Darzy I like this eclectic look! I would get a duplicate shelving unit for the left side of the tv and lose the fake plant. The wall color is great and I like your mix of styles. Nice!
ASVInteriors Can you hang some fabric panels behind your existing shelf to at least create vertical walls of colour or pattern - it will distract the eye. But you need to balance both sides - so either it is more shelving or a huge wall canvas...
ASVInteriors I feel a geometric pattern that doesn't argue too much with your chair could work. I would love to see it incorporate the russets/reds(?) on your chair but also bring in some green - in a jacquard or paisley pattern perhaps...
smont3 I agree with the white bookshelf cabinets on both side keep the console it's great style!....fake plant stick on a porch or get rid of it, it's overwhelming.....the metal doesn't go with the cabinet look....use the metal for storage somewhere
smont3 Then if the bookshelves seem too high above the tv put an old time decorative scroll shelf above top of tv...lol...sorry started popping up with ideas..on the shelves definitely incorporate your other colors in the rug and chair try to tie the room together with accents and hide any sloppy containers with a lighter tone basket weave
Darzy I really don't like the idea of the white bookcase on both sides of the tv. The juxtaposition of the metal with your "vintage" tv console works with your eclectic style. If you want to cover some of the wall, you could attach a foamboard on the back of the shelving unit with some pretty wallpaper on the foamboard for color/pattern and cover some of the block. But, I say embrace the block wall!
groveraxle I love everything about this room except the fake tree and the metal shelves and whatever it is that's propped behind the left side of the TV console. The console is inspired, BTW. It also looks like the tree may be hiding some kind of conduit on the wall?
I would remove everything from that wall except the console and TV, and then hang art on both sides. My inclination would be a photo gallery of mostly black-and-white photos in black frames, different sizes and shapes, with one color photo thrown in the mix.
mainstreetschool Lose the tree! I love the greens in the room. Used same colors for my office, and I love it. Paint the recessed panels on TV stand green the tone of the throw pillows on sofa. This will tone down the stark white. You need more accessories on the shelves. Maybe change out the brown bins for rust or blue to match the chair. How about a panel or bamboo screen on other side of TV to balance the shelves. Nothing too bulky though. Love the room.
kathysavage The bins are actually grey. Hard to tell in the pic. Sounds like I'm going with the matching shelving. I was going for that juxtaposition of the metal and white. I do need to put more on the shelves tho. ( Have no idea how to do that either!) I just couldn't decide whether to keep it or move it. Really want that sense of balance in the room. It would be hard to hang artwork on concrete block walls?
montycal 1. Move all furniture out 2. Paint brick black 3. Reclaimed wood shelving on either side with faux streetlight lamps centered on the top shelf on either side 4. If in budget, circle cut dark wood Floors, if not, and if your a guy (i don't know any background info) cover flooring with hard black gym type flooring. 5. Replace the tree with either small dark colored cactus (keep subtle and soft spoken, almost hidden) or ironic bonsai trees.
The room should look Detroit-ish with the brick and reclaimed wood, if you can afford it fake brick from lowes ($26 a panel) would be better, painted black as well)
6. Replace couch with round coffee tables and 4 dark leather chairs
meatpie I say remove the tree and add another metal bookcase. Add books, start a collection of something you love, like white Abingdon pottery (photo) might be cool in this room with your style. Stick with one or two colors for those accessories. This blogger has some good basic ideas for bookshelves. http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-accessorize-bookcases.html but I think the white will help bring our your console and pop against your wall color. You can add some dark greenery to the shelves with small topiaries and things to keep that green that the plant gave the space.
Edited to add that the blogger does a good basic job but I like to mix stacked books and horizontal books for a more varied bookshelf.
Kelly my two cents....add some texture to the room, rattan baskets on the shelves, wood boxes or figurines etc. just to give some warmth to the room...it's an awesome space
Kevin Retired Decorator I think the best thing you could do is change the wall. Get out the Spackle and fill in the grooves. Sand it smooth. Repaint. The problem is gone. If you rent , either way don't try to cover it up. Then I would get some clean line modern matching book cases in black with backs in them for both sides of the TV. Or match the one you have. Book cases are designed to hold books and look best with books on them, about 1/3 books mim. to fill them. There are hooks designed for concrete , I would hang a picture or art above the TV. I think the black is a great choice with the green & white.
