Luvs2Read Buy a cover in a color or pattern that matches or goes well with the color on the walls. Then, get some throw pillows that go with the theme that you want for the room. For example, the theme of my room is Paris:
Rocky Mountain Color & Design I agree with decoenthusiaste. It looks like the gray in your sofa has blue undertones. If you don't want to go with a straight up gray, choose a grayish blue. Also, changing out the light fixture over the table will lessen the Tuscan look. Change out the mirror for one in the style you would like to go towards.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design Hi, Rocky Mountain and decoenthusiaste are right on the money. By turning the walls from the gold tones to a Gray will immediately freshen everything for you. I'd also be sure that the depth of the wall color is in a similar value to your sofa. In other words don't be shy about using a medium shade, not too light. Then I'd suggest you take away the smaller accent pillows on the sofa. Gray pillows in velvet or sueded cotton will further update the sofa for you.
Patricia Pelgrims The fabric of your sofa looks Paisley (Indian, not Tuscan).
The walls, yes they need to be brought into this millenium.
I would use one of the lightest tones from the sofa fabric. Taupe ? Or grey, I cannot believe that I am about to suggest GREY for anyone's walls, but there you have it. ;)
Bonnie I agree with painting the walls, gray, changing out pillows to a solid and replacing light fixture. Also, remove candlesticks from your table (table actually appears to be quite traditional). I know you are tired of Tuscan... but what do you want to try to lean to? More contemporary or just more traditional?
Patricia Pelgrims No, Bonnie, I don't !
That's not to say I don't appreciate muted colours. Grey to me just sucks the life and light out of any room and any person who happens to be in any such room. ;)
Bonnie Yes... golden brown carpeting is a problem with gray. That's why it is good to see pictures of the whole room. What's under the carpet? Can you replace the carpet?
Susanna I think for very little money and a few simple changes, you could easily push this room in another direction. I would start by removing all the Tuscan accessories and the sofa pillows. Seeing the room without them will help you see it differently. Then, adding elements back in will be easier. If you can take a few more photos, we could help you build the look you want. I love the sofa too!
Coffs to Port Property Styling I would also go with a very light grey - if you are keeping the lounge the same material then add some white cushions to match the timberwork around the doors. Otherwise if you don't like the colour of the lounge have it recovered there are many beautiful materials out there, most colours will work with a grey wall, here is a grey wall and lounge I have completed
pauli12 I love brown and gray together. I think a light grey is what I am thinking. I have Benjamin Moore Horizon in my house and I love brown with it. It is about the color aja mazin posted in her photos.
Carolina Photo To Go LLC Antique white on the walls can always be a great choice. After having dark walls, it makes everything feel fresh and clean! With it your furniture and accessories become the star! That is if you are unsure of the gray suggested.
klhancher The walls are painted. I did this probably 6 years ago. Saw it in a room and loved it. Unfortunately I did my entire main floor in this color and technique :(
klhancher I also have a sliding door with 2 fixed glass panels in the narrow room. They face the front of my house and I need privacy. Give me ideas for the windows that allow privacy but still easy access out the slider. I have vertical blinds which I believe are one of the ugliest outdated window treatments around.
pauli12 Just be sure if you use antique white it has the correct undertones. Some have pink and some have green. It makes a huge difference. I had it and grew very unhappy with the weirdness of the undertones.
