lurrrrve the console table!
Love the way the rooms come together looks really fresh and young! I’m loving the colours! :)
I think the lamps are super cheap, in the uk you would prob spent over $100 for one of them, so u have got a lovely bargain!
Ooh also I love the video of crazy burger making clara laugh! Did you guys have a good easter? What did clara get from the easter bunny?
Xx
YoungHouseLove says
We had an awesome easter! In fact we’re working on a post all about it for tomorrow. There are so many cute Clara pictures the internet might explode…
xo,
s
renee says
I need a cigarette after that video
:)
Gorgeous room!
Katie J. says
You guys crack me up:). Thanks for the laughs… the room looks awesome!
grace says
Love, love, love the fully decorated console. The lamps are gorgeous. Just a thought though: have you considered using bookends to stack some books vertically? It might add some nice height to the room because the sofa, and table are more low.
YoungHouseLove says
I gave that a try but it looked a little formal for us so we switched it out for a few casual horizontal stacks of big hardcover books. Who knows where we’ll end up though- we definitely expect that the console will change about a million times as we go!
xo,
s
Erin L says
You guys are hilarious! What a video!! And Sherry those lamps are perfect. For some reason they remind me of the perfect hoop earings to complete an outfit :)
Callie says
This room is really coming together—The console all decked out looks awesome guys!
Lisa R. says
Hi John,I am so impressed with your ability to make and do most anything that you set your mind on. This table is so amazing,you did a super job!! Good job, John!! – L.R.
Tiffany says
Very nice. Love the lamps and storage boxes.
Jennifer says
Looks awesome! I immediately recognized the lamps and knew where you got them; I’ve been drooling over them myself but don’t have the required huge spot for them.
Kayla says
I have to say, I did not love the console table to begin with. It just seemed kinda awkard and like it didn’t go. But now with the accessories, it has definitely won me over. We have a giant sectional in our living room, and this would be a great solution for lighting and a place to set beverages. Thanks for the inspiration!
margie says
It looks amazing!! you guys are so talented, I would never of known what to do with such a large room. great job!
candace @ thecandace.com says
Loving the console table all gussied up!!! Great work and hilarious video! :)
Adriane @ GreenhornLiving says
I just saw those lamps at TJMaxx a month ago and fell in love–but left them because I have no place for them. My husband is one of those crazies who thinks me just carrying a lamp around the house because it’s pretty is not acceptable. :)
ps-I want your rug so badly! West Elm used to have something similar but now I can’t find it. It just looks like the most comfy happy rug ever (but I can’t use the green color even though I like it).
YoungHouseLove says
They also have it in orange (over on overstock.com) if that helps! It’s definitely our coziest rug and Clara’s favorite play spot!
xo,
s
Ashton says
Where did you get the rhino!?
Ashton says
both of them! haha
YoungHouseLove says
One is from cardboardsafari.com (the cardboard one) and one is from zgallerie.com (the ceramic one). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Catharine @ Your Modern Couple says
Confession: I always love it when you guys have a video, so when I got through to the bottom of an already fabulous post, I was SO excited to see a video! And then I watched it.. I’ve been dying of laughter ever since. You guys are so hilarious. It reminded me of how my college professor would always tell us to “keep it low and sexy” regarding our interiors. I never REALLY knew what that meant until now. You guys are awesome!
Randa says
Love the console! Looks great with all the stuff on and in it. Very nicely done!
Can’t say I loved the video though… kind of creeped me out :)
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
I was *this* close to buying those exact lamps from HomeGoods at the beginning of the month! However, I ended up buying two lamps that are exact replicas to Z Gallerie’s Weston lamp which can be seen on my blog here: http://desertdomicile.blogspot.com/2011/04/homegoods-gold.html
YoungHouseLove says
Oooooh those are gorgeous too. Great find!
xo,
s
Charlotte says
I see you showed that sewing machine who’s boss and wrangled Sue into some sleek pillows! Well done, Sherry Petersik! The console looks ah-mazing. I wish I had your accessorizing skillz.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, but I can’t exactly claim to have showed the sewing machine who’s boss. That thing is crazy! Haha. We’re working on a post soon about those pillows though- just as soon as we write it and edit the pics.
xo,
s
K says
The console table rocks my world – you two have seriously outdone yourselves.
KathyG says
The Final Frontier: Behind Karl’s Back
Looks amazing. Esp. love that evening shot. It’s like that room got a shot of B12 – so young and fresh looking.
pattilouwho says
Fantabulous!! I’m having major room envy with that new living room of yours. Great job you two!
Lori @ Richmond, BABY! says
Love it! The hidden storage nook is my favorite, then the rhino. His tushie is cute. :)
heather says
AAH Hahaha. That video was AMAZING. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times and had a grin on my face ear to ear. That was so completely weird and random and mostly hilarious.
