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asiannorwood I need ideas on wall accents, rugs, furniture, etc...

sethemmanuelle You can paint your walls light pink or lavander.

Sharon Hi, it would help to know who lives here, eg young family etc. what colour is your lounge and what colours do you like? From there a wall colour will lead to rugs/cushions/art etc.

olldbobbi Also, I see vinyl vertical blinds, do you rent or own? Can they be replaced?

asiannorwood Vinyl blinds are out huh? What should it be replaced with? As far as colors, I was thinking auburn and yellow, but I'm not sure how to incorporate both for two rooms that's are adjacent to one another. For example, should do every other wall? Keep the ceiling white?

olldbobbi If you like auburn and yellow together, what do you think of this picture? Samantha Schoech did an idea book on the beautiful red ocher which pairs beautifully with yellow. [houzz=Private residence]

And for window treatments, grommet top panels are popular now, but wait to buy them til you decide on your wall color.

You can see Samanatha's red ocher ideabook here: Ideabook: Color Guide: How to Work With Red Ocher

bringonspring To keep things economical, work with what you have: floors and couch. I suggest painting the walls a warm neutral. Instead of going with auburn and yellow, consider something less "loud", like a light shade of a rusty brown or light shade of a terra cotta. If you want an accent wall, use the wall behind the couch. Look for an area rug for your living room to ground the space and make it more comfortable. Get side tables with matching lights for either side of the couch. In order for the dining room to be one, you need somewhere to dine! Consider a round wood table with 4 chairs in a dark stain, similar to the depth of colour in the couch. Change your fan to a more attractive pendant light. Remove the sun decoration. It's too small for the space but might work better in the dining area. Use accent pieces in auburn and yellow to bring in the colours you like (pillows, artwork, throw blanket). Clean out the clutter and next time you post photos on Houzz, it would be much easier to assess your space if you first put away your laundry! Happy decorating!

fife2 What is your budget and exactly HOW do you plan on using this space? Are you going to get a table, chairs, do you have a family - single - it helps to have more information - however, most of all it appears you have storage issues - are you planning on addressing this matter with other types of furniture? Let us know.

asiannorwood Bobbi, this picture is perfect! It's exactly the color scheme I am looking for. @fife, as far as a budget, maybe 750 to start out for one room, like the living room first. But I figured if I need more I would just take my time a save up or do it piece by piece. Also, it's just one other adult and myself, no children. @bringonspring, I love you idea of brown and accent pieces to bring out the colors. While I love the auburn yellow combo those colors don't have to be on the wall. If I do the brown behind the couch, what color for the side walls? As far as the dining, I ordered a dark wood base and glass top set already. It has white leather chairs too, hasn't ben delivered yet. What color for the kitchen /dining? And yes, the laundry has been put away lol. I was frustrated and anxious and snapping shots without paying attention.

olldbobbi asiannorwood, good! I'm glad you like it, I thought of that ideabook as soon as I figured out what color auburn was. At 2 o'clock this morning! If you do brown behind the couch, do tan or beige or even off-white for the side walls. However, I caution you about the brown behind the couch, your couch could disappear. I have tan sofas and tan walls; I split the wall into thirds vertically (visually, of course) and painted the bottom third a blue/gray so the sofas didn't disappear. Added an off-white chair rail and done.

And, actually that's something you could do. Paint the bottom third of the wall in red ocher, and the top in a paler yellow. I think that would be stunning.

asiannorwood Bobbi, your ideas are awesome. I never thought to paint two tone on one wall, the would make the room pop even more. One more question...I'm trying to figure out where I should put the tv. It's a small room with a sectional taking up most of the space, and the opposite wall leads to sliding glass doors outside. So it's almost impossiblle to move the couch there, but I could. My contractor just left and agreed to leave the couch where it is and put the tv by the sliding doors. I thought it wouldmlookmnice to have a tv mounted on the wall though...and bless you're heart for being up at 2 am!! Thx :-)

olldbobbi Thank you! I love my two-tone walls, but hubby hates them, and that, as they say, is life.

