hmmm, that's a toughie. Personally, I love the look of a light colored sofa too, but if you love blue - go with the blue! I also love the ticking stripe idea (I love stripes!). I'm currently going through the same dilemma and can't decide between a light off-white natural or a darker camel color. I was considering the PB sofa too, but I think I've decided on this one from Broyhill (can't decide on fabric though). The local store I called said you buy the frame first (which I'm considering upholstering in a fallish color) and then buy the slipcover separately (which I'm considering the natural twill). Total cost is between $778 and $1200 - depending on fabric type, but that's not too bad considering you get two looks. california dreamer, I currently have this Rowe slipcovered sofa: It has held up well, however I made the mistake of getting the down cushions and I would NOT recommend them! For the past 8 years dh and I have been poked and prodded with little feathers coming out of the cushions! The slips do hold up well after washing (I have a patterned cotton fabric - dont' know what I was thinking, should have gotten a plain fabric!) But the arms of the sofa are too tall for my tastes - they are tall in the back and slope forward in the front. I bought this sofa sight unseen, so I will try not to do that again. Lesson learned :)

Hi Schoolhouse and Bronwyn, I appreciate (and totally get) your opinion. And you haven't hurt my feelings! I always tell my kids, make sure only take offense if you can tell the other person wants you to. Anyway, since you brought it up, here's why this cottage, at least in this iteration, will not be what you describe, which I would call Maison du Lac or "lakehouse-y". 1, Been there, done that. Our lakehouse has all of that vernacular. Pendleton loves me. It is totally de rigeur in that setting, and I enjoyed doing it, but I don't want to do it again. I can't find an interior shot on this mac but here she is: 2. I don't view myself as cutie-pieing it, more like feminizing it a bit. I could cutie pie it up with purple shutters and pink awnings and a ice cream parlor set and a wooden dutch door with stencils. Or make it a Little Mermaid house or somesuch. I never even did that when they were infants. My first daughter's crib featured b/w gingham with apple green. My children's rooms and bathrooms are sophisticated enough for an adult. BTW --- I don't judge people who want their kids to have a Cars the Movie Bed, because I know they could judge me as harshly for not letting my kids "express themselves". I would disagree, and say they are very welcome to express themselves, but tastefully. Anyway, my point is I don't cutie-pie anything --- at least no intentionally! 3. Form, and finishes, follow function. My girls are likely to be the primary users for now. I also have a few friends and relatives who think it would be so romantic to stay when they visit. And I would like to turn it into a pondside bar when we entertain outdoors, to get people to come down to the water instead of just look at the views from the patio. Someday, I can see making it my office. Or maybe my own Petit Trianon! In any event, this won't be a boys fishin' lodge or poker room. It's for us girls, and it is a bit of a folly we would not try elsewhere. 4. My inspiration pictures (avert your eyes if you are tired of seeing these) are actually girly. The picture at the top of this post was just the best shot I found showing the layout I want. The style, as I have said, is fab, but not what we want here. My inspiration pictures are the little cottage in the link (note the loft sans railing, where the chandelier must hit your belly button) and, this pic, which I posted about before, when i posted about how to "copy a look" The picture above is, of all of the images, the closest to the look I want. To that end I have bought a similar sofa (the one in the photo is an enormous albeit gorgeous two sided circus act!), copied the ottoman and the rug, even bought a silver tray and aqua vase, and chose pillows to mimic the look but somewhat different colors (pillows are shown below on an unrelated chaise in an unrelated room ). I am holding off to see if a chandy will ruin the sight line to the loft. I am using wall sconces similar to the chandy, and probably a mirror. I am trying to get some of the pale pink in my painting the shiplap ceiling pale pink (BM Pink Bliss, which I think was one Bronwyn suggested when I said I was looking for pale pale pink) Of course, my room will look totally different, for goodness sakes, because it has stone walls! But I think everything looks good with stone or brick. It will surely be unexpected, but i think it might look very nice in a quirky off beat way. Or, it will be awful. In which case it is a matter of few pillows and repainting the ceiling. So there you go .... more than anyone ever wanted to knpw! Here is a link that might be useful: One of my inspirations

I like the rug and think it goes well with the couch. I certainly don't think it looks short - and wouldn't even think of it if I were in your room unless you mentioned it. I like the muted palette of the rugs and I think it works well with the rich brown of the sofa. And certainly you can lighten the mood with better lighting as well as painting the dark woodwork. Just a thought - maybe two smaller coffee table height tables - or ottomans that can double as coffee tables would work better for a smaller space since they are more easily moved around. Not sure if those are reclining sofas but for me it's comfier to have a place (preferably soft) to put my feet up when really relaxing on a sofa. What's wrong with the floor? It looks like a nice lightish wood floor - at least from the picture.

Love the artwork and I would get a sofa and two chairs also. I love the blue in the art, maybe use that tone for the sofa and chairs. This would look great. https://www.westelm.com/products/haven-loft-sofa-86-h4998/?catalogId=71&sku=6929507&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20Sofas%20%2B%20Loveseats&region_id=658780&cm_ite=6929507&gclid=CjwKCAjwlrqHBhByEiwAnLmYULTzSF_1EJIWPUjqxZM7mtGNOD3tBLJbV4rF-UD6W6hk88TRTe-nshoCEewQAvD_BwE Maybe you can find one with microfiber, which is the best product to use with children.