SFGate

mara117 I realize you can see the framed ketubah in its current home in this strange angled picture--you can see the size of it, at least...

You need to enlarge the picture to see it, though, since it does not display in the smaller preview.

jjdesignkloos i like it where it is; could yu put that hall table under it, to ground it? could you add some green and turquoise to the hall to tie it all in with your living room; eg. rug, vase ?

mara117 @jjdesignkloos It definitely needs a table or something. I wonder if I like it there better than a mirror...hmmm...

We also probably need some sort of coat rack (either there or near the garage in back) because unfortunately, our house has no coat closet.

I may be getting a little off track, though, haha...it might be dangerous if I start moving down that hallway before finishing a plan for this room!

aniluap2 I kind of like a ketubah in the bedroom since it is your contract between you and your husband....but that's just me.

mara117 @aniluap--that is a good idea, too, we just have not tackled the bedroom yet. It is still all full of old mismatched furniture. Our ketubah is not so romantic when you translate it into English though, actually--more like a prenuptual agreement!

Donald-Haverty Design Group Hi, have you chosen drapes and art work yet? The room is feeling a bit cool despite the upholstery on the chairs.

mara117 @Donald-Haverty--yes, we would really like to warm up this room and make it feel more homey. I purchased this painting at a garage sale last week and I like the way it looks in the room.

That is all we have so far! We have not added any accent pieces yet.

Still not sure about drapes...some have suggested green as well. Any ideas on what might look good?

donnasd Hi Mara. As others have said, you really do have a great space- lots of natural light and those incredible dark floors. I personally don't think that the furniture should be wall-hugging; it's fine to bring your furniture grouping in toward a focal point, since it helps so much with traffic flow. I like the seating plan with the slipper chairs included in it.
How many people would be at your house at any given time? Do you have another space in your home, like a family room, keeping room or den? If you do, maybe you could set up the leather chair in a reading nook there. Or even in the master bedroom, space permitting. In the living room as it is now, it might be nice to bring in (over time, as has been suggested)some geometric patterns. A mix of different textiles would give your room even more color & style. A sofa table or console can be something that you might purchase later.
Anywhere that is special to you is where your ketubah should go.

mara117 Yes, this living room is one of the features that sold us on this house--but now we are trying to figure out what to do with all of this space!

Actual residents of my home: me, my husband, a crazy 60 lb pit bull mix. When we're entertaining, though, we tend to have a "more the merrier" attitude, so we frequently end up hosting groups of 10 or so, sometimes on short notice. I would definitely like to maximize seating.

We moved the ,matching chair to the office, which should eventually be a good place for it (once it has some furniture in it). We do also have a den (where our old apartment living room furniture lives) and 2 totally empty bedrooms--no shortage of places to put it :)

Do you have any suggestions for geometric patterns/other textiles? I want to layer some more interesting patterns/textures, but I am not quite sure how to do so without making it look like a mess.

Debra Gunstanson It looks like u have great suggestions

concordhome Mara - not sure exactly where you are located but do you have a Homesgood store - may or may not be connected to TJ Maxx or Marshalls. This is a great place to find accessories, pillows, art work at very reasonable prices. We made the mistake years ago of putting a fair amount of money (for us anyway) into prints and custom framing. I've always been hesitant to get rid of them but it is time for a change in our new (retirement) home for a change. I've found large wonderful canvas pictures at very reasonable prices that have given our new home a fresh modern look. I won't feel bad if I get tired of one of them in a couple of years. Actually I may even buy different ones to use at different times of the year for a more seasonal look. We do - however, have great storage in our new home so that makes it possible to rotate decorating items. I know you are going to enjoy your home for years to come. I'm a little jealous of your new beginning but I wouldn't trade our 47 years for anything - we're still enjoying our home after all these years.

mara117 @concordhome I love Homegoods! If you can't tell already that this project is occupying my mind during the work day, you would definitely know it from how often I head to Homegoods on my lunch break to window shop. Once we get the coffee table and entertainment center settled, I may go a little crazy at HG...:)

And 47 years--I am impressed!

Debra Gunstanson Tks ill post some of the things I like and u can see I I hit anything u like if that makes since

donnasd For pillows, a stripe, check, novelty print in your colors will give let you layer on lots of style. A kilim or ikat pillow will work too. Browse thru some PB pages to see how a color related collection of accent pillows can work. A throw is also a great idea & is functional as well as decorative.

Susan Jacobs In a way, the ketubah is in the living room, since it is visible from there. Certainly many of the colors work, but perhaps not the red...

Debra Gunstanson Here are a few

mara117 @donnasd--That is the fun part! I will have to wait until we have sorted out the basics and then hopefully I can get to the fun :)

@Susan--Right, that red is pretty...red, haha. I love that it's colorful but it might take a little away from the scheme. I am not sure if I can imagine it next to green curtains.

@debra Thanks for your help, I am not sure any of those are right for this room...but they are certainly some fun ideas!

My husband told me he has been telling his coworkers about Houzz, haha! Now they are all eager to come on here and get ideas, too. And he agrees that @carolq2 is a genius for suggesting those brick hooks. I see they have some in stock at Joann's so I might need to stop by this week and grab some.

Tonight or tomorrow we are going to try to take some measurements for the entertainment center, so I will have to share our ideas! We want to work with a modular Ikea Besta system for flexibility, but we will probably need lots of help figuring out what dimensions will work in this room without overwhelming the space. I am not sure if turning the TV wall into more of a "feature" will make us design heathens for neglecting the fireplace somewhat...

Debra Gunstanson Ill post more tomorrow

bevballew Since you are concerned because size of the room and the surrounding area I think if you eventually add some artwork, either a large piece, or groupings of three across or six, three above and three below, I think you will then feel content. And perhaps,once you get a few pieces on the hearth, maybe even cushions in the window area, or the drapes it will feel finished and well decorated.

mara117 @bevballew I think you are right...I just want to fill it up now because I have ideas in mind, but it will take some time to find things we really like. I did get a great quote online for custom cut foam to make windowseats and it is really inexpensive. I am hoping to work on that in a few weeks!

mara117 Also, here is our ketubah where it lives right now near our main entrance. Sorry for the poor quality photos!

bevballew Your ketubah looks very nice where it is! Yes I think placing cushions will pull the room together. I see soft sheers in the windows, maybe tied back with the left window with drapery swagging to the left and the other side to the right. I may be way off base as I am no decorator but I see simplicity in your drapery treatment. Or maybe a soft blue silky drape, same style.

mara117 I like the ketubah where it is, but I want to make more of a tied-together entry space, like these:
://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7705872/thumbs/Entry

I am not sure if sheers are quite our style, but I do think drapes would make it look much more finished and dramatic. With 270+ comments already, though, I am not sure anyone will be able to weed through this whole thread to keep helping us make progress once we get that far, haha!

pgeis At this point, you have enough different opinions that it should be clear you can do whatever you please!

We are all rooting for you, and I am confident the two of you are well on your way to a home that will embrace your family with style and comfort.

mara117 @pgeis--Yes, very eager to make progress but we have been so busy this week getting ready for our houseguests! I wish they could wait a few weeks and visit us when we have a bit more finished :)

My husband and I have been playing around with the Ikea modular entertainment center planner online. This is sort of what we had in mind. Is this too much? It looks like we may either be able to get it alllllmost exactly the size of our wall, or possibly a bit shorter (like 6" shorter on each side). This photo was taken at an angle so it was pretty hard to edit in Paint where you can't turn objects at an angle--excuse this terribly messy mockup:

aniluap2 Looks good to me!

pattiegoode I'd go shorter than the wall and heavier toward the FP, asymmetrical. Ikea shows some similar that will work for you in Besta if the pix attach ok! You can do a glass door & some lighting.

mara117 I like those examples! We were thinking of the black brown finish, and just the lower shelves--we were considering using the midsize Lack floating shelves on either side.

The asymmetrical idea is really interesting. Would you just do floating shelves on just one side (if any)? I am not sure if the unit should be centered on the wall, or toward the FP. I think we will need the larger cabinets all the way across, though, to cover our baseboards. I will have to do some exploring on the Ikea website!

Susan Jacobs Love that entryway idea. Here's a question: Do you continue this thread when you're ready to do a new, but related area? Or do you start a new one when you're at a departure point?

mara117 @Susan--I think I would start a new thread. I am worried I have outworn my welcome in this thread, haha, since it has gotten so long new people may not be able to get caught up on so many responses. Still so much left to do, though! Since you mentioned your ketubah earlier in the thread, perhaps you can relate to our stress in preparing for our first seder...I have hardly had time to think about anything else. I am glad we have saved that big space in front of the fireplace, because that is probably where our big folding table will go on Monday :)

I have been trying to respond to everyone but my husband told me he thinks it has made the thread so long people that will not read it and we will stop getting such good advice! I will have to try to save my responses for big questions and for when we actually have time to make some progress...

bevballew Is there room in the hallway for that beautiful lamp and table combo! If so I would do,that.

mara117 @pattie I looked up those Besta combinations--I love them but they are about double the price of the unit we are looking at. I'll have to see what they look like in the store and maybe we could make a combination from scratch that is less expensive. I have to take some more measurements and see what sizes would work best.

@bev I think so--where the framed rainbow square ketubah is now. I checked and we don't actually have any outlets there to make a lamp functional. I wonder if that matters? :) My husband might take some convincing...that's why he didn't like the slipper chairs by the fireplace--he said they served no purpose!

sondramartina What is ketubah?

mara117 @sondramartina if you scroll up a bit, it's the square framed piece of art in our entryway, with the rainbow spectrum square. It is a ritual Jewish marriage contract.

sondramartina Thanks Mara117. I learned something :)

bevballew Your hubby has a point but what are the chances you would turn the lamps on anyway. It is so pretty and would really start pulling the elegance together.

Palindrome Design, LLC Hi there - Would you ever consider splurging for a larger rug and place the existing rug on top of it? Sisals can be purchased online, relatively inexpensively. If you spend money on a larger rug, you can save by finding a square coffee table at a thrift store and painting it black or a fun color. Then add pillows, art, a throw and some accessories as you can afford it.

I'm a huge fan of the blog Better After - lots of creative ideas about what can be done with existing and/or thrift store finds.

aniluap2 Mara, the reason you have so many responses is that you take the time to address everyone and r
They appreciate it. If you want to decorate another area, you should start another thread. By th way don't worry about your Seder , everyone will just be thrilled to be together. It is a lot of work but you hav the family there to help.

rebyl I like the plan that lessismore came up with. I also found this pic on Houzz that I wanted to share.

Kathryn Peltier Design This is a very long discussion, and I have not read all the posts, so you may have it all figured out at this point. I just wondered if the rug would fit the other way in the room, with the long side along the fireplace, flanked by the loveseat on the right and the matching chair on the left. Have the two floral chairs on either side of the FP - they could sit on the wood floor. That makes a tighter arrangement. You could probably use a sofa table, then, behind the couch. I think the coffee table from CB2 is too light. You need a larger scale table to hold it's own.

If this arrangement would work, you could add a game table at the back of the room, too, for an extra seating area and for game day!

Susan Jacobs I would love to see how Kathryn's suggestion works.

pattiegoode Mara, personally I think the Besta cabinet combo would be much more functional than just floating shelves. I think the glass door make it much more furniture-like & fitting with your room. Get some family opinions when they are standing in the space - and think about what will go on the shelves (you don't want too many nick-nacks). Could you consider buying the base unit first and then adding the upper pieces later? Just a thought.

lpmenache I have read through most comments and lessismore has been most helpful and full of ideas. The green painting is great and you should but the hole in the brick.The problem with this room I think is with proportion and secondly with placement. I dont know if anyone has suggested this but the two beautiful floral chairs are just out of proportion, way too small for room and other furniture and not good for football watching for men or women. Move them to another room and get two chairs that are larger in scale and put them by fireplace and change sofas around(again) so large sofa is looking at TV. I like the idea of the long TV console and floating shelves. The dark square coffee table with the interesting legs is great. I like Lessismore color scheme for accessories. Also the dartk mantle will help pull it all together and that is an easy DIY project. I reall do think that removing the little chairs will solve alot of the delima. As designers we make booboos too and just have to do what is right to make it right.
hope to see how it all turns out

Debra Gunstanson With a long room can u arrange them behinde the couch with a reading lamp and floral to comment the room with oval rug. Just a thought ill keep looking

Debra Gunstanson I'm sorry if I'm getting in the way here are pics I took to show u that color is great or no color it depends on your home I'm a Italian and he is Norwegian talk about compromise :)

mara117 Wow, I woke up to a lot of responses today! Thanks, everyone!!

@bevballew Just as I suspected, the second I showed him that inspiration photo, he thought a lamp that doesn't work was extremely impractical. I wonder if I can win him over on that one...

@Palindrome Design--I do like that idea with the rug, I just don't think we can afford it right now.Our rug is 9x12, and I don't think I can afford bigger at this point. Truth be told, I think we have spent less than $1000 so far on this room (minus the TV). Obviously our budget is on the low end. Thanks so much for the tip on that blog...bookmarking it right now! I love it!

@aniluap2--Thank you! I am sure this weekend will be nice. I am exhausted already just from all of our planning, though.

@rebyl--That picture is very pretty. The problem with our arrangement is our TV. It is definitely creating layout issues for us. It's pretty permanent, too--no undoing that wall mount now!

@Kathryn--Great to see you on here! I am a big fan from your work on Rhonda's thread :) You have great ideas! I read through your suggestion a few times but I am not sure I understand where everything would go. I am more of a visual person, haha, so I might need to have it drawn out. I definitely agree about the coffee table, though.

@pattie--We will definitely be buying the base unit first, I think that's a great idea. I do agree storage may be more practical, but I love the look of the floating shelves. You're right, though, I have no idea what we'd put on them :) Definitely open to more ideas.

@lpmenache--I have been learning a lot about scale, and I agree the chairs are a bit small. I really love them, though, and I would love to find a way to make them work. Do you have any suggestions for what you would put in their place? I was stalking those chairs online for months until they were on sale, haha, so my husband may kill me if I can't actually put them to good use. And it seems there are a lot of preconceived notions about what football parties must look like, haha! To me, I can totally see them coexisting with a more feminine space. Then again, we are in Texas where football is a religion--people would probably watch games in church if they could :)

@Debra--I am not sure any of those are right for us but I can definitely relate about compromise. Learning a lot about that as we go!

susanband What about putting the tv above the fireplace?

lpmenache I think that chairs with higher backs would do well against the big FP and the sofas. I am in Louisiana and we breath Football too.

susanband If you put the tv above the fire place and buy a long table for along the wall and put some nice objects like tray with decanters and vase and flowers and then put an arrangement of pictures or photos above the long table. It would be nice. That's if the TV can be attached to the wall above the fireplace

mara117 @susanband--I don't know if you have ever wall-mounted a TV, but it's pretty permanent, haha! There was a lot of work involved and unless we wanted to get to some serious drywalling and painting--it really can't go anywhere :) We considered the fireplace wall at first but quickly nixed that idea because it's way too tall and it would be complicated to mount it over that raised brick octagon.

@lpmeanche I don't disagree, I just don't feel like we have exhausted the possibilities yet and I want to try to work them in. I'd like to see the room more finished out with some darker pieces to ground it before switching anything else. Next on our list are an entertainment center and coffee table. If it still is looking off, at that point we might be willing to make some other changes/swaps.

pgeis Like each of us, a home is a work in progress. Life is in the living. It's time to declare a bit of freedom from decorating and put all your energy into your first seder in your new home! Enjoy!!

mara117 @pgeis I know you are right! We will definitely not be working on anything decor-related this weekend. I am just hoping to get together a few different ideas this week so that I can chat about with my mom while she is at our house. She has a good eye for design and I'd like her opinion on the suggestions people have offered in this thread.

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara117: thank you for your nice comments:-)

When I first suggested this layout, I didn't realize that your TV is on the side wall in the room, The problem I think you're having, however, is that all the furniture is oriented towards the TV instead of towards the FP. You're kind of fighting the natural layout of the room. I have done a very quick sketch of what I was talking about, but you might be able to pull the rug a bit further back from the FP so that it is more opposite the TV. You could then add your smaller chairs in front of the FP (on either side, angled into room) or get a couple of other chairs that have a bit larger scale, and use the smaller chairs as I have pictured.

concordhome How about putting your two smaller chairs back in front of the fireplace - on each side facing each other with, perhaps an ottoman and then get one larger chair in use in the other grouping. I don't believe the matching leather chair would work - too much of a good thing but something comfortable in a different er pattern for texture perhaps a swivel . Correct me if I'm wrong but don't you have doors on each side of the room that almost form a "path" in front of the fireplace? This would be sort of like the floor plan you posted 6 days ago the one on the left but with another chair on the spare corner of the rug. This way you could add this another chair when you budget allows and keep the two chairs you love. it would keep them in the room but out of the "TV area". You might actually have a couple of guest that would like a short getaway from the TV and being in the same room in front of the fireplace for a little conversation might be nice. Your smaller chairs look like they could actually be pulled over if the game get "really" good and you need extra seating. I believe you understand the reality of "living" in a room not just staging a room. We'd all love our homes to look staged and beautiful all the time but if it isn't set up for our lifestyle it just won't work. Finding a good balance between the two is the biggest problem. Remember I'm certainly not a professional and can't offer professional advise but I've had five homes over 47 years and I have tried to learn a few things. First and most important advise I can give is to keep the clutter down. Always have places to put things out of sight. This will become more important as your family grows. People won't notice if your house isn't always totally clean but they will notice if there is "stuff" everywhere. I don't believe this is going to be your problem - your home is lovely and I can tell how proud you are of it. That's all for me today - I'll stop preaching and go clean my own house!! PS: Please don't feel you have to "answer" me.

barblt001 It's a beautiful room. My experience is don't rush too quickly to decide. Live in your space bait first. I would not back the chairs to the fireplace. Maybe try them one on either side of that corner of the rug but not on the rug if possible. You need some cushions. Looks like you have a wide choice for color you could add. The white table seems too small a really sticks out. I would use it some where else or paint it a color that blends in a bit. The fireplace should be one of your focal points so something on scale with it sitting to one side of the hearth would be attractive

lpmenache enjoy your family this weekend!

mara117 Wow, Kathryn, that is so helpful--thanks! I absolutely love that plan but my fear is that our real life focal point (from a practical standpoint, our TV) is limiting us a lot. My husband said I need to stop letting the people on Houzz making me regret every decision, haha, but I wish we would have waited to mount the TV. That was the very first thing we did, and I don't think we could possibly move it without a LOT of work. The wall is about 12' long and the TV is smack dab in the center of the wall. I really like everything about your arrangement but I am not sure it would go over well with my husband because we would be off center to the TV. I am willing to give it a try though!

