I am only going to comment about the wall color, which I really like. Barefoot Contessa is a orange lover too and she has it in her home in Conneticut and NYC.

Note: Your view is lovely!

I would put the gorgeous lyre table along the end wall -- in front of the window. Its lovely shape would "hold its own" against the dramatic scenery.

Just for now -- try the maple cabinet Or even the dark wood filing cabinet (depends on the height) between the two pretty white chairs -- and look around your home for another lamp.

Ideally -- consider finding a round dark wood table with a pretty blue-and-white ceramic lamp to place between the two chairs.

The rug is a little too small for the room -- try sliding it slightly under the two front feet of the sofa.

Just some thoughts! Les is really one of the best "arrangers" around here! Hope she sees this post!

Jan (who just shoves things around until they fit .... LOL! :))

I was waiting for you to post the room with furniture to comment on how pretty the color is. Beautiful with all the white molding. Sorry I can't help on furniture placement, not my strong suit most of the time.

Love the wall color, and lack of window treatments, both the same as my LR! I only wish my floors looked that good (my spring project)! :)

I've used lots of black to add a bit of sophistication, so was immediately drawn to your black chair. Do you have more than one? That chair has possibilities...

Good call Jan on the lyre table, that would make it really stand out! It would be the perfect place for a really stunning floral arrangement too.

I would find another room for the file cabinet, and the sewing machine(?)or whatever that other cabinet is. I don't like the shape of the chest on the rug, what's on the other side of the room? Could you mirror the lyre table with the maple chest? (place it perpendicular to the rug)

I would prefer a bolder pattern for the rug, but then it's hard to see right now. And slipcovers, with maybe pleated bottoms, on the white chairs, like these. Add some color and pattern.

awm~I sense you're holding back, no one paints their LR pumpkin who doesn't love warm and cozy! I'm seeing a room where many "safe" choices were made. A soft throw and a pillow would cozy up the sofa.

You would probably love my lighting. I'm lucky to have recessed can lights, the two that illuminate the FP wall are on a separate switch from those on the other side of the room. Then I have a ceiling fan/light in the center of the room, but we seldom use the light. All the lights are on dimmers, on separate switches. It was one of the features that sold us on the house! Installing recessed lighting is relatively easy compared to some projects.

Looks like we share a love of symmetry. I will check back in to see what everyone else has to say, so I can use it in my LR too, heh heh.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pretty Slipcovered Chair

Gosh Pairiegirl that is such a sweet little chair.

That is the prettiest color I've seen in a long time. I love the direction your room is taking. Don't be in a huge hurry about changing the rug....I think that you have really good instincts about what you like and works in your home, and bet that the perfect rug will "find" you. I'm looking forward to watching your room evolve. :)

Thanks, everybody. I'm just loving the new wall color, and am so happy for the compliments. The milk paint is fabulous. Wish you all could see it at night -- ahhhh! This is the most fun color I've ever had!

Teacats, I'll try moving the lyre table in front of the windows, though I hate to block the views. Might be interesting just the same and would definitely showcase the pretty walnut table. And the maple chest would be a better size piece between the armchairs. I do have a blue & white ceramic lamp. It's big, something skinnier would be nice, but still it would look good.

Prairiegirl, I do have more black chairs. 8 total. I bought them to use as dining chairs, for the front porch, and to use in the living room. My wood DR chairs were shot, and Smith & Hawken had these metal ones on sale. I love them. They're light and extremely comfortable. I'm willing to paint them, if that would help. And I'll sew new cushion covers to fit the decor. The sewing cabinet can go (that's a CD player on it), but it's a good size for that little nook. Perhaps if I paint it? Yes, I am *envious* of your recessed cans on dimmers!!! They give off the best light. I'm rather fond of that 150 year old captain's chest, though :) It's made of camphor wood, and belonged to the grandfather of wonderful 83 year old neighbor of ours when we lived in Memphis.

