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I have posted before about this difficult room. The royal blue carpet was replaced by laminate slate look tile & then room painted. Unfortunatley floor not installed properly & had to come out. Long story, but we got our $ back & decided on carpet. In retrospect, I would have chosen a different wall color, for now it will have to stay. I need input on a few things, garage door paint color(currently dark brown)wall decor, area rug as Victorian Girl suggested) floor/table lamps & new coffee table.

The furniture is too large a scale for this room. We are going to use it for a few more years, then replace.

There are more pictures on this link

http://share.shutterfly.com/ac...?sid=0AYt2jJuzbN2jnY

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mmtsh,

The one thing I would add would be an area rug in the seating area. I know some people don't like a rug on a carpet but I don't mind it and it helps to establish different zones in the room.

It looks very brown.

The first thing I would do in the room is establish a focal point. I see that you are trying out the fireplace as the focal point, but because it is on an angle it doesn't seem to be working. Try something else. Maybe the window.

You are right that the furniture isn't right for the room, but that's life isn't it. Sometimes we all have to work with what we have.

I think the room would be better if you moved out the big brown chair. Keep your eyes peeled for a pair of chairs at garage sales or thrift stores, as a pair of side chairs with a sofa are much easier to arrange in almost any room, than a matching sofa and chair.

If the doors on the right side of the picture are the ones you are asking about for color, I would paint them out, which means paint them the same color as your walls, including the trim. That will help them to not attract attention, which will help to reduce some of the visual chaos that is going on in the room.

For cocok: The old furniture I had was smaller scale. I moved it every which way. With facing patio doors, I must allow enough room to open the music rm.closet and then the sofa appears as if it is sitting in middle of room and you can't view the tv. I tried backed up to patio doors, but then you lose use of them and we have a patio just outside them. This room is very hard. I have posted before about it. Once I can afford new furniture, it may be easier. Sure hope so.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles D:
It looks very brown.

Hmmm, I am wondering if there is a hidden message in there.

quote:

Originally posted by cocok:



If the doors on the right side of the picture are the ones you are asking about for color, I would paint them out, which means paint them the same color as your walls, including the trim. .

Would I have to paint out all of the trim in the room?

You wouldn't necessarily have to paint out all the trim in the room, but I can't really see the whole room to tell.

You do have a tricky room to lay out, but there is always a way.

I am going out of town tomorrow, but will check back on your progress when I am home again.

I found a coffee table at big lots that looks exactly like this & I thought it would work with my room...

http://rusticchic.files.wordpr...p-us.jpg?w=300&h=200

Yes, you do have a very, very tricky room to arrange!

If you don't really need the little arm chair with the blue seat, then I would take it out (sure is a cute chair). This would help visually to not feel so crowded.

I like that table you have chosen..you def need a table that is "lighter". If you could get away with no coffee table, I would go with that...adding small side tables for either a lamp and to hold your cup of coffee..

I also think your layout of the furniture is pretty much the only way to be able to watch tv and use your doors.

As far as the paint color on your door, if your trim is not painted, then I would not paint.

The sconces beside the fireplace are to small in scale...as are the pics over the tv. I would move them to the left of the fireplace, side by side but one hung a bit higher than the other.

Floor lamps....hhmmm...maybe only on the left side of the sofa next to the fireplace.

Are there two doors on the far wall? Could you move your TV down so that is more centered on that wall?

What do you all think?

PS ....forget to talk about the rug...so what colors do you like and are drawn to...what colors do you have in the rest of your home? Your room is basically neutral right now. I personally would add a rug that has a bit of redish brown in it...then a few throw pills that have a color from the rug...your room needs something to soften it...rugs and pillows do that.

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: anneyland,

Consider if you even need a coffee table. Maybe end tables would be more versatile and open up the space.

I will work on getting an area rug and at least try it out.
Looking at my own photos, yes those sconces are too small, and some of the wall artwork isn’t right.
I would center the tv stand, but the power room door needs to open.
This room is so frustrating. I start to work on it, and then give up, and land up revisiting it. This is why I post about it time to time.
I am going to have to invest in new seating/ furniture, but even at that, I don’t know if it will ever look right.

I do appreciate the thoughtful people here who are helping me along the way. Thank you.

Someone who knows my home suggested adding a wood mantel and extending it...this is a rough mockup. They also suggested a color that blends with the woodwork and fireplace, like a deep golden color vs. the contrasting grey I have now.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mmtsh,

I think a beefier mantel would be nice, and yes warmer color would be great!!!