I am very happy with the crispness of the light grey I have now and it is neutral enough to go with everything. Just get some samples and paint large poster board and really take your time. It took me 8 months to get a paint color I liked.
handymam I am not a huge fan of grey either, but I think a light grey would work with your sofa. I don't find the sofa to be particularly Tuscan, so I think just changing the paint is going to make a huge difference. Perhaps you can paint the mirror frame black and it will tone down the "tuscan' for you until you can afford something that you really love. A new light fixture might be nice, but I do think the candle holders are too tall for the table. I love your table and chairs. I think they are pretty classic looking and you may want to go classic for a style that will not go out of trend and need to be redone in a couple of years.
klhancher Finally got pictures to download! Excuse the mess around the fireplace. Getting ready to build a mantel and install tile. This is the carpeting. This is a dinning room living room combo with sliding doors. Help!
handymam Is that a blue in your sofa? Maybe that would look good on the seats of the dining room chairs. If the dining room and the living room are next to each other that would tie them together nicely.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design janishill, If Maidenfern is anywhere in the Green family, I beg to differ!!! In this case though I'm partial to Green and it works well in many situations, it will eat up the light in this room and make the sofa look tired. Gray covers a lot of ground and runs from dirty and cool to warm shades. In this case if the carpet is staying as is I'd look at Taupes. The style of the Dining Room furniture, the pendant light over the table, the small tables and cabinet, and other bits are nowhere near "Tuscan". The walls are the single Mediterannean influence here. Tiffany lamps have nothing to do with old Italy.
Kilhancher; If the Gray (warm) don't sound appealing to you then I'd suggest you look into Taupe tones like Benny Moore "Yorkshire Tan" #H-23. It will compliment everything you already have. For punch make the Fireplace Wall an accent wall. Paint it in one of two ways; for something safer and subtle, use a deeper shade of the wall color. The paint shop can mix samples for you by adding three equal parts of Navy, Red, and Black. Ratio should be about one part base color to 1/10 of each added tint.
The second scheme which you may prefer, is to paint the FP wall in a color from the sofas like Benj. Moore "Boston Brick" #2092-30. If your trim and doors are White, repaint them in BM "Palace White" #OC-100 (warmer Almond-White).
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design Oh yeah, more........Suggestions; add a mantle-shelf to the wall just above the FP. Lower the painting above it. Hang a pair of candle-lit sconces on either side of your painting. These can be in Black metal to compliment the fire screen. If you can fit them comfortably, face the sofa and armless sofa to each other flanking the FP. Float them so that they are five feet or so apart. Open the dropped sides of your butler's coffee table. In the Dining Room here's some things to consider. Because the lamps look too big for the sideboard, find a pair of pedestals (these might be balck iron with stone tops, wood, or stone) and put the lamps on the pedestals. The mirror which appears to be on an entry-facing narrow wall behind the sofa, would have more impact over the sideboard without overwhelming it in scale.
Rehang the painting on the narrow wall or on a side wall in the DR.
shelleyuk I can't tell what colour your sofas are. In the first picture they look purple and the grey would look great with them. In the second pictures they look more red/gold. Which is it?
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design Which lineof paint is the Maidenfern from? I guess when I heard Green and looked at everything else in the spaces I thought the wallswill lokk great and everything else will immediately look dull.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design If Boston Brick clashes with the sofas then go more cranberry to pick up the sofa colors. The point is to add some weight to the FP wall which looks orphaned from the rest of the rooms.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design Have I been a bad boy???????????????????? I do like the paint color you chose but I'd have her do a test against the carpeting to just be sure that the carpet doesn't look sad against the shade. Peas, Jeff
klhancher I am not anti gray I just am having trouble visualizing it. I think that is mainly because of the carpet color. I was always told don't mix cool with warm colors and thought gray was a cool where gold and cranberry were warm.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design It's not easy picking a paint color when you have furnished rooms and our own likes and dislikes when it comes to color. I think you could say that, in some ways, it could be more confounding nowadays because of the range of "looks" out there to be seen. Your home has a comfortable feel about it and you've got lots of talent here to draw from. More than likely you'll ultimately be the most satisfied and at ease with the choice if you do some testing on the walls.
zenhome Jeffrey has the right idea of testing paint samples on the wall. Benjamin Moore stores have the extra large paint samples too (12x12) which are a lot better than the small chips. Many of the paint stores have colour specialists which could be of great help also if you bring swatches of fabrics from the room, I.e sofa cushion etc.
klhancher Thank you all so much for the great ideas. I am going to work on the room then I will be back to show you what I have done and probably with more questions! You are the best!