Kevin Retired Decorator PS as the pic above shows all white books, hit resale & tag sales and wrap the books all one color for a modern look. It would be easy on the budget too. Often the libraries have free books. You can purchase end rolls of white printing paper for a few bucks from a local printing company. You could also add thin plywood to the backs of the book case you have and paint it out black if you can still get a duplicate one. I love budgets , they make us more creative. Also spray paint cheap vases , pots & plates all white to have a instant collection. Use some a huge leaf in a vase for impact too.
kathysavage Art above the tv! I never thought of that. I have a large McKnight 34x32 framed. Tv is 48 x 31. Any thoughts? Not the best quality photo from the iPad.
Kevin Retired Decorator I would try the art for sure. It seems to work with your colors. The frame color and mat blend with the console too. But 1st another idea, You could also try pushing the TV angled a bit in front of the plant and push the plant a bit more into the corner. Then center the bookcase within the rest of the wall space and see how that feels once you have accessorized the book case. Just a thought.
aimran the shelving unit isn't that 'pretty' to invest in another, i personally feel, (i don't like it's two very obvious diagonal bracings, lending it a cluttered feeling).
you need fabric scrolls / rugs hung vertically on either side of tv, using curtain rods (black to match tv or white to match console) . fabric colour inspired from your brownish armchair. the cushions & sofas are great.
add long & short pots (all one colour, with only a few in olive/ turquoise) at the bottom of the these scrolls to cover wall & fill corners..
the console is a very different idea. liking it (v. original). I wish you could duplicate it's colour or solidness (not both) in the coffee table & shelving.. as three pieces (shelving unit, tv console, coffee table) do not tie in with each other.
the grey baskets don't belong in this room, virtue of their not matching existing colour palette.
b/w for your various remotes on coffee table as well as on console, get a small table (old metal maybe or white one) dedicated solely for keeping remotes on top..
Kevin Retired Decorator FYI Scrolls can refer to the curves of the skirt of a furniture piece or a wood design. Or a tapestry or fabric hung on rods at the top & bottom , Like curtain rods.
mainstreetschool Try putting TV into corner rather than centered on wall. Can you spread the speakers a little more, so they are hidden? Look like electrical boxes on the wall. I would try to put chair in corner where the shelf unit is, with the ottoman. The white TV cabinet is too bright for your softer white leather tone. Can you glaze it to tone it down a bit? Use flat basket on coffee table for remotes, and put baskets, as suggested, on the shelves if you must keep it in the room. Or try the open trunk on a shelf t help fill in space there. Framed picture won't look right above the TV. Perhaps a green sisal instead of the dark brown.
A lot of suggestions on here. I would pick out your top 5or 6 ideas on the thread, and see what you put together from them.
kathysavage That's my front door. Just to restate...palm tree is going, console is staying. Everything else is on the table! I was hoping to mount speaker sin the shelving and lose the stands as well, but the receiver has to stay by the tv, perhaps on a bottom shelf if I do buy the second unit.
Erin I like the idea of fabric on that back wall. Tapestries make me think of college dorms but actually if you find the right one it could work with your ecletic tropical style. Dark colors too. I like your colors but I'm not feeling the wall color. To me its a little to 'clean' while your furnishings and fabrics have more of an earthy tone. That may be part of the issue. The green walls are just so glaring to me in the photos. I think a green that is more like the pillow centered on you sofa would be more soothing. And I think two shelving units on either side that are dark colored would work.
Casey Alexandra I definitely think covering the concrete up is a good idea! I think you should go with a grassy textured paper like attached ( from Home Depot) If you are in able to cover it up, get a larger, sleeker entertainment console. And I'm begging you- ditch the fake plant!
kathysavage So I did buy the matching shelving. Palm tree is gone. And switched out the ottoman for a chair I had. Any tips on shelf decorations etc would be appreciated!
It's a Beautiful World! If you don't mind adding more art to your room, you can display small pieces of canvas art on your shelves. Check out our Houzz page to get some ideas. Our images can be printed in any small sizes, starting from 6" x 6", 6" x 8", etc. Best of luck finishing your project!... Raisa
aniluap2 Looks amazing, but I think you need to take the 2 seahorses down from the top shelf and find another place for them. I would wrap some books in some bright colored paper, to pick out a color from your accessories like yellow or even just white and put a couple piles horizontally like the inspiration photo. I like to add objects from nature made into focal points, like a birds nest in a cloche, or a beautiful shell or piece of coral or maybe a ammonite on a stand for interest. A nice potted plant that is easy to maintain would look great in the mix.
brody1313 looking much better, nothing on top shelf or over tv....I like the idea of more white objects, white wrapped books, a few white framed art.....to pull in the white sofa and furniture......I would try the white ottoman in place of the coffee table., does it match your sofa?..........you could do another gray basket and keep the four matching baskets on bottom shelves for odds and ends...............good luck......the white framed art could work somewhere else in your room
meatpie add a few frames with photos in them and stacks of books. you need to add some specific color to bth shelves...white or black ceramic, something with weight.
