Message Boards

After two years of having moved in I am a bit upset my main living area still looks like this. I have a hard time making decisions and knowing what looks good in my space. My main question involves the windows, walls, and floors of my living/dining area. What color rugs and what type of windows should I get to achieve a contemporary but cozy space? What kind of art should I place on my walls and how? Also, I am so lost when it come to decorating my big Ikea wall unit. It feels so empty and leaves so much to be desired.

I feel the space right now is too masculine and lacks personality, mainly because I have no art anywhere except for a few pictures of us and the red lladro ceramic piece you see inside the wall console (mother in law got me that and I have no idea where to display it). The rug you see in the living room was also a recent gift from the mother in law. I figured it was better than nothing even though I know it is not what I envisioned for the space. My color scheme is turquoise, mustard yellow/chartreuse, and white. Can you please help me? PS. I know the blinds have got to go but I have no idea where to begin with those! There are two tiny windows next to two huge ones. Would roman shades or light bamboo shades work for those huge windows? Thanks so much for your help! Pictures below.

I am also on a budget so have to plan big ticket items carefully.

Lola, are we missing a picture?

Lola, one of your issues is scale. The two stacked windows with the wooden blinds create a large focal point. Your sectional is also very large for the space. So the small cube style end table and the two small wall shelves look really disproportionate. There is also somewhat of a disconnect between the warm wood tones of your blinds and the cooler taupes/grays of the sectional fabric and rug. If the blinds are going to work you need to connect them with something like wooden end tables or even contemporary lamps with wooden bases.Also, I might recommend some warm accent colors instead of more cooler colors like the blue pillows. Best of luck!

I agree with Charles. Also a fabric with both gray and camel would pull the blinds in.

Those wood shades sure stand out, do you need them for privacy or to keep the sun out? if not I would remove and hang curtains from the top window to the floor. Do he same with the small windows or leave them plain. I like the area rug,could you get some black pillows to add to the sofa and black side tables with lamps.

Wanda

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

Did not know how to add additional pics. Here is dining.

Living room view from dining.

Based on the rug, I would say that your MIL seems to have a good feel for color and your style. I would enlist her as my decorating consultant if I were you.

Very beautiful rooms.I agree the wood blinds is throwing off the look & colr scheme.Remove the shelfs and add a big piece of art on that area.Then add more art or larger family pics.I like the panels hanging.Have you thought of adding the same behind the sofa,bottom only?

IMO, the shades are the problem. Do you have them for privacy or light control? Can they be removed? The same goes for your drapes. Do they have to be closed?

If you need the shades, can you eventually replace them with white ones? I assume that the upper window is covered due to sunlight? Otherwise, I would remove it completely. It just draws my eyes to it and takes away from your beautiful home.

Wanda, I guess I don't really need the shades for privacy since that side of my house faces the neighbors house (no windows on their side) I would need to block out light for daytime TV watching. Would it be too much to have drapes on all windows? See new pic of dining room drapes.

Thank you Jackie. I must admit I don't like the shelves in my dining room either. They were a last minute installation for the holidays when I panicked knowing I was having a party and had absolutely nothing on my walls! I understand now that I need larger scale pieces for that wall (and also for the wall across from it which I don't think you can see in the pictures).

I thought about adding panels to the bottom window in the living room but thought it would look awkward with an equally sized window above it bare.

Can you get more of those drapes you have in your DR-at least for the other two DR windows. None of the blind accentuate the look your going for.

This is a horrible thought and I can't believe I'm about to say it, but if those giant blinds in the LR aren't real wood (well I guess even if they are if you're going to toss them is won't make a difference) you might consider painting them the wall color. It's much easier to spray them if you or someone you know has the equipment or if you hire it done. My boss have one of the local painters spray her wood blinds and they looked fine. Those giants you've got really throw a kink in your look. Painting them in the wall color will help[ them disappear without compromising glare control.

You could also use that area for a large accent space-something like a 2 story wall-hanging in a pattern that suits your style. You could hang them so they're flat. If you're really creative, you could paint you own wall-hanging out of canvas sheets or drop cloths. Either thought would lose the intrusion of those windows and provide the artwork you need.

It's a thought, but I think I'm losing my mind, so it might be a crazy one.

Grapefruit! Omg this is so enlightening! I have never even thought about removing the blinds all together. They have just stayed there since we moved in. I am definitely going to remove the top and then figure out what to do with the bottom ones. I am a little paranoid about privacy because although that side of my house is gated, the other side of my backyard is not closed off from the neighbor. Actually their dog likes to come to our backyard to do his business!! But that's another story. So until by backyard is completely private I think I will have reservations about not having any dressing on those bottom windows.

Christie you are not crazy at all. If you are, I must be crazy too because I absolutely love your idea! Maybe pretty patterned shades that serve both as light blocking function and as artwork could be the solution. Now where would I get something beautiful and functional that wont cost me an arm and a leg? I am far from the artsy type :/

Got any artsy friends? They could probably whip you up something in a heartbeat. You could also look around at the modern art that's out there and replicate it. Sometimes it can be something as simple as three splashes of color on paper-or canvas (which is cheap and available in various sized drop cloths at the nearest hardware store.) It gives you something to think about anyway and sometimes that's all a person needs to get their mind headed in a good direction.