You could be viewing many good suggestions through the lens of an earlier period of time.
Be open to new ideas even if they conflict with long held beliefs and do not discard out of hand possibilities that have been offered.
It will open up a whole new world of possibilities.
An example would be that gray is a cool colour.
There are now available hundreds of grays - grays that have the correct undertones to enhance
both your sofa and carpet.
BM going to the chapel 1527
And example of gray, cranberry , and gold.
And avoid trends and fads.
Like the faux gold paint, one too soon tires of it.
Your sofa and dining room set were good choices and are excellent examples
of good taste that have and will stand the test of time!
hockey456 I'm not sure what style you favor or what your goal is. If I had a burgundy paisley sofa, I would replace the pillows with men's wear influenced fabrics like gray with white pinstripe, camel suiting (wool), and an accent small toss pillow in navy satin. Then I'd place elegant accessories like silver vases with fresh flowers, leather bound books and horn magnifying glass... Whatever speaks to you. Think Nordstrom men's boutique. The wall color could go navy or gray. Ad sparkle with modern mirror(s) and glass based lamps.
klhancher Jeff, wanted to tell you that the Tiffany lamp in my living room is an original. It was a wedding gift to my great grandmother from her parents. It has never actually matched any of my decor but I love the history so it always show up in a room where it never looks great.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design klhancer............Yikes! What is ironic about this is that I am always sure to honor any objects or furniture (etc.) which hold memories and meaning.. Decor comes second to pieces like your lamp.
So sorry to have misstepped. I can't wait to see what your home looks like when you've finished.
What have you decided on so far???? Regards, Jeff Brooks
klhancher I am about 90% sure I will go with grey paint. I like your idea of painting the fireplace wall, probably burgundy. I agree with you on toning down the super white trim. I am going to remove the desk ( the one holding the Tiffany lamp). I am going to place the sofa and love seat across from one another. I have a leather ottoman that is fairly long with legs that go well with this furniture. It is a dark brown. I am removing all of the wall hangings until painting and arranging is complete then I will look at what art work to use. I have a huge amount of it in storage! The Tiffany will go elsewhere. Maybe a bedroom. Deciding on window treatments. Since I use the sliding door daily I will probably just flank the glass with drapes, maybe silk. How is that sounding?
klhancher Should I use drapes that are similar to whatever I cover the dining chairs with just maybe a few shades different or go with the burgundy of the fireplace wall? Thinking some type of a blue for seat of chairs.
klhancher Here is another thing that I never bothered to mention and should have. There is a short hallway that leads to a familyroom that is laid out exactly like the living room dining room.same sliders just no fireplace. Should I make all of these colors flow from one room to the other?
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design Hi, Rooms that are connected will look more like one unified space if you stick to one color. Having said that I often will use more than one shade to lighten or add punch to a wall. You can achieve a lot of subtle depth by doing this. Regarding your windows and fabric selections I will want to consider
for a lttle while so give me a few days to circle back to you. One thing I would say is that the sofa fabric appears to be a fine weave and may have a bit of sheen to it. Sometimes going in a different direction in texture can add a subtle impact.
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design If you can either post or email a photo of the fabrics and carpet in the room it would be a major help. Email; jbrooks@jeffreybrooksinteriordesign.com. If you chosen paint you can send that too. One last thing. I appears that your sofa is the only pattern in the room. Is this correct? If not either send a pic or describe it for me. Jeff
hockey456 So glad to have helped turn on a lightbulb. I personally love to ad a touch of menswear influenced fabrics to each room. That little touch gives my husband a feeling that I considered him when decorating. Anyway... I was not overly successful in finding photos in Houzz that reflects exactly what I have in mind, but attached is one that creates the mood. And I'll keep searching for ones that I think might help inspire
hockey456 Here is a photo that demonstrates the accessorizing I envision. Notice especially the lamp and flowers. I love the chair, but not the zebra pillow for your room. I'll keep looking....
