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Home Decorating

Help me design my living room

7 months ago

Bought my first home a few months ago, so all this is still new to me. I’ve been working on my living room, but I cannot decide on what I want. I was going for a modern farmhouse style in the beginning, but now I’ve moved on to mid century modern, two totally different styles I know lol. After some research I feel the floors, front door and the built in wall shelf really scream this style choice. My main questions are 1) does the rug I have now fit the mid century modern look I’m going for? 2) what color drapes should I go for, if any? 3) should I go darker or lighter with my furniture? I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing lol. But the credenza definitely has to be changed, since it’s still the farmhouse style. Black is my favorite color, so I really want to incorporate some black into it.

Any recommendations/advice is appreciated!

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Comments (4)

tracefloyd
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
Congratulations on your new home. I love the architecture and the wood detailing. The paint complements the wood. The style seems early mid-century to me like 1940's and your sofa is like a chesterfield, so a bit of classic was still in style...not too modern or space age.

I think this rug will look great in your room. It's wool so it's comfy and will last forever...easy to clean.

You don't say what size the rug is you currently have but the size looks about right.

This 5x7 size is on sale but is it too small? Always just wait for your size to go on sale. Put the size you want in your cart and check back each week. Once it's in your cart they will eventually discount it for you. We waited like months but so worth it for fine carpeting. Oh, if you want samples, order the smallest size and if you like it, return it and order the big one.

The rug will work with black, maybe the tv stand could be painted black. Black gloss enamel was popular then.

Do you need the fan? Maybe just change out the glass lampshades and paint the blades to match the ceiling.

I'm still pondering window treatments...venetian blinds were in style in the mid century so you may not need anything.

You do need art...l think framed vintage travel posters from the era and get throw pillows in the same colors.

Do you have a collection of anything? Place some on the shelves as conversation starter.

A couple of plants that hang down on the shelves next to the window.

You could add more mcm in a footstool and compact side chair somewhere. An end table for the sofa and a table lamp and floor lamp.

I don't think you need a coffee table...the room seems fine without one. We don't have a coffee table, we just footstools for the feet.
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tracefloyd
7 months ago
Have you had a chance to review my ideas? Any comments?
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Thank you so much, Beverly and decoenthusiast! The house is under renovation so I don’t have access to clean photos but here is some info about the room: It’s north-facing, and you see the room from the front entrance (front door is south facing). The back wall is an outside wall to the backyard and there is a fireplace and a ledge along a giant window, so there is really only 1 wall in the living room & that’s where the piano goes. This sitting/living room is half of a great room that also has our “formal” dining room—it has a 96” cherry live edge table & 8 walnut Knoll Nakashima chairs. The table is perpendicular to the backyard, with a big sliding glass door. The fireplace is in between the sliding door and the big window. Behind the table, against a wall that faces the piano wall, is a walnut sideboard that we are keeping. There is a light fixture over the table that is also staying. Thinking that the sofa will go parallel to the dining table and piano, (perpendicular to the windows & fireplace) and hoping to squeeze the a mid century style recliner (black leather & walnut) between the window & the piano, & 1 or 2 swivel chairs facing the backyard window. The space for the just the living portion is 10 feet wide (the wall against which the piano goes) by 13.5 feet long. The dining room opens to the kitchen which is getting redone. Oak floors will continue & we’ll have a walnut floor to ceiling cabinet along the wall that is the kitchen side of the foyer. The kitchen faces south & has 2 big windows to the front yard…dishwasher, sink, lower cabinets along the window wall in SW Gale Force (a dark navy w hint of teal). In the kitchen next to the walnut cab we’ll have an oval (37x60”) walnut table w black iron cylinder base. Chairs tbd. Cabinets around the rest of the room all same navy. Island (60x70”) will be in the middle between kitchen & dining space. Will have 3 barstools. Cooktop in island. Counters are Yosemite Falls Quartzite.
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Fireplace Treatments
7 months ago
@tracefloyd has some good ideas. The ceiling fan certainly needs to go. No sense trying to change the glass and blades, the style is completely wrong.

I would use this one:

56" Atlas Alessandra Ceiling Fan in Textured Bronze with Walnut Blades

By: bestoutdoorceilingfans.com

(indoor & outdoor fans)
tracefloyd
7 months ago
last modified: 7 months ago
Nice mock-up with rug I proposed, wow. Everything looks good with the rug, thank you for doing that. The fan is fantastic.
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