Nice fabric, whether the blinds stay or go.

quote:

Originally posted by annie17:
I agree with Charles. Also a fabric with both gray and camel would pull the blinds in.

Annie did you post a picture? I couldn't see it.

My first thought on replacing the blinds were those cell type shades that stack...they look more modern and would tie in with the more modern space. I also like the idea of painting the current blinds the wall color.

Those are some pretty large windows. Especially that top one..nice open space though.

Hi. Do you have a picture of those cell type shades so I can look it up? Thanks!

Here is a view of the foyer from the living room so you guys can see how i have tried to tie in some of the colors there as well. Some things I want to change:
1. paint the door black,
2. paint the stair steps (vertical surface-these called risers?) white.
3. Add furniture - maybe a chair to left of console
4. Add artwork
5. Do something special to mirror frame
6. Add bigger area rug - runner?
7. Lower chandelier possibly change it to a nicer one all together.
8. Accessorize console table better!

Any suggestion are welcome

Thought about my first Pinterest project being painting that birdcage I used as a money cardholder in my wedding either white or turquoise. My problem is coming up with ideas and not executing them or if I do, not executing them well (eg. the shelves in my DR)

Your home is very nice! Is that an outside window on the upper wall across from the stairs? It appears that there is a shade on the other side? Do you live in a hot climate? Your entry seems dark. Do all of your windows have those shades?

I really love natural light in my house and prefer minimal window coverings. But, we do not need them for sun control.

Sorry for all of the questions!

Thanks Grapefruit! Yes, that's a window across from the stairs. It has blinds and was closed, that's probably why the photo looks dark. You guys have inspired me to get rid of necessary blinds though, so that one will go soon as well! I love light in my house also, but the blinds sometimes make me forget that.

To answer your questions, yes, I live in Miami, FL so you could say it's hot down here! All of my windows have those blinds, except for my master bedroom, which for some reason, are a lighter birch color.In another post I will show you the other side of my house which has a bay window (3 more ugly blinds) with view to our backyard and lake. So many changes...so little time

lola, seeing the space overall I'm impressed. It's looking really nice. I'm going to direct you back to Annie17's post with the Ikat fabric. The gray with the camel would look great as pillows to help pull in the warm, organic tones of the blinds. Might I also suggest one of those Sarah Richardson/Candace touches, where you customize something ready made? If you could hem your drapes they would look more updated, puddling is out of fashion for contemporary interiors. Also adding a decorative tape in a camel and gray to the inside edges of your panels would help tie the two spaces together and give your window treatments a more custom look. Also the mottled silver ceramic pot on the floor looks a little lonely just sitting in the corner by itself.Maybe another smaller pot next to it?

I think you are doing a great job, don't stress it, you're just not done yet. Best of luck!

Thanks Charles! Hemming my drapes and adding a companion to my floor vase are all in my to-do list but thanks for the awesome tips! Had no idea puddling was considered out of fashion though.

Two things strike me:
Well, 3 things. First: Where do you live??!! OMG I could have so much fun with this house!!! And no, I'm not a psycho. But you really have such a blank slate.
(1) Art. You ask what type of art should you hang? I say Art comes from the heart. Browse online. If you need art on a budget try allposters.com, allart.com, domesticationsart; there are a million sites out there (look for posters or prints). But you're going to be looking at it for a long, long time so find something you love. (BTW: the art will be cheap -- the framing & matting will be expensive, so make sure you love it.)
(2) Color. The blue accents? Too "cool". You need something that warms up the place, be it paint, throw pillows art. Whatever. Something in the red/orange/gold family would do it, b/c right now the room feels cold. How about a nice afghan on the sofa? But steer clear of blues and greens. You just need somthing "soft" in the room.
The end tables are disproportianately small, as someone else mentioned. And it's all hard edges and sharp corners. Consider a round, fabric, ottoman or gourd-shaped table lamps. Some plants would help, and you obviously get enough light!
You also need to vary the height. Everything in the room is no taller than my armpits. Tall lamps, plants, yeah - art on the walls will give the room visual interest.
As to the windows? Yeah, that's tough. Some floor-to-ceiling drapes would be excellent, but very pricey.


Good luck.

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

quote:

Originally posted by *~Bella~*:
Got any artsy friends? They could probably whip you up something in a heartbeat. You could also look around at the modern art that's out there and replicate it. Sometimes it can be something as simple as three splashes of color on paper-or canvas (which is cheap and available in various sized drop cloths at the nearest hardware store.) It gives you something to think about anyway and sometimes that's all a person needs to get their mind headed in a good direction.

I have a friend that did this - quick, easy, cheap, and it looks great!!! Buy a regular roller shade (with those big windows that might be tricky) but then cover it with fabric. A little hot glue and you're on your way. Another suggesting as far as privacy (so you don't have to watch the neighbors' dog do his business)and I just suggested these to someone else, is "bottom up" blinds. I had them in my last apt. and LOVED them! They anchor on the bottom of the window but you raise and lower them with a cord like traditional mini-blinds or waffle blinds. But you can raise them high enough to block sunlight and offer privacy, but still leave them open at the top so you get the sunlight. And they look pretty cool!