hockey456 I love this room for the prints on the wall, the demure flower vases, the hint of glamour in the light fixture and the menswear (herring bone) fabric on the chairs. It is so elegant.
klhancher Hockey 456 thank you so much! These photos really have helped me think in a way that I was not considering before. You are quite talented! I will post updates as I go.
klhancher You have no idea how thrilled I am. I was telling my son what I was planning on doing in the living room and he said that it would look awful. He lacks vision as I do. I showed him what you had posted and he thought it was fantastic. He even offered to do painting!
hockey456 I just walked past my wall in the living room. Thought this might inspire you. These are upholstery nailheads, but large, nearly 1 inch diameter. I just measured, and measured again and pushed them in for a 3D wall paper effect...without the glue. :-) When you are ready for a change just pull them out and nail hole filler takes care of the tiny holes that are left behind. This added some glamour to a wall in my living room that art just didn't look right on, but I get so many positive comments on it when people come into our home. Just a thought ....
Debra Gunstanson If u want to go Grey great color I have 3 shades my self behare ? don't no spelling has p A primer in it or like we do prime then paint perfect my accent wall almost charcole wall a tad lighter ceiling a tad lighter now I have several friends painting same colors
klhancher Here are items that I have or love that I am using in my adjoining family room. My sofa is a really deep wine almost looks brown. The ottoman is brown. I have been using browns reds brick and gold in this room. Another long skinny room:(
Jeffrey Brooks Interior Design The area rug looks bright red and everything else sounds like it's brown. Also it appears that your carpet is in the Beige family. The combination of colors, your area rug, and the pieces you own remind me of a Persian setting. The antiques highlight the oldworld element. The next thing you might consider is like we've discussed, using color to tie this all up. See if you can find a fabric that combines it all. It can even add a new color like Emerald Green or Royal Blue. (Keeping the scheme restricted will make for a sleepy room). Woven paisley prints, Bhatik, block prints in the Indo-Chinese style will work well.
Another thing I wanted to add is, look at Antiqued Brass instead of rust. There's plenty of Brown already and the muted gold tones will add a brighter touch. For fun you could put an Indian sari or a throw across the piano. Repaint the room (of course if you like the idea) in a deeper shade of the carpet color and then hang lots of prints or photos in wood, old Gold, or burnished Brass frames.
Ethnic accents like carved distressed mirrors and stone statuary too.
Going to be gone for the weekend, check in w/you next week. Jeff
We built a 6,000 sq ' home last year and have yet to begin to decorate.
We are currently living with odds and ends, although we have some pieces we
will most definitely use and we have 14 Persian, Oriental [Agra], and Chinese Deco Rugs.
I love Asian art and accent pieces, brass, leather bound books [from my husband's library],
and leather.
I am intrigued by your use of menswear fabric and monograms.
I do not own a single pillow or throw, or fabric/patterned accent chairs but I feel they are needed to soften all the leather in the room - sofa, loveseat, and chair! [see attached for style, colour]
I want to add 2 chairs and some pillows.
[Every wall is a shade of white and no fabric window treatments - that will not change!!]
I think I have hesitated to choose fabrics due to my propensity to change out the rugs; hence the colours in a room may differ.
Could menswear fabric be the answer by adding texture in neutral colours??
Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. Before you change your paint colour - find your sofa covers in a neutral fabric, then find your
accent cushion or new area rug - to take the tuscan out of your home - maybe into boho chic (photo of boho attached) - problem with tuscan, is it is very distinctive - so you need to move towards an eclectic mix like boho chic or even steam punk (photo of that attached too).