meatpie it is better without the seahorses and I think tough for us to suggest without being able to see ceiling and how height there is there. Maybe a woven basket suitcase.
mainstreetschool Much better with matching shelves. Try the white ottoman in place of coffee table. Maybe one of the seahorses could go on the sofa table behind the sofa?
nancy22032 Amazing how much better without the tree and adding the 2nd bookcase. If you own the house, plan to insulate and sheetrock the wall - your home will be warmer and the look will be much nicer.
aimran The seahorses can be plAced at the foot of the shelves, infront if there is little traffic there. Looks better.. Try the ottomon as table as suggested above..,
jccbaker I'm glad you got another shelf; I think they look great. The seahorses were too tall on that top shelf. Maybe a couple of 8x10 framed family pictures would work. Since you're just trying to fill up space on the shelves and you've got eclectic taste, go to yard sales or estate sales or antique/junk shops and just buy some different things that appeal to you. Don't worry particularly about color or shape, just some things that make you happy when you look at them. Put the seahorses back-to-back in the middle of your dining table. I like the color of the walls. Our first apartment was cinderblock, painted pink on the outside and yellow on the inside. It was nice and cool in the summer (no air conditioner) but sure was cold in the winter. If you want to hang pictures, hang them from long wires/ribbons from the crown molding (think 1800s high-ceilinged rooms). I like the look you've got going now.
Kevin Retired Decorator That's a good idea Darzy, I love the seahorses in the room used someplace close together. I think some wicker/rattan baskets & faux plants on the top shelf would be best. A globe would be nice & books too.
kathysavage Here's a pic of my ceiling. 10' I think. I just put the sea horses on the table. I do like them there and at the foot of the shelving too. We live in FL so temps are not an issue when it comes to heat! I just don't know how much is too much on the shelves. Don't want it to look chochky (sp?).
patriciarhall loosen up the items on the shelves by angling a few rather than have them all squared up. you definitely have a tropical feel going on and a big glass container with seashells would be a pretty addition to your shelves. and i love those small mirrors with seashell frames. just don't use anything too small. great job on the second shelf unit!
aimran You need Large shells one two may add to your theme.. Medium sized items.. Not those that would clutter.. Orbe too big for your shelf height.. Your blue items are nice.. Infact rather than clayey items, you need blue white pottery styled items.. You could also use coloured glass pieces.. Those with Some interest as in texture, multi coloured etc.. Not just plain.. One two only.. Also i think your yellow items are not going with everything else in your room. Removing those might help.. As you have nice stuff..
Even better than glass pieces, would be solid green n blue porcelain shapely vases.. medium size.. That would be the best worthwhile addition, alongwith large seashell.. One two wood items would be nice.. Maybe the photo frames be wooden?
patriciarhall agree on removing the yellow items. It looks like the shelf areas have enough natgural light to support living plants that have a low light requirement. Don't add too much, but a bit of natural plant would be good. Are you in an area where airplants are popular?
aimran Plus things should be arranged in twos n threes.. Even fours.. I mostly see twos in yours.. Position them on sides or with centered item too.. Grouping is another thing to do in one specific position on one shelf..
aniluap2 I would pick either blue or yellow as my decorative accent. Three colors is enough, green, white/silver + another color. With the walls being bright you need to edit so it doesn't look "chotchkyish " . Those hydrangeas will not preform well on the shelves, they are better suited to a bright windowsill and they are seasonal blooms. A better pick would be a beautiful fern or some other tropical .
patriciarhall Love the dark blue on your sofa pillow that looks like it is repeated on your shelves. Also love the tourquoise frame (if my monitor is correct) and the bits of white and silver on your shelves. The wicker or rattan also looks good with those pieces. A couple of plants would be nice, but not floral. Try succulents, bromeliads, maidenhair fern or even grass. Rich green plants will look good against the wall.
Kevin Retired Decorator Dried hydrangeas would be nice to use. Or a Faux Boston fern. The shelf's do need some natural things. I feel candles should be able to be lighted , so not on a shelf except maybe a small votive which only looks nice when lighted generally.