You have many windows! From the pics you've attached I don't see another place to put it either. If you mount it on the wall between the door and the slider across from the sofa, you run the risk of hitting it with the door and that would not be a good thing.

fife2 Dear Asianorwood: Thanks for letting us know. I do not know what type of home BobbieP has, but chair rail and 2-tone rooms look best in a more traditional setting and I am of the school - that if it serves NO purpose - (like traditional chair rail) - well - it does not belong! Sorry Bobbie.

Question: Do YOU use the sliding doors to the wall across from the sofa? OR do you ever open the window blinds in the front? I was going to suggest an entertainment credenza (or chest) - something rather low - which could run in front of either of these spaces?

Additionally if YOU do not use those sliding doors (?) you could turn the sofa around on that wall - and have it face the wall where the sofa currently is? Have you considered a HANGING piece of furniture - which will provide the illusion of a larger space - since your sofa is heavy? There are many examples of this now and I think Ikea does sell these types of furniture units! It would be one single unit - with cubbies and drawers, you could place your TV above or on it, and utilize the space for components and other items like CD's and DVD's. They add a lot to a space.
since you seem to like a more contemporary look - I feel this might work better for you?

The VINYL BLINDS - hmmmmmm - sorry - these definitely need to come down.

Again - what you use will depend on your tastes? There are so many choices these days.
There are tons of beautiful fabric and textured blinds - which could be hung flush above the door frames for a really clean contemporary look. And, there a many choices in drapes if this is your preference? some blinds run on smal chains, some have traditinal cords, some have NO cords and are cordless (Pottery Barn for ideas).

Since you seem to like really warm colors - have you considered somethng in the family of a persimmon? Not quite so strident? Can be calmed and complemented by Grey shades of colors, or opposites on the color wheel - like a soft grey/blue? A toned taupe - or Kahaki - which come all shades of undertones - like a yellow kahaki to compliment your persimmon?

I love your little basket on the wall - but way to small and too high for the space - why not bring this down into your room -

Please let me know if you can FLIP the sofa to the other side of the room - as this would open up an entire other dialogue - as to spatial design. And again - IF you like more contemporary look - then chair rail IS NOT for you!

Thanks for letting us know. :-)

olldbobbi fife2 - No need to apologize! That's what makes Houzz so great, we are all able to express our ideas and differences of opinions!

Just to be sure, I checked the Houzz photo archives and searched "contemporary chair rail" and was presented with over 25,000 photos to choose from. Quite a few of them were outdoor spaces and don't really apply. Here are a few of what I found: [houzz=Craftsman Style in Burlingame Dining Room] While this photo does say Craftsman style, you can see a few contemporary elements, as well as 2-tone walls. Also [houzz=Forest Manor Model Home] which also has 2-tone walls and is more contemporary and [houzz=Industrial, edgy teen bedroom]

I think, in part, it depends on the style of chair rail you choose. An ornate, carved chair rail is one I would not consider contemporary. It's smoother cousin, yes.

I consider my living room to be a mix of styles, but mostly leaning toward contemporary, and I'm really happy with it!

fife2 Thanks Bobby - I love all of the pictures you have sent - however, considering the space in this room and what the owner has proposed - I am thinking LESS around the rooms in this case is more - as this is a very small, connected area - it just might confuse things. I am still waiting to hear back an answer to one of the questions I have posed here: What IS the look which is desired? And, how functional are those sliding doors? This could change things dramtically as to design implementation.

My other thought is this: A single unified space and coloring will make the space actually appear larger - and shading this confined area with different upper and lower paint choices is going to end a visual flow? Make sense? I think she likes contemporary - but waiting to hear.

I just used the wrong terminology here - of course you can mix all of these with anything one likes. I do like the picture of the craftsman wainscotting - georgeous.

So, I guess now we wait? ;-)

fife2 Can you send us a picture of your front window BEFORE you wall mount the TV? With the blinds OPEN? There might yet be another option here - which could protect your TV and make keeping the sofa on this wall a total go!