Find your inspiration point - whether that be a new area rug, toss cushion of piece of art, then work from there build on that palette, adding hits of cream and chrome to make it all pop
Shown here is a solid burgandy/purple textural area rug, with hits of the purplish colour pulled from your clock - mixed with hits of the warm red from the area rug in the other room - with carefuly consideration, you can mix a cleaner simpler look into your existing pieces ...good luck
Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. And, some more ideas to tie into purple-burgandy and red tones -
focus on the direction (or style), then find that magic fabric or artwork that has burgandy, purple, red tones bringing everything together! It'll be beautiful...
klhancher I feel that the leather of your chairs is masculine. It reminds me of a saddle BUT the legs and shape is on the fem side. Why not add men's wear wool pillows but throw in a few that are velvet and add crystal and silver sconces lamps etc. add fem instead of masculine .Highly carved light wooden candle sticks. Pick a color or 2 from the rug that you are using. I really like the black cream and gold rug!
klhancher I was also just in a room that had leather chairs and cow hide rugs. With that very large glass bottles with long sprigs of wheat. The cow hide was a reddish brown with white. The used black and white accents. It was beautiful!
hockey456 Klhancher, From your photos I feel I can only comment in accessories for the family room. You have some beautiful, timeless pieces. Everything is very brown, and with the red if the rug, all is very warm. Warm and welcoming is good, but for interest the room will need some "cool" to make it interesting and complete. The carpet comes off as orange/red on my screen. If that's the case, going with blue accents would be nice. That would also create some continuity in your home. (If you use blue in the living/dining as well). Since the family room is heavily lived in, the fabrics can be very casual. Your pillows could be denim ( blue jean) and you could lighten things up by using some taupe cable knit pillows as well. Pottery Barn has them;-). I'll go searching for some photos and post them later. This is just a start. I'll need more photos... Perhaps with the items you love in the room.
hockey456 Aja, I'm not sure that Asian and men's wear fabrics will sit well in the same room together. I think it could work beautifully with the leather chair and rugs you pictured, but not if you want the home to go strongly Asian. I would look to Marie Henson for her suggestions. She does an eclectic mix like no one else!
hockey456 Aja, I've been thinking more about your situation. I like the rug with the bright blue center and horses. It's different and unpredictable Asian. Then regarding pillows I envision color blocking... Wait, I know... What? When I look at Asian design motifs, the grid appears over and over. Also horse jockey silks are color blocked. You could use silk or velvet. I found a photo of some color block pillows, but not in you colors so you'll have to let your imagination kick in.
Lightmotifs klhancher, I'm not a registered decorator, but have built and also flipped many houses at a profit, so my decor instincts must be good. My reading of your posts lead me to think that you are a single woman with a limited budget to undo what you did 6 years ago when you painted all the walls in the Tuscan fresco look. I see by your pictures of your interior that you have very nice traditional furniture. You especially love the chandelier which is a family heirloom. You don't say how many square feet you have, but for most houses in the mid-price range, the rooms are relatively small and either flow into each other or can be seen from each other. You also haven't said what the exterior design of the house is, and that is what I start with. Determine the design style or period of the house, hoping it isn't a Macmansion, and go from there. Since you have selected tradtional furniture, I'll bet the design is traditional. Look at pictures of traditional designs and the fittings, colors, and accessories that go with that style.
Since you are a single woman, go with the femininity, not the menswear look. There are lots of pictures of shabby chic and it is not shabby as the name implies, it is feminine. It is best to use the same color or a variation of the color throughout for continuity. Your should be able to put ll the fabrics in a pile and have them all go together. The rooms will seem larger if you use the same color that you use on the walls for the draperies, which are currently being shown as simple, straight-falling natural fabrics such as linen. Florals are important with the feminine style, and although your sofa isn't floral, it gives the effect of a floral. It doesn't appear to be worn so it could be used for more years. Traditional houses can take rich, mid-saturation to full-saturation colors. The metals are best an old brass look. Art should be framed in carved, not metal, frames. Try to break up the long narrow look with same rounded items. If there is money left after you do the painting, add crown mouldings to give a richer look.