Oh, I'm planning on replacing the green fabric on the sofa, btw. The off white armchairs must remain so for now. I'm not wanting to go formal here. I'd prefer a mix of contemporary and rustic. Thought this 1920s posters might be a nice thing to put on the wall (I LOVE the 1920s):
Vanity Fair

awm03, you have the start of a really great room. I love the idea of the lyre table in front of the window; I think it will complement the view and show off its gorgeous lines at the same time. I also love the touch of black in the chair.

The first question that comes to mind is, what the room is used for primarily. How many people do you need to seat comfortably? Will it be a quiet space, say for reading? Is the space used for entertaining? Is a TV involved? All of those questions should be answered before proceeding further.

Your decorating skills are obvious and will no doubt come up with an arrangement that will please the eye for sure. The key to a room you will really love is to make sure the furniture serves the function of the space. You've got a great opportunity here to have both a drop dead gorgeous room AND one that works for you at the same time.

I can't wait to follow this one.

PS: A little OT, but I'm dreaming of Pumpkin somewhere in my home; maybe the room with the new leather ottoman??

Pumpkin, leather = ooooh!

Thanks for the nice words, jjam. This is yet another of the many unused living rooms around the nation. No TV, so no gatherings to watch sports; no fireplace, so no cozy conversation by the crackling fire. I've tried to steer company to this room, but they prefer to hang out in the kitchen or in the family room by the fireplace/TV. So I'm hoping by making it comfy & colorful, it will draw people in who want to get away from the madding crowd -- or at least away from TV noise. I can't read with TV noise, so I use this room as a library/retreat/music/tea room.

Maybe if I needlepoint a pretty sign, "Now with wireless connection!" I can draw the laptop users in :)

I'd go for a conversational grouping. It would be so nice to have a space where four adults can talk, facing each other, without kitchen appliances or TVs in view. That is a future goal of mine, and will happen in my LR someday, I hope.

You can have that now in your beautiful room, you lucky girl. I'd group the chairs and couch facing each other and find a table for the center that anchors the seating. I love round tables for that. Then load up on warmth. The books do a great job of that,add some candles, then I'd consider some drapes with some texture, not pattern. Oh, and as much blue and white ceramic stuff as you can stand. I think a larger rug with a big, bold pattern would be fantastic, but the one you have is nice and could certainly work as well. As far as lighting goes, what about some track lighting? Or recessed??

Got to run but wanted to chime in. Love the wireless angle....that'll bring 'em in!

"I'd group the chairs and couch facing each other and find a table for the center that anchors the seating. I love round tables for that."

That's an excellent idea. Not sure if the room is wide enough, but worth exploring. A small round table would do. Track lighting -- that's a good idea too. Is it tough to install in a two story home with no electrical box in the ceiling?

awm you've really gotten me in trouble - I've found a local supplier of this milk paint, & now I'm determined to find a place to use it!

I will forgive you for making me do this, however, if you just send that lyre table to me.

;-D

I'm 100% for conversational groupings - I know what a challenge long narrow rooms can be for that (my LR is MUCH narrower than yours) but I still think it's the best option for a nice living room.

Oh moonkat, you're making me laugh. Moms aren't supposed to giggle & have fun, according to my sons. They'll suspect I'm on the sauce or something :)

My not-so-local supplier charges rip off prices for it. It was cheaper to order through Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co., even with shipping. They ship fast, btw.

Thanks awm - I've noted OFMPC's prices; will check out the local prices when I make it there :)

& you tell your sons that their job is make you smile, & laugh!

Another idea for the maple chest, one I (ahem) have used in the corner of my LR, is to stack a couple of chests or suitcases or boxes. I have an old crate, a small chest, and a wicker suitcase-type basket. Yes, a bit of a PITA to get out the pillows, blankets, but what's a little inconvenience? ;)

I think a black floor lamp and that vintage poster would really jazz up the space. A pair of black chairs and a small circular drink table could then go opposite the lyre table, which is now in front of the window. Does that make sense? I'm still not sure what is on the other end of the room?? It's like we can only see three sides of the room. For some reason, I keep wanting to enclose the space defined by the rug.

