JMHO, it is too even-steven for me. When I see a grouping of pictures I like them to be put up randomly: balanced, but not bookends.

I like the arrangement over the couch, but think I would prefer it with the small mirror removed and the two prints in the center brought down just slightly. Your room is very pretty!

I think that the lamps fit the space very well & the slipcovered sofa looks great.

I like the picture wall as is & I am a fan of nearly all things being close to if not symmetrical. The only thing that I would change is the taking the small mirror down at the bottom of the arrangement & see what it looks like by centering the 2 largest prints top to bottom of the other pics on the side (did that make sense?). Maybe to visually shake it up switch one side of that arrangement by putting the smaller pic at the top and the more narrow one below.

Auntjen - too funny! I just looked up & saw your post!

I think it's great. Love the lamps. The mirror is strange. At first I thought it was a headless body (although not in a topless bar.)

Scoot the sofa a smidge out from the wall, so it can breathe just a tiny bit.

It's just me, but the covered cord coming down from the painting on the side looks like a tail. Do you really need the light?

Some needlepoint pillows that continue the bird motif would make me happy, and a nice oriental area rug, and some curtains. Oh and some colorful books on the end table shelves. And then we can all have tea.

I like it. I would like to see it without the mirror (I thought it was a little painting). You might be able to "center" the big art by just switching the the side ones (flip the little ones on top and the bigger ones on bottom) that small difference might raise them up high enough.
I love your wall color. Everything looks very calming.
I also like the lamps

I just realized that if you move the mirror then everything will be too high off the sofa. Do you have something wider than the mirror?

I agree about removing the mirror and moving the large prints down. I have to say, I don't care for the picture on the other wall.

Lamps are good. I agree with the pillow idea and even a bright throw. I don't know much about British Colonial, so I can't say on the windows.

tina

Just the mirror has to go, otherwise I think it looks great. Good job!!

LOVE your selection of art -you did a GREAT job with that. I agree with others -move the left and right pieces down a bit, and also to pull the sofa out a bit. Are the lamp shades white? I think they are a bit too stark and would be better cream. If they came with the lamps (which I love), and they do look too stark IRL, you could tea-dye them maybe to soften a bit. Are you planning to put a rug down?
Awesome job!!!!

Ok, I took the tail (light cord) off of the kudu, moved the sofa out a bit and took the mirror down. I am going to find something long, or 3 small prints to replace the mirror. There is too much wall and I think something needs to be there (my DH did not like the mirror either).

The lamp shades came with the lamps and they are light cream. If I go lampshade hunting I may drive myself insane because I cannot make decisions easily. If a tea-stain would look better tell me what to do - I have lots of Earl Grey in the cupboard.

I like the shades that color I think it looks fresh and picks up the matting in the frames and looks good against the wall paint. I agree with the pillow and rug idea (I am crazy for pillows and oriental rugs) put tassels or brush fringe on the pillows. I like the kudu painting( my Dad visited S. Africa and said they were everywhere and very tasty off the grill) I love your slipcovers! I think you are on your way to your B Colonial look!

To me the picture of the kudu doesn't really coordinate well with the other pictures. It just doesn't have the same feel as the others.

Agree that the mirror is a distraction. If you replace it with something, why not one long, thin, horizontal print? I think more than that will be too busy.

Good job on the slipcover, with the pins.... it looks fabulous!

My step-dad is from S. Africa and the kudu is one of his and my dh's favorite wall hanging that I have. At first I was unsure if I wanted the kudu in that room but the more I looked at and read about British Colonial style the more I like it in that room.

I read that to achieve the look you just need to incorporate traditional English things with things that were native to the culture where the British Empire took hold. So a mix of casual tropical from India, the Carribean and Africa and stuffy British stuff mixed up for an eclectic look and feel.
I think I might need to watch "The Wide Sargasso Sea" or "A Jewel in the Crown" again after thinking on this subject.

I love the lamps, the shades, the end tables, the wall color, your bird prints. My first thought was that the small mirror had to go. I would move the two large prints down and, as someone else said, put the smaller side prints on the top and the larger ones on the bottom. I agree with the suggestions for pillows and a rug. I'd also like something interesting on the tables, how about a few small stone elephants (see link) and some other things?

Here is a link that might be useful: Stone elephant

I love your artwork, and I love that kudu painting. I would hang it in my own house! I think you should add in some older looking pieces to your newer things - some vintage fabric pillows, or some older case goods.

I think also you should add in some smaller pictures or mirrors in some older looking frames. Your wall color is very nice, and I think you are off to a good start.

robynpa- My Dad loved his 3 weeks in S. Africa and the people.One of his traveling companions knew Desmond Tutu and they ran into him at a gas station! He traveled extensively thru S. Africa. The vineyards, the game preserves. He never got a chance to go back - he died 3 years later. My favorite photo is a picture of him on a safari jeep in a game preserve.
Hey- how about some cheetah or zebra fabric accents- maybe a small table frame, pillow, ottoman. And some Indian brass accents,- India was also a colony! a big shell or 2 from the Caribbean. small elephant for the table like a PO suggested. a photo of your relative( if yu like them enought) taken somewhere in SAfrica. I love the look of your rooms. I just may go Todo es when I get the coin! ok now I have to get ready to go to work.

Nothing against the kudu painting - I just don't think it works where it is - so close to your grouping. I think they compete. Is there another wall in the room you could move the painting to?

I like the idea of the animal fabric too!

tina

I think it looks nice and you can come hang pictures in my house anytime. If I had pictures that is.

I think it looks GREAT! Take out the small mirror, add a few pillows to the couch, and a few accessories to the side tables and it will look straight out of a magazine.