klhancher Judith you are right on. I am a single woman. I built this home in the early 70's. I call it Brady Bunch style. The outside is T1-11 cedar siding. It looks the same front and back. 12 feet of glass in the front 1st floor and 12 feet of glass in the rear 1st floor. Corridor kitchen of course. The rooms are 9 to 12 feet in width and 26' long. The house was previewed in Better Homes and Garden Magazine as a home you could purchase blue prints for and I did. It is 1,800 sq feet. Great for entertaining informal get togethers. Nice large patio on front and large deck on back. The main entrance is on the side.
I have tried so many different colors and styles thru the years. When I built it I went with super contemporary. Shag carpet , lots of lime ,yellow and orange. It has been a difficult expensive transition over the years.
I had moved to a huge Victorian home in the '90's. That was great fun as far as decorating. I did it all original. When I divorced I was forced to move back into this home. I have changed about everything. I have accumulated the furniture that I have not because of passion for the furniture but necessity to have a place to sit. I was thinking down the road after the mechanics of the house were all up to date I would focus on the decor. Unfortunately I became very ill and can no longer work. So I am really stuck as far as putting much money into decorating. At the same time I am spending so much more time in my home I really want to be able to enjoy my surroundings.
I love shabby chic style which I have done my bedroom. I have a son who is single and will inherit this home in a few years. I want to do something more sophisticated and less fem for that reason. You know moms we sacrifice all for our children!
Your ideas are wonderful and you should be a decorator!
Lightmotifs klhancer, Great minds run together! When I saw your room I thought there must be some shabby chic somewhere! But no, I would never be a decorator because it would be too much like when I had a real estate brokerage for many years. After all the work of selecting and showing and finding the perfect house, suddenly someone else has to approve it. I was really only trying to deal with wall colors as in your posed question; having been a salesperson, I get too wordy. . If you hate that Tuscan wall treatment, get rid of it! Since at 1800 square feet it is a small house,, if you are going to be able to afford to change colors on more than just the living room, do consider continuity as described. I think you deserve to live for your remaining years in a house that pleases you! I hope your health improves and your enjoy your house for many years!
anazubi change the color of the walls to a grey/blue and put some stencils in gold metal or white. Buy some new pillows for your sofa without being too matchy , tried diferent colors and textures. You can also cover your dining table with a colorful tablecloth .
The walls, yes they need to be brought into this millenium.
I would use one of the lightest tones from the sofa fabric. Taupe ? Or grey, I cannot believe that I am about to suggest GREY for anyone's walls, but there you have it. ;)
That's not to say I don't appreciate muted colours. Grey to me just sucks the life and light out of any room and any person who happens to be in any such room. ;)
Love the fabric!
Can we see more of the room?
It is a neutral that will go with brown.
It goes with the carpet.
So paint the walls a light grey and save yourself a lot of money!
Changing the wall color will make a fantastic difference!!
I am very happy with the crispness of the light grey I have now and it is neutral enough to go with everything. Just get some samples and paint large poster board and really take your time. It took me 8 months to get a paint color I liked.
Kilhancher; If the Gray (warm) don't sound appealing to you then I'd suggest you look into Taupe tones like Benny Moore "Yorkshire Tan" #H-23. It will compliment everything you already have. For punch make the Fireplace Wall an accent wall. Paint it in one of two ways; for something safer and subtle, use a deeper shade of the wall color. The paint shop can mix samples for you by adding three equal parts of Navy, Red, and Black. Ratio should be about one part base color to 1/10 of each added tint.
The second scheme which you may prefer, is to paint the FP wall in a color from the sofas like Benj. Moore "Boston Brick" #2092-30. If your trim and doors are White, repaint them in BM "Palace White" #OC-100 (warmer Almond-White).
