I was so happy with our freshly painted walls and our new slipcovers. We included a couple of bold dark colors, so chose off-white slip covers to lighten up the room. There
should be plenty of natural light and that unobstructed view of the Mediterranean Sea, but the "cyclonic winds" blew over (again) one of the big yuccas on the terrace and we've got it in front of the living room sliders until we get around to reattaching it to the wall around the corner. So half the view and half the light are obscured.
(As usual, click any image to get the big picture.)
Originally, I thought it was all kind of elegant. I still like the wall colors. I haven't seen much of the slip covers, which were very quickly draped with purple throws to protect the fabric from cat hair and careless claws.
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DUDO BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CHAIRS.
(FINE NEEDLEPOINT PILLOW WITH ITS BACK TO THE ROOM... AND DUDO) |
But some aesthetically placed throws weren't enough. Moose understands the difference between a sofa and a scratching post. Dudo does not. So we then bought more purple throws — to protect the seats and legs of the sofa and chairs from Dudo. Then, when there still weren't enough purple throws to go around, we added
(temporarily) old, cat-clawed bath sheets in less-than-coordinating colors (blue, green, white). We usually find them all on the floor in the morning. But, I have hopes of being at least just slightly elegant, so I plan to pick up a bunch of off-white, machine-washable, throws to see if I can still carry it off.
For now, it's all kind of hideous if you ask me. But, of course, Dudo and Moose haven't asked me and San Geraldo doesn't seem to care. It's all about the cats.
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| THE BOYS TAKE OVER THE SOFA. AT LEAST THEY'RE ON THE TOWEL. |
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MOOSE: "AGAIN WITH THE CAMERA?!?"
DUDO: "JUST SMILE. HE'LL GET BORED." |
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| MOOSE: "OH, WOULD YOU JUST GO AWAY!" |
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| HALF A VIEW BEYOND TOWELS AND THROWS. |
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YOU MISS THE POINT, MOOSE! THE THROW IS FOR YOU TO SLEEP ATOP,
NOT FOR YOU TO CRAWL UNDER. |
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| MOOSE: "BUT I'M SO ADORABLE!" |
We still haven't been able to convince Miss Consuelo Roca-Jones that corners of chairs are not scratching posts.
ReplyDelete:::sigh:::
I don't think we ever will.
Bob:
DeleteSpeaking of which, I can hear Dudo at it right now!
The colours work really well. It is good when you are doubtful about something but then it works really well.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteWe've had a couple of mistakes, but never anything that couldn't be fixed with another coat of paint (or three).
great contrast in colours...
ReplyDeleteMike:
DeleteOther than the view, the space itself isn't very exciting. We needed something to make it a little interesting.
Same phenomenon here.
ReplyDeleteNew (and so beautiful!) off-white couch, carefully treated to resist stains. Within a month my very adult daughter spilled food. I countered with a fitted sheet across the seat.
My husband leaned a fireplace-ash-covered elbow against the back. I followed by covering both the couch's back and the seat with the sheet.
Now the cat has decided to hone his talons on the matching ottoman, over which is now draped a claw-deflecting spread.
Somewhere under all that is my dream living room.
Marty:
DeleteWhen I was a kid, there were always those neighbors with custom-made plastic slip covers on everything. The fabrics were protected. The slip covers yellowed over time. And it never looked quite right anyway. I suppose we'd rather have the cats (and the husbands) than the dream living rooms.
I think your plan will work Mitch! At least till Dudo and Moose find a way to 'rearrange' things!
ReplyDeleteThey are adorable and deserve many chances to be good! It's just the way it is.
Jim:
DeleteThe plan is doomed from the start. Dudo and Moose already rearrange things. But maybe portions of the furniture can be protected a bit longer...
Of course you knew in the beginning that the cats would rule.....
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteMoose sheds, but doesn't [purposely] scratch the furniture. When we try to stop Dudo from scratching he just stares at us and says, "WHAT!?!"
Like the color choices. We did something similar, but we're lacking the view of the Mediterranean. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteFrank:
DeleteSell everything and move. Make sand sculptures for a living. Or did you want a realistic suggestion?
Pets are like kids, you put up with their "ways" because you love them, not because you have to. Your place is still beautiful, just cat friendly. My mother bought a carpet covered cat bench for her cat to scratch on, the only cat I met who actually used the thing properly and left her furniture alone.
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteWe had friends with a gorgeous old house in New England. Everything pristine. They had one shallow corrugated cardboard scratching box. That's the only place the cat ever scratched... It wasn't normal.
Lovely!
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteYes, I especially like the blue terrycloth.
Your place looks great! Love the colours. Good luck with the cats. :) I am losing that battle here!
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteThe battle is lost here, obviously. We'll just replace the slip covers every couple of years. I suppose that's not so bad. Our cats in California clawed through one sofa right into the wood frame (in less than a week).
Yes, they ARE adorable :) And, yes, your place DOES still look great. I love the purple throws. Just get some more off-white ones and all will be well.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who (foolishly) got beautiful striped silk upholstery done on her sofa and loveseat. Despite having a long-haired cat and two long-haired black dogs. White wall-to-wall carpeting, too. Can you imagine? We saw the silk stripes for about a week, and then black sheets were bought and draped over everything... and then, even sofa cushions were turned on end to keep the animals from jumping up! Eventually, the two black dogs died, and the new dog didn't mess things up too much... no matter... because he was joined by an UNfixed male cat who has ruined every surface of the house with spraying. My friend passed away with her house like that. Now her husband lives with it. The carpet is unrecognizable as ever having been white... or clean. So... perhaps a few attractive purple and off-white throws aren't too bad :)
Judy:
DeleteI will count our blessings!!!
Playing the video is blocked "on copyright grounds", but as long as they don't start pixilating your pussy pics I'm more than happy.
ReplyDeleteRaybeard:
DeleteSorry about the video. So strange that it's not blocked here. Anyway, you get the point. But, if you like, I'd be glad to sing it for you myself.
Hello Mitch:
ReplyDeleteHow quickly cats can, as you are experiencing, reduce the best laid plans of mice and men to near naught. But underneath the throws, your drawing room is exceedingly stylish - we should expect no less of you both.
Jane & Lance:
DeleteGlad to see you take a break from the glamorous life! I've missed you! The rest of the house is pretty much "to the cats," as well. But they're worth it.
Mitch, (re your response to my comment above) Oh no, I'm not THAT desperate! ;-)
ReplyDeleteRaybeard:
DeleteYou don't know what you're missing!
What you need is a dog... the dog knows that furniture scratching is not allowed, so he barks, the cat then swipes the dog and stalks off for a little wash and a self-satisfied snooze. As you know, chaos rules in this place, off white sofas and chairs are covered with throws - and snoozing cats and dog. I wouldn't have it any other way.
ReplyDeleteDudo and Moose look in fabulous condition.
x
Elaine:
DeleteYes, a dog. My friend had a dog that chewed the wallboard. Every day. She'd get home from work and repair it before her [first] husband (a grouch) got home. Then she'd move a piece of furniture in front of it until it dried. Other friends had a dog that ate wet food and then wiped her face along the entire length of their once-gold sofa until her face was clean. Dudo and Moose are glowing with health!
Kudos for trying to be stylish with two cats!!
ReplyDeleteI gave up a while ago...
I laughed when I saw the cat under the throw!!
I could take a similar picture,
Carrie resting on top while Ophelia digs underneath...
Cats!!!
TICKLEBEAR:
DeleteMaybe the song should have been "But I Can Dream, Can't I?"
Very nice!!!
ReplyDeleteSoul Yaoi:
DeleteThanks. The cats have taken over!