Summer Living Room Tour

So the last couple weeks have been super full and stressful around here. Over the course of those two weeks I started a summer class, we celebrated Independence Day, My Nana and my aunt, uncle, and cousins came for a visit, as well as in-laws and some friends from out of state. All that equaled lots of cleaning, visiting, swimming, and two big cookouts.

By some miracle of timing, I ended up alone for a couple hours before the big cookout at our house. Hubby and friends had taken the kids to the beach while I was at school and when I got back, everyone else was making a grocery run. So I got to chill and tidy the house all by myself.

I had just cleaned a bit and was sitting down to enjoy my hot coffee in complete silence when I suddenly remembered that my house was clean and empty.

Perfect for picture taking.

Everything was clean(except maybe a few papers lying around) but nothing was styled. I rushed around, upstairs and down, grabbing stuff and trying to get it all done before everyone arrived.

This is my newest furniture purchase. I found this blue bench(or settee, whichever) at the thrift store and I probably paid too much, but I have big plans for this one. I'm really wanting to strip the paint off and restain it but I don't want to remove the fabric. Maybe I'll paint it temporarily knowing I'll strip it later. Maybe I'll completely reupholster it...decisions, decisions.

And I got all my pictures taken before anyone got home. 

Any ideas as to what I should do with my new bench? Strip and stain? Paint? Leave the original fabric or reupholster? What do you think? 

I really want it stained but it would be a really big project so I'd have to wait a while to start it, though it's what I'm leaning toward. Our living room may look nice but the rest of our house looks pretty messy from too many projects going on. There would definitely be some unhappy vibes at our house if I tried tackling this bench before all those projects were wrapped up!

At least I can enjoy my living room.