Rehang the painting on the narrow wall or on a side wall in the DR.
Silver grey!
You will love it!
[the grayed green is drab and depressing.]
It is your home.
If you like it, go for it.
At the risk of offending, I must say something.
You could be viewing many good suggestions through the lens of an earlier period of time.
Be open to new ideas even if they conflict with long held beliefs and do not discard out of hand possibilities that have been offered.
It will open up a whole new world of possibilities.
An example would be that gray is a cool colour.
There are now available hundreds of grays - grays that have the correct undertones to enhance
both your sofa and carpet.
BM going to the chapel 1527
And example of gray, cranberry , and gold.
And avoid trends and fads.
Like the faux gold paint, one too soon tires of it.
Your sofa and dining room set were good choices and are excellent examples
of good taste that have and will stand the test of time!
"Give me ideas for the windows that allow privacy but still easy access out the slider. "
haha!
When you figure that out, please let me know!!
I have 18" of sliders that open onto a lanai on the west side of my home.
I have costly, custom made, fabric covered verticals [raw silk] that are remotely controlled - open, close, or adjust the angle of the vain.
I am so weary of those miserable vanes falling off the track .
All I have to do is look at them and they fall to the floor!!
Thank you so much.
My daughter wanted to use her hot wax gun!
So sorry to have misstepped. I can't wait to see what your home looks like when you've finished.
What have you decided on so far???? Regards, Jeff Brooks
for a lttle while so give me a few days to circle back to you. One thing I would say is that the sofa fabric appears to be a fine weave and may have a bit of sheen to it. Sometimes going in a different direction in texture can add a subtle impact.
I think you could accomplish a look like this even though your colors are different.
Here are some
Totally awesome!
This added some glamour to a wall in my living room that art just didn't look right on, but I get so many positive comments on it when people come into our home.
Just a thought ....
I love it! Put that boy to work!!
A primer in it or like we do prime then paint perfect my accent wall almost charcole wall a tad lighter ceiling a tad lighter now I have several friends painting same colors
Another thing I wanted to add is, look at Antiqued Brass instead of rust. There's plenty of Brown already and the muted gold tones will add a brighter touch. For fun you could put an Indian sari or a throw across the piano. Repaint the room (of course if you like the idea) in a deeper shade of the carpet color and then hang lots of prints or photos in wood, old Gold, or burnished Brass frames.
Ethnic accents like carved distressed mirrors and stone statuary too.
Going to be gone for the weekend, check in w/you next week. Jeff
Pardon the interruption.
We built a 6,000 sq ' home last year and have yet to begin to decorate.
We are currently living with odds and ends, although we have some pieces we
will most definitely use and we have 14 Persian, Oriental [Agra], and Chinese Deco Rugs.
I love Asian art and accent pieces, brass, leather bound books [from my husband's library],
and leather.
I am intrigued by your use of menswear fabric and monograms.
I do not own a single pillow or throw, or fabric/patterned accent chairs but I feel they are needed to soften all the leather in the room - sofa, loveseat, and chair! [see attached for style, colour]
I want to add 2 chairs and some pillows.
[Every wall is a shade of white and no fabric window treatments - that will not change!!]
I think I have hesitated to choose fabrics due to my propensity to change out the rugs; hence the colours in a room may differ.
Could menswear fabric be the answer by adding texture in neutral colours??
some of the rugs:
accent cushion or new area rug - to take the tuscan out of your home - maybe into boho chic (photo of boho attached) - problem with tuscan, is it is very distinctive - so you need to move towards an eclectic mix like boho chic or even steam punk (photo of that attached too).
Find your inspiration point - whether that be a new area rug, toss cushion of piece of art, then work from there build on that palette, adding hits of cream and chrome to make it all pop
Shown here is a solid burgandy/purple textural area rug, with hits of the purplish colour pulled from your clock - mixed with hits of the warm red from the area rug in the other room - with carefuly consideration, you can mix a cleaner simpler look into your existing pieces ...good luck
focus on the direction (or style), then find that magic fabric or artwork that has burgandy, purple, red tones bringing everything together! It'll be beautiful...