@barb we have lived here since December and this is as far as we have gotten, haha. My husband would not let me rush when I wanted to, thankfully--there have been many presentations of budget spreadsheets and floorplans in our household :) Don't think we will be using the white table in this arrangement.

Kathryn Peltier Design Maybe you could try pulling everything back in the room so that it would be more opposite the TV? It's worth a try. Then, as someone had mentioned before, use two chairs and an ottoman in front of the fireplace. I think that would make visual "sense", but still make the TV viewable. One of the main things is to not have seating backed to the FP - it makes it look like the poor stepchild, but it should be the star of the room. I'ts really lovely.

mara117 I love the idea of turning the rug around--that might give us better space to work with on either side, I will definitely try that. Do you think we should pull the matching leather chair back in? It seemed like a bit much in our space.

I really like lessismoore's arrangement but I would love not to block the FP. We had tried some arrangements with the 2 chairs by the FP but people did not seem to think it looked quite right. I really appreciate your insight--thanks!!

Debra Gunstanson Ok like rug that way

Kathryn Peltier Design I don't know about pulling the matching chair back in - yes, it might be too much of a good thing. YOu could perhaps add a throw, folded down the center (do you know what I mean - I can look for photos later) You have nothing to lose by trying it, and for right now, it would give you more seating (especially if you're expecting company!)

I think the arrangement you may have tried by the FP didn't look right because the chairs are so visually lightweight, especially by themselves. I really think that for a 2-chairs-and-ottoman idea to work, the chairs have to be "loungier". You might even think about using them pushed under a sofa table, and use the table more as a counter for parties. I'm not sure that would work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Those two floral chairs will work in the space - it's just getting everything else balanced out first which is important.

Debra Gunstanson I like what you have done great job

Debra Gunstanson I read your last post I think it was u should what I'm working on you would tell yourself u have it made (funny ) my kitchen is 1/2 finished I know what I want but getting hub on board is something else and his part is very simple anyway if I have given u any ideas I am soooo happy
Thanks D

mara117 Kathryn, you have me thinking a lot--thanks! I am the classic Type A so I am totally preoccupied with this (obviously!). My husband thinks if someone on Houzz told me to hang our couches upside down from the ceiling, I would consider it, haha, but I really do like thinking about all of the different ideas. At work I have a few days of down time between big projects so I've had all too much time to think about this before things get crazy here next week :)

I had another thought, since so many people seem to think the chairs are too small. What if I kept a U-shaped arrangement, but put the slipper chairs in front of the TV. They are so short and unassuming, maybe they would not block the TV? If I did arrange the rug in the other configuration, maybe it would free up a totally new space to fill by the fireplace. I plugged in these layouts this time using all of the actual dimensions...

Madeline Hi mara117. I agree, it's good to see @Kathryn Peltier Design came back in as she was one of the first designers to comment and it's great to see her following up on your case! I would like to address your comments that the tv is permanent in its present place, and the raised octagon on the fireplace is a limitation to placing your tv there. What everyone does agree to is that the fireplace is the focal point of your room. This would seem to be the natural place for your television, and mounting the tv above the fireplace would appear to address or eliminate so many other "considerations" that it is worth giving it an honest hearing, so to speak. I think you should call in a contractor to get an idea of the cost to a) fix the space on the wall after you remove the television, and b) the work involved in removing the octagon (or not, depends if in fact that is necessary) and mounting your television on the brick. (On the narrow wall to the right of the f/p you can position a tall narrow cabinet for the extra components required for the tv.) The drywall fix is a rather easy fix done in probably a day (with time taken only for the drywall mud to dry) with probably the need to paint the wall. With your tv above the fireplace you are then free on your side wall to place a beautiful long sleek console table with your new painting easily hung above it and if you wanted, two stools tucked below it for extra seating. This would eliminate the need and the cost of the Ikea storage/entertainment piece. With the focal point now making more sense you can work out your furniture arrangement so that it too makes the best of the room's space. You yourself said it was perhaps a mistake to rush and mount the television where it is. Talk with DH and see if he too wouldn't mind seeing what a professional (contractor would have to say about undoing what could be called a beginner's mistake and moving on to the best possible design of your tv viewing room.

mara117 @Madeline-- I appreciate your comment, but there is pretty much no way DH would agree to this. He's been very patient with all my furniture shuffling but there are only a few things he really wants, and the TV on that wall is one of them. He was really excited about mounting it on the wall and he loves the way it looks. I know he has made a lot of compromises for things that I want, so I think this is something I'll concede to him.

Also, our fireplace is very high and I think it would be a bit difficult to actually watch the TV all the way up there if we centered it in the space. I think you bring up a lot of excellent points and some great ideas, but I'd really like to try to work with what we have. I definitely recognize that it's not ideal and there are probably better solutions, but I think we are going to do our best with what we've done/bought so far :)

jjdesignkloos I'm also appreciating Kathryn's posts; I am also with the no-tv-above-a-fireplace-group :)
Good for you for your willingness...and your DH's also!
Have a happy weekend!

Debra Gunstanson I found the kitchen I'm excited but I can't get it to u help

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara: in plan, I like the rug turned. I didn't realize it would take up almost the entire width of the room,however. It looks like with the rug turned in your Plan B that it is blocking the entrance into the room from the foyer (I didn't realize that wasn't a wall when I drew the sketch) While I really like the rug turned, you may have to leave it the way it is and use your Plan A. While I think the chairs work under the TV, does this give you any circulation space? Since you don't have chairs to go in front of the FP at this time, maybe just angle them in toward the seating arrangement, one on each corner. Another idea would be to get the two chairs and ottoman for in front of the FP, do a shorter credenza under the TV and put one of these chairs on each side. They could then be easily moved into the conversation area when you have a party,

mara117 Thanks, Kathryn! Our only full wall is the one with the fireplace, which makes things a little more complicated. Our rug is 12.5' long and the width of the room is 16.75'--I just realized I am not sure if the depth of that console is actually to scale, so there may be a little more room than in that Floorplanner layout. If the rug stays the way it is, I think there could still be circulation space with the chairs in front of the TV. I think I will have to see what it looks like in real life....

The chairs on either side of the console sounds nice too but not sure DH would be in love with the idea--he likes things to be functional. I've shown him some little home blog "vignettes" I like (e.g. random little tables with a chair, etc) I like and he's always like..."But what do you use it for?" Haha!

Susan Jacobs Mara, you are such a diplomat :)

mara117 Haha, thanks Susan! And because I'm having fun in floorplanner, is this what you were talking about, Kathryn? I sometimes have trouble visualizing from a description. If we could ever afford to add some other chairs by the FP, that looks like a nice idea, too. (I left out the coffee tables, etc. in this version--forgot to put those in!)

Madeline You place the chairs beside the tv because they are beautiful extra seating for those big football parties you're so fond of. You know people get a kitchen table and four chairs because even though they are only a couple there are other considerations: guests could stop by, a baby could be born and grow from highchair to one of the four chairs. A mother could some day come and live with the family. In Japan sets for kitchen dishes come standard as five, looking and planning for that eventuality of a mother living with the young couple. This would probably drive your DH crazy. Remember it is his one request for the tv to be on that wall that is the genesis for much of this Houzz talk. And I bet also the flat screen tv took up a very huge chunk of the room budget. Ah, men, don't you just love them!

Sabrina Silvernale I love this site for its oh-so-helpful membership. I'm not a designer, but I love to see a project develop over time like this one. Here are my opinions about all the wonderful advice you've enjoyed: I like the layout best with the slipper chairs nearest the entryway, but still think you should try to keep the sofa opposite the TV and the loveseat backing up to the fireplace. I think, too, once you dress out your fireplace wall, it won't feel blocked at all, but be a beautiful backdrop to a great entertainment space, as well as a traffic way between the other rooms. You need the seat cushions under each side window, and I do vote for window curtains even though you may never need to close them. They'll soften the brick and add color. I vote for charcoal cushions and mantle - and your green painting. Use the same fabric to frame the larger window, and do not skimp there. Go all the way to the corner by the door and balance out on the other side. That will anchor the large sofa in front of it. I like the flamestich print from
West Elm. I'm also intrigued my laying the rug parallel rather than perpendicular to the entryway. Oh, and do try an assimetrical approach to your TV wall. I'd rather see a gallery wall of finds you acquire over time around your flat screen than floating shelves. Later, think about painting that wall a deep color from your pallette to blend the big black box of your TV into the gallery (maybe charcoal, too?) I did that with mine, which also has a black console similar to your choice, and it looks great - not dark at all, given you have such nice natural light. You put so much thought into your room. I know you are going to love it.

Susan Jacobs I still think you can have a lovely entryway "vignette" without lamps. You can do hefty candlesticks or some such thing. It is weird to have a lamp, not to mention 2 lamps, that don't function. That is just the opposite of good design. Or, you could get an outlet put there.

Debra Gunstanson I'm really bad I don't read everything I try to but I don't did you ever get my kit ideas they are beautiful u can email me and maybe I can get them to u that way debrakaygun@gmail.com

aniluap2 I like Kathryn's idea of exposing your fireplace . I have o admit I did not feel quite comfortable with blocking it. I think the chairs eould look better on each side of the console as suggested and get the chairs for the fireplace sometime in the future. Remember , Rome was not built in a day! You could also use your adorable chairs in the foyer arrangement that you posted...they are perfect scale for that area as well.

melharley Agree to keep the fireplace as a focal point. Large sofa on longest wall, loveseat facing fireplace. Two chairs angled in front of fireplace is a good furniture placement in your room. Add artwork over fireplace and acccessorize the mantle with 1 thing on one side of mantle and three (small, large & larger) on the other side of mantle. Add curtain panels on windows, floor to ceiling if possible as this will add the appearance of height. Btw the rug should define the space, so put the rug in front of the sofas but not under them. Add beautiful accessories and don't forget to add a silk plant or greenary to the room. Adding Decorative coordinating pillows on the sofa are important since you want to create a wow factor in the room. Pillows play an important role in terms of wow!. I think you are doing a good job. It must be overwhelming getting so many different opinions. http://www.poshhomestaging.net

mara117 @Madeline I hope I haven't made him sound like some sort of design tyrant, haha--I have made pretty much all of our other decisions, so we are trying to compromise on something that will make us both happy!

@Sabrina I just moved a ton of furniture around, haha, but I will have to try that arrangement as well! Tomorrow I will check out some of your other suggestions.

@Susan You are probably right (DH too!) That is an area where functional would make a lot more sense.

@Debra--We are not working on our kitchen right now--just the living room!

@aniluap2--I just tried a bunch of different things, I will have to upload all of my photos. I'm not sure where the chairs work best...it might be tough to tell until we have an EC and coffee table in there.

@melharley It does get a little overwhelming, haha--it;s great to have so much help, but it can be confusing. We're trying to nail down the layout before bringing in all of the decorative items.

mara117 While DH was doing some work, I moved the rug and some furniture. Whew! The rug looks odd in some photos because the rug pad is sticking out. I only had the energy to try the loveseat and sofa in one location each, but I imagine they could be switched as well.

I took some photos of just the rug facing the other way (no furniture on it) to see the size. I took a whole bunch with some different arrangements. Better? Worse? I've moved everything so much it's getting hard to tell, haha!

mara117 As you can see, our dog wanted to get in on the fun too!

mara117 A couple more--sorry for so many! This room is very hard to photograph.

mara117 :

bevballew Susan...although you find lamps weird that don't work I live in a 4000 square foot home and have lamps all over and don't turn them on. I don't find it weird. If I have a bedroom set and a nightstand on each side of,the bed and I have an overhead light that I switch on when I enter the room why would I turn on the lamps unless I want ambiance. So if I don't turn the lamps on do I put candlesticks on each side of the bed rather than the lamps because,I won't use the lamps? Do you think it would look good with candlesticks from a decorating standpoint?

jjdesignkloos i love this arrangement; i think it's the best yet!

Kathryn Peltier Design I like it! I like the one especially with the floral chairs on the wall. I think it looks a little tight to have them on the carpet, plus it will look even tighter when you put a credenza in there. I would also try pulling the couch (especially) onto the carpet a bit more to make the seating seem cozier and give you a bit more space near the foyer.. When you add a nice big square coffee table I think it will look great (I think you need some dark in this room so I would do a medium to dark wood). Maybe you should try the floral chairs in front of the fireplace, facing the couch but angled a bit. That might work until you can get something bigger. What do you think, Mara?

aniluap2 Good advice Kathryn. Mara I love the new arrangement, your hubby has what he wants and the fireplace is not masked. Good job to you both.

Kathryn Peltier Design Some coffee table styles I think could work:
Tartan Homes - Mansfield
AZ Modern Ranch
Living Room/Library

Since your furniture is light colored and upholstered to the floor, I think the coffee table would look best if it had a leg, i.e. not a big block of a table. I especially like that second one with the bit of bright metal on it. I think it will kind of depend, too, on what you choose for the TV credenza.

This would probably work well
http://www.westelm.com/products/parsons-coffee-table-chocolate-g973/?pkey=ccoffee-side-tables&cm_src=coffee-side-tables||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
OR
you could do a credenza like this, but I don't think you could do both - they're too much alike
http://www.westelm.com/products/parsons-media-small-console-g393/?pkey=cconsoles-media-storage-cabinets

Add some color through some pillows on the couch and loveseat (I would maybe try to find 2 or 3 smaller ones for the couch and one larger one for the loveseat) and I think it will be great :-)

Kathryn Peltier Design I think that adding some sheen in your accessories would be pretty, too. This would pick up the gray in the chairs. Then pick an accent color and add a couple of pillows and some accessories in that color.
http://www.westelm.com/products/frosted-foil-pillow-cover-r943/?pkey=cpillows&cm_src=pillows||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-

Olena Newell Click on my picture and check out my photos from living room. I have this great TV wall floating unit that might work for you. We got lots of compliments on it. Good luck!

Holly Mayeux Just a thought.... Google coffee tables with ottomans. They are very inexpensive and would be great for NFL season "extra seating" Then later on when you have all the furniture you want, you can group the ottomans and use a serving tray on top for placing snacks or other service items....

Susan Jacobs I think you've got it! These last photos look great. Best yet!

mara117 Thanks, everyone! I think at this point we need to try to get some more furniture and figure out where to go from there. DH liked the arrangement but not so much the idea of getting more chairs for the fireplace, haha! He thinks we have so much furniture already.

@jjdesignkloos @aniluap2 @Susan Jacobs Thanks! It does need some tweaking but it's nice to keep things open.

@Kathryn Great suggestions! The coffee tables are very similar to the ones @lessismoore had suggested somewhere upthread and I think that would be perfect. She had also suggested painting the mantle dark for contrast--what do you think of that idea? Still considering it...

We haven't found any coffee tables we love in our price range, so I am going to try to scour Craigslist for some good shapes/sizes and see if we can find something we can repaint or stain. I like the gray sheen pillows and I'd like to pick up the aqua/turquoise as another accent. What color for curtains? I can't decide!

For the entertainment center, our plan had been to figure out something using an Ikea Besta modular plan (like the photos below). It would have to be much shorter if we wanted to do the chairs on either side, though--the plan we were considering would take up almost that entire wall. Maybe we can start with a few units and add onto it.

@Olena Those long low consoles were just what we were thinking of! I hope that would work.

@Holly I love those and they would be very practical but they look to be a bit out of our price range right now.

mara117 And I should add, if we got those shorter Besta units (like in the photo on the right), they would probably need legs--don't think their actual height would even cover our baseboards!

pgeis I will have to admit that I was sold on the earlier plan, but provided the flowered chairs don't interfere with watching television, the arrangement in your most recent photos looks great! (With all this moving of furniture, and burning of calories, you don't have to worry about seder calories -- es and es!)

aniluap2 When you're scouring Craigslist for a coffee table bear in mind you can use a game table at cut the legs to coffee table hieght since it is sometimes hard to find a large square one.

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara: I don't know that i would paint the mantle dark, but how about the gray tone in your chairs, especially if you are going to add more of that tone to the room? A gray with a touch of the aqua would work quite well.

Do you want a drapery you will actually close, or will they be pulled back? To me, that makes a bit of difference in how much pattern you want, if any. If you want pattern, I think you would want to look for something that is kind of a very large scale of your floral upholstery, or a geometric which would go with your rug. The key to a pattern is that is needs to be smaller or larger (probably larger) than the pattern in your rug, and not the same pattern. If you want a solid, then I think maybe a very pale aqua or even silver (not gray). Look for something in a light linen weight - not too light, not too heavy. A plain linen-type weave, in a white or off-white to match your trim, would also be simple and pretty with a band of color. This would be easy/inexpensive to do, especially if you can find a good deal on the actual draperies.

I also think you need to bring the rug color in somewhere, whether accessories of those new chairs your husband doesn't think you need lol!! Right now, the light furniture really dominates the space and I think that by adding your rug/wall color (pillows, a throw, etc.) and then layering on your accent color it will all come together.

Here is a drapery - a faux silk, so maybe too formal a fabric, but with a very subtle stripe. I think I would do them on a nice dark rod with rings.
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Dalia-Faux-Silk-84-inch-Stripe-Panel/5763241/product.html
A silver tone
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Dalia-Faux-Silk-84-inch-Stripe-Panel/5763241/product.html

This is a lovely solid with a border - I think this style would be perfect, but unfortunately, I don't think these colors work :-(
http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/for-the-home/departments/window-treatments/brands/happy-chic-by-jonathan-adler/happy-chic-by-jonathan-adler-lola-canvas-drape-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5002310578&N=4294966702&searchTerm=drapes&topDim=Item+Type&topDimvalue=panels&dimCombo=Item+Type%7C&dimComboVal=panels%7C¤tDim=Item+Type¤tDimVal=panels&catId=SearchResults

Very soft floral, but it still may be too gray to work with the rug
http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/marthawindow%25e2%2584%25a2-hampton-leaf-grommet-top-curtain-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5002320235&N=4294966702&pageSize=96&searchTerm=drapes&topDim=Item+Type&topDimvalue=panels&dimCombo=Item+Type%7C&dimComboVal=panels%7C¤tDim=Item+Type¤tDimVal=panels&catId=SearchResults

This type of pattern would work quite well, but is this too taupe? I think maybe it is.
http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/conspiracy-grommet-top-curtain-panel-/prod.jump?ppId=pp5001740058&N=4294966702&Nao=192&pageSize=96&pN=3&searchTerm=drapes&topDim=Item+Type&topDimvalue=panels&dimCombo=Item+Type%7C&dimComboVal=panels%7C¤tDim=Item+Type¤tDimVal=panels&catId=SearchResults

Kathryn Peltier Design A few more and then I have to get to work lol! Any of the patterns I've shown would work in your wall/rug color too, or the aqua color. Of course, it's just a matter of finding it!

