Love it - so fresh and wonderful! I think a big chunky rug would look fabulous and give lots of neutral texture to the space - I have the Ballard Designs one - it easy on the feet, looks nice and is not too expensive. I cannot wait to all of the great suggestions that will come in from talented GW'ers - fun! :-)

You did great picking out the fabric! I especially like the chair. I would put a floor lamp behind the chair though to give you more light, especially at night.

The only thing that sticks out to me is having just one panel per window. I know it's trendy right now but you have plenty of space to put another panel on the windows. Also, having extra curtains would lighten the room a lot more and give you color.

I have to tell you that none of your style is my taste, yet I can't believe how fresh and clean it looks!

I love it when someone can design so perfectly that even when someone else wouldn't do it, the initial response is 'Wow!'

I agree on the curtains.
When you say "Over the chair" do you mean over the chair? It's a gorgeous lantern. I can't seem not to collect these. Wanna part with it? HaHA!

Christine
Formerly CFMuehling

For the summer months -- try a sisal rug for the texture!

And your whole room looks so wonderful, fresh and light!

Yes -- another vote for a standing lamp by the white chair. Leave the pretty lantern where it sits now -- and add a large chunky white candle.

Add a white chunky vase with some hydrangea for the mantel for the summer months too.

Thank you all for your input! And thank you for the compliments -I'm really aiming for fresh and light -so thanks!

Laurinlincoln -can you tell me specifically which rug at Ballard you mean?

oakleyok -I know what you mean. I've considered putting another panel at the windows too, but I'm hesitating because this room gets very little natural light. Just the one panel has probably cut the light by a good 10% maybe more. And on the fireplace side of the windows, the panel would encroach even more onto the glass, since there is less wall space there....

Christine, yes, I was thinking about putting the lantern over the white chair, suspended from a hook in the ceiling, with either one large candle, or three slightly smaller ones (depending on how it looks). My initial idea was to put a floor lamp from PB there (see link). But it was too expensive, so I ordered an almost identical one from JCP for just $99. But when I got the JCP one, the scale was all wrong and it was just a crappy lamp.

teacats, thank you for the "white chunky vase with hydrangea" for the mantel idea! I love that! I think that could look fabulous.

Please, please, please send me ideas and links. This is where I always mess up. I can get 50% of the way there, but I'm not very good at accessorizing....

Here is a link that might be useful: PB Chelsea Floor lamp

I'm going to disagree on the curtains. I love that look - when you have two windows flanking a fireplace. And like you say, it will affect the natural light.

I love your fabrics and I'm sure that's lightened up the room from the reds/golds, plus as you say, modernized things. Very fresh looking! I'd like to see something of that turquoise blue color in the drapes in the room. Maybe a vase or lamp? Also on your hearth, how about a big basket to one side for texture? Even if it's a gas burning fireplace you could do logs in a basket. Birch logs look great!

I agree with Teacats ideas on the rug.

tina

So pretty! You are very good at pulling fabrics together - I wish I was bold enough that way!

How much sun comes in the window by the chair? If you get a lot of light the candles might melt if you hang the lamtern there. I like the suggestion of a lamp and the corner seems very cozy. What about placing the lantern on the floor by the chair?

I like the way you have pulled the wood tones across the room from the bureau to the basket to the armoire'. Nicely done! Keep it flowing w/ the afore mentioned suggestions of a sisal rug or something similar.

Maybe move the basket from beside the bureau to beside the chair?

Can you put a lighter throw pillow on the leather chair? Any left over curtain fabric for that?

This may sound silly but what about a longish short basket on top of the armoire w/ white or Nikko blue colorish dried hydrangea head in it? I love the effect of dried hydrangea when it gets that green and blue coloration going on. Would be perfect w/ your curtains! Or maybe something similar by your fireplace? Help to break up the expanse of white?
Example of how it looks in a basket (not this particular basket per se'):

Gather a collection of pretty small landscapes w/ blues, greens and browns in different frames and hang above the bureau.
Some Examples:

I could probably play in your room all day! Definitely my favorite part of decorating is sourcing the house!