I was actually thinking IF you got an entertainment chest - you could then put something like shutters on the front windows and the area above the AC - and still have a different type of window covering over the sliding doors. This could unify the front space into what will look like a single space - and you would not have to wall mount the TV behind the door.

this would also allow you to have drapes on your sliders which you could then open and close easily and would soften the space?

Let me know.

thanks?

olldbobbi fife2, you have great ideas. So many windows!!! Don't you wonder sometimes what the builders are thinking???

lovergirl223 I think u should add a redish

stephanie1114 Why don't you add hot pink and green it may sound strange but it goes together who do you live with??
Ps I added a picture

fife2 Oh Bobbi - you are so sweet! Yes - too many windows here - but - in a weird way makes sense - front of house - side of house? I have often looked at some houses and wondered why anyone would place a window in such stange places? And, windows that cannot easily be covered and are about 12 feet above one's head and look like little tiny slits - who knows?

But, I do believe some of these windows in this little space need to minimized - especially with that lovely expanse of glass on the sliding door wall. So, in this case, light is definitely not a deciding factor. Just highlighted in a different way.

But - it is certainly up to the homeowner - everyone has different tastes. Thank goodness - or we would all end up living in Hooterville! :-)

fife2 UH stepahnie - that IS fabulous! LOVE the cabinets too!

asiannorwood I agree the blinds need to come down, and they will as soon as I figure all this other stuff. I flipped the couch so you can see how it looks on the wall of the sliding doors. This is actually where I wanted it to be but was concerned about the space to the patio. The good thing is that it creates specs for the tv or ent center. But the decision is hard due to the fact that I would be losing out on either tv space or sliding door space all because of where the couch is placed. I left some space to open the sliding doors, and do plan on going out there when it's warm (no time soon, I'm in Chicago). The chair rail pics are lovely, I totally forgot how important that is when doing two toned. I think it can go either way as far as being contemporary or not. However, I think this will come down to the expense of it all.

asiannorwood Stephanie, this is nice! What shade of pink is this? Can't be hot pink...I may have to zoom in.

fife2 Dear Asian: OK sweetie - now that I can actually see how small the space is - width wise - your sofa IS in the right place. I also see that you have removed your AC from the window - cold up there in winter!

Here is my best guess - since you have such a small space for this - and you have a larger sofa - I am going to suggest that you paint the entire space ONE SINGLE color. The thing with an accent color is this: It can visually trick the eye - into bringing a wall into a room - say the room is longer than it is wide, OR make a wall visually add length to a space - unfortunately you have a small square room, with an attached DR - IF you want an additional POP of color - I would make the accent wall in the DR - using the back wall, or the side wall where you around the corner - I would paint the rest of the entire space - one single color and also paint the trim the same color - to minimize its effects around the room. This will make the room look larger and not outlined. Try using one shade down, in a matt or satin finish of the same color paint.

Once you hang the TV on that wall - then what? you cannot place anything under it, or near it - it will just be hanging there. Right?

Paint for your space is NOT going to cost you that much. Since you are on a budget - why not go to a flea-market, antique mall, yard sale, etc. and find a CHEST you can repurpose which will fit the entire length of your front windows - measure BEFORE you leave the house? Yes.

Go on line to somethng like: Rustoleium paint.com - and look at their new kits for redoing furniture, cabinets, etc. Or, look at Krylon paints, these can either be sprayed or painted to give you a smooth, slick finish. FIND a handy friend - or get working on your first DIY project - which can be SO totally fun. Take the drawers out and you could make them into hinged doors for storing CD's, etc. Leave some drawers - and use this for storage? You could take some out, and have the inside finished by simply cutting some plywood and GLUING it to fit the inside - but paint this a different color - like the lovely HOT PINK of those cabinets - actually something like HOT pink and Persimmon look totally fabulouse together - very chic! OR just paint the chest, after a little sanding and paint - change out the hardware on the old chest to something more modern or whatever you prefer! Have a piece of glass cut for the top? Make the top BLACK? What ever you see that you like - YOU CAN re-create for yourself.

Find an old mirror at someplace ? Refinish the frame and hang it lower above your sofa - this will definitely make your room look larger?