One more thought: if you find a table on Craigs List, consider painting it in the aqua.

mara117 @pgeis, Haha, I hope so! I have to start cooking tonight, I think...we will be eating a lot this weekend :)

@aniluap2 Great idea! I have found a few that might work but most would have to at least be painted/stained.

@Kathryn You are such a huge help, thanks! I have been stalking jcpenney.com waiting for their Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler line to show up. I wish more of the items worked for us. Out of those you posted, I like the last silver ones or the geometric ones (which I agree are a little too taupe). I want to keep it pretty modern. The panel would probably be open most of the time, so I'd like something that would just frame the room nicely.

Oh, and I have said it a few times, haha, but I am dying to put these gift cards to good use--we have $80 to Macy's and $140 to Crate and Barrel...I might have to browse them for curtain options, too! :)

Madeline There's a coffee table I didn't see last time on Macy's site. It's called the Quinn. 38" square 18" H cherry veneers with a shelf below and sort of curved legs. It's less than the others and it might work. On sale at 399. minus 10%. Although craigslist, especially if you live in or near a high-end metropolitan area, might be a better source for a lower cost table which you could then paint. Though I question painting it aqua as Kathryn suggested. (Who am I to question Kathryn ;) ) Might be a good thing to remind everyone that your rug is not showing up true to its color, which I believe you said is sort of an olive green. Have a wonderful weekend and don't move a thing!

mara117 @Madeline--thanks! The Macy's website is down for some reason, so I haven't been able to take a look. I am contacting some people on Craigslist--we will have a truck tomorrow to bring a folding table over for this weekend, so maybe we can pick something up. I think we'd paint it a dark brown/black rather than aqua. And yes, I think we are done moving things for awhile. Time to start adding! After this weekend of course :)

bevballew I agree. I like the latest change especially when one walks in the room and sees the beautiful focal point of the fp and a nice cozy sitting area.

Susan Jacobs Mara, do you live near the SFV? I have no idea, but I just get the feeling you might be in that area? If so, check out this place: http://www.hotelsurplus.com/c/used-table.html

mara117 @bev Thanks! A little cramped now but we'll make some adjustments around new furniture.

@Susan Haha, I am not sure why--we are in Texas :) That place looks awesome, though! I wonder if we have anything similar near here.

Susan Jacobs Mara, I guess I was feeling a kinship and then made the jump to the idea that you must be nearby :) Have you started cooking yet? My chicken soup is comoing along beautifully!

Debra Gunstanson A lot of ideas good luck

mara117 @Susan I have been cooking all day, it has been madness! Hoping to have most things done in advance. I found an amazing vegetarian "chopped liver"/pate recipe that turned out great!

We had to rent a truck from Home Depot to bring over a folding table for our big meal, so while we have it we are going to pick up a coffee table we found on Craigslist! We got the sellers down to $50. It is 40" square. The color is not quite right, but some stain or paint should help! If we are able to get it today, I will have to post a photo!

Madeline @Susan Jacobs. Former Los Angeleno here...do you mean the San Fernando Valley? If you do I feel a kinship with you;) Good work on the vegetarian chopped liver, Mara117! I make a tomato pasta sauce that everyone swears has meat in it and I make it with canned tomatoes and lots o garlic of course. Take care! Oh, great score on the craigslist coffee table!

Susan Jacobs @Madeline Yes!

mara117 We have been up all night cooking and cleaning but we did take a little break to work on staining our table. It's a really well-made, heavy piece of furniture--definitely a steal at $50! We are in the process of staining it dark. We had to sand down some scratches (first photo--those are those light spots) and here it is after the first coat of stain. We had a lot of fun working on it--minus all the time spent scrubbing stain of DH's hands :)

Susan Jacobs Looks great! I feel silly asking, but what does DH actually stand for?

Holly Mayeux Nice job!!!

pattiegoode Susan, DH = Dear Husband! ;)

Mara, glad you found a coffee table you like! Be sure to protect your rug from the fresh stain. Even if it feels dry, it might rub off at first. This table will help to guide the rest of your decorating. And you know, you do not have to hide every single cord on the tv wall. I'm still voting for asymmetrical placement toward the FP. lol

concordhome Wonderful buy on the table. It will become a favorite piece because you worked on it together and made it into a treasure.

pgeis Score! on the table!! Beautiful job with the stain. You got the feel people were suggesting, plus, it's much more interesting than anything you could have purchased new. Well done!!!

Since you have more important things to do today than go buy furniture leg cups to protect your carpet, you might be able to find something in your recycle bin you can use for the weekend -- maybe cut pieces from plastic lids or cartons.

pgeis If those wires are driving you nuts -- there are a variety of systems you can buy to hide them. Here's one example: http://www.thinkvp.com/products16-28/. Covering cables becomes even more important when there are children around.

mara117 Thanks, @Susan @Holly @concordhome! It's far from done but it looks great it person. It is definitely much nicer than anything we would have purchased new--I love Craigslist!

@Pattie Good point, we are really eager to get it into the room so we better watch out for our rug. We'll wait as long as we can to be safe and put something under the legs like @pgeis suggested. And I think we decided we're going to start small on our Besta system--maybe buy three units, see how it looks, and decide how we want to expand it.

Off to finish my flourless chocolate cake and check on the brisket--my parents arrive in a few hours!

Debra Gunstanson Chiming in like dark table how's kit going

pgeis After a week or so, after the finish has had a chance to harden, I recommend a good coat of carnauba paste wax on the top. (only on the top, as it would be hard to get all those little indents polished out on the sides) Not furniture polish. Wax will last longer, will do a better job of protecting the surface, and won't catch the dust like oil will. If you polish it first, then you have to get all that oil off before you apply the wax. Maybe even two coats of wax this first time. Sure, you'll use coasters, but really, you want to enjoy the game and the party without worrying about your beautiful coffee table.

alternatively, if you really want to enjoy the table worry-free, apply a bar-top finish. Here's one how-to article and discussion for a rugged finish that would still look good in the living room: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/natural-looking-bartop-finish/

Maybe DH could read it and make a judgement about the best method for your purposes.

Bargain Backer You need wall decor!
Stop by and have a look.
http://www.bargainbacker.com/Wall-Decor_c_13.html

aniluap2 Happy pesach, enjoy the family . The table was a gret score.

Susan Jacobs Remind DH (now I know what that means!) that he is fortunate to be moving furniture and staining tables, instead of buiding pyramids like his ancestors before him !

debsio I have read several of your comments. At first I thought the rug was a beige too. When I learned it was green, I can see when you accessorize how it is going to make everything pop. I agree with suggestions about living in it for awhile. You will see things you need for storage and other functions. As far as scale of chairs go....in time I can see that corrected with a library table or
Chest to be used as a place to chill with laptop or iPad. You could close in the room a bit with your window treatments, plants and paintings. I adore your colors.

mara117 I am very happy to say our seder was a huge success! I am ready to take a long break from cooking, haha. I was also extremely thankful for that indoor-outdoor green rug, because someone stepped in a blackberry and tracked it on the rug and it wiped right off with water! We set up our seder table in that big space by the fireplace and it worked out great.

Everyone attending had a lot of varying opinions on how we should arrange the furtniture, haha, so I think we will have to wait and see what it looks like with some more pieces in there. Our coffee table probably needs one more coat of stain and it should be good to go! I think it was a great find.

@pgeis, thanks for the tips--we might need to look into some kind of finish to seal it all in. I am hoping in the next couple of weeks we can get started on an entertainment system and start bringing this room to a more functional, usable standard :)

Susan Jacobs Isn't it a great feeling to be done with all that cooking!? Glad you are happy with everything so far. Please keep us posted on the progress in your room!

pgeis People you love celebrating around a table full of good food. This makes a home.

mara117 Sorry for so long without an update. We are using Minwax Polyshades to stain that coffee table and I wish someone would have told me it was really difficult to use! We keep ending up with brushstrokes/unevenness, so I think we'll try to sponge one last coat on tonight and call it a day. I am hoping we can start making more progress this weekend!

We talked about going to Ikea and starting with just a few Besta units (rather than enough to cover that entire wall). Then we can see how it looks and decide what we want to add. After that, I'd love to tackle curtains...I liked Kathryn's ideas above. Let me know if anyone else has any suggestions!

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, are you brushing it on and then wiping it off? Even if the coats of stain you have put on so far are uneven, by using a cotton rag you should be able to even it out by just taking less off where the stain is lighter.

mara117 I had read that online, but I had heard that doesn't work with polyshades because it's a combination of a stain/finish. Do you think it would still work? It has a satin finish, so it is not glossy. I am willing to try anything :) The color looks fabulous but I want it to be perfect!

Kathryn Peltier Design Oh, that I don't know. Don't try it directly on the table then. Do you have a piece of wood around that you could try it on? If not, you can buy something very inexpensively at Home Depot, or if there are any construction sites around and they have a discard pile, ask if you can take something. Even a 2x4 would work just to experiment.

Doesn't this come in a spray can, too? I wonder if that would help you even out the surface color?

mara117 Haha, I was just about to say the same thing about a spray can. I've been reading reviews that I wish I'd read before starting...not a big fan of polyshades so far. People seem to agree it's difficult to work with (especially for beginners) and it sounds like you can't wipe it. I think we might just suck it up and buy the spray. We've done 3 coats and each one streaks differently...I'm ready to wrap this project up :)

Kathryn Peltier Design Oh, that's too bad - you've already put a lot of work into it. Sometimes these products that seem to be stepsavers really aren't because the quality of the finish isn't the same. It might be, too, that it would work better on raw wood because your first coat would soak in more - I don't know. Anyway, doesn't matter. On to Plan B!

mara117 Wow, paint sprayers are expensive! Not sure if we can invest that much in our $50 table :) I am thinking we will try a coat with a foam brush and see if that works any better. At this point, it's too late to turn back--I am really not into the idea of stripping it down and starting over! I suppose we could rent a sprayer if this next plan turns out to be a disaster, haha. I just want it in our living room!

pgeis Groan -- I guess you are learning to refinish the same way most of us do! Ha. Kathryn is correct -- in spite of what it seems, it's actually easier to do the stain first and then apply a finish coat or two - or three - over that.

Minwax is a good product, and once you are finished, it will be great. No one but you will see the streaks. Just be sure you sand with a fine grit between each finish coat, so you end up with a smooth surface.

mara117 Yes, we have been sanding with a fine grit between coats. HD recommended this product but I read reviews after the fact and most are pretty unfavorable, unfortunately. I agree that it would have been better not to cut corners, but the stain is so dark that there's no going back now (unless we want to invest a lot more resources into a $50 table!).

I read somewhere about wiping Polyshades on with a sock to avoid brushmarks, so we might try that tonight. If it doesn't work, we can go over it again, but at least we are not investing $100 in a paint sprayer. I would definitely say we learned our lesson, though! This stuff dries incredibly quickly so it's really hard to keep a wet-edge--that's what making it so streaky :(

pgeis AH! Call your paint store guy and ask if there is something you can add that will slow down the drying time. If it thins it out so it flows on more evenly, that could help, too.

aniluap2 Have you tried buffing it with fine steel wool #000 to try to smooth it? This is what I have used in between coats of clear poly finish

brody1313 too many posts to read....I just want to suggest a long TV console and NO shelves beside tv......I tend to like clean uncluttered looks...........good luck

mara117 @pgeis @aniluap2 I finally just gave in and went to Home Depot to ask them how to undo this, haha! They recommended sanding off the protective layer with some rougher sandpaper and using some old fashioned stain followed by polyurethane. Hoping that will work! I think we'll try to get to that tonight.

@brody1313 I think we are going to start with the console and work from there--I agree that we don't want to over clutter up front.

pgeis Be sure to finish up the sanding with a finer grit so you have a smooth surface to begin your new finish. Welcome to the school of hard knocks from an old alum! Good luck!

aniluap2 The steel wool works really well I between coats of poly. It is what the professionals use.

Natural Home Design make sure you use a mask and good air-filtration. I would have gone with Old fashion milk paints( recently featured on the Martha Stewart show) with a carnuba wax finish.
Even the "antique" finsih with two seperate coats of color..all non-toxic.

mara117 Thanks so much everyone for the advice--and @pgeis, you were definitely right about the school of hard knocks :) We ended up wiping a traditional stain and spraying with polyurethane. It looks great! We only had to re-do the top so it was dry enough to put in our room. What do you think? I'm so glad to call it a day on this one :)

Our next priorities are to get a TV console (maybe next weekend) and to add curtains, windowseats, and pillows. I am still not sure what colors to get for those, though...

Kathryn Peltier Design The table looks great, Mara! Too bad it took extra work, but still, you can't beat the price ;-)

The next thing you need to do, I think, it select an accent color or two so that you can pick up some accessories: throw pillows, throws, tabletop items, etc.

pgeis Wow, it's beautiful!! Looks perfect in there!

bevballew Beautiful!

Nancy Walton Mara, after reading about 100 messages, I just started skimming throught the rest, so excuse me if I repeat anything someone else has said. First, I love the artwork you found for above the fireplace! Second, I don't think you should have the two chairs in front of the TV--too distracting. Third, are you able to order yardage that matches the fabric of your chairs to make the cushions for your fireplace? If you don't want to remove the wooden blinds, you could make "faux" roman shade valances to hang at the top of the windows, either in the chair fabric, the same fabric as the window treatments, or whatever other fabric you cover the cushions in. A lime green velveteen, perhaps?

Debra Gunstanson Love table and wow a lot of posting some great advice I think I would add some color and back away a bit not to over do sometimes with me that's what I have to do or I make myself crazy in just one room

mara117 Thanks, everyone! I should thank @lessismoore for suggesting this style in the first place :) It looks great in there! Hopefully it was worth all the grief.

@Nancy Thanks for your suggestions--we're undecided about the chairs in front of the TV. We will have to see what it looks like when we fill in some more furniture. I actually can order more of that fabric (my favorite!) but I was thinking of using some for a valance in the kitchen or something in a different room. Lime green sounds fun, but I know velveteen won't work with our shedding dog!

It has been crazy at work so I have not had as much time to work on this, but hoping we can make some more progress soon. At least the coffee table starts to turn this into a livable, usable space!

bevballew Love your pooch on the sofa!!!

mara117 We have a field trip planned to Ikea this Saturday to get the TV console--very excited to cover up those wires!

We just received a housewarming gift of $100 to Target. I was thinking of trying to find some curtains there. Do you think any of these would work in our room?

pgeis It's hard to judge on-line, even when we can see colors. If you have samples of your the flowered fabric on your chairs, it would help to have it with you at IKEA. If not, be sure you can return your curtains, then bring home what you like best and see whether you like how it fits in with your other things. You have to look at them together, both in the daytime and at night, and then you can see what works for you.

I love trips to IKEA -- so many good ideas!

Have fun!

mara117 @pgeis--great point! I was thinking more about the styles, but you are definitely right. The curtains are from Target, so i will have to try to see what the color match is.

And I also love trips to Ikea...our new house is pretty close to one! It always takes forever but I get great inspiration in their showrooms.

pgeis I've never had trouble returning anything to Target. Maybe you could bring home several of the best possibilities and return the ones that don't make the cut. The lighting in the store will be different from the lighting in your home, and that can affect the appearance of different colors and fabrics differently.

I'm lucky -- two IKEAs, each about 2.5 hours away. Close enough for when I'm serious, but not so close it's tempting. :)

Susan Jacobs Hard to see the curtains, but I would say be careful of mixing patterns. I know there are rules to that sort of thing. Do I see an ombre effect at the bottom of one of the curtain choices? That might be nice!

mara117 @pgeis--our Ikea is about 15 minutes away...very dangerous!
@Susan I checked them out on my lunch break and that ombre effect one looked by far the best--they look really nice in person. Maybe we will have to buy a pair and see if they work.

Susan Jacobs Sounds like a marvelous plan!

furrytoes I saw this photo and thought of your living room with the t.v. console and the chairs. How did your field trip to Ikea go?

mara117 @furrytoes Thanks for thinking of me--I actually just showed my husband the little vases on the console-...love those! He has become very anti chairs in front of TV, haha. It may not be as practical with the console there.

Let me get all my photos uploaded...We just built the console last night (stayed up very late!) and hung some curtains today. We tried those Target curtains but they were too light in color and too short, so we ended up picking some up at Ikea. I will post some pictures, I took photos of a few configurations :) And of course...my dog just had to be in every photo. He loves the camera!

Susan Jacobs Ooh, can't wait! You might have to take your dog's coat color into account when you are decorating - everything must go with the walls, the chairs, the rug, and the dog!

mara117 Okay, so here it is with the configuration we had before, which my husband would like to use veto power on, haha. Chairs in front of the console do kind of hide it. I love the way it looks but you don't really get the full effect with the chairs in front of it.

mara117 And here with the configuration that I am embarrassed to admit is pretty much the same as it was when we started, but with the rug turned and everything shifted toward the entrance. My husband said something along the lines of, "This is how we should keep it and never ever change it, ever," haha!

The console was so long I felt like the sofa (not the loveseat) needed to be in front of it for balance, and then everything looked like it needed to be centered with those curtains. I do feel like things may be smushed too far to the wall, though...that would be easy to fix.

mara117 So, we're back to blocking the fireplace. It just works the best in person, I think, from a practical standpoint. I think we can still establish a new seating area over there, but I think we're taking a break from spending on furniture for now.

mara117 Again--couches might be too close to the wall/curtains. Whew! A lot of photos. Sorry if there are duplicates, I could not keep track of all of them!

pgeis It looks great! Congratulations!

Now I'm going to vote with your husband -- at least for the next year or three. It's time to invite your friends over to watch a game, and enjoy living in your beautiful new living room!

Rooms are never quite "finished". As long as we are living in them, they keep changing, just as our lives do. A well loved home shelters and embraces us, reflects who we are, and provides a safe haven to keep us and to launch us. But never confuse a house with a life.