I would paint the walls...maybe a soft yellow/cream. I would leave the TV where it is and put a mantel on the fireplace. I would take out the small chair. I would put the couch facing the TV and the matching chair where the small chair is only facing the couch...pulled out from the wall a little. TV watching will not be available here but good conversation would. Lamps/end tables and such could be added. I really like the idea of the chest for a coffee table but it looks so out of place...either paint it dark or how about a glass/wrought iron coffee table? You could add a colorful area rug if you wanted but maybe just some colorful accessories would work.

quote:

Originally posted by May:
I would put the couch facing the TV and the matching chair where the small chair is only facing the couch...pulled out from the wall a little.

I can place the sofa facing the TV wall. The only thing is, when you enter the room from either patio door, garage or the stairs down, you are greeted with the sofa's backside. I thought the sofa angled sort of said welcome more. I would not be able to use the matching chair(too big), as I already tried that. The smaller blue one will work.

I really don't mind the sofa facing the TV wall vs. being angled.

The thing is, I have to invest in smaller scale furniture. This room is challenging as it is, and it does not need the big bulky furniture.

OMG. That's all I can say. This room takes the starch right out of me. The next thread about this room will be titled: "what seating furniture do I buy for this room?"

This room layout reminds me a little of mine...

http://www.houzz.com/photos/45...ily-room-minneapolis

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mmtsh,

mmtsh -
I remember this room and I think you are on track with the layout. I like the proposed table. Thank you all for letting me swoop in now and again and share my concepts.

One idea for future is to (when you change it for other reasons?) switch the active pane on your slider - it will give you more room in the main area because you will be able to shift your couch back another 2-3'. Sounds impractical except for under 800 you get an extra 15 square feet in your space that is usable.

Since I recall that you have some cranberry upstairs, and the brick is really gorgeous, and you don't want to paint again (taupe would be great here, but hard to coordinate with the stone and brick which you've done beautifully) The mantle you have now is great stone and the wall color coordinates with it.

You obviously favor classic lines, so work with a monochromatic scheme with pops of color taken from the room. Paint out all your trim crisp white against the gray walls. Let the blue chair (great lines) stay, but consider recovering it in a nubby neutral cream tweed so it goes with whatever new direction you go.

I think you might want to consider going really tailored rather than warm - crisp brown, cream, cranberry. Be deliberate and add more brown and cream - Put down a rug that helps ground the dark furniture. See http://www.homedecorators.com/...eather_Area_Rug/110/ (the outdoor rugs are so practical indoors in a family room with kids, but you can find something fuzzier if you like)

Layer nubby tweedy beige and cranberry pillows on the brown leather, and then with the new table you will have lots of neutrals and the brown won't seem so blah but deliberately layered (mid brown of chair, cream upholstery, brown tone on table, chocolate leather).

If you take the picture left of the fireplace down and stack three black and white photos of your family there - (take some photos you already like, crop them in unusual ways, then print them in black and white - 8 x 10's from your printer, matted in cranberry and framed in black stacked one two three will draw your eye up. This will echo the monochromatic tones of the clock, use cream or tan cardstock to print your photos for a bit more resonance with ivory tones of clock.

Forget the mantle - what you have is working and helps accentuate the vertical - needed in a room that you come down into and has 8' ceilings. That horizontal band will make the room feel shorter.

I'd add a big chocolate band of fabric across the curtains like a border near the bottom. Then add something cranberry colored to the top of your new coffee table and wowsa. Ir will feel pulled together without a big overhaul.

My message - simplify rather than complicate. Add more tones between brown and cream/white, and use the graphic contrast between the neutrals. Add more pops of cranberry like the deep tone behind the brick (accents upstairs - unify the house). That will work well against the desk area in the backcorner too - black and dark brown are nearly interchangeable (see black tv, black frames on new black and white photos, etc.

Thank YOU for helping us. Thank YOU for helping me. I was so happy to see your name pop up!

It is amazing you picked that particular rug, http://www.homedecorators.com/...eather_Area_Rug/110/
because I have been drawn to fretwork-like patterns lately. Which color would work? I like the red. What size?

There is a floor heating duct on the other side of slider, so I will have to ask if the door opening can be switched.

Yes, I painted out the upst
airs-living room door a rusty red. I love little pops of red.

With the mantel, I tried to match the paint color to the stone & work with the existing slate floor at that time which had grey and some warm clay like tones. It all blended nicely. Too bad the slate didn’t work out. What a disaster that was.

I am going to work on the other recommendations as well.