I love it. The console also looks super good, though I’m not sure I can ever think of the same again though. It now needs a romantic name, like Fabio, or Roberto, or something that ends in an O.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love Fabio and Roberto. Total contenders.
xo,
s
carolinaheartstrings says
I love those lamps. Great looking living area.
Mary says
This is completely off topic, but can you tell me re: Pinterest, once I enter the website, how do I get an “invitation” to use it? (I know, I am sooo technologically challenged :)) Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
When you go to pinterest.com you should see a place to enter your email to sign up and get “on the list” and once you do it they should say “you’re on the list, just stand by for a log-in.” It took about two weeks for my log-in to arrive via email, but it was totally worth the wait!
xo,
s
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
The final chapter is AMAZING! I LOVE how the console turned out and the decor is perfect! YES… I would have sprung at those lamps too! I LOVE shiny things… it’s a problem of mine. :) Great job! And the final pic of the room illuminated by just the lamps is totally romantic, warm, and inviting! It’s screaming for a movie night!!! ENJOY guys!
Danielle says
Love the lamps! Apparently I need to start adding Marshalls to my list of places to go for great ‘home’ stuff if those lamps are any indication. Gorgeous!
Elisa says
I have an equal amount of love for the console and for Burger’s bum in the first photo :)
MelissaOklahoma says
Wow, looks great! And those lamps are gorgeous – I’m totally jealous! :)
leslie says
this home has a much more modern feel than your first one did, which i really like.
i’m just wondering about the placement of the couch and console, practicality-wise. i know i’d get really annoyed having to move a bunch of stuff to get to my storage, but maybe that’s just the city-dwelling, tiny-space-living side of me speaking.
what’s your experience so far with the actual utilitarian aspects of the room?
YoungHouseLove says
Did you watch our bow-chicka-bow-wow video? Getting to the storage in the middle is really easy! And of course the storage on the sides is out in the open as well, so there’s no moving the sofa to access stuff or anything like that. We actually think it’s super practical and a lot easier than even having a coffee table in some ways (we got a lot more surface area along with more hidden storage space and it’s so nice to reach back while lounging to grab my tea mug instead of having to leaning forward/get up). I’m lazy like that. Haha.
xo,
s
Mary says
Thanks Sherry re Pinterest.
Karla @ {TheClassyWoman} says
I love your new console and the new lamps are PERFECT!!! I would love to have a quatrefoil tray like that, what a steal!
Melsy says
Love everything you guys did with the console. What software do you guys use to edit videos? Was there a tutorial somewhere in your blog? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We just use iMovie ’09 (which came with our MacBook). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Paige says
Love. Those. Lamps. I was hoping they’d be round to play off of the mirror over the desk. Yay!
Lisa @ Room by Room says
O
M
G
That video!
Pam Redington says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the lamps, I am going to Marshall’s this weekend to see if they have any!
Kristen @ K Leigh Ford says
BOW CHIC A BOW BOW.
Lindsey says
One reaction:
Toenail clippers on the sofa??
okay, no judging.
YoungHouseLove says
They’re for fingers! Mine and Clara’s. But I use a blanket under them since I’m an anal momma. Haha.
xo,
s
Laura says
This looks fantastic! I love it! It actually reminds me a lot of my own living room. We have a large sectional and ottoman and for so long the room felt “empty”. My mother in law suggested some sofa tables and we were actually able to find one at Ikea and bought two to make the length of the sofa…it makes the room feel so much more proportional. We also have a trio of white ceramic birds on display :). I love the colour scheme as well – we have a trio of custom paintings I gave my husband for Christmas one year that I matched the sofa cushions and all our accents to – this makes me feel like I sort of know what I am doing after seeing this! Great job!
rachael says
Ooo, I love the nighttime shot!! I don’t know if you moved the rug or what but with the console table dressed to the nines now the rug seems to fit better. I loved it before but now its not the first thing my eyes are drawn to when I look at the pictures. Two more things: I came across a previous post where you were interested in doing something to the ceiling, like metallic or pearlescent paint, did you do that or change your mind? And what happened to the floor lamp that was in the corner by the chaise side of the sofa?
YoungHouseLove says
That floor lamp near the chaise was just there until we got a console and table lamps (which feel a lot more balanced to us) so now that floor lamp lives in the master bedroom near our big leather chair and a large potted plant. As for the ceiling, we’re still not sure where we’ll end up – but we’ll post all about whatever we decide to do when we get there!
xo,
s
Cherri T. says
I’m sick with lamp envy! I have somewhat of a lamp fetish but alas, such a small house that I always have trouble justifying the new purchase of one that I have no room for. Boo.
Ashley says
I nearly spit my coffee all over the screen from that video! My hubby thought it was pretty hilarious too!