Susan Jacobs Mara, it looks terrific. I will leave it to the pros to say whether it's working for them, but it works for me! Looking back at the original photos, it's striking how much the painting and the coffee table add to the grouping to make it cohesive. The console looks fab. I think it's time for throws and pillows (that doesn't count as furniture, right?)

Susan Jacobs p.s. I hope you guys like to have people over to watch baseball and basketball. Football season is too far away now!

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara: I like the couch back on the long wall - it opens up the foyer with the loveseat there instead. Your console looks terrific - great choice! I wouldn't worry about the couch backing up to the window - that's alright. OK, now my one negative comment - I still do not like the chairs with their backs to the fireplace. Try angling them a little - it will make your seating arrangement a little less static, too. OVerall, it looks nice. Make your next purchase those nice lounge chairs in front of the fireplace with an ottoman - that will help you finish off the room. :-) Keep posting photos as you add accessories, OK - even the Doritos in a great bowl for the game lol!

furrytoes Mara: FYI there's an art glass sale going on at Crate and Barrel (glass doesn't count as furniture either). Or you could look at Pier 1. Enjoy your living room!!

aniluap2 Looks great! Time to accessorize. Have fun

Kathryn Peltier Design I just happened to see this room and it has a seating group facing away from the FP with a couple of chairs in front of it. But then I noticed that there are two loveseats back to back - you might even have enough room to do this and create a nice big seating area in front of the FP. Just food for thought :-)

bevballew Very nice. If there is a hearth I think if you add something there it will bring the room together. The chairs may end up closer to the fireplace if you find something low where the chairs are now, almost like ottomons or one low long bench or two. The chairs then would need to be on a curve so they are angled towards each other with a small table in between. The room looks just great. Very, very nice!

Kathryn Peltier Design @bevballew: a bench is a great idea, or how about a chaise facing the TV? That way, someone could lean back and watch TV, but it could also seat more people facing either direction at a party!

bevballew Yes! I thought a chaise too! Thanks for mentioning especially since you are a designer and I am not!

Kathryn Peltier Design Bevballew: great minds think alike, but your mind thought of it first!
Laguna 15 project
Tarrytown remodel
Sue De Chiara's home

A similar shaped room - your chairs could switch positions (towards FP or TV) depending on the situation!
Santaluz Home

mara117 Thanks so much, everyone! And like @pgeis said, we're not necessarily hoping to "finish" this off...just enjoying making some progress! We will definitely have to check out some accessory suggestions. That is the next step! I still want to make window seats, too, but now I am thinking about trying to find some green fabric that matches the rug to tie it all together.


@Kathryn @bevballew I nlike the idea of a chaise or a bench but I can't really visualize how it would fit in with everything. Have you seen any photos that show something similar?

And I tried angling the chairs...better or worse? I think looking at the photos side by side, I like angled better because it doesn't block the FP.

Edit: Oops, I just saw Kathryn posted photos while I was writing this! I will have to take a look :)

Kathryn Peltier Design I like the chairs angled - it adds a little break to the square and it makes them look less like they're turning their backs on the FP!!!

Nancy Walton Plus, they don't cut off the view of the fireplace from the other seating areas...

bevballew I will look for something. How do I attach pics from Houzz? I have a good pic of low benches posted by one of the designers on Houzz on my site which i think is called I need help with my great room designed by a frank Lloyd wright student. I can't remember the exact wording.

Madeline Everything's falling into place! I like the fact that the three seater couch is again facing the tv. It won't always be game day. Most of the time it'll be you, your DH, and your camera-hogging dog together watching television on that couch, so I'm glad you didn't hesitate making the switch. You'll be very comfortable watching tv in this room. Will you put the same curtains on the windows beside the fireplace? How is the room lit? I know, I know, it's too soon to go there...take a breather and gather your thoughts and of course pat yourself on the back for the superlative job done to this point.

yoder178 I think I would leave the floral chairs out of the seating area and open up the fireplace to the seating area. The floral chairs could go beside your tv--if you're entertaining you won't be watching tv so much. Don't over do your furnishings, it will be tiresome on the eyes and on guests. Simple is always best. I like to angle my seating if possible or sometimes just the rug, to add more interest to the room. Good luck.

mara117 @Kathryn @Nancy I think we like them better this way, too.

@bevballew I think you just put in a link to the page on Houzz and it will show up.

@Madeline--Yes, that is our usual configuration :) I kind of like the idea of those same curtains by the fireplace but DH still does not really want curtains there. Maybe I could convince him to do a sheerer version of that same charcoal color. I think it would help finish off the room. The room is lit with recessed lighting--6 lights way up in our vaulted ceiling. And yes, we probably won't be adding anything major for awhile...just glad we knocked out some of the big stuff this weekend!

@yoder Thanks for your input! There's not quite enough room by the TV anymore since we put the console in. I think we are going to keep those floral chairs in the seating group but I like the idea of adding something else by the fireplace, so long as it doesn't get too cluttered with furniture.

concordhome I just made lined drapery panels for our double dining room window. My husband fought me all the way about them and when we put them up he said they were "ok" - and sort of hurt my feeling. After a week he now thinks they look great - says he just had to get used to them. They really do "finish" the room. They don't cover the window - just barely cover the facings so they really aren't blocking any light or view. I hope your DH will come around and give them a try. Good luck.

Madeline Re curtains on the windows. Perhaps if DH considers that light filtering in the windows will have somewhat of a negative effect on the picture on his flat screen he would give your desire for curtains more consideration. The windows without curtains, when the only other window has curtains, seems not to make sense. Design sense or otherwise. But perhaps that's just me!

Nancy Walton Maybe just a single panel tied back to the side away from the fireplace? Or just a valance to cover up the tops of the blinds?

mara117 @concordhome I think that is sort of what happened with these curtains we just put up--he said they were growing on him. They really don't block out the light, I just think they add something to the room.

@Madeline I also think consistency would be nice! I think he just really likes all the light coming in from those windows, it keeps the room very bight and cheery. I wonder if I might be able to find some similar curtains in a sheerer fabric--that might work.

@Nancy Walton I was thinking just a single panel on each of those windows to frame the space.

Rosemarie Enjoyed following this post--you all are doing great. Like the room arrangement in the last photo and the open space in front of the FP. For a new thot, in the windows, rather that seats, make them dispaly shelves--how bout a large pot in each window in sleek comtemporary style with either a large plant or dried sprigs or grass in them? Keep a feather tick in the closet and on date nite throw it in front of the fireplace for a picnic and a cuddle :) Surly Hubby would not nix this, lol

concordhome I would suggest just a single panel on each side - let them hang straight do not tie back. The ones I made have hidden tabs in the back at the top. Once on the rod they can be pushed to the side and will form nice folds similar to pinch pleated drapes but without the pinch. A grommet top might look nice as well.

bevballew Yeah! I figured how to attach a pic,from Houzz. Here are the type of benches I thought might work!

bevballew Above benches courtesy of Elizabeth Hayden who posted this pic on my thread!

Grace Reed Hi mara117. I just read through this whole thread. Whew, but what a great result. (Easy for me to say, you've been doing all the work)! I'd love to see the mantle made dark eventually, too. Love the picture and the table, too!

pattiegoode Nice work! The angled chair position works best. Think about a big basket of magazines in between them. And move them closer together. Even just one colorful toss cushion on the hearth will add a lot. Are those candle holders on the mantle? Consider moving them closer to the art & replacing the white candles with black ones.

Here's the reason the windows look unfinished: it's the wall surrounding them. It looks like they were sized to allow for panels - so they seem unfinished. You have mini-blinds on them but they are down in the pix. Would DH let you replace the existing blinds with darker ones that are mounted on the wall and reach from corner to brick? Then when they are down, it will make the window seem larger. Another option would be to remove the mini-blinds & leave the window completely naked.

Didn't you have a beautiful blue & green glass vase? Try that under the tv (or maybe just to the right?) with an odd number (3 or 5) stack of books beside it (no paper jackets). I like to look for books with subtle titles that speak to me or author names that are the same as the people living in the room. You have an adorable dog, so something like "My Life as a Dog." It makes for a great hobby when trolling flea markets!

pattiegoode Meant to tell you that I think the new curtain panels are great! I love grommet panels. The sofa should be about 4" from the wall if possible. Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress!

mara117 @Rosemarie I think we like the window seat idea for now...my dog loves to sit up there :)

@bevballew Woo hoo, a photo! :) I actually started an idea book with some benches/ottomans in front of FP. You've inspired me!


@concord home--I like grommet top, since that is what we have on the other window. One panel on each side for sure! I was thinking of possibly putting in hooks instead of tiebacks to hold them back as a compromise, but we'll have to see what it looks like.

@Grace Thanks so much! It's fun to be able to look back and see the progress. We were sitting in the room yesterday and finally thinking that it feels like it's coming together.

@pattiegoode I like those hurricane candles but I actually really don't like them on the mantle. I have to find a new place for them. Great idea to try a different color candle! I think DH is actually coming around to the idea of curtains, once I said they don't have to be light-blocking and we can get hooks/tie-backs to use them as more of a grame for the space.

And thanks for your suggestions for under the TV--we did try some of those vases but nothing looks quite right. I feel like that space would be great for some sort of interesting group of objects. I will have to search for some inspiration pictures.

I really like the curtains, it makes it feel so much more finished. I was skeptical about hanging them "high and wide" like I'd read about online, but it makes a big difference! I do think we need to scoot the couch up a bit.

bevballew Glad you liked the ottomons Mara! I think they are stunning! Woo hoo alright!!

mara117 Okay, I might have a decorating addiction--I am having an insanely busy week at work but I snuck out on my lunch break to buy throw pillows, lol! To be fair, they were having a sale at Pier 1, and it's right down the street. But I think I may be on my way to being a decor-aholic.

I picked up these throw pillows and it's hard to see in these very bad cell phone photos, but the aqua is almost a perfect match for the colors in the chair. The color is very happy! I did leave the tags on for now in case I change my mind, though...

My husband said just add two pillows on the loveseat and that's it for pillows, but I was thinking maybe also two more on the larger sofa? He said we'll be throwing a big pile of pillows on the floor every time we sit down. What do you think?

bevballew I found a bench you might like if that is something you might be interested in.

larratica I think your front room looks nice but you just need to take out the chairs or you could paint it green and you can have a grey carpet

Kathryn Peltier Design I like the color, Mara, but I actually think you need a pattern on the pillows on the couches. The solid on the solid is just too much...solid! How about some stripes or checks which might also tie in your rug color? These pillows would even look good on the print chairs - it would give them more presence in the room.

Kathryn Peltier Design A nice throw would look good, too, maybe in a boucle type of knit to add texture.

bevballew Agree with Kathryn. Pillows are nice but you need pattern with the solid around it.

mara117 So yay or nay on the pillows? If it's all too much solid I can return tomorrow...they are the only ones I've found in this color so far, though. What if I moved them to the loveseat? Or, my other thought was to get two more patterned pillows to layer in on the same couch to add some more interest.

I tried them on the chairs and the color is perfect but they take up the whole back! The other option could be to put them on the windowseats we are going to make...we just ordered the foam this week!

pgeis If they are the perfect color you should keep them. Pillows move around as the need and mood strikes. Eventually there will be more, but there's no hurry. Relax about decorating and have some friends over to celebrate and show off all your hard work.

Madeline If you save them to put them on the window seats you will be limiting yourself as to the kind of fabric you can get for those seats.

Susan Jacobs If they are a perfect color, and a good buy, then keep them and place them with the window seats. Or put them in a big french basket (more texture) on the hearth, maybe. Keep looking for patterned pillows for the couch. I would look for pillows that are soft and squishy (down, for example) so that your pillows don't "bounce" of the couch every time you sit on it.

pgeis I'm partial to squishy down pillows, too. Along with a throw of some kind, they are an invitation to curling up with a good book or movie and getting cozy.

bevballew I don't know about you but if I lay on my couch I use a pillow. I think it would cozy up the window seats as long as it matches. The pillows look aqua and the print fabric you have looks like there is lime green in it so I question if the pillow matches.

mjmil Here are some pillows on One Kings Lane that might be appropriated: https://www.onekingslane.com/product/21196/1309529 https://www.onekingslane.com/product/21196/936936 https://www.onekingslane.com/product/21196/936937

mara117 Wow, lots of responses about pillows, haha. I might have to start taking photos with our DSLR instead of my phone that blows out all of the images and colors. I tried moving them to the loveseat...does that work? Otherwise, I need to think about what kind of patterns/colors would work best. My husband has capped my pillow budget, haha, so I would need to find some at either Crate and Barrel, Macy's, or Target since I have gift cards there :)

@pgeis, Yes, we'd like to make it more comfy/cozy in there.

@bevballew I took a close up of the fabric so you can see the aqua in the pattern...it's really hard to see in my terrible quality cell phone photos!

@Susan I like all of those ideas, but I have a feeling that falls into the "non functional" category again! I will never hear the end of it if I suggest having a basket full of pillows, lol.

@mjmil I love those pillows! Not as in love with the $60 price tag, though :(

@Madeline--yes, still not sure what direction to go with windowseats/fireplace curtains. I was thinking maybe a green that matches the rug for the cushions and more dark charcoal curtains. Again...lots of solid, though!

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, of course I can only comment on what I see in the photo, and it might look much different in reality, but I think the pillows are too bright. Even though they match the color in the pillow they may need to be toned down to fit the whole. The rest of the colors in the room seem more muted and these seem more true. I tend to think that a toned down blue - more like what is thought of as "spa" blue - might be more in keeping with your palette. Again, though: it may look much different in the room. Also, when you find interesting pillows, you can just buy one. Trust your eye!

mara117 @Kathryn I think you might be right...I wanted them to look fun and for the color to pop, but I agree they might be a bit too bright for what's going on in the rest of the room. I feel like it always seems like I have to buy a pair of pillows, haha. It's harder for me to visualize what will "go" together opposed to what will match.

mara117 Is this more of the blue color you were thinking of?

Kathryn Peltier Design If that works. I was actually thinking a bit more green.

mara117 Yes, I agree...too blue. That's what came up when I google "spa blue" :)

Susan Jacobs Agree about the basket of pillows - there is really no purpose to a basket full of pillows. Was trying to think of a way to let you keep them, but I also see what Kathryn is saying about their being too bright for the room.

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, what do you think about this pillow? It looks like a softer blue and it looks also like the green might match your rug:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/128569988/designer-pillow-cover-20x20-inch-spa?ref=market

This blue looks too "blue" - not sure. This would be great, though, if it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Rectangular-Outdoor-Accent-Pillows-Color/dp/B0091HCHYA/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1365805962&sr=1-2&keywords=spa+blue+striped+pillow

Closer?
http://www.target.com/OpenZoomLayer?template=scene7-image&image=Target/14277033_is&omniZoomPartNumber=14277033&swCellSpacing=10,10&swHighlightThickness=1&swBorderThickness=0&itemTitle=Threshold%26trade%3B+2-Piece+Outdoor+Decorative+Throw+Pillow+Set+-++Blue+Ikat&omniImageCount=1

I am not particularly fond of this pattern, but these colors look good:
http://www.target.com/OpenZoomLayer?template=scene7-image&image=Target/14287194_is&omniZoomPartNumber=14287194&swCellSpacing=10,10&swHighlightThickness=1&swBorderThickness=0&itemTitle=Ismir+Toss+Pillow+Collection+-+Aqua%26%23x2f%3BOlive&omniImageCount=1

The other thing to keep in mind, though, which I don't think I did (!) is that your couch is not a pure white, so if a pillow has a white in it, make sure it works with the leather.

pgeis Love that spa stripe pillow! but of course, the only way to really tell how the colors go, is in real life --

Madeline Re a basketful of pillows. This might be a non-starter with your hubbie. But I'm afraid from his other comment about throwing a bunch of pillows on the floor just like in the bedroom that he might be thinking the functions are similar. Actually people use pillows on couches for many reasons: to get real comfy; to support their back in the lumbar area; to support their head and neck. Some people, I've seen at parties, even like to sit and hold onto a pillow, perhaps due to shyness or just to have something between them and the "others." I'm no psychologist I just impersonate one when I feel like it!. It seems like these bright pillows are back to the store. Don't despair, as you now doubt know pillows are everywhere this spring. Home Goods had the most amazing collection, more than they've ever shown. Good luck finding others.

Brooke Strong I can't tell 100% what the colors are in the chairs, but I would pull a color from the chairs and use it for drapes probably....maybe a light gray or light chocolate? Have you thought about painting the wall on either side of the fireplace dark? It would certainly highlight the fireplace and add a little more warmth & depth to the room (a cheap fix too). If anything, I would paint the mantle shelf dark to match the coffee table & give you some depth/punch.
I'm not sure exactly how you want to use the room, but it seems like you'll use it a lot for movies, football games, real family lounging. If this is the case, what about creating a little nest by the FP to allow people to lounge? Would that be too informal? Get a shag rug or sheepskin, throw some BIG oversized pillows on it (in the colors you like) and you'll have a nice cozy lounging place. If you want it more formal, then I'll have to look back at the pics again.
I just know that we, our dogs and kids love to lounge and play together in front of the fire, so having a comfy place there can be great...but also a formal setting can be nice too!

bevballew I agree re pillows. That is why I said I use a pillow to support my head when I lay on my couch. Your dh sounds like mine as many men. They don't get us wanting to make a house pretty. Men are from Venus women from mars. It is nature of the beast. Men often don't want to spend he money either. Arghh! Tell him you want them as a birthday present!! Haha! Your room won't look finished without pillows, I think.

mara117 You have convinced me...the pillow are going back! :)

And thanks for the great ideas Kathryn. This seems like a good starting point. i especially like the pattern on these: http://www.target.com/p/threshold-2-piece-outdoor-decorative-throw-pillow-set-blue-ikat/-/A-14277033
You don't think those are too bright? They are also outdoor pillows, so I may have to check them out and see if they would be comfy enough for a living room.

@Madeline I love Homegoods, so I will have to check out what they have there.

@Brooke Thanks for all of the ideas! That area to paint would be pretty small, so I think we'll try curtains. I love the "nest" idea but I know my dog would destroy that every day, haha! We do need something there. Also, we live in TX so there's not too much use of our fireplace. I am thinking maybe a bench or something.