Kevin Retired Decorator I agree meatpie's would look great. Love the paper wrapped books & the large leafs in a vase, Also the grasses. The leafs & grasses can be found at Pier One Imports.
aniluap2 Since you are in Florida draw from nature for your decorative inspiration. Yo can use sculptural pieces of coral, large nautilus shells paired with some large leaved tropical plants and a few paper wrapped books with a few of your blue or yellow porcelain pieces, and maybe a line drawing propped on a shelve and you're done.
kathysavage Thank you everyone! Great support for the confused pseudo designer. Ha! !Had these shells. Hubby is going to clean up the wires with cord mate and I'll look for some greenery. Some kind of matching bins/baskets for the bottom shelves too? Or is different ok.
aimran You need to have baskets in diff forms as kevin suggested than the ones you had in dilemma pic.. Just reminding. :) we don't want to go back to the old again. Idea is they should add warmth n interest.. Looks nice already by the way, do swap frame position with blue piece next to it.. As there shouldnt be a blue above blue.. Eyes should travel in a diagonal rather than in a stacked, linear way in arrangements of threes..
aniluap2 I don't think there is a problem with putting similar rough looking seagrass type baskets for storage on the bottom shelf similar to the original but more textured. I think it looks good but I do think the blues clash, I would remove the turquoise frame, but other thn that I think a little greenery will finish it off. It already looks soooo much more pulled together. Good job finding the shells ... We forget what we have stashed away.
kathysavage @anumaura so interesting about color over color and the diagonal eye travel. Never knew. Changed up some more with stuff around here. Looking for baskets but not an easy task.
aimran Kathysavage, it isn't a rule.. just a feel.. but your racks look great! is that dark chocolaty brown a throw on that brown basket/case? you can try removing that dark brown material. it should look totally complete after that..
patriciarhall the boxes are a great addition. try the fish duo from th top left shelf to the lower right shelf (inside) to balance out the technical box on the right. and bring back the small rounded top "case" you had on the right bottom at one time and put it in place of the fish duo from the top right shelf. of course, looking at a picture instead of you seeing it in person is different! the look overall is great and you have been generous to let us see it develop.
Kevin Retired Decorator I think the boxes add a some visual weight to the book cases. I would turn them in different directions just to keep it less matchy. But that's just my feeling. lol
kathysavage I tried the fish but it's just a hair too tight to fit in that bottom shelf! I think it would have looked great. I have to go on the hunt for some books, but it'll have to be after the Masters! Lol!
Antique white bookcase - TheFind
www.thefind.com/furniture/info-antique-white-bookcase
Antique white bookcase -
I would remove everything from that wall except the console and TV, and then hang art on both sides. My inclination would be a photo gallery of mostly black-and-white photos in black frames, different sizes and shapes, with one color photo thrown in the mix.
on concrete block walls?
2. Paint brick black
3. Reclaimed wood shelving on either side with faux streetlight lamps centered on the top shelf on either side
4. If in budget, circle cut dark wood Floors, if not, and if your a guy (i don't know any background info) cover flooring with hard black gym type flooring.
5. Replace the tree with either small dark colored cactus (keep subtle and soft spoken, almost hidden) or ironic bonsai trees.
The room should look Detroit-ish with the brick and reclaimed wood, if you can afford it fake brick from lowes ($26 a panel) would be better, painted black as well)
6. Replace couch with round coffee tables and 4 dark leather chairs
Edited to add that the blogger does a good basic job but I like to mix stacked books and horizontal books for a more varied bookshelf.
you need fabric scrolls / rugs hung vertically on either side of tv, using curtain rods (black to match tv or white to match console) . fabric colour inspired from your brownish armchair. the cushions & sofas are great.
add long & short pots (all one colour, with only a few in olive/ turquoise) at the bottom of the these scrolls to cover wall & fill corners..
the console is a very different idea. liking it (v. original). I wish you could duplicate it's colour or solidness (not both) in the coffee table & shelving.. as three pieces (shelving unit, tv console, coffee table) do not tie in with each other.
the grey baskets don't belong in this room, virtue of their not matching existing colour palette.
b/w for your various remotes on coffee table as well as on console, get a small table (old metal maybe or white one) dedicated solely for keeping remotes on top..
i meant a tapestry..
Perhaps a green sisal instead of the dark brown.
A lot of suggestions on here.
I would pick out your top 5or 6 ideas on the thread, and see what you put together from them.
And then you could put 2 or 3 pieces of framed artwork above the T.V.- perhaps some photography like these for some contrast in color and pattern:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyLittlePlunder?ref=seller_info
Also i think your yellow items are not going with everything else in your room. Removing those might help.. As you have nice stuff..
Even better than glass pieces, would be solid green n blue porcelain shapely vases.. medium size.. That would be the best worthwhile addition, alongwith large seashell.. One two wood items would be nice.. Maybe the photo frames be wooden?
You just need solid blues, greens, whites..
Idea is they should add warmth n interest..
Looks nice already by the way, do swap frame position with blue piece next to it.. As there shouldnt be a blue above blue.. Eyes should travel in a diagonal rather than in a stacked, linear way in arrangements of threes..
do try your lovely ottomon as center table..