BACK to the front windows: Go to Home Depot - Lowes? Purchase some of the manufactured wood shutters and place them ALL the way across your front windows and treat this as ONE SPACE! This will also maximize the look of the room. If you want to be able to use the window - then get some that the top half can be opened - the bottom left closed for privacy? then when you have to put the AC back in, you can open the bottom part and leave the top half closed.

I would put the TV on the reclaimed chest, or buffet, or whatever you end up with, in front of those windows, and then would hang some things on the wall behind the door. Some prints hung in a pattern that you like? three pictures in a row?

Whatever you decide to do for the slider doors - just make sure you purcahse EXTRA panels, and only get those which are lined. They will hang better and look richer. I would hang my rod as close to the ceiling as possible and extend it at least 2-3 inches on either side of the sliding door - whatever the space will allow - this will also make the room look larger.
I KNOW Chicago has a decorator mart, etc. - so I know there must be a TON of wholesale places around town - go on line and look for a drapery resale place where folks trade in fancy drapes for new ones. OR, go to a high end fabric design center and look around - look in the back room for trim and end of roll discounted fabrics - find someone who sews - this is often cheaper and better than Target, etc. ALSO - go to Pottery Barn on line and look at all the different styles, the way they are hung on the walls - in most cities there are Pottery Barn sales, and there are also PIER one OUTLET Centers - where everything is ON sale!

Go for the shutters on the front. Go for finding a chest, buffet, etc., and consider getting something you can sit your TV on - I promise this will make your room look a little larger, and the last best advice - get furniture with legs and feet - not plunked down on the floor - this will also make the room look larger. OR go on Craig's List and find something on sale. TAKE YOUR TIME - have fun doing this - if you can get a chest say, and take out the drawers - you could even put baskets in those openings to hold things - and yet again - provide the appearance of more openess.

And here is my BEST suggestion: Look in Pottery Barn at all the new indoor-outdoor rugs.
They are usually less expensive than other rugs, even the sawgrass and woven berbers, and they can be washed off with the garden hose! So, they last longer and can be cleaned.
Get one large enough to fill MOST of your room. Nothing is worse than a too small rug. They have new patterns, no patterns - which would be great for your space - borders, in colors, what ever you like.

Also IF money is the deciding factor : Make your own curtain Rod with simply using a dowel rod from Home Depot, etc. You can purchase the plain wood pieces which hold up the rods in the curtain department there, and you can also purchase the ring clips there - just paint or stain this wood - whatever color you like? Trust me - this IS a LOT cheaper than purchasing a curtain rod, Then fancy up the ends with finials.

All of this should NOT cost you, your entire budget. Wait until the paint goes on sale - keep checking, the rods are cheap, find USED curtains if you can, spend the money on the rug, and the shutters for the front! Everything else you can find over time and make it your own.

Good luck and let us know if any of this helps! :-)

fife2 BTW - thanks for sending those photos and going to all that trouble - but it sure helped.

next spring - we will fancy up your patio! ha, ha. :-)

fife2 BTW - one more thing - the dowel rod, should on its own - not need a center support because the wood is strong enough to cover that width - I did one on my deck doors - and it is still hanging strong. I simply varnished mine, the end brackets and the finials, with clear varnish to bring out the natural wood and left it just like that.

fife2 Dear Asian: I checked out your profile (since you are following me - THANKS!) and noticed that you are renting. I rented for a long time before owning my home. I think you need to check with the managment BEFORE you remove the blinds. A lot of times they will charge you, if you do this and do not tell them. They might actually want to come and take them down themselves? I would not attempt to remove anything which is part of the apartment (condo?) without permission. Would definitely ASK prior to this process.

Secondly, I would like to ask how handy are you? For the drape rod I suggested - which is pretty simple - wanted to share the process, and make one more suggestion. If you make the rod yourself from a Dowel Rod - all you need to do, is make sure you dust off the dowel - especially if you have had it cut to fit your space. Then just take a clean cloth and rub the wood stain onto the wooden pieces. Stain is best on something like this, because it will NOT come off with use, especially if you are running the drapes, or drape rings back and forth to open and close the drapes. Try something like Min-wood stain (any home-depot or Lowes), what ever brand they sell.

