SFGate

Barnhart Gallery Whooo boy that is some staging job. Well, congratulations on your new home!

If this isn't you, then don't even try to choose items based on the colors here, and go with what you love. It will inspire you to set aside a precious Saturday each month to take on painting one room. For now, lose the tiebacks and have a yardsale with any art you don't care for. Maybe the proceeds can go towards getting a painting crew in!

ASVInteriors What is your style? Is it traditional like this room, or do you like something more modern? Are you starting from scratch or do you have existing furniture. All of this helps us to match you with the room and then adapt it better to your tastes

Chrissy McNally Here are a few more photos to give you an idea of what were working with. We bought mostly for location--it's in one of the few walking communities in town and close to the interstate. We agreed that we would start fresh with furniture and only buy things we both like. I'm just afraid that plan is going to bankrupt us! Haha! ;) We haven't narrowed down what we would like to do with it yet but we would love some suggestions! :)

sharpkl It looks like the basics are neutral. If I were you I would probably switch out the green for some neutral color on the walls then you might have a better idea what you prefer. In the meantime start looking thru Houzz for pictures of rooms you like and you will be more focused on the end result.

Chrissy McNally Any suggestions on which neutral?

judyg A few years ago, in a designer magazine, a couple had purchased an adorable cottage and only wanted one wall color throughout the house. The choice was BM Collingwood. It turned out perfect and they continued the cottage feel with furniture…a white slip-covered sofa and filled in with unusual consignment pieces. Like this photo….

ASVInteriors What kind of things do you think you will like? Before you get your paint colour, start finding the furniture and furnishings that will please you. I do believe that paint colour should not dictate your furnishings but vice versa... So before you go to all the effort of painting, why not take your time and look around on Houzz, create an idea book and start to hone your own style. You will see a pattern emerge.

Frankly I could work with that green and at it is different to all the cautious colours one puts on walls....

Chrissy McNally That is a nice color. The collection still ties in with the outside if the home as well. Thank you!

Chrissy McNally I know what you mean, and the house is nearly new so it's not a necessary change yet...just not sure what to do about furnishing a space like this. We haven't moved in yet so hopefully it will be easier once were there. Found one more photo..

misecretary There are many rooms on houzz that mix a dark gray with that green that I find very appealing. I would definitely change the accent color in the area above the couch though. Is this 'office' in a second (or third) bedroom?

nikitasmom Be sure to take measurements. I am planning to replace what I thought was an oversized sofa. Turns out it isn't as oversized as it looks.

ASVInteriors Here's some inspiration - I would want to go rushing out the door and hit the shops right away with these!!!
http://www.houzz.com/photos/living-room/green-walls-

sharpkl Your house is so adorable and gives me a cottage vibe. I would lean towards that for furniture and it would keep the light airy look. The color that bothers me is the green.mi would probably use a toned down green. It could just be the pictures make it look more intense.
You can go to paint store and get samples of the colors you have and take them shopping with you. Paint can be easily changed but you want to get the style furniture you prefer.

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design I love this velvet sofa from Room & Board which comes in 3 sizes and lots of colors. But I suggest for you a neural gray or taupe or oatmeal color. Add two chairs, NOT a loveseat. The chairs can also be neutral, or red, if you like red. Actually if you like red and would like some leather, you could consider this great recliner from Macy's: http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/pavia-club-recliner-chair?ID=281645
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Chrissy McNally Thanks so much for all of the helpful suggestions!

@misecretary- The office area is meant to be an office because it has the double doors but I suppose it could be used as a small third bedroom.

Chrissy McNally We visited again today and I think the lighting is making the green look worse than it is. I think we can live with it until it needs to be painted and then maybe tackle a total makeover. I do like to idea of maybe changing the accent color on the wall though because that would be such a small project. Tying in some gray would be good. That red leather recliner is cute! It really looks like a chair when it's not pulled out. I hate those huge ones!

misecretary I'm sorry, Chrissy, I didn't mean to confuse--I just wondered if that desk was in the living room in an area that we hadn't seen yet.

alabamagal The cottage is so cute! I even like ts color. But the INSIDE is a decorator's nightmare! Builders are not decorators and find someone, usually not too expensive, to 'stage' their houses. Unfortunately this one is a big mistake! I am an artist so I know that even GOOD decorators often do not KNOW ART and this is a perfect example of that! This one chose that vivid floral thing and grabbed EVERY SINGLE COLOR from it...dear GOD! I LOVE COLOR but this one is a huge error! Then she slapped every intense color in the painting (more likey a 'print') on every wall! You bought a cute cottage style house so stick with a cottage style interior. Run don't walk to the nearest book store and spend a few $s on magazines dedicated to country/cottage style houses and study them for kinds of furniture and colors. You will be well rewarded! Carry the exterior color indoors if you like it and start from there, or even just a warm white, but DO PAINT!!!Those billious colors are going to cause you trouble when you look for furniture because they will influence your choices in a very wrong way and will cost you wasted $s in the end. And DO consider painting the ceilings a color, you'll be amazed at what a neat feeling that gives! What part of the country are you in? NEar the water? a light blue could be nice or a grey matching the wall color. Your rooms will seem so much larger when you do not have those intense colors crowding in on you from every side! IF blue is our favorite color maybe think lots of white and yellow, or red white and blue f you're 'nautical' or patriotic. By all means LOOK at magazines for color combinations...even from landscapes or seascapes and think what it is you like about combinations. And think 'simple'...keep a flow (of color) throughout the house. If blue, use it in different variations in every room. If there is a permenant color say tile in a kitchen or bath that can't be changed, think how you can use it elsewhere for cohesion Choose a fabric you like and work from that by combining it with a floral, a small print or checks of stripes, but do not use too many different things, only one main design for a couch or chair and keep the rest 'under control. A sisal rug works really well in a cottage style house or even a braided or rag rug would be appropriate. Be careful of scale...the house is small so avoid huge, bulky furniture! You can even get recliners in smaller pieces that look like 'normal' furniture. Ignore what is now on the walls when you look for furniture if you must move in before repainting. Find one piece you like and start from that point. Good luck and most of all, ENJOY the new venture! MArgery Griffith

meghankl I think if you got rid of the reds, pinks, and flowers, and and maybe incorporated neutrals and browns, the colors would go from looking like a little girl's room to clean, modern and natural. Bamboo, seagrass, burlap, baskets, pottery etc.

sharpkl I heard a decorator say to look in your loser & you will automatically see the colors you prefer. Does that work? Interested to know.

sharpkl I hate spellcheck... In your closet