Hi bestyears - sorry I was not more clear! :-) I was thinking about the "braided jute rug" at Ballard - it is really pretty and chunky and would be great texture in your room.

I agree with others that a floor lamp would make that corner chair such a wonderful reading nook and I would leave the lantern behind the sofa with a big white candle. A big ol' gorgeous fern would be happy in there also.

Love it all - a lovely room!

Thanks for the name of the rug, Laura -I went and looked at it. Very nice, and well-priced too. Is it very rough underfoot? How does it wear? I picked up a couple of rugs today. One is a wool sisal-lookalike. I'm antsy about sisal/jute/seagrass because I'm nervous that I'll tire of the rough feel and shedding... So I was thinking well, maybe that look, but less rough, which is what led me to the wool lookalike. But, after bringing it home, I don't think it has enough texture for the room. I found a fabulous rug store, so I plan to go back again tomorrow and bring home more samples. Any more ideas?

ttodd, where did you find those chunky throws? LOVE those! I definitely plan to use pear and turquoise as accent pieces, and intend to put lots of patterned pillows on the couch with those colors.

Regarding the seascapes. There is no wall above the bureau -there is a actually a cutout there(a half-wall) that overlooks the kitchen. But I LOVE the idea of seascapes, and would never have thought of that. Have to check etsy, and find a place for some now.

One thing I neglected to mention in my original post: I plan to add a secretary, painted creamy white (or pear or turquoise) like the one I've linked to. I've been searching CL but haven't found one yet. See the wall that the dresser is on? Immediately this side of the dresser is an opening to the kitchen. Just this side of the opening is a wall which has a shuttered window overlooking the counter/sink area. Just this side of that section of wall is a 38" section of wall, extending all the way to the ceiling. That's where I'd like to put the secretary. Seem like a good idea?

The recliner -ugh! But of course it's staying... I'm trying to figure out how to soften it up too. Maybe one of those throws down the center and over the top of the back piece? Would it look weird to make a sort of hood for the top foot or so of the back, out of the linen the couch cover will be made of?

Has anyone seen a floorlamp that would look good, and is less prices than the PB one?

Thank you all sooooo much! I feel like the pressure has been lifted off my shoulders...

Here is a link that might be useful: Secretary Re-Do

I don't have suggestions but I just wanted to say I'm in the exact same boat! I have medium gold walls and decor in red/gold/green and I'm feeling an overwhelming need to freshen and lighten up. I'm about to start replacing my decor with lighter colors, and maybe keeping the warmer colors for winter/Christmas.

Your place looks amazing and has given me great inspiration!

The throws are new from Pottery Barn Spring Season.

I wouldn't hesitate to paint a secretary Pear or Turquoise!

Off to paint some more!

Best, you can alway make some tiebacks for the curtains to use during the daytime. In fact, you'd probably get a lot more light. You can use something as simple as ribbons.

For now the windows look unfinished...but OTOH, way too trendy. "Everyone" is doing that now which makes having two panels on a window appear more original. lol

I also think two panels on each window, along with an area rug, would make the room super cozy!

Bestyears-Where do you buy your fabrics? As for the slipcovers,is the white fabric all cotton,denim? Did you prewash? The room is coming together nicely. Have fun.

love it!!!!!!!!! so fresh and modern. Where did you buy the curtains?

oakley, I have to laugh at the "too trendy" description... I first put just one panel up 15 years ago!

ratherbesewing- I live outside houston and we have a great home dec place here called Interior Fabrics. Lots of decorators/designers buy their home dec sewing supplies there. The white canvas is from there, and was just $5/yard. It has no rightside/wrongside, so it was really easy to work with. And yes, I did prewash and dry it.

suzienj -I made the drapes. The fabric is from the "Nest" line by Valori Wells. It is not actually a home dec fabric, which gave me pause initially. But it is a very high quality cotton, and I lined it with the top of the line lining from Interior Fabrics, here in Houston. I'm really pleased with the way they hang.

bestyears:I thought Valerie Wells was a quilting fabric resource. Your drapes look more substantial than quilt fabric. OK, now I'm curious-who was the manufacrturer of the brown and white ottoman fabric. PS:I love to slipcover-such a transformation!