Are you saying the slipcovered chair is too formal? Because I equate your white chairs with the height of formality, since I'm a big klutz and just know I would spill something on them! Maybe that's just me...

From reviewing the pictures, it looks as tho you might have the window where the sofa is....and identical windows at both sides of your room...correct? Where are the entry doorways? What I'm getting at is...is there any way to situate the sofa at a right angle to the inner wall, facing whichever is the best view, then the white chairs at a right angle to the sofa, and perhaps two black chairs opposite the white chairs? Whatever end the black chairs would be facing, then place the lyre table behind them...but against that window. Following me? Could the maple chest act as a sofa table?...on which you could put a lamp for the sofa. I love your trunk, could that be between the white chairs...again, with another lamp? I'm feeling that the little lamps on the lyre table are 1) too tiny and 2) distract from the beauty of the table. Tho I think a great poster would jazz up your space, I think you could find something more interesting than what speaks to me as 'mass produced'....keep looking. Something with some black and some bold colors...you'll know it when you see it, but make it your OWN...not something so easily found.

You have great views and a wonderful room. You'll have fun turning this into a welcoming spot - one to which friends will WANT to escape to. Try your blue lamp in various spots...bet it will look great..and not too big once it's found its home. Keep us posted in your progress. And keep giggling.

Ah!

Try of the two black chairs at each end of the white sofa (angled in front of the bookcases) -- facing into the coffee table -- to create a "conversation circle"

Yes -- "shop" your house -- and gather up the blue-and-white items -- which will look wonderful against that gorgeous wall color! :0) Maybe a blue-and-white dish on the coffee table?

Jan

Some very good ideas here, things I hadn't thought of, like using the chest between the two white chairs, & the black metal chairs in front of the lyre table so as not to block the view of it. Evidently I need to get out a measuring tape, measure the walls, windows, & furniture, then put it to graph paper or software to try these ideas. The sofa is very long, and the room isn't that wide. It's important to figure out where lamps need to go, and whether furniture needs to accommodate them. Then there are the %#$@ baseboard heaters that impede furniture placement too. Still, *lots* of good ideas here. I'm really looking forward to playing around with them. Very many thanks for all the contributions. Time to roll up the sleeves & think.

What a Delicious Color!!!!! Love it!!!!!

The Pumpkin is killer -- so glad you went for it!

Brain is fried tonight so I'll leave you to the talented members of this thread. Looks so good now and will look even better with some tweaks.

Awm03, I just looked at your photo again and wonder about your couch. It is very nice looking, but wonder if you could find something smaller, which would allow you to place a sofa in front of the other window, with chairs in front of it. That would really "square up" your room. My guess is that the current sofa is too wide to be placed that way. I have also seen some living rooms/sitting rooms that use four comfortable chairs around a table, really using the center of the room, not using a couch at all. I think your room could be worked many ways and they would all be very pleasing to the eye, thanks in part to that incredible color and the wonderful views.

Yes, jjam, replacing the sofa with a more flexible length will be something I'll consider when I play with the measurements & arrangements. It would be cheaper to buy new than to reupholster. It's current position offers such wonderful reading light: all that good natural light to look at pictures in the home magazines :)

House vixen, I was hoping you'd join in! Your ideas were the ones that made me decide to go with orange, though I originally thought I'd use it in my DR. Do you remember this thread?
orange rooms
Aiming for the stew of shades with just a bit of contrast idea :)

Oh, you don't know how happy I am that you *were* thinking of it in your DR, not LR...because I was a little surprised to see a sofa when I opened the thread, ha.

As you know I love the high-contrast look, so the lighter tones with all your gorgeous wood ones are workin' for me. Are you thinking you're going to "stew it up" when you replace/reupholster the sofa?