Too gray and dull? LR needs zip, or does it?
Jeff Smith
4 years ago
Here is LR in new house. We finally got all the big pieces of furniture. Somebody I know wants more gray or gray and black... I wonder if maybe colorful pillows, throws or sculpture would add interest and brighten the room, giving it zip?? What do you say, houzzies? The leather cube is optional, as are potted plants.
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Need input on LR (pics)
Comments (42)ok in the last picture i think the new grouping is nice on the right side but the table onh the left is a bit crowding..maybe remove it and put an inch or so between the love seat and the table pulling the love seat a tad to the left..to help balance..a small piece of art will finish the table grouping on the right near the table and lamp so the lamplight warms the art..a small square or round just a few inches above the top of the table with the plant just barely in front of the bottom right hand corner of the art...remove the bookcase in that room, it just doesnt go, everything else is ok.. back to the living room, the sofa doesn't properly balance being over by the window..it would be better facing the fireplace with the chairs on either side of the fireplace like you have them works well, however there are some balance changes that will work out well for you. first on the right side of the fireplace use the same chair and lamp and plant on pedestal, but take the art that is right of the sofa and put it on the wall right of the fireplace (not same wall, small wall by window) and put a table under it a few inches..put a small plant and some other art or something on that table..i think the round table is fine there, but any dark wooden table would work well too, or even that footstool would work as a table there well. the black shades work well with the chair and the black matted art..they tie into a theme..don't use white shaded lamps or anything too light in there..they won't balance. do a similar thing with the blue chair on the left of the fireplace..leave the chair and lamp and stool, but use a dark wooden table or something else there, not the light wood, and if you have a picture that goes with the dark matted one use it in a similar way as you do the other side..or you can use matched art from beside the fireplace stacked with bottom one a few inches above the table..not on the fireplace wall but the wall next to it.. a chest or coffee table will work well if you face the sofa toward the fireplace..but one of those other dressers or desks could be placed behind the sofa as a sofa table as well which would work nice so you don't see the back of the sofa..and the childrens chairs would be nice under the window with a small table or footstool between them.. these rooms do NOT call for the lighter wood, it just isn't needed with all the nice darker pieces that you have that go well together..that little dark desk would work well under the owl print..with something to tie them together, art or a lamp or something.....See MoreI Did It! Changed Cream LR Walls to Gray
Comments (47)I wanted to get a better shot of the walls but it's been extraordinarily difficult to portray the color as it really is. In truth, it's very much nicer in real life. I did try a few different looks for the mantel. The final look is with the small painting with water and ice floes which my husband painted in the middle, the green vase on the left (which looks much better that way) and the books on the right. The antique Chinese charger in now on the lower level of the coffee table. The faux plant by the secretary is back simply because my husband and I like it there, good taste and contrary opinions notwithstanding. I will look for another one that looks less faux and we're also looking for a picture light for the portrait. After this, I think I need a little rest before I tackle any more projects. I was still moving things around on the mantel after midnight!...See MorePanic Attack. . .Grey Mirage too Minty?? (pics) X Post frm Kit
Comments (12)Thanks again everyone!! Moonshadow, if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it, but they all match (8x8, dab on the can, walls). I wonder if it's the red in the floors/counters that are doing something to it. Boxer, I did pull out some oldish fabric samples and found two that, amazingly enough, really seem to pull it together. The background of one is a dead-ringer for the walls (minty and all!!) and has some dusty pinks, lavendar, ivory and rust in some of the florals, and the R Sprig in some of the greens in the leaves. The other one is a "Middle Eastern" paisley with dk brown, rust, and a little olive in it. Only problem is that next to the oven stack, I'd have to find some art work with those colors in it. . .but a distnct possiblity if I decide to keep it!! Jbrig and SandraZ6. .I really think lightening up the the R Sprig with white might be the answer. When I get to the end of the road, I'll let everyone know what I did. . .and thanks again, and again, and again. . . you all are the BEST!!...See MoreNeed help -LR furniture purchase
Comments (8)I struggled with my LR for years. It too has a fireplace on one wall and two doors leading into it. For many years I had a couch perpendicular to the fireplace, and then some chairs to fill in around the rest of the space. It never seemed right. This year, I placed two comfy wingback chairs on each side of the fireplace and the couch moved to the opposite wall to face the fireplace. A coffee table is in front of the couch. What a difference! And when I hosted Thanksgiving, I received so many comments from people who said how much better they liked the current arrangement. The fireplace is the focal point. Everyone is a comfortable talking distance from each other. There is space for people to walk through the room. I still need one more chair to flank the couch, but there is no hurry on that. I'm not a decorator, but from what you have described of your room, I would stick to your instincts of how you see it. For me, those chairs you have linked are formal, but perhaps your room is formal and that is what you want. My room is more casual, one of the wingbacks has an ottoman for instance to go with it. I have always liked Zuzu's room too, but I couldn't live without a couch to lie down on with a good book, and a fire going in the fireplace. It's where I hibernate during the winter....See More
Jeff Smith
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoIdaClaire, that's definitely a unique approach. Maybe just buy a few white pillows to match couch/chairs and let the view carry the day? From a "need" point of view, the chairs are comfortable but arms are kind of hard..
Here's view...we love it. Secondly, here's a pic of one of our inspiration homes; they don't have any colorful decorative touches - of course their house is nicer and more dramatic but with many of the same tones.
Jeff Smith
4 years agoTheresa Janssen
4 years agoJeff Smith
4 years agoyvonnecmartin
4 years ago
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