I have no suggestions but wanted to tell you that I adore the chairs on each side of your fireplace! Wish I were in the neighborhood and I'd buy them!

Mammie

Thanks Mammie!

The only reason we may replace them is to add some contrast to the golden fabric on the sectional. we have such a sea of gold happening in the room.

Meowser

Okay, I know I asked for a lot on the original post so now I am going to go small. If someone has an idea for our fireplace wall, that would be a great start for us!

Pretty, pretty please.., just one creative suggestion. We really are at a loss as to where to begin and a fresh set of eyes could help us to see the room in a new light.

Thanks,
meowser

I think your furniture is too spread out and disjointed. I would bring the seating area closer together, bring the fireplace chairs to a position where they could be used for conversation. It appears as though you would almost have to shout to carry on a conversation in that room, but could be just my computer seeing it that way.

I would build some builtins around the fireplace to keep it "warmer" and "homier," and add personal items and books I loved on those walls. Then start with grouping the furniture into 2 conversational groupings.

I agree with your comment Patricia. There is a lack of unity in the arrangement. I will start trying a new placement this afternoon and post more pics.

meowser

LOL, I was just going to post asking you to take wider shots of the room.

We need to see how the DR connects. Can you take a pic standing behind the sectional right by the entrance to give an overall room feel?

Very cool sectional, and you have a great starting point to use that for a style. I'll look through some of my designer photos to see if there's anything that might help.

I'm thinking you need to add more elements of the MCM style. Do you like that, or is the sectional something you want to play down?

First -- as I see that the sectional is a classic Modern -- so try to add simple modern black coffee table (maybe in a more rounded shape) and black end tables and sofa table. Keep the accessories simple, strong and modern!

Switch the lighting too! A table lamp or two (check out Lamps Plus website) and a standing lamp -- again -- in a much more modern style. Perhaps in black? or bronze?

Find a large modern artwork with some colors -- for the fireplace. Make sure that it has a simple black frame. Then take a single modern color from the artwork -- and work it into accessories (like cushions for the sectional)

Yes -- for NOW -- keep the chairs -- and try to re-work the room set-up so that they are part of the seating area. Your photos do not show the rest of the space. Add an area rug ((measure the floor space around the sectional AND the two chairs out front)) Check out "O ---- verstock.com" website for ideas. Or try homedecorators.com website too. Look there for table ideas. Also check there for curtain ideas too! Keep them simple!

Check out Benjamin Moore's "Bittersweet Chocolate" BUT do wait until you find that large artwork. THAT will be your key inspiration piece -- and you may find another color that would work.

Add black shelving on each side of the fireplace.

Go modern! And look for great Mid-Century Modern (or MCM) pieces on your local Craig's List too for the rest of the space.

Here is a link that might be useful: lamps plus lamps

Here's a photo very similar to your f/p set up.
I think the f/p & wall painted the same color looks nice.

Also notice how the chairs are pulled in front and closer together, and the lamps add height to either side.
You can break up the gold expanse on the chairs with pillows.

{{!gwi}}

Wow! Thanks everyone; some great ideas already.

tryin2grow, yes we do love the look of MCM. The sectional belonged to my grandparents in the 50's. We just recovered it about 2 years ago. Maybe painting the upper part of the f/p is the way to go; that way it would not "fight" with the beam wall when we paint it in an accent colour.

teacats, I absolutely love the lamps you linked me to; and thanks for such detailed suggestions.

We are heading out right away, but I will take some photos tomorrow evening with a wider view. Our dining area also needs some work, but I will try to get it in the pics anyway.

Thanks again and happy new year!
meowser.

Tryingtogrow. I love those pics.

The antique furniture does not fit with the other furnishings. First find an area rug and work around that for color. I really like the chairs by the fireplace. As suggested, you need to pull them closer together. I would not get rid of them.

I would like to see pillows with other colors in them to bring in more color.

Here is what we did in our FR. We're not finished accesorizing yet. Notice how the chairs by the FP are closer together. The pillows on the sofa and the fabric on the back of the chair work together. The pillows allow me to bring many colors into the room and add interest to the neutral furnishings.

I would think choc. brown on all walls would just be too dark-- for my taste, anyway, but obviously I don't live there! I think light walls (maybe a super light gold?) and chocolate accents might look amazing, though.

I agree with the pps about the seating and moving the older pieces out, but I think the main thing the room is lacking is personal accessories. Do you have anything in your house right now that you could use in that room? I like to "shop" in my own house. I find that helpful-- gives me an idea of colors, shapes, etc. that work before spending money. Experiment for free!

BTW, I think your idea of using that space where the rocker is as a little seating area is good. I might take out the rocker and ice box, move that 50s (?) chair into that space (the corner), add a little rug there, maybe a bookcase or vintage radio . . .a reading light, and it would be very cozy!

jerseygirl, I love your green chairs, they are beautiful.

I have done some rearranging and what a difference a minor adjustment of bringing the chairs closer together makes; the room feels more intimate already. We will add built-ins in black as teacats suggested, to fill up the space on either side of the f/p.

We have been fixing up bathrooms, kitchen & basement during the two yrs. we have been living here, and there is a room upstairs of artwork and packed boxes of ornaments and personal objects that are crying out to be unpacked - finally we can get to it which is the reason for the furniture arrangement.

I have included a pic looking into the dining room, which I mentioned also needs tweaking. We have been on the lookout for a new DR table; something more in the MCM style with a dark stain and I am planning on hanging 3 pictures of a similar theme on the far wall to break up the boxy space. We also need a new ceiling light.

Back to the living room - anele, I like your idea of the chair in the corner. I think that could work nicely with the right table and reading lamp. Must get shopping!!

I have decided that the icebox needs to be moved out of the room entirely, it really just doesn't work. I will try it in the front foyer.

The shape of the room and the furniture we have has made this project such a challenge, but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to all of you.

P.S. Please ignore the bit of mess and randomness of knick-knacks; nothing has been strategically placed yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: New LR pics