Otherwise I would not mind at all.
If there is a way I'd be happy to.
Go to klhancher profile.
Click on her ideabook.
Make the comment private.
Inform klhancher when you have posted.
The cow hide was a reddish brown with white. The used black and white accents. It was beautiful!
haha!
Good eye!
I have had my own horse since I was a child, so I am very familiar with saddles and leather!!!!
It will last a lifetime with proper care.
I avoided nailheads and chose a spoon foot hoping to avoid a totally masculine feel.
I am happy you view it as both masculine and feminine - gender neutral.
No problem with the crystal and silver.
I was thinking of a herringbone or tweed.
From your photos I feel I can only comment in accessories for the family room. You have some beautiful, timeless pieces. Everything is very brown, and with the red if the rug, all is very warm. Warm and welcoming is good, but for interest the room will need some "cool" to make it interesting and complete. The carpet comes off as orange/red on my screen. If that's the case, going with blue accents would be nice. That would also create some continuity in your home. (If you use blue in the living/dining as well).
Since the family room is heavily lived in, the fabrics can be very casual. Your pillows could be denim ( blue jean) and you could lighten things up by using some taupe cable knit pillows as well. Pottery Barn has them;-). I'll go searching for some photos and post them later. This is just a start. I'll need more photos... Perhaps with the items you love in the room.
I'm not sure that Asian and men's wear fabrics will sit well in the same room together. I think it could work beautifully with the leather chair and rugs you pictured, but not if you want the home to go strongly Asian. I would look to Marie Henson for her suggestions. She does an eclectic mix like no one else!
I've been thinking more about your situation. I like the rug with the bright blue center and horses. It's different and unpredictable Asian. Then regarding pillows I envision color blocking... Wait, I know... What? When I look at Asian design motifs, the grid appears over and over. Also horse jockey silks are color blocked. You could use silk or velvet. I found a photo of some color block pillows, but not in you colors so you'll have to let your imagination kick in.
Since you are a single woman, go with the femininity, not the menswear look. There are lots of pictures of shabby chic and it is not shabby as the name implies, it is feminine. It is best to use the same color or a variation of the color throughout for continuity. Your should be able to put ll the fabrics in a pile and have them all go together. The rooms will seem larger if you use the same color that you use on the walls for the draperies, which are currently being shown as simple, straight-falling natural fabrics such as linen. Florals are important with the feminine style, and although your sofa isn't floral, it gives the effect of a floral. It doesn't appear to be worn so it could be used for more years. Traditional houses can take rich, mid-saturation to full-saturation colors. The metals are best an old brass look. Art should be framed in carved, not metal, frames. Try to break up the long narrow look with same rounded items. If there is money left after you do the painting, add crown mouldings to give a richer look.
I have tried so many different colors and styles thru the years. When I built it I went with super contemporary. Shag carpet , lots of lime ,yellow and orange. It has been a difficult expensive transition over the years.
I had moved to a huge Victorian home in the '90's. That was great fun as far as decorating. I did it all original. When I divorced I was forced to move back into this home. I have changed about everything. I have accumulated the furniture that I have not because of passion for the furniture but necessity to have a place to sit. I was thinking down the road after the mechanics of the house were all up to date I would focus on the decor. Unfortunately I became very ill and can no longer work. So I am really stuck as far as putting much money into decorating. At the same time I am spending so much more time in my home I really want to be able to enjoy my surroundings.
I love shabby chic style which I have done my bedroom. I have a son who is single and will inherit this home in a few years. I want to do something more sophisticated and less fem for that reason. You know moms we sacrifice all for our children!
Your ideas are wonderful and you should be a decorator!
Thank you!