Okay- I need help

Slowly but surely we are decorating our home.

Picture this.



Here's the living room where you can see our paint color. The floors have since been stained a maple color, similar to the wood around the window, seen in this picture.

We will have these couches for awhile, until our kids are a little older. Entertainment center is also staying. We still have no window treatments on this window. That coffee table was left by the previous owners. We still use it but I hate it. We also have a crappy area rug from target that DH loathes. On this side of the room I need ideas for an area rug and window treatments, as well as a coffee and side tables. In the corner you can see in the picture, I planned on putting a plant or tree of some sort.

Here's the other side of the LR for reference. I may put something in this corner, too. I just have no idea what.


Now. Opposite this side of the room is the dining room. Here's a picture when we first moved in. The paint/floor color is the same as the LR because it's the same room.


The blinds aren't on that little window so I need a valance or something to go with the LR window treatments.

There's nothing hanging on the walls. The light fixture in the pic is still there.

Yesterday we ordered a DR set. A table that has a leaf so it sits 4 or 6 and a buffet piece that will go against that back wall. The set is black. It was completely opposite what I was looking for (antique white) but I loved it. I plan on hanging some black shelves on the wall that runs the length of the LR/DR. Above the buffet I plan on doing something similar to this, but was thinking about doing black & white pics instead of color to tie black into the room more.

Anyway- I need an area rug for under the DR table and maybe some more ideas to bring the two rooms together to make them flow a little more.

I just need some decorating help. So help!

Re: Okay- I need help

what's your style?

Re: Okay- I need help

I don't know that I really have one...

Re: Okay- I need help

Are you opposed to repainting at all?

That would be my first suggestion.. I think the color you have limits your posssibilities

Re: Okay- I need help

DH would murder me if I suggested that. The color was more pastel-ish than I thought it would be, but it's less that 6 months old and it's aloooooot of painting. The darker floors have really toned down the color.

Re: Okay- I need help

Re: Okay- I need help

if you are going to keep the couch for now, maybe some throw pillows to warm it up/spice it up a bit.

some solids and some dazzle, while still being able to incoporate them later on if you get a new couch, while still complimenting your wall color:






rugs:

(cream colored)

Re: Okay- I need help

Re: Okay- I need help

you could do a cute little bench somewhere with some throw pillows too, for cozyness:



maybe some funky lamps that spruce up the room:




I'm really bad with curtains, so I won't attempt that category.

Re: Okay- I need help

coffee tables and end tables are from Overstock.com

(the coffee table is a display table, which I think are so cool and a big conversational piece)
link



that little 3 drawer chest is from pier 1

/product.html?rcmndsrc=2

Re: Okay- I need help

Re: Okay- I need help

bench is from World Market (love their stuff)
link

Re: Okay- I need help

I guess my biggest question should be- can I do a black DR set (which at this point is purchased) with white accent furniture? Or- should I stick with one color?

And I love the ivory area rug posted before, but wayy too expensive. Any other suggestions?

Re: Okay- I need help

Posted by JennyPenny

I guess my biggest question should be- can I do a black DR set (which at this point is purchased) with white accent furniture? Or- should I stick with one color?

And I love the ivory area rug posted before, but wayy too expensive. Any other suggestions?

Re: Okay- I need help

just to give u an idea of dark mixed with light (not down to the exact details or pieces, but just to give a basic visual), I think it can look really nice and defined:



I see Pottery Barn often shows dark furniture with white pieces, too. I think it looks classic and rustic.

Re: Okay- I need help

With that green, it is limiting but you can still do a lot.

I would do a pop of red somewhere, maybe pillows on the couch or that little dresser that was posted. That has red in it, maybe that with a large red vase on top of it. A piece of artwork or other accent piece, even. But you're going to need some type of pop of color.

If you're brave enough, you could do a red or orange curtain like this


I"m not sure I would do white furniture in the LR with a black dining room set in an open concept like that. Especially since you plan on doing black shelving along the length of the room. Black and cherry go well together, so maybe a cherry piece or a mix of pieces.

Re: Okay- I need help

Re: Okay- I need help

Here's the table/chairs



Here's the buffet. They show it as a TV stand but in the showroom it was displayed as a DR piece.

Re: Okay- I need help

That, IMO, is modern enough that the coffee tables that were posted would work.

And I still LOVE the idea of the little dresser. The colors in it would tie both rooms together.

Re: Okay- I need help

If you're going to eventually get new furniture - I wouldn't go nuts. You may want new coffee tables to go with your new couch, kwim?

I'd just get a coffee and one end table - something inexpensive. Something from JCP or Bobs. Or even just spray paint your existing tables a darker color.

Get some cheap nesting tables to put in the other corner.

Def get a pair of lamps. Cozy, cozy, cozy.

Again - a cheap area rug - like a sisal from Target or Christmas Tree Shops. I wouldn't go crazy with a pattern. Traditional style. No bold patterns or prints.

I'd get wood blinds and put them up in the bow window. Four of them, cut to fit each window panel. These I'd splurge on.

Then panels on either side. I'd do a pattern - stripe or plaid, something traditional b/c of your couch.



I think the three most important purchases will be:

rug
panels
lamps

Re: Okay- I need help

What about a rug like this (from Home Depot)? There are several color combination options. I have the Rouge and love it. My friend has both the Brown and Green Tea ones. The shag is super soft and wears very well. I'm not a big pattern person, this rug helped tie my yellow living room with my green kitchen (separated only by a half wall).

Image Attachment(s):

Re: Okay- I need help

Curtains -- I love pottery barn -- they are classic, work with everything, have lots of sizes, and last forever! With your paint I would get the cream cotton or the cream dupioni silk. I have the red dupioni silk in my living room and they look great (I've had them for 3 years already). I also love pottery barn pillows.

For rugs, I've had luck with cheap and cool rugs at Pier 1 imports and Bed Bath and Beyond. I buy them cheap because I replace them once they get old. I just bought a large rug at BBB for 199 plus with the 20% off coupon it came out to 160. Pier One Imports also has great pillows, mirrors and chairs and cool endtables, ottomons, chests etc. (very affordable).

Lamps -- Target has very nice lamps and coffee tables and end tables (quality is so so). I also really like Ikea for cheap furniture, shelving and good storage ideas). You might be able to get lamps and wall art/mirrors there too.

Re: Okay- I need help

Hi,

We can come and give you a free estimate for window treatments. We have a large variety of fabrics. We do also pillows.

If you would like a free estimate just send me an e-mail our prices are reasonable compare to the market!

Laura

Re: Okay- I need help