@bevballew, haha, my birthday was 6 months ago and his is next week, so I am not sure I could work that angle. He did say we should swing by C&B this weekend and see if they have anything good to buy with our gift cards.

bevballew Oh well! Early Christmas present! Haha?! Can't beat the price of the Target pillows!

mara117 So we actually did have some people over to watch a game today, and our room was a hit! It was very functional, too.

I went a little crazy with my gift cards and bought some pillows. I left the tags on all of them because I haven't made any decisions. I did have some good finds, though, but I would appreciate any ideas on what to keep and what doesn't work as well. That small loveseat is kind of an awkward size for pillows--maybe these just aren't the right ones, or maybe it needs two small or two large pillows.

Anyway, wanted to throw some photos up before we are out for the night...maybe someone has some helpful advice!

Genevieve I would use this rug instead
http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Corolla_Area_Rug/820/


Don't block any focal points like the fireplace ,remove those 2 lovely chairs and table and find another place for them ,

mara117 Not sure about those aqua ones either, but I tried to find some different textures and patterns.

As usual, my dog loves to be in photos. He knows when I am taking them and loves to get on the furniture!

Kathryn Peltier Design I think the color must wash out in your photos because that Ikat pillow looks gray. I happened to see a fabric at Ballard which can be ordered on different size pillows. Unfortunately, they don't see to show it in a close up on the website. If you happen to have a catalog, the outdoor pillows are on page 118 and the fabric is called "Arden Spa"; there is another that might work, a stripe, especially on a bolster: "Seneca Stripe"

mara117 Will have to check those out. Ikat is spa blue. Thoughts on Sizes and patterns? I may end up taking some back tomorrow...

Kathryn Peltier Design I don't like that diagonal pattern, but that's just me. The dark one also doesn't do a lot for me. The wooly one looks like a good color, but maybe too much strong color against the Ikat pillow? The chevron looks like it works, I they're all too much the same size though. I like the Ikats best.

It might look nice to find a much larger pillow for the couch, and then use one of the Ikats with that and one on the loveseat.

Debra Gunstanson I haven't read all the post may repeat something but what about a chaise lounge and a floor lamp your room is so pretty your doing a great job and I was thinking about a sofa table ? I like the striped pillow with the dark blue and the sage pillow with the swirly on it ,isn't that bowel pretty. Love the dog ,anyway I was just thinking about the room there .it just seems to be something missing maybe by the fire place a tall vase or 2
I was just taking a peek I'm really likening the room.you have a good eye and I know your going to be comfortable in it when done.

mara117 Think I'll keep those ones on the couch and return the two on the loveseat. Scale and size are hard to figure out.What configuration might work? Let me know if you see any at c&b, that's where I'll be returning those to!

Brooke Strong Mara, I totally understand about your dog tearing up any "nest" area...my beagle and mastiff would claim it in a moment and it would be NASTY in 2 days!
I think you should put some candles (even the fake ones you can control with a remote control) in the FP so you can "use" it without really using it! (I'm in the NW so we're STILL using ours!)
What do you think about painting the mantle piece?
I think you could pull off a LOT of pillows in This room...greens, blues, purplish, grays...just choose what you like, make you feel happy is COMFY and a good deal. I got some great 24 inch (?) pillows at TJ Maxx for $45 a piece if I recall...down filled and Ralph Lauren. Normally $45 seems a lot but it wasn't much for such too quality and Lordy do we use those to lounge! They're big and soft and they don't just LOOK good but they're very comfy and because we actually use them, I think they were worth it.
I think it's coming together nicely. Do you want any plants in the room or flowers? Or a vase or two with grass or sticks by the FP?

Brooke Strong For the FP?

aniluap2 I think you need to repeat a couple of solids or patterns in the mix so that you can tie th sofa and loveseat together. I like Kathryn's suggestions on the pillows

mara117 I was trying to respond yesterday from my phone so I may need to go back and re-read the comments. I was thinking I like all of the pillows on the couch, maybe not in that arrangement, and I will return the two on the loveseat.

@Kathryn @aniluap2--Not sure I get the suggestions. Two larger pillows on the sofa with one ikat, and then just one ikat by itself on the loveseat?

@Brooke Great ideas! We actually can use our FP (just not for awhile!) so we will probably not replace the logs in it. Some other people have suggested painting the mantle and I think it's a great idea, but very permanent, haha! That might have to be one of the last things if we decide it works. And don't tell my husband that we need a LOT of pillows :) I got the chevron and ikat pillows at Marshalls, they did have a great selection.

@Debra we were thinking maybe a chaise or a bench on the other side of the room when we get to it.

mara117 @Kathryn I think this is the true color of the ikat pillows: http://www.etsy.com/listing/115425243/ikat-pillow-spring-sale-throw-pillow?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=housewares_low&gclid=CKihxM-zyrYCFRMbnQod6BoAJg

mara117 @Genevieve Thanks for your input! I like that rug a lot, but in the size we would need it is $1599! Unfortunately not in our price range. I like the rug we have so it will be staying in the room.

mara117 Our Crate and Barrel was having a big pillow sale...These were some of the others I like! Wonder if any of them might work instead when I exchange? They had a good variety of shapes and sizes but I was not sure what would work together, esp. on our loveseat.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/linden-green-23-pillow/s503452
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/zipper-green-20x13-pillow/s502219
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/linden-grey-23-pillow/s503487
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/chevron-blush-18-pillow/s512117 (says blush, but looked cream)
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/mollusk-natural-18-pillow/s501697
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/link-24x16-pillow/s430420
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/tilly-24x16-pillow/s501565
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/crawford-green-18x12-pillow/s502200
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/crawford-birch-18x12-pillow/s501158

Kathryn Peltier Design @Mara: I think you're overthinking this pillow thing lol! I think you could use larger size pillows on the couch since it is bigger. I just think it depends on what you find - if you think it works, pick it up. A mix of patterns and sizes is basically what you're going for. As for the CB pillows, I'm not in love with any of them. Does the gray work? It may not provide enough color, but there's only one way to know :-D I like the 12x18 size - or even smaller, something they sometimes call boudoir pillows. I will look some more!

Kathryn Peltier Design How about this?
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/canal+blue+cotton+velvet+lumbar+throw+pillow.do?page=2&from=fn

OK, I've tried World Market, Pier One, Target, etc. Now I'm on to Walmart/Wayfair:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/American-Mills-38729.423-CIELO-18-34-PILLOW-SET-OF-2-INDOOR-OUTDOOR/23035163

Too yellow?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/American-Mills-45157.423-OSAKA-STRIPE-12X18-PILLOW-SET-OF-2-INDOOR-OUTDOOR/23035505

Could this work - it has the spa blue stripe in it, I think, as well as the green.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/American-Mills-35962.205-MARINDA-STRIPE-24-34-FLOOR-PILLOW-INDOOR-OUTDOOR/23035284

The brown brings in the wood tones.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/American-Mills-45153.108-ECHO-STRIPE-12X18-PILLOW-SET-OF-2-INDOOR-OUTDOOR/23035455

I like this one quite a lot, if the color works (2 on the couch?)
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mastercraft-Fabrics-Outdoor-Indoor-Vibrant-Juno-Stripe-Teal-Bolster-Pillow/16877177

This is only 1/4 of the way through the website!

Susan Jacobs Mara, maybe look through a crate and barrel catalog, or pottery barn, and see how they mix and match the pillows on their sofas and loveseats. Then copy/adapt/modify?

mjmil From Crate & Barrel I like the 1st green pillow and I like the grey chevron pillow. Also from Walmart I like the 1st pillow.

Susan Jacobs Check out this article for a pillow "formula"

artzzle Ok, I'm on overload ... you've gotten tons of wonderful ideas but I don't have time to read everything. This is a beautiful space and seems to be getting more-so as you progress. I just have one question ... have you ever thought about starting out an arrangement with your rug at an angle? If it angled from the entry it would lead you through the room and present a different view (and lots of surprises once you're in there!). I apologize if this has already been suggested. It's just fun AND free to experiment with arrangment, because you can always try again or put things back if you don't like the first try. And remember, your house wasn't built in a day or a week, so your decorating doesn't have to be accomplished too quickly either. Sometimes it's just fun to make it workable, livable and then just relax, and find those special pieces along the way.

Jean Tuck exactly.

bevballew I looked at most of the pillows and I agree with Kathryn, the Walmart pillows are much nicer. More pattern. I liked the zipper pillow from CB.

mara117 @Kathryn Of course I am overthinking it, lol! Houzz is a dangerous place for type A people, haha. I really like the general color schemes of what you have posted but I'm not crazy about some of the striped pillows with brown in them. I like stripes but I'd prefer a little bit of a more modern pattern if I can find some that work.I love the colors on that bolster pillow but I'm not crazy about the shape.

I like the ikat, chevron, and boucle green pillows I bought, so I'm going to keep those and return the others next week.

@Susan--great ideas--thanks!

@mjmil I think I'll take a break from this for now and see if I find anything else I like! I was hoping more would work from C&B since we had so many gift cards, but they don't seem quite right.

@over60 I like the arrangement we have so far, but we may try that if we can't find the right way to fill the other empty space. And I do agree that I don't want to rush just to fill with things! We have been here 4 months and we've just started working on it over the past month. But you're right--I am going to try to stop thinking about it so much and work on picking up things I like when I find them :)

@bevballew--I never would have thought of Walmart if Kathryn had not suggested...maybe I will have to swing by sometime and check it out!

Madeline I saw two C&B pillows I liked for your room. I can't yet figure out how to post photos but one was a 16" "peacock" white with gorgeous center colors and the other was 12 x 18 tufted "pewter" dark gray color Check them out when you have time and maybe you'll be able to use your gifit cards. I would gladly have either one or both in my home if they were colors and if I had the money!

Susan Jacobs ^This is it. I am really crazy about this pillow. I might just have to buy one myself!

Madeline @Susan Jacobs. THAT'S IT! Thanks so much for doing my "work" for me. I love this pillow and I'm certain it would work in Mara's room because of the green of her rug.

mara117 @Madeline @Susan I saw this in a different color (blues and purples) but I will have to check if they have the green one! I do remember it being a bit small, though. I think I am going to stop trying to find so many accessories at once and just try to pick up things when I find something that I really like!

Our upholstery foam should be arriving any day so our next project to tackle will be creating the windowseats on either side of the fireplace. I have been searching around for fabric that may work...let me know if anyone has any suggestions! I think something primarily green would work best, as we might put gray curtains on those windows. I would love to find a fun pattern to work into the mix.

Madeline Trois Pewter 24"x12" Pillow. Might as well get shot down with this one and get pillows over with. This is gorgeous charcoal color, button tufted in a good size. A C&B and while I know your mind has moved on to other things I did find it in a search specific to your room and think it would look great with your curtains so I feel obliged to post it. There! Job done! Now: What kind of "fun" fabric, other than goes with green and gray...and can be sat on by by a sort of big canine family member?

concordhome Mara - I was just watching the TV show "The Talk" this afternoon. If you have an opportunity to see it - or perhaps record it - I think the couch on their set has wonderful pillows that while they might not be exactly what you need it may give you a good idea of how to put a selection of pillows together. They have several different sizes with different patterns but they all seem to relate to each other. This is certainly a problem I have myself - trying to put it all together but I felt this was a good example of "getting it right". Take a look if you can.

Madeline @Mara. This is a a bright white (hopefully not too bright) upholstery grade fabric with a history. I came across it on etsy.com. It has a design based on French script from 1608. Check it out when you have an opportunity.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65492252/french-script-of-anitas-inspiration-on?ref=v1_other_2

mara117 Oh wow, we are over 500 comments here! No wonder our room is coming together so nicely--so many amazing consultants here :)

@Madeline--I did see those there, they did not seem very substantial (kind of thin) but I'll give it a look when I go to return. And you are right--our dog will probably be the primary user of those windowseats, so maybe an indoor/outdoor fabric would be best. That is a fun fabric, but not quite what I had in mind. I'm thinking something mostly green or solid green, maybe close to the rug or painting colors. White is probably out because of the inevitable muddy paw incidents!

@concordhome--Thanks for the idea! I will have to check it out.

I was at Homegoods on my lunch hour yesterday and I fell in love with a throw blanket there. It is aqua, gray, and green knit. Not exactly sure where it will go but I am a big fan of the colors. The second photo is obviously not where the blanket is going to live...just trying to get a picture of it :)

You can also see our foam has arrived. It looks like we measured fine and it will fit nicely in those spaces. Now just need to figure out what to cover it with!

pgeis I love the throw! It will look great in your room!

I am also a big fan of trusting that instant gut reaction of knowing something will work in your home and make you happy.

To be effective, gut reactions must be informed with a deep knowledge of the subject at hand (in this case, your own home and household) and a wealth of information on the options. You have clearly done a lot of re\search, multiplied many times over by the way you have so artfully engaged all these people in your project.

I might suggest you buy another throw or two to cover your cushions, but it doesn't look dog-friendly. You are on the right track with indoor/outdoor fabric. Smart of you to be thinking ahead to how they will be used in real life. If you use a long zipper to close the covers, you'll be able to throw them in the washer and dryer.

Susan Jacobs I love the blanket texture - the color is hard to see on my monitor i it looks brown and blue, which I am sure it is not. This is a little thing, but I would put some yellow or green candles in your hurricanes on your mantle, and I would group them closer to the picture, or consider an asymmetrical arrangement of some sort.

pgeis An even tinier thing -- as a knitter, I can't resist pointing out that the inviting texture in the close-up photo looks more like it's woven than knit.

bevballew The throw is nice but it does not look to match at all. It shows blue and grays, with no green at all.

Kathryn Peltier Design Possibilities for your cushions:
http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+fabrics+by+color/aqua+and+teal+fabric/pinta+seafoam.do

http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+fabrics+by+color/aqua+and+teal+fabric/wiggle+path+-+robert+allen+fabrics+pool.do

http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+fabrics+by+color/aqua+and+teal+fabric/line+change+-+robert+allen+fabrics+pool.do

There were quite a few on Calico Corners website under Aqua/Teal. It might be nice to do a mix of fabrics (I think you're probably rolling your eyes at this point): maybe a solid on one side (textured?), pattern on the other and then even a third pattern or solid (texture?), if something works and appeals to you, on the sides.

bevballew I like Kathryn's suggestions.

mara117 @pgeis Thanks! We need some things in there to cozy up the space. I don't think I'm an advanced enough sew-er to do a zipper--we are probably going to base the foam on plywood and staple on the fabric with upholstery staples (like wrapping a present). I'm very impressed with the indoor-outdoor rug so I am hoping to find something equally durable. And you are right--the blanket is woven :)

@Susan I actually am not a big fan of those hurricanes on the mantle--I just haven't figured out what I'd like to put there. I don't like it so symmetrical but I have yet to find home for those. I do like the idea of putting in some colored candles and tying them into the room better.

@bevballew It is definitely equal parts blue, green, and gray, but my phone photo lens continues to betray me :) I tried to attach a better picture of the colors.

@Kathryn I love those options! I like the way the colors are similar to the rug color/tone, hopefully that will connect it more to the room. These are pretty thin cushions (2") and like I mentioned above--this project will probably involve staples, so I will have to find just one pattern we like! I will take a look and see if I find anything else that pops out.

mara117 Some of these might be a little brighter than I'd like, but here were some fabrics I thought looked interesting:

http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-waverly-groovy-grille-confetti/zprd_12222600a/
http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-waverly-square-root-turquoise/zprd_11294584a/
http://www.joann.com/home-decor-fabric-annie-selke-links-citrus/zprd_02316768a/
http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-robert-allen-halmstad-mosaic/zprd_02321115a/
http://www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-richloom-mysore-spa-blue/zprd_08654360a/
http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-hgtv-curl-up-citrine/zprd_12180345a/
http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-robert-allen-cats-cradle-grass/zprd_02321081a/

My husband has requested something not boring and possibly with multiple colors in it :)

mjmil I like the 1st one and the 2nd one both which would fit hubby's request. I also like the 6th and 7th choices. I also really like the 1st selection by Katherine.

bevballew Very nice throw now that I see the colors. Looks good to me!

bevballew Mara...I like only the last three you chose, but that is my taste. A few just way too contemporary for your room, IMO.

bevballew I think the first one Kathryn chose the nicest.

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, get some dacron batting and top or wrap your cushions in this - it will give them more loft and make the upholstery look better. I would do a square corner, however, so that they look boxy and not "upholstered". Now that I see the throw better, here are a couple more fabrics.

I think this is a really good one - geometric, aque, green and only $8.95/yd
http://www.fabricguru.com/p-fabric-by-the-yard/zinger-solarium-collection-outdoor-peacock

http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-richloom-studio-teresa-citrine-medallion/zprd_11921012a/

I had another thought for the pillows: if you could find out who the mfr. is of your chair upholstery, I think it would be nice to get a yard or two and cover a couple of pillow in that.

Kathryn Peltier Design I like that Robert Allen Hamstad mosaic you posted is interesting - it has many shades of color in it (although none too aqua). I was going to add, too, to not use stripes - I think they may be hard to use the way you're going to do it. Something a little more forgiving might be better. I'm not sure about that first one I posted - is it too bland? I like the others you posted, but even though many have green in them, I think the greens are too bright to really tie the rug in.

mara117 Yes, I think you're right about stripes not being very forgiving--because it would be easy for it to look uneven/crooked. I will look into the batting, too.

And I actually know the answer about the chair fabric! It's Braemore's Gazebo Cloud. I love it but it is pretty expensive (about $25/yard). I've been looking everywhere for it on sale.

I love the last two Kathryn posted. We will probably try to swing by some places in person this weekend to see if we can find something we like.

pgeis Upholstery fabric is usually 54" wide, so you could probably get two pillows out of a yard -- add in the cost of the pillow form or stuffing, and even at $25/yd, you still have a pretty reasonable cost per pillow . . I love Kathryn's idea of pillows on one of the couches out of that chair fabric!

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, if you did a couple of small pillows - or even larger ones - you could easily get away with a 1/2 yard if you put a plain fabric on the back. It might actually look nice to do two rectangular cushions on the back of your loveseat (each the same size as the cushion). They could be very flat (i.e. not overstuffed) but I think it would make the chairs feel, more substantially, like part of the room.