I also had this thought later last evening: Since you will have the majority of the weight of your room on the one side with the sofa and solid wall - don't use a little skinny rod - like wrought iron.
Your sofa is heavy and sits right on the floor - If you DO shutters, etc., then have a chest (with legs) or repurposed object - this weight will also be on the opposite side of the room. To balance this out, a heavier drape rod, in a darker color - will keep this from being visually lop-sided. Make sense.

I also think by keeping the furniture where you have it, and doing the front window treatment, with tv arrangement - will have basically created another entire wall space - which you can incorporate - this will basically provide you with TWO solid wall spaces in the LR. This will allow you - when you can - to put a chair on the opposite side by the sliders? there are tons of great stores like the Home Store, for less expensive and GREAT finds, consignment stores, etc. -
I would definitely choose something with LEGS - to help again, lighten the feel of the room.

Hey, get a newspaper, take the window rod OUTSIDE, lean it against the fence and just start rubbing the finish down the rod in long strokes. Forgive me if YOU are handy. I would also get a stain with a polyurethane component in it, as this will provide some light reflection.

Last thing I would like to ask you. While I simply LOVE your original color choices - those ARE HUGE rooms, with lots of architectural components - to visually break up the spaces. ARE you SURE - you want to live with that much color in a small space? It will be a lot - since for your room, it should basically be all one color, on into the DR area?
Just asking. Sure would be a lot easier to change pillows, artwork, etc.

You can purchase sample cans of paint, take them home and put them in places on the walls. I would like to suggest you sit with this for awhile! See how you think it might impact your living space.

When you do get the paint, and have chosen the colors - ask for a satin enamel for the trim and the door - it will not be light reflective (adds depth) and will be totally washable.

keep us posted.

SPKCreative Abstract Art www.spkcreative.com Hi Asiannorwood,

Bobbi, Fife2 and Stephanie have given great advice! Going with the red and tan theme or the hot pink and green one, maybe you could cover a wall or two in a removable wallpaper or just do a border in one of these patterns:

"Eternal Symphony" Jewel 2 fabric by spkcreative for sale on Spoonflower - custo

"So In Love" Glass fabric by spkcreative for sale on Spoonflower - custom fabric

"'P' In Pretty" Windy fabric by spkcreative for sale on Spoonflower - custom fab

Best,
Shari

Email: spkcreative@gmail.com
Abstract Art: http://www.spkcreative.com
Color Consulting: http://www.houzz.com/pro/spkcreative/spkcreative-abstract-art-wwwspkcreativecom
Fabric and Wallpaper Lines: http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/spkcreative
Stationery Line: http://www.zazzle.com/spkcreative*

cyn222 Start with one or two of your favorite colors or simply go with a neutral grey/brown and pop the colors in your accessories. I can design gardens, but I am terrible at choosing my favorite color to decorate inside my home. I have white walls, grey stone counters, dark and golden woods mixed about and just change out the colors on pillows, throws, artwork as I feel the need. Makes it easier for me. I tend to like nature so I go with the basics (rock, sand, wood) and build on that. Good luck!

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design Personally love gold walls and reds as I visit it daily in my daughter-n-law and son's home and I never get tired of it. They have gorgeous fabric drapes - but their space is much larger and I too worry about too much going on in a smaller space. Possibly adding colors in accessories. Went looking for some idea rooms and have added them below - first choose your wall color/s and get to painting - then come the details - rugs, pillows - accents - It will make a big difference when your dinning set arrives - you will be able to get a better feel for the room/s.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design Whoops added 2 of same picture - This photo shows a great red wall as backdrop -

fife2 OH Paradise : The very last photo you have posted is EXACTLY what I was trying to explain with the hanging wall units - PERFECT. They make a room look so much larger.

Of course, WE HAVE NOT heard back from Asianwood - so hopefully we can soon get some feedback - maybe we scared her away? I hope not. Thanks for the beautiful pix.