You did a wonderful job hanging the pictures and coordinating the paint with the background of the prints. Bravo! Can't wait to see more of it as you add details!

I haven't read everything in your other thread about the slipcovers, but wonder if you are considering using a couple of animal-print pillows on your couch? Mixed with a stripe or maybe even a floral (if it's the right kind of floral), I think a leopard or zebra print would look great there.

Ummm, I kinda like the mirror! It's a nice change-up & keeps everything from being too matchy. I'd flank it with 2 tiny prints though, just to smooth out the bottom curve of your print arrangement -- perhaps small, exotic, carved dark wood frames to tie in with your ornate lamps, the exotic end tables, the leather of the chair, and the kudu picture. Then bring in the animal-print fabrics!

What about something like this, instead of the mirror? (I was thinking more along the lines of an African carving, but I like this one too!)

Here is a link that might be useful: eBay link ... seller has other panels too.

I love that room!! It sort of has this exotic appeal to it that speaks to me----and I like looking at those parrot pictures (you have my Eclectus in one of your prints btw) and then looking at the kudu---it causes me to pause and take it in more.

The kudu painting proportionally balances out the other pics.

I was in S. Africa this last Feb/March---it was one of the most breathtaking, amazing, beautiful places I have ever been and I wish that I could live there. And yes, I tried kudu at a traditional Braai (bbq).

When I think of British colonial, I think of plain canvas fold-up seats and tents. So I think your lampshades work well. I would try simple, smart, canvas drapes.

I think of clean, unpretentious lines. I think a silver canteen with silver cups might be a cool display sitting on a basket weave tray.

We saw a lot of simple, clean-lined lanterns too.

A zebra rug would definitely work. Also there are lots of decor items made with porcupine quills---we saw lots of that in SA. Lampshades, mirror frames, or even a bundle of quills in a vase. Pier One and Z Gallery have these items and kudu horns, etc. But remember, a small amount of this goes a long way.

I like your side tables---that to me is the exact touch that you needed. That has a bit of the East Indian influence. I wouldn't be adding saris or brightly-hued silks or anything like that.

I'll see if I can't dig up any pics.

Thank you all so much for the wonderful advise and feedback. I was in Pottery Barn today and they had some great suff on sale but I had my 4 year-old DS with me and it was just not working with him there. I need to go back alone.

They had this long silver leaf on sale that I tought might work in place of the mirror but it may be too much of a contrast with the prints.

They also had 4 dessert plates with tropical birds that I though might work. I think I will go buy the stuff that might work and try it our on y'all first and just return what doesn't work.

Here is a link that might be useful: PB Silver Leaf

Love your artwork; it appears to be of very good quality. Love the slipcover & your color palette. Getting a coffee table in front of the sofa will add a lot, of course, & I'm yearning to see some accessories! Perhaps a special pair of framed photos & a beautiful antique book on one of the end tables, & maybe a generous, lush bowl of potpourri that includes exotic leaves & fruits on the other? How about of couple of tailored, substantial toss pillows that bring in the gold? Also, Your look would really come to life with a great, billowy, palm tree (or other tree) placed near the window, though I see you have a table & chair there currently. Nice work. I'm sure it feels very warm & cozy & will only feel more so as you layer on a few well-chosen acessories. stinky

The lamps are the perfect size.

Regarding the artwork: I'm not sure I understand why there has to be anything there? I agree that the mirror should be removed, but why not just pull the two main pieces down a bit? There's really no need for anything else, imo.

Also, like Tina, I don't care for the piece on the other wall: it looks out of place to me, a completely different style. The artwork over the sofa is refined, while the other piece is much more rustic. What about putting the bird plates there, instead?

yeah not Indian saris or anything bright like that but perhaps a small taj mahal figure, small piece of brass or one of those carved wooden boxes with inlay. that type of thing. I want to go shopping with your I think your room is so fun! cant wait to see it.

I like everything. (Except the little mirror, but you said it already disappeared.........) I am not even sure that the prints need to come down at all. I am big on keeping art low, but I think you did an excellent job. Kudu is good there too. It's a fitting tribute to your StepDad, and there's not a thing in the world wrong with having a piece of art that doesn't "match" when it's something special that you love. Keep it. The cord looks weird so think about getting rid of the light.

Your slipcover looks really good. I adore your rustic looking lamp tables and the lamps are great too. Keep on the lookout for something really old to throw into the mix as someone already suggested. Maybe a vintage print for another wall, some vintage fabric on throw pillow, antique basket or piece of old iron.........I don't know. Just look around at a garage sale, in a vintage shop, or something. Even some really old books and bookends arranged on a shelf or on top of a bookcase..

I also like the paint shade in your room. It's a beautiful room and I think you have really good taste and a good grasp of what you want.

Red

Here's a room from RMS, which I just love, and I think has that 'stuff collected over the years' look. Notice it has a zebra rug. We recently purchased a zebra rug for our upstairs game room, after I studied rooms with them for a bit. What I think I deduced is that a room with a zebra rug but NO other animal-print elements looks British Colonial. More than one animal print and it starts to look more like the recent animal-prints-on-everything-from-handbags-to-shower-curtains trend. Anyway, thought you'd like to see this.... PS: If this looks like a real zebra rug to anyone, please don't tell me, I don't want to know. I'm a huge animal lover and would never consider even stepping on such a rug let alone owning one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Beautiful room with a zebra rug

A couple of blue and white china vases or urns would be a nice touch. You're off to a great start with your room.

Something to complement the colours in the bird prints above the sofa would also add pizzaz. Maybe needlepoint or chintz sofa cushions with hits of the red and green in the prints.

Have fun!