Susan Jacobs $21.45 a yard http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/decor/drapery-fabric-and-supplies/drapery-fabric-by-manufacturer/braemore-gazebo-cloud-fabric-.htm?TID=06a57bd790bb604f6d54bb66e3ad4f4d

Debra Gunstanson I posted pics for ideas out side the box

Susan Jacobs This website shows lots of fabric choices that match Gazebo Cloud (They'll also make them for you, if you're interested.. it's a bit pricey, though)
http://www.tonicliving.com/Gazebo-Cloud-P2275.aspx

Debra Gunstanson Due like everything so close together ?

bevballew I would think the chair fabric of two pillows and two others would pull it together. If you get one yard that is about $25 which comes out to $13ish a pillow plus the other expenses. Sounds inexpensive when you compare buying a medium priced pillow. Or again use that fabric for the window cushions, which not cheap.

What's Inside Design Ltd. I'm with you Susan, that peacock pillow is beautiful!!!
Mara, I think those pillows would look stunning in your space!!!
I added them digitally to your sofa so you could see.
BTW, it's fun seeing the progress you're making!
Caroline :)

mara117 @pgeis @Susan @Kathryn I would be interested in buying some of the fabric, but I don't have a sewing machine so I am not sure I would be able to make a nice looking pillow. I have made an "envelope" style throw pillow cover using no-sew iron on hem tape, but I may have to perfect the technique before trying it on such expernsive fabric :)

@Debra I love those chairs, but they look a little too similar to the chairs we already have!

@bevballew I like the idea of using it for the pillows but it's probably out for the windowseats. I am going to need to stick to my budget on that one! I promised my husband I would keep that project to around $50-$60 total.

@What's Inside Design--Ooh, that does look very nice! May I ask where you found all of those pillows (aside from the C&B ones--I will have to see if they have those at our store)? I have a feeling my husband would think all those pillows would keep us from sitting on our couch...

mara117 I do see Gazebo Cloud fabric on Mary Jo's for $16.95/yard: http://maryjos.com/fabrics/gazebo-cloud-braemore

Just not sure I am a competent enough DIY-er to throw together some pillows...

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, you could use a couple of bed pillows for the chair fabric. Just make an envelop just like a pillowcase (I make it sound like I do this all the time. Every time I fire up the old sewing machine, I swear a blue streak - true confessions!)

Kathryn Peltier Design Do you know someone who sews? Pillows are really very easy and I'm sure a friend would do it for a free lunch lol! I would, but you wouldn't want mine!

concordhome Mara - I'm not sure where you are but when I saw your latest post about Mary Jo's I took notice. This is a well know fabric store in our area. I've been going to Mary Jo's for probably 50 years. Their first store was in the little NC town of Dallas but it burned to the ground. They reopened in Gastonia - close to Charlotte. I've always gone there for important things - I got material for wedding dresses for both of my daughters, material to decorate the nursery for a granddaughter, etc. This is nothing to do with your project but I've amazed how far reaching Houzz can be. Here's a hint - if you have a local fabric store they may have the name of someone local that can make your pillows. I'm not sure you can't find something great and more reasonable at Homegoods or a similar store but if you want to pick fabric and have some made this might be an option.

concordhome Kathryn - we're thinking alike - you must have been typing as I was.

mara117 @Kathryn--I don't really. I am 27 and it seems like maybe sewing is kind of a lost art form among my peers :) I have made a pillow using this tutorial...maybe I should dust off these instructions: http://stylemestella.blogspot.com/2012/03/no-sew-pillow-cover.html

@concordhome Interesting! I am in Texas, so I just found it through an internet search.

concordhome I think sewing may have been a lost art - neither of my daughters were interested but it seems it may have skipped a generation. My 17 year old granddaughter is really into it and I love when she ask for advice!

pgeis maybe you could find someone on Etsy who would do it for you

Kathryn Peltier Design I know, Mara - it kind of skipped mine too, to a large degree, and I am WAY older than you lol. A lot of times, though, you might find an alteration place or even ask at a drycleaner. You could also try a drapery fabricator. Your best, and least expensive option, though, would be to find someone who home-sews or would do it for you on the side. Ask around - you might be surprised!

Madeline Mara. I looked briefly at Mary Jo' s online since they have very reasonable prices. The following are what I came up with and they run the gamut from large cabana stripes to big ole flowers as in flower power, though not the one actually called that because it was pricey.

http://maryjos.com/fabrics/cabana-stripe-chartreuse-pk-outdoor

Madeline Mara. My goof. There should be eight or nine total! I have to go find them but first I have to attend to my Mother's needs. I'll get up them up in a few hours because I actually think they were good choices at good prices and all were outdoor fabrics,

mara117 @pgeis Good idea! Sometimes it can be a little pricey but definitely worth a look. I see a few pillows in that fabric on Etsy for about $30 apiece...

@Kathryn All good ideas! Thanks!

@Madeline I took a quick browse and they do have some fun patterns. Looking forward to seeing your picks :) Like Kathryn mentioned above, we will probably try to avoid stripes because it may show any accidental DIY "oops"es!

Madeline @Mara. Maybe you could consider the Braemore fabric that is on your chairs, as well as some of these. These were all outdoor fabrics by the way. The stripe is a very wide stripe which is why I included it.

http://maryjos.com/fabrics/rava-chartreuse-pk-lifestyle-outdoor
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/sukie-bliss-abercrombie-textiles
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/wilder-graphite-richloom
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/sandy-island-palm-outdoorcone
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/phifertex-mesh-ash-grey-trivantage
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/maxfield-leaf-solarium
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/luxury-jasper-kasrichloom
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/cabana-stripe-chartreuse-pk-outdoor

Kathryn Peltier Design One comment: do not use another floral in the room. It's very hard to mix those unless it's a companion piece in a much smaller or much larger scale, neither of which would work that well even if there was one.

I lied: one more. I really think that you need to tie the green of the rug in. Most fabrics that include the aqua or even the gray are more of a lime or chartreuse color. While you could ADD that color to your palette, I still think the rug color is important - otherwise, it will look like an afterthought instead of an integral part. Also - beware the white backgrounds, as I said before, with your creamy color couch!

Madeline @mara. Based on Kathryn's excellent guidelines, I would take a look at #1RAVA, #4SANDY-ISLAND PALM, and #6 MAXFIELD (Leaf). Good luck!

mara117 @What's Inside Design Just as I suspected--I showed your picture to my husband and he asked me, "Where are you supposed to sit with all those pillows?" Haha!

@Madeline Thanks for all of the suggestions! I agree with @Kathryn that I think we should try to tie the color into the rug, so I am going to look for something that has more of an olive green tone to it. We also definitely need to beware of white backgrounds because of a certain family member's muddy paws :)

Madeline @Mara. I get the feeling you didn't look at the three that I narrowed down for you. I think you'd be missing an opportunity. This is true especially as the Sandy Island Palm and the Maxfield Leaf are greens that might be very similar to your rug. But since your rug is not an olive green on my monitor only you could confirm if these two green patterns are close or not. Those of us who don't mind helping out with the search will at least know then that the green works, it's just a question of you not liking the pattern. Thank you.

mara117 @Madeline--Sorry, I was at work...I usually have a chance to check out links but I didn't have an opportunity to do an internet search on those styles. I really do appreciate your help! Are these the fabrics you are talking about?

http://maryjos.com/fabrics/sandy-island-palm-outdoorcone
http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=d2e802db-53aa-4f85-a4cd-e820cbd363b8

I like the first one a lot! The color is very close to the true color of the rug. I think the second might be a little bright. The rug has a very muted green tone. I might need to go look at fabric colors in person because like you said--the photo on your screen doesn't always match what you see in real life!

mara117 This is our rug...hopefully this photo gives a better picture of the color: http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/safavieh-trellis-cy6918/green/101CY6918244-67096.html?origin=pla&gclid=CL6N26Xy0rYCFQnznAodnHgA5Q

Kathryn Peltier Design I like that first one, too. Too bad it doesn't have a bit of the aqua in it, but I think the green is good and the pattern is good. The second one is not bad, but I think it's still too apple green.

Madeline @Mara. I'm shocked, really shocked that you can't just go online and take care of your fun personal business at work. What is this world coming to? Okay so now I know a little more about your rug. What i was trying to do was find something with the green of your rug and then a green with a bit more, let say's modern feel, and see if that worked. I have another one in mind if I can find it that's green and gray medallions and it might work.

Madeline @Mara. Yes, this is stripes. But it's also only 3.99 a yard, it has texture, and it has your rug color. Since your stapling the seat cushion to a ply backer you should be able to do stripes!
http://maryjos.com/fabrics/drapery-anacapri-seersucker-anacapri-seersucker-660-hemp-1131

higgins1144 Where did you find the rug? I love it!

jjdesignkloos a couple ideas for fabrics:

Debra Gunstanson I'm sorry to get Back to you not a fan of everything close together unless you hove a plan to make a place just for u to set back and read a book or just relax and maybe a small magazine rack

mara117 @Madeline Yes, sometimes (like now :) ) I can sneak on for a few minutes, but lately those opportunities have been few and far between! I think the Sandy Island Palm looks to be almost the same color as our rug. The stripes are nice too but I have a feeling my husband would say they are too boring.

@higgins I got it at Rug USA (linked above). It is an indoor/outdoor rug, actually.

@jjdesignkloos I like the colors in the first and the pattern in the second--I am still looking for that perfect mix, haha!

@Debra, we shifted everything back down once we put in the console because it seemed odd not to center with the console and the TV. We would like to add something to that space (it is quite large!) but we have not yet decided what will work best.

Debra Gunstanson The chairs I put up because I wanted u to see u could do anything with them if not a autumn a table magazine / book rack etc with a mirror on the wall behind them and I still think you need hight

mara117 @Debra thanks, I love those chairs but I think they are too similar to what we already have.

I am feeling a little apprehensive about that empty area, though...I've been trying to look for some good inspiration for what to put there but most of what I can find with two seating areas is in a great room much larger than our room.

Kathryn Peltier Design How about a large bench - actually a chaise - with backs on both sides, kind of like the bench that was suggested before? that would give you some flexibility - you could have it in front of the fireplace and leave the chairs where they are, or vice versa. I know this is probably too expensive, but it's the concept:

mara117 Yes, I looked back to see what you had suggested but I couldn't visualize that...I love that idea! And definitely could switch it up with the chairs. It actually looks really comfy too. I guess we will see what we want after the windowseats are done.

I am going to return the gray and the striped pillow at C&B tomorrow...I am thinking about returning the ikat pillows too. I feel like I might be able to find some better when I'm not looking so hard. Or, like suggested--maybe I could make some pillows out of the chair fabric. My husband finds my overthinking on this pretty hilarious, haha, so I'm going to try to stop thinking so much :)

Madeline Maybe you can practice your "over thinking" in a quiet way. DH won't even know you're up to your old tricks.

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara: saw this pillow in an email - looks like it would work perfectly for you.
https://www.jossandmain.com/Outdoor-Living-Greek-Key-IndoorOutdoor-Pillow~MX1183~E4416.html

mara117 I love those colors, Kathryn! I wish I could find that fabric for the windowseats, actually. I'm trying to find things in store if possible (rather than online) because I usually find the prices are cheaper...

I did return those pillows and lo and behold, my Crate and Barrel had the peacock pillows some of you suggested above. I picked up two of them. I like the idea of maybe arranging them with bigger turquoise-ish pillows like Inside Design showed.

Still don't love those hurricanes on the mantle but I did find some green candles for them. Maybe just keep one of them up there? Not sure where those should go, but I figured I would give the green a try while I had store credit.

mara117 Still trying to capture the true color of the rug, too--I figured a close up worked for the throw, so I'll give it a try:

jhperree Throw pillows that match or replicate pattern in chairs for sofa and loveseat.
Rectangular coffee table matching chair legs...tone.
Loose the white table.
Console, shelving sounds great.

Pull rug color to walls with panels or drapes.

mara117 @jhperree This thread has gotten pretty long--you need to scroll down to see the progress :)

bevballew The green pillow looks great. The one with stones needs the green behind it to give the right look. What about on the mantle you also put smaller candle holders in a green perhaps and place about four or five across. I myself like the simplicity of the look and the ambience is great when having company when candles lit.

catbella123 Im not sure those little chairs belong and if so they dont match the rug well. What about some light green patterned pillows

Debra Gunstanson I know u hate painting but I was wondering about focusing on a accent wall that would go with the chairs because I don't think everything has to completely match I have seen a couple of post regarding the chairs but they are very pretty pail green wall with the chairs a mirror behind it might just work just a thought

Susan Jacobs You got the pillows! Mara, they look fantastic. Don't know what makes some work, and others not work... but these absolutely DO work. I think the turquoise would look wonderful behind them (and larger does seem like the best choice.)

Madeline Love the peacock pillows. You want them withe aqua or turquoise pillows. I'll try to find some for your approval. I do feel sort of obligated since I find the peacock pillows to begin with...but I must say they look really fine where you've placed them.

mjmil I love the new pillows. i would recommend that you purchase two additional pillows for the loveseat.

Madeline Mara. This is fabric from Etsy's for the windowseats. These are very good prices. So good it has me wondering if there is something wrong with them! After this I'll list some pillows from the same site but I suggest you do a search on your own as they some very nice pillows available.

Summer Song. !00% cotton. http://www.etsy.com/listing/103553796/on-sale-riley-blake-100-cotton-fabric?ref=sr_gallery_2&sref=sr_35885cd44f971376cc75777b4816d2117c76b56267ad6b377d39f3894ba3b746_1366434346_14326340_fabric&ga_search_query=green+cotton+fabric&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=5&ga_search_type=all

Olive Green. Scrolls. http://www.etsy.com/listing/107413287/olive-green-and-cream-scrolls-curls?ref=sr_gallery_21&ga_search_query=green+cotton+fabric&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=12&ga_search_type=all

Turquoise. Olive. Check. http://www.etsy.com/listing/126889444/wee-woven-brights-plaid-in-green-and?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_query=green+cotton+fabric&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=27&ga_search_type=all

Madeline Mara. Here are the pillows I promised you. I hope you like at least a few of them.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/124078080/blue-turquoise-pillow-cover-decorative?
http://www.etsy.com/listing/112447928/turquoise-pillow-decorative-pillow-18-x?r
http://www.etsy.com/listing/123175462/turquoise-pillow-set-of-two-20x20-inch?rl
http://www.etsy.com/listing/120202680/turquoise-pillow-turquoise-throw?
http://www.etsy.com/listing/112448404/turquoise-pillow-18-x-18-decorative?r
http://www.etsy.com/listing/126732607/26-x-26-sateen-solid-turquoise-teal-blue?r
http://www.etsy.com/listing/128531622/pair-of-geometric-velvet-in-turquoise?

I have to work on the links. If you highlight them it'll take you to the pillow but it should work like the above fabrics. But not tonight I'm exhausted and must get up early for my volunteer work. It's our big annual fundraiser,. There were some great pillows on eettssyy. I'm sorry if I repeated some but they repeated them too.

mara117 @Debra--we're not planning on painting quite yet...but thanks for the suggestion!

@Susan @Madeline--Great suggestion on the pillows!! I love them. I like that they are small because we can find something bigger to go behind them.

@Madeline, thanks so much for the pillow suggestions! I really appreciate all of your help! It seems like it's hard to get the color quite right (based on how many things I've already returned!) so I am going to try to find something in a store if something strikes me. Maybe 20x20? I like those windowseat fabrics but I'm not crazy about the patterns.

Speaking of crazy...when I was at Marshalls returning the ikat pillows, I saw they had some great patterned green outdoor tablecloths that were around $5-10 apiece. I wonder if something like that could be worth a try for windowseat fabric? I may have to do some investigation.

pgeis Tablecloths > window seat upholstery crazy? Crazy Creative!

( I have done tablecloth > hammock, tablecloth >formal dress, bed sheets > window curtains, and skirt > footstool upholstery.)

mara117 @pgeis--Wow, you are regular Scarett O'Hara :) We'll have to see if we can find anything we like!

Madeline These are some pillows in the olive green family that I picked out for you to look at.
OLIVE GREEN.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/102101510/designer-decorative-greek-key-pillow?
OLIVE & AQUA.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/125756779/pillows-throw-pillow-covers-set-of-two?ref=sr_gallery_2&sref=sr_f29694ca7af2099c3c99de1b28482f1712735b98ffce9171ce73f41fe031f173_1366473309_14106914_pillow&ga_search_query=olive+green+pillow&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_spelling_corrected=olive+green+ppillow&ga_search_type=all
http://www.etsy.com/listing/115953067/braemore-batik-leaf-pillow-cover-in-lily?ref=sr_gallery_4&sref=sr_96825dadfd6ef2891f2d49fb5ce72dfa845566bb6fe4edbd7603d17d6b8625d4_1366473461_14345352_pillow&ga_search_query=olive+green+pillow&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_spelling_corrected=olive+green+ppillow&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110859329/trellis-geometric-designer-pillow-18?ref=sr_gallery_34&ga_search_query=olive+green+pillow&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_spelling_corrected=olive+green+ppillow&ga_page=8&ga_search_type=all
http://www.etsy.com/listing/94430332/new-18x18-inch-designer-handmade-pillow?ref=sr_gallery_43&ga_search_query=olive+green+pillow&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_spelling_corrected=olive+green+ppillow&ga_page=11&ga_search_type=all

norsewise Well it's taken me forever to scroll down to the bottom of this page and I'm pressed for time. and haven't read any comments here but it looks like someone is really trying to help you out here. In my lifetime of experience I can only tell you that Above the fireplace would be the best place for the tv. It's the perfect place to start to design and get the most out of what fcunction this room has to offer and maximises the focal point with the 2 items of interest, tv and fireplace. With that said next I would put the carpet closer to the fireplace and leave that area infront of it enough room so you or the dog or someone who's cold can warm themselves in an unimpeded manner. The chairs seem a little too formal and uncomfortable.for what this room has to offer. I wouild minimize their importance in this room and either replace them or set them on the corners. The couches look comfy and could sit perpendicular to the fireplace or angled. Either way, put the short one adjacent or in the hemisphere to the corner where the most traffic occurs upon entering and exiting. Go with these core principles in mind and you should end up with a useful and relaxing room to enjoy. The best thing of all is you don't have to nail down the furniture so go ahead with the basic criteria here and whatever you decide can be tried until new needs and priorities come up for the space.
Good luck! JB

mara117 @Madeline--wow, you found some great color matches! I think we are going to try to find some fabric for the windowseats first and work from there--everything we add always makes the scheme a little different...