Yes, Valori Wells is a quilting fabric designer. But it's a very nice quality cotton, and I figured if I lined it with the best lining I could be, there was a chance they would hang nicely -and they do! I'm really pleased with them. The brown and white is called "Blossom." I fell in love with it, and just HAD to use it. So do you make a lot of slipcovers? I am about to start on my couch, ay-yi-yi...

Here is a link that might be useful: Blossom fabric at Calico Corners

Bestyears,

I just had to log in to say first, your room is fabulous. I love the color you painted it and am jealous of your amazing sewing skills. I love the fabrics you have chosen.

The second thing I wanted to say is to think long and hard before purchasing the braided jute rug from Ballard. I absolutely love the look. It has to be one of the best looking jute rugs out there, but it is a maintenance nightmare. It takes some getting used to underfoot but will eventually wear to a somewhat soft feel. The maintenance however, is tremendous. I had one for 2.5 years in our primary living area with heavy traffic and it was like have 15 large shedding dogs with a few cats sprinkled in. Fibers everywhere. If your room doesn't get much traffic it might work otherwise I would try to find something else first. I replaced it with a cheap seagrass from Lowes for the time being and it doesn't shed at all. Laurainlincoln might can share more if she has this rug. It might not wear for her like it did for me.

Shannon

Shannon - That is good feedback about the Ballard rug! Ours is at the top of our stairs in a large landing area outside all of the bedrooms - so while it gets lots of bare feet (we don't think it's too rough in that regard) but it probably does not get a lot of hard wear now that I think about. We have not had any shedding, but maybe that is because of its more remote location? Good info!

Shannon,
THANK YOU so much for the input on the rug. Ours, being in the family room, would get a lot of hard wear. As much as I love great design and beautiful rooms, I refuse to sacrifice functionality. I've done that too many times, with uncomfortable furniture, etc. I wish somebody made a wool sisal-like rug with a lot of texture. The one I brought home isn't bad, but it isn't great either.... oh, and thank you for the compliments, you are very sweet!

Love what you've done so far.

I have a seagrass rug in a basketweave pattern that I got from Natural Area Rugs a couple of years ago. It was my first foray into the world of sisal/seagrass/etc rugs. I have to say, I really like this rug. It's in a room that gets a lot of traffic from my two icky bulldogs. One of the dogs even had a bloody nose on the rug once -- DH took it out on the porch and scrubbed it, and it came out good as new! I thought for sure I'd have to just throw it away. So, you might check out their rugs. They seem to have sales pretty often, too.

Not a problem. I just wanted to share my experience and unlike Laura this was a major thoroughfare mixed in with primary living space. In other words, major usage. It also maybe that we were generally wearing shoes as well.

I am so glad Sueb chimed in. I was trying to think of the name of the other place I was considering when I bought the Ballard one. It was Natural Area Rugs. They used to anyway have a beautiful jute rug on their home page in a picture of a living room. The last time I was on that sight however I think they quit carrying that particular rug. This was my other choice when I chose the Ballard one. The other may have worn better for my situation. Go figure. I generally make the wrong choice....bank drive thru line, grocery store line, etc., etc.

Thank you all for help on the rug. I'm pretty sure I'm going to order the Jute rug "Palace Garden" from Naturalarearugs -thanks for that suggestion. I've been in and out of rug stores all week, and I think Jute gives me the texture I'm looking for without the harsh texture of sisal. Of course I'm a little nervous to order it sight unseen, but it would cost me $900 for the rug locally, plus tax..... and it's only $349 at naturalarearugs. Just such a big difference...

Here is a link that might be useful: Palace rug at naturalarearugs

I love the painted secretary idea. I have a mahogany one upstairs and have been itching to paint it soft white or black and agree 100% with mirror rather than glass. Hope you go with a happy color so I can see before I try! Our Craigslist (Buffalo, NY) has them all the time for anywhere from $200-$300. You'll find one quickly!