I know this thread has gotten incredibly long (and we are very grateful--my mother in law was just here and was blown away by how great it looks!) but I hope people will at least take some time to scroll through the photos to see the progress. I understand not everyone will read everything, but I have tried to include a lot of photos to show what has been done. It does get a little confusing when people continue to offer advice based on our first photo, because our room does not look much like that anymore!

pgeis @mara -- I have been amazed at your patience. It's not even my house and I just want to throw up my hands when someone says "I haven't read it, but you should do X "-- where X = something that has already been discussed and tried several times already, and DIDN'T WORK in this situation. It's been an important lesson to me in how to use HOUZZ -- or offer help in any situation -- step one is to understand the situation,.

Debra Gunstanson Dear Mara I am one of those who has said I have not read all the post pls forgive me if I have repeated myself I get very excited when someone is going out of there comfort zone and courage to ask for any input and help everyone has such great ideas pros and the ones like me that have decorated homes and staged homes for selling am now disabled and I help the people I worked with by web cam if I have helped in anyway I'm thankful and may I add
@pegis. May God Bless u As He has me
Debra

Grace Reed Mara, have you tried Home Decoraters Collection for cushions and fabric? I think it might have possibilities if you are still looking for them. The room is looking fab!

Madeline @Mara. I don't post these things so you'll buy them I post them so you'll know they exist if you decide they are right for your room. I realize you're shopping around town and that makes sense of course. I just want to open your eyes to some ideas I guess. Plus I love fabric. Pillows equal fabric really. So I'm having fun too. (Right now I'm waiting to get my broken sewing machine back so I can't even sew if I wanted, and I do!)

Susan Jacobs I have used a linen tablecloth as an ottoman "slipcover". I just used these special pins from Bed, Bath and Beyond that are supposed to be for fixing your sheets to the mattress so they don't slip. I just folded the tablecloth around the ottoman, like wrapping a gift - and pinned it in the corners, and VOILA! Not bad looking, if I do say so myself! Give it a shot!

Susan Jacobs On another note, there will always be comments from folks who don't have the time, or inclination, to do the pre-reading necessary to make a helpful comment. You have been unfailingly polite to everyone, and I don't think anyone could fault you for responding only to those comments which are relevant at this point.

Debra Gunstanson Just thought I would at walmart they have if your machine doesn't work or u just want to try something new u can use this it is heat and bond you use with a iron sometimes if I'm not sure of a color I will fuse pieces of fabric together and look at it a couple of days to see if I like or not

furrytoes Mara, this is completely off the current pillow topic. I saw these and thought they might work on your entertainment center. They are 23 in. and 29 in. tall.
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-7653-lithe-vases-aquamarine.aspx

bevballew Debra! You might want to reread your above post. Your computer may have been doing the writing for you! Lol!

Debra Gunstanson No just me my mind knows what I want to say but my fingers just can't read it lol so sorry but did anyone get my meaning ?

pgeis @Deb -- How's this --

While I was at Walmart, I saw some iron-on fusing web, and it made me think of you and your project. If your sewing machine doesn't work, or you just want to try something new, you can use it with your iron to bond two fabrics together. When I am not sure whether two colors work together, I fuse them together and look at it for a couple days to see whether I like it or not.

(I love the convenience of speech-to-text software, so I am used to the way software sometimes garbles our thoughts!)

@Mara -- see? you have so charmed us all, we think of your project even when we are out shopping!)

Debra Gunstanson Lol I could use speech to text software but I am afraid that I will argue with it just like I do my GPS:)

bumblebee728 I've been enjoying this post, the great advice, and especially how wonderful it is for you and your husband to be putting your home together...together. I love the idea of the window seats, and Kathryn's idea of the chaise where people can sit and be part of either side of the room. Just a little reminder about the 'three' seater sofa though, they really only seat 2, because most times, no one wants to sit in the middle. I did read every post, I think, so if someone already mentioned it, please forgive. Oh, one other thing I thought about while reading through...while you're shopping for pillows, take note of the difference between the 'feels' of the down stuffed pillows and the others, I think they're some kind of poly fill? I think you'll love how much better the down filled ones feel. I've seen them at Home Goods and TJ Maxx for just $20.
You and your helpers are doing a beautiful job, hope you'll build lots of happy memories in your new home.

bumblebee728 To clarify, what I said about the three seater wasn't meant as anything against the sofa, I think we definitely need them to stretch out and lay on when relaxing, watching TV, etc.. Just a thought when counting how many seats you'll have for those football parties!

Debra Gunstanson Going along with the tree them i found these

mara117 @furrytoes--ooh I love those! I just discovered where there is a Z Gallerie near me, too. I will have to stop by and window shop a bit. For now I think after the windowseats, we might need to cut off the design budget for a few months, though :)

@pgeis--Haha, thank you! And now I understand, @Debra, what you were saying. I love that fusible web stuff! I have used it before. And thank you for thinking of me!

@bumblebee--I agree, it probably fits 2 more comfortably, maybe 3 in a pinch if it was really crowded. I agree about down-filled pillows too. They don't "puff up" so much so they stay in place better.

I really have to thank all of you so much! My in laws were over yesterday and they were so impressed with how our room is shaping up. They said looks like a showroom, haha.

We bought some fabric on clearance for the windowseats and it was all wrong, so now I have a much better idea of what we want. Kathryn is definitely right that a white background does not work. Ideally I think something mostly green with some pattern on it. Out of the very helpful suggestions above, these are my favorites...unfortunately, some of the prices are way too high. I'd love to find something under $15/yard if possible...

http://www.calicocorners.com/product/designer+fabrics+for+the+home/shop+fabrics+by+color/aqua+and+teal+fabric/wiggle+path+-+robert+allen+fabrics+pool.do

http://maryjos.com/fabrics/sandy-island-palm-outdoorcone

http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-robert-allen-halmstad-mosaic/zprd_02321115a/

http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-richloom-studio-teresa-citrine-medallion/zprd_11921012a/

mara117 I also like these, but not so much the prices....

http://www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-bella-dura-acker-lime-splash/zprd_12239216a/
http://www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-waverly-tabby-jade/zprd_12223012a/

Okay, lunch break over :) Will have to do more searching later!

Debra Gunstanson @pegis When I find fabric that I like I get swashes and for me if I have several places that same fabric would work then instead of making a pillow or buying one a take the risk of them not let u return the pillows also easy fix for fabric that needs stitching.
I love that for also hemming my grandchildren 's pants because I think there legs grow longer everyday
Isn't that color beautiful

Kathryn Peltier Design I really like the Richloom Studio Teresa Citrine Medallion! A pattern like that would look great. For a less expensive fabric, though, I think the last two from Joann's work too - the 2nd one is especially nice with it's texture.

mjmil I agree with Kathryn I love the Richloom Studio Teresa-Citrine Medallion fabric. I have that fabric made up in pillows for my sofa and they look wonderful. For your purpose I like that it combines the green and the turquoise. I also like http://www.joann.com/upholstery-fabric-waverly-tabby-jade/zprd_ Again it combines the green and turquoise. I think either of these fabrics would look great.

mara117 Yes I do really like that Waverly Tabby Jade--it looks similar to our throw blanket! I am going to keep searching and see what I can come up with. If we are going to spend a fair amount on fabric, I want to make sure it's something we really love...

pgeis It looks perfect on my monitor! wonder if it will match in real life? And it's on sale for half price!!!

Debra Gunstanson Mara your welcome I love color and I try to do what I can my self cheapest way possible u are doing great have fun that's the main thing u are making a house into a home

bevballew Hey Kathryn! I happened to see you live in Michigan! I do also! I somehow got on to the Houzz site of companies in Michigan and saw your business name.

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi bevballew! Yup, here I am. Spring has finally sprung, huh? Where do you live? I'm in Northville.

bevballew Hi Kathryn! I live in Grosse Pointe. I always like your decorating suggestions! I hope summer is coming! I remember one year we had a cold summer. But I always say at least we don't get hurricanes, tsunamis, etc., and really not much in the way of tornadoes.

readbetter I would move your pretty chairs to the side and keep a clean line of sight to your fireplace. Then you will have a cozy seating area around a big coffee table. Add some art, books and other things you like and maybe some pillows to tie in all the colors. Your room is so pretty.

What's Inside Design Ltd. Hi Mara,
I check in every once in a while, and again....so fun to see what you're up to! :)
I read that you were unsure about your hurricane vases. Try pushing them in towards the art so they aren't floating so far away and by themselves.
My second suggestion would be to find some other objects of a larger scale to fill that mantle space. (Height in this case will be very important)
Grab a pillow, head to out shopping and use that pillow as a guide to help you choose colours.
Here's a quick visual for you.
Have fun!!!
Caroline :)

What's Inside Design Ltd. P.S. you could also buy a 3rd hurricane and create something we call "rhythm". This will add energy and movement to your space. 3 in a row in front of your art. -- When lit, they will illuminate your art.....beautiful!

nikitasmom Instead of candles you could fill the hurricanes with lemons, limes, colorful potpurrie, or glass blobs.

pattiegoode Move the hurricanes closer toward the painting, please, and see it you like that better. Your room looks great! I just got caught up today! ;)

mara117 @What's Inside Design @Pattiegoode--great ideas! I will try moving them first. I like the idea of keeping the hurricanes because I already have them. I know my husband would like the idea of not buying so many more items :)

@nikita's mom--I like the green candles, but i was wondering if maybe it needed something else--rocks or something inside--to accent?

mara117 Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I tried moving the candles closer together--any better?

Sorry I have not had any updates...we have been dog sitting for my in-laws. Between our pit bull and their 85 lb poodle, we have had our hands full this weekend! I still have not decided on the fabric for our windowseats, either--I think that will be our next step.

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara: What'sInside had a good point about the art being larger, especially in height. What about just turning it to the vertical? It's worth a try!

Susan Jacobs The candles are now too close - move each one a few inches from the middle...

Debra Gunstanson Me not being a type a person I like thing off balance so to say I found a couple of pics but I wouldn't put the globes on both sides

bevballew I myself like symmetry. You have to decide what you like. You ned to move the hurricanes about 3-4 inches away from the pic.

Laurie Peck Spencer The drapes need more life -- love the burst in the latest pillows. The accessories will bring this together for sure

house1121 minor detail but i would Definitely Angle the two chairs by the fireplace to face slightly towards eachother

mara117 @Kathryn...Hmm, I think I tried the art vertical but didn't take a photo. I will have to try it again. I remember I wasn't crazy about it, but maybe it will look different with a more finished room.

@susan @bevballew yes, definitely right...how about now? :)

@Debra--I like the photos you posted! I'm trying to work with what I have for now, though, but I'd love to add some more stuff over time.

@Laurie Thanks! These drapes have actually really grown on me. I know they are not the most exciting color-wise, but the velvety material adds a lot to the space....including keeping it from echoing so much in there!

house1121 according to newest pics looks like chairs have been angled ?

bevballew Maybe move another inch or two maximum. Another idea maybe...put both on the same side but the one on the outside needs to be a bit taller. Placing a book underneath might work. Then maybe a large case on the other side... I think someone above made a suggestion with vases. The glass lacks drama, but for now it is fine. It takes time to find the right pieces.

bumblebee728 I definitely think the painting should be vertical and then add some round, oval, or curvy pieces. It'll soften up all the rectangles in and on the fireplace.

Susan Jacobs The candles look better now. As for some other stuff to put on the mantel - Do you have any pitchers, vases, candlesticks, glass bowls, etc. already in your home that you can put up there? You could even buy a few more candles of varying sizes in green, yellow, etc., and group them with the hurricanes

Susan Jacobs This blog has a great example of yellow and green things on a mantle that were found just lying around the house. http://www.33shadesofgreen.com/2011/03/spring-mantel.html

mara117 Thanks for all of the suggestions! Once our dogsitting adventures are over, I will have to try to take a look around the house and see what I can come up with. I agree we need some different heights to make it look for interesting. I will try the painting vertical as well. We don't have much laying around aside from those C&B vases I showed earlier in this thread...

@Susan I love that mantel! Don't tell my husband, haha, he suggested we should try fake limes and lemons and I said I didn't think it would look very nice--obviously I was wrong! We do have some large cylinderical glassware leftover from our wedding but it all is kind of similar in shape to the hurricanes. They are probably a bit taller and wider though--maybe too large for the mantel.

pgeis While I don't generally go for fake anything, I think the fake lemons and limes might be just the thing.

mara117 I managed to corral the dogs into the yard long enough to flip the painting. I'm not sure what I think of it....how does this compare? I feel like it looks sort of off next to the vertical windows.

Kathryn Peltier Design Actually, I think it looks TOO tall, although it covers the decorative brick. Something a bit more square would probably work best - the width of your piece but taller, too. That can be down the road, though, and only if you have another place for this piece because it's nice! Back to horizontal!!! ;-)

Susan Jacobs I agree, it's too tall - it's practically touching the ceiling, and that's bothersome. I prefer horizontal.

Also, what about some pretty indoor plants? Trailing ivy, or whatever you enjoy. you can use any little pots you have around the house - paint them with craft paint (SUPER easy and inexpensive) and they'll make that mantel look lovely!

bumblebee728 Sorry to see hanging the painting vertically didn't work. I think it's just a little too big , even horizontally. But if you add some visual width/weight next to the firebox with vases on either side, that will probably help it work horizontally.

mara117 Oh good, agreed--but it is nice to be able to try some different things that don't cost any extra! Back to horizontal it is. My husband jokes that I can't do anything now without checking in with the Houzzers...but you haven't steered us wrong yet!

@Susan I love little potted plants, I have seen some very cute and realistic fake greenery and succculents at Homegoods that I have been keeping an eye on! I am trying not to get too caught up with accents. Right now my priority list is 1) Fabric for windowseats/actually make those windowseats 2) Curtains for fireplace windows (once I convince my husband we need them!) After that, I think we might move on to the office for now and just pick up accents as we find stuff that we love. We are far from done in here but we have a whole house to decorate! We've got to get this place up and running :)

And to completely contradict everything I just said, I have been casually browsing for what other furniture might fit in that space even though I know my husband thinks it's full enough as it is. I found this seller on ebay who makes custom fabric benches and chaises....I don't like those Queen Anne legs but it looks like they might offer custom listings in a different style. They are extremely cheap, too--I wonder if something like this could work? Not sure if it's just wishful thinking because of the price, because I am not sure how comfortable any of these would be. http://stores.ebay.com/tupeloforless2008

We are hosting a brunch for 10 people on Sunday and I am excited to show off our progress. Thanks again to everyone for your help. I continue to be amazed by all of the great advice I get on Houzz!

amafixer Love the benches on EBay.

bevballew I think the benches would work! Also have you tried your pretty blue/green glass vases on your mantel? I think you have two so it might work on one side of the mantel?

alexm13 Pillows, pillows, pillows!!!
Add an accent color and tie that color into some of the pillows .

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, they do have that one more contemporary looking bench (shown in the pink fabric and the zebra fabric) which is truly an unbelievable price. However, and I'm just throwing this out there: I think the scale is going to be too small in your room. I think you need to go with something larger - more the scale of a chair width/depth (somewhere closer to 30"). My fear is that it is going to look to lightweight next to the couches. Having said that, though, something like the Ebay bench could work in many different ways in different parts of the house or even the living room if you eventually got something bigger.

Madeline @Mara. I would be very hesitant to order anything custom from this eBay shop. If one looks closely one does not see the quality or the amount of detail work that should be "routine" on made to order or custom furniture. I was not impressed with how the pieces of the chaise met for instance. And there was a serious lack of cording work on almost all of the items. Cording is what makes custom work so special. The chaise lounge looked seriously uncomfortable, just two big pieces with a very upright straight back. On no pieces were there any nail head trim work. I could go on but I do hope you reconsider bidding on one of these auction pieces. I don't believe it will match the level of quality of your already purchased furniture. And you now have an idea of the price points of some nice materials as a result of the search for the window seat. Please consider what kind of material this supplier will be using. I don't think it would be high quality stuff because that alone would be her budget right there. I think you'd be better off searching for a used bench or chaise on eBay. ( I've actually gotten some nice French pieces from around the 1930's and at reasonable prices). This is just one woman's opinion please know i tell you this as a long time eBayer who has your best interests at heart. This should be a pass.

pgeis Mara, I also had a "stay-away" reaction to that furniture website -- although my reaction was for somewhat different reasons, they also relate to the quality of work. To me, these pieces all look awkward, The hallmark of Queen Anne furniture is graceful lines. To achieve this, the legs are proportioned differently for different pieces of furniture, and the upholstered part of the furniture also has graceful curves. The square bodies of these pieces are not appropriate for the Queen Anne legs. In addition, the same short legs are used on all pieces of furniture, with no consideration to what would be appropriate to the piece. Where they should use a longer leg, to allow for a thinner and more graceful seat, they make up the difference by slapping on a wider board around the edge of the chair. Whoever is "designing" these chairs has no clue about furniture design.

pgeis This may be a clue that I'm checking in here too often: now I'm starting to get ads that seem more targeted for you than for me! hah! check out this one for pillows: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CW0G5I/ref=pe_88370_29562520_email_1p_0_ti

smdrovetto Hi Mara!

I'm new to this thread! It is an interesting, and VERY challenging space, and you have been working hard to get the right look!

You may have already received this comment, but something most of us are not used to, or a little afraid of sometimes, is decorating with pieces that are the appropriate scale for a large room with high ceilings.

I have been guilty of that. I would select something that I thought was MORE than large enough, and the room just dwarfed it. And because I wasn't used to the large rooms, I kept reworking it, buying MORE pieces to fill spaces, when I actually needed fewer, but MUCH larger ones.

I have to be very honest and say the two accent chairs are DARLING! I just love the fabric, but they are too small for the room, and with the smaller print floral pattern, and clean line, they are not the best with the large puffy leather pieces, which DO look oversiize enough and the correct scale for the room. However they are lost in the room because of their light color.

The painting you chose for above the mantel is VERY cool, but it is also way too small,and dark. You need a horizontal piece almost as wide as the mantle, at least 2 or maybe 3 times the size of the piece you have now. It almost matches the size of the fireplace screen, which is too dark, and too small. The clear glass candles on either end are lost against the white fireplace, and I think you sensed correctly that the painting was not wide enough. Also, they would need to be at least twice as wide and tall.

I think you have fantastic taste, but I think why you have had so many combinations, is they just don't feel right to you, because of the scale.

The coffee table is too small, and the green bowl is just teeny. ANY pattern has to be LARGE..............the pillows, the rug, etc.

All the pieces you have can be used anywhere in the house. The floral chairs, coffee table and the mantel painting look GREAT together, and would be good in a smaller space.

Leather is SO comfortable! I love it, and have, and DO own it. But you have probably found it is hard to keep pillows standing on a leather couch, because the slip down.

I don't know waht your budget is, but if you could bring home a rug that is somewhat larger, with LARGE, bold color and simple pattern, put a large painting above the FP, get a HUGE coffee table (Look at the scale of the ones in photos on thread) big (24") floor pillows stacked next to the sofas, so the pattern of the sofa is not obscured, maybe a couple of HUGE baskets, etc you will feel the difference.

The fireplace is really a challenge. I don't know if making a full surround would help, or painting the brick a stronger color, and staining the mantel same as the cherry, and building matching benches over the brick it would not be such a monolith.

I hope you are not offended, but I know how it is. I was scared ---------------and had to smuggle this ENORMOUS painting into the house when my husband was not home. But when he saw it hung, he LOVED it. I can't believe how many times I kept bringing home things that were too small, because they looked so big to me in the store! I had gone from living in a 1920's cottage, to a house where I actually lost weight just getting around the joint! My poor elderly mom had an accident or 2, because she could not make it from the family room to the powder room in time!

We finally moved because I just couldn't take it. The kitchen island was 12 feet long, and you could not reach across it. I don't know HOW many times I circled that thing opening drawers! I was always in a sweat!!

Kathryn Peltier Design @smdrovetto: I agree with you that scale is SO important in so many ways. As you found out, when it goes wrong, it can be wrong in a big way, too. Your example of a 12' kitchen island that you had to circumnavigate (haha) is a perfect example: sometimes bigger is better, and sometimes it's just...bigger. I am really off-topic here, but your post reminded me of this. My husband and I went to look at a newly built house near us just for fun. The house was HUGE, but it was the master suite which really gave me pause: it had a "Morning Suite" attached. The "Morning Suite" consisted of a huge sitting room, off the already huge bedroom area, off the huge master bath, and consisted of a min-fridge, a built-in coffeemaker and a built-in microwave. My instant thought was: who is the target buyer for this? Frazzled parents with young children? They wouldn't have time to lounge there. Empty-nesters? Couldn't they go down and use the real kitchen? A power-couple? They wouldn't have time to use this either. The whole thing was just such a ridiculous space and use of real estate and resources!!!

Sorry about hijacking your thread, Mara! Back to business :-)

mara117 Yes, I do think those ebay benches look a little flimsy. It might be a fun source for something purely decorative little the little ottomans (without comfort in mind). I should clarify--I wouldn't classify these as "custom" pieces just because they change out the fabric :) I think we are holding off on any other furniture additions in this room so far.

@bev--I think those vases might be too blue against all the green, but I will give it a try!

@pgeis--Haha, that is great! Even your computer is looking out for my room!

@smdrovetto--Welcome! I am not offended by your comments, but I am going to respectfully disagree. I love the way things are coming together and it is not practical to suggest that we begin completely from scratch. I appreciate the suggestions and while maybe in the future we will try to add some larger high quality pieces, I don't think that's in the cards for us now.

Our budget is pretty minimal--aside from the TV, I think we've spent just over $1000 on everything in the room. We are in our 20s and this is our first house, and we are approaching it with the attitude that none of our rooms are going to look like a furniture showroom! None of our friends houses do, either :) To be completely honest, the reason a lot of our pieces are so small is because that is what we can afford.

pgeis Wow!! You did that with barely $1,000?!!
Way to go! I love the way things are coming together, too. You have the magic touch -- in the way you solicit advice and judiciously decide which to take and which is not you, in the way you manage this thread, and in the way you are putting together an attractive and comfortable home.

mara117 @pgeis Thank you so much! I thought maybe if I share how we have budgeted thus far people will have a better idea of how we are making these decisions...this is not a $20,000 room, or even a $5,000 room! We are working with what we have and with what we can afford. We would love for our space to be beautiful but we know we have to scale back from what we might like to do with an unlimited budged.

What we have spent:
Sofa: $399
Loveseat: $299
Painting: $10
Fireplace Screen: $15
TV Console: $270
Chevron pillow: $15
Curtains: $50
Throw Blanket: $20
Chairs: $70 (after gift card)
Green Bowl, Hurricanes, Candles, Other Pillows: Free! (gifts, gift cards)
Rug: Gift from my parents
Interior Cushions for Windowseats: $20
______________________
Grand total spent on living room so far: $1168

bumblebee728 Mara117, what a smart young couple the two of you are!
Your room is very nice, and knowing you stayed within your budget, will make you enjoy your home more than if you had overspent and gone into stressful debt over it!
With your careful planning and wonderful attitude you're going to have a very happy house and home, and that is what it's all about!

pgeis @Mara Don't forget that coffee table you found for a song and turned into a gem with your sweat and tears.

mara117 Oops, you are right! I totally forgot the coffee table. It won't let me edit my other post but I should include coffee table for $50 + $10 for stain--bringing our total to $1228 :)

mjmil Mara I think your room has come together beautifully. You have great taste and have done a fantastic job. A few more tweaks like your fabric for the bench's and you will be ready to sit back relax and enjoy your comfortably warm space.

Susan Jacobs Mara, you should be an ambassador, or work at the UN. You have been unfailingly kind, and yet clear about your ideas on this entire thread.

On another note, has anyone ever painted (Rustoleum?) a fireplace screen? How would Mara's screen look if it were a little less starkly contrasted with the wall? Obviously, screens are black for a reason, but I was thinking a medium gray would tie into the room. I find myself looking at it in the pictures and thinking it would make a big difference for very little money.

Kathryn Peltier Design They make a Rustoleum product for high temperature areas, but I don't know what colors it comes in.

amafixer I have used the Rustoleum product and could only find the spray paint in black.

mara117 We had 12 people over for brunch on Sunday! Our living room was a big hit, not to mention actually functional to seat so many people (with a few extra chairs pulled in). I'm actually liking that empty space in there for now because it's perfect for setting up our folding tables with a fun tablecloth when we have a big crowd--we don't have a dining room and our kitchen table right now is not big enough.

I remember someone had suggested propping up one of those hurricanes on the mantel up with a book. I looked through all of our coffee table-type books but nothing looked right up there. I was at Homegoods last week (my new favorite place!) and I saw this fake cloth-covered book on clearance for a few bucks. The colors are muted but not really in the same family as the others in the room. How does it look? Does it work--or is this book going back to Homegoods? :)

Kathryn Peltier Design I like the fake book and the green bowl and the pillows! :-) Glad you had such a nice gathering!

mara117 We got a lot of compliments on that coffee table, too--almost makes all that staining/sanding/restaining worth it :) Next stop--windowseats! Some friends told me about some fabric stores to check out so I might try to take a look this weekend. We have not had luck with the big box fabric stores so far. I've almost got DH convinced on curtains, too, if I can find something that does not block too much light.

Kathryn Peltier Design Your coffee table looks great, was a fantastic find, and was definitely worth the effort! As far as curtains, you should look for something very lightweight and full-length, hang them from rings, and mount the rod near the ceiling (and it should go all the way across those short walls) - that way, they emphasize the height and will not block any light because they can be stacked all the way back to the outside corners. Remember, though, that you want a minimum 1 1/2 times the width of the WALL for the right fullness, so depending upon the curtain width, you may need a pair per window. I have another idea, though: what would you think of just wallpapering those two window recesses? That might give you just as nice a look - and more pattern zing - than curtains would (which you could always add, too, if you thought you needed them). You can also purchase large stencils which could be very cool because there are some fabulous patterns and you can pick your EXACT colors! Whichever way you go, find your cushion fabric first!
http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/moroccan-stencils.html

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara: one more thought. Ask at the fabric stores about seamstresses. All you are asking for are some simple pillows. It shouldn't cost much to have them fabricated.

mara117 @Kathryn-- I showed your ideas to my husband and he is very intrigued, haha! I think we may have created an interior design monster :) I love both of those ideas. I will have to investigate wallpaper. Maybe the stencil would be a good option for us because it's easier to change out if we ever want to. We had said we did not want to paint but those stencils have me thinking!

And good idea about the fabric store, since we have the cushions already. I will see if they have any ideas.

Kathryn Peltier Design Ahhhh, Frankendesigner, I presume? LOL I agree with you, Mara: I think the stencils would be easier (and I'm sure cheaper) and would be just paint. Matching a really large pattern in a wallpaper is expensive, too. In fact, if you selected a stencil that is a single color, you could probably even have your wall paint tinted a couple of shades darker, if you still have some left over. It might be nice to use a 2-color, though, using one a couple of shades darker than the wall, and then the 2nd in green or turquoise. Because it's such a small area, maybe you could even find a shade of paint in the sample size and just buy a couple of those - less than 10 bucks? AND - you could stencil your curtains to match. Just sayin'...;-)

furrytoes I love the way your room is coming together! Several weeks ago, there was a suggestion to make the mantel darker to give it more presence and balance the screen. Would painting the mantel help make the fireplace seem more "complete"? (When I've been uncertain about a paint idea, I've "masked" the area with blue painters tape, and then painted the tape. It doesn't take very long because I'm not doing any "cutting-in" detail work, and I'm not trying to do a perfect job. And the tape removes very easily).

pgeis That fp screen is pretty small against the large stone area. I wonder if it would help to have some fireplace tools on the side? Though if you are planning kids any time soon, it's not such a good idea to have weapons (like a barbed metal poker) sitting around begging to be wielded. Maybe a decorative hearth broom on one side and a bucket of firewood or big potted plant on the other?

mara117 @Kathryn I really love the stencil idea...I looked all over the cutting edge website and there are such cool designs and ideas for how to use them! It would probably be easy to stencil because the space is so small--the size of the stencil is probably pretty big with respect to the size of the space. I'm not sure I understand the color suggestion--are you suggesting painting that area a bit darker than the shade of the wall, and then stenciling in using an accent color? And which curtains would we be stenciling in this scenario?? :)

@furrytoes--Thanks! I do like that idea but I think that will have to be something for a later time. Great idea about how to paint it without doing anything permanent, though! In an ideal world I would probably cover all of that painted 70s brick with some kind of more modern stone facade, so I am not sure how many stopgap things I'd like to do to it in the meantime...

@pgeis I agree--we mostly got it because of the price (on clearance for $15 at Target!) and we wanted to keep our dog from climbing in there. I'm hoping the windowseats will hope break it up. Our fireplace is not actually wood burning, it's gas--so not many tools or any firewood needed! And yes, kids are probably in our near future so we'll probably try to keep any fireplace weapons to a minimum :)

Kathryn Peltier Design As far as the color, I just meant that you could take your wall color, only a couple of shades darker, for a tone on tone pattern (the stencil being the darker color) No matter what color you use - neutral, turquoise, green, white, metallic? - the existing wall will be your background so it will tie all the other walls in. The curtain idea was just something you could add if you felt you needed more softness and wanted to continue the pattern. Just a plain curtain could be stenciled, but really I don't think you need curtains if you add a stencil. And yes - I, too, think those are very very cool designs!

Madeline Mara, JoAnne's is having a sale, what else is new? I copied some new fabrics for you to check out. Somewhere here is a Waverly pattern, green pattern with black dots. I really like that fabric. But also there were many solids in many different shades of green and some new patterns matching green with turquoise. I did this early this morning but then the day got away from me. Good luck with your project.

http://www.joann.com/waverly-sun-n-shade-outdoor-fabric-chippendale-fretwork-moss/xprd581481/

http://www.joann.com/home-decor-outdoor-fabric-tommy-bahama-tampico-palm/xprd992086/

http://www.joann.com/waverly-modern-essentials-fabric-fun-floret-spruce/zprd_10725760a/

http://www.joann.com/waverly-modern-essentials-fabric-side-step-avocado/zprd_10725646a/

http://www.joann.com/45-home-essentials-solid-fiera-apple/xprd1067203/

http://www.joann.com/home-decor-print-fabric-waverly-rise-shine-ebony-lime/zprd_11792546a/

http://www.joann.com/uphostery-fabric-waverly-chippendale-fretwork-grass/xprd581525/

mara117 Thanks, Madeline! We brought home some fabric a few weeks ago and realized it should definitely be mostly green to fit in well, so I like your choices! A few of them are probably just a little bit too bright--I am looking for something that would bring out the muted green in the rug and the painting because a lot of people have commented that the rug needs to be tied in better.

I liked this one when I saw it in the store, but I don't think DH was crazy about it: http://www.joann.com/waverly-modern-essentials-fabric-side-step-avocado/zprd_10725646a/.

I like this color too, but I am not sure if we should go with a solid. http://www.joann.com/45-home-essentials-solid-fiera-apple/xprd1067203/ Maybe I can rethink that if we want to stencil that wall, though! :)

pgeis @Katherin Peltier Design -- I am intrigued by the stenciling and am now imagining it my bathroom -- thank you! The link with all it's how-to videos is inspiring.

Madeline Sometimes (at least with my own opinionated DH) hubby doesn't need to be crazy about something. He could like it, and at minimum he should of course find it acceptable and then give you the benefit of the doubt, that when the other elements of this area are just as painstakingly searched for and selected it will come together with an ordered cohesion and beauty that could never have been foretold at any prior uncompleted stage. When I think about rooms where I've been successful it appears that there are a series of vignettes, which alone are quite beautiful or at minimum, very pleasing to the eye, and in the end the vignettes all tie together as one. In this situation the vignette you're working on consists of your window seat, the pillows on it, the curtains and blinds for the window and of course the background wall color. (It'll have a twin, the other window seat. When decisions are reached for this side the same will be true for W/S 2.) If you want to widen the vignette it would then include the fireplace, mantel and art, and the collectibles chosen for the mantel. I believe that the window seat material like couch pillows can and often do have more saturated colors, as this is where the "pop" of color comes into play.

mara117 @pgeis I could not stop looking at all of the ideas on there! I want to stencil everything now :)

@Madeline Since we have moved, we learned that we actually like making these decisions together. We are starting from scratch so it is fun to try to find things that we both love and make it feel like home. I agree that men do not always understand about the vignettes, though, haha! Every time I suggest adding something, he wants to know "What is it for? Who is going to sit there?" It helps keep me down to earth with my crazy ideas, though. You are right about layering all of these things in--I am excited to add all of these new elements!

If only I could decide on a fabric for the windowseats...then maybe I could get started with all of these other fun ideas everyone keeps suggesting. I have a fabric shopping field trip planned for Sunday!

Madeline @mara117. I know it's tough, and you only have so many hours in a weekend to spend together. If only this stage weren't one where you definitely would be better offf eyeballing it in person...some things you can gamble on the internet. But fabric especially when it means this much to a room, has to be seen in person I'm afraid and you and D.H. have to make the time to do it together. As always, good luck! I have to be honest with you too that so far I haven't really seen, or read rather, where you've exhibited any crazy ideas. To the contrary I think you've shown a great deal of patience with getting this room together.

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara, I think that a pattern for your floor cushions would be best. How about a stripe? You might find something with both the green and turquoise in it easier in a stripe than another pattern. The big thing is, though, that if you are going to stencil/wallpaper, that pattern should be a much different scale that whatever pattern you pick.

mara117 Hi Kathryn! Just to clarify--are you talking about the fabric our windowseat cushions? I like a lot of the stencils (not really partial to any in particular) so maybe that can work around the fabric choices. I am just trying to figure out how to tie in the patterns from the rug, chairs, windowseats, and stencil. We brought in some fabric and it was way too busy for the windowseats (and too similar in colors to the chairs). I feel like it might need to be something simpler and like you said, in a different scale.

Kathryn Peltier Design Oh, sorry - I meant the window seat cushions. Yes, I think something more simple might be better there, but I still think a pattern of some sort would look better than another solid (because there is so much solid in your couches). I think I originally said that a stripe might be hard to do (in terms of getting the stripe straight) , but still might be the easiest to find. Or, how about a heavy/woven texture - that would be really nice, too, especially with a print on the wall. In a completely different direction, a sheet or shower curtain provides a lot of fabric and might be something you could find at a TJMaxx or similar.
http://www.famcorfabrics.com/p/1930/designer-upholstery-fabric-fusion-parrot-100-polyester-solid-quilted-contemporary-geometric-discounted
http://www.famcorfabrics.com/p/1760/designer-upholstery-fabric-prestige-macaw-100-polyester-chenille-woven-texured-solid-discounted

Unfortunately, this listing is for 5 yards, although you could have additional pillows, etc. made out of it. Looks like it would be a good color and pattern:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-YDS-GEOMETRIC-HEAVY-TEXTURE-TAPESTRY-UPHOLSTERY-FABRIC-FABRIC-LESS-/150994862197?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item2327fec075

mara117 I do really like that last one, but I am not sure I can find a use for five yards--I still need to find a use for all of my existing unused fabric :) I have been stalking Homegoods for a sheet/shower curtain/tablecloth...I keep seeing things that are almost right but not quite. I really love that idea because it might be more affordable so I am not giving up yet! I like the idea of looking for a texture or stripes because that might be a bit more neutral against so many patterns...

Kathryn Peltier Design Oh, come on, Mara: what's your point? I have YARDS of unused fabric LOL!!!!

mjmil Mara - I really like the last fabric that Kathryn posted, it is the perfect pattern size. You could always use the extra fabric for pillows for your sofa and loveseat. I think it would be really pretty.

Madeline @Mara. mjmil has an excellent point about using the extra fabric for pillows. It was going to be my suggestion;) I think the sheet/shower curtain/tablecloth idea will be in the end a time waster. Whichever you choose will not provide the stability necessary in a fabric that's being used as a window seat and a seat for a rather large doggie, at that, and you run the very real risk of it looking lightweight or God forbid, flimsy. (Not to mention you don't need a fabric that gets easily wrinkled.) And if a tablecloth doesn't wrinkle that's because it is a polyester or some blend, not exactly the look you'd want for this important job. Two window seats combine for a relatively small amount of yardage. In situations like this people often take the opportunity to splurge, finding that perfect fabric for a fabulous, outstanding and memorable look, after all you need three yards, not thirteen or thirty-three, (like some curtain projects you may run into down the line.) Please consider: 1) you want this fabric to look fabulous and to fulfill its supporting role next to the fireplace and the art in such a way that it calls attention to itself ; 2) you want this fabric to be comfortable to sit on and to wear well; and 3) you want this fabric to bring in the area rug. That's a lot to ask of a fabric. A great fabric can pull it off and then some. Mara please don't waste another minute pursuing the shower curtain route.

Nancy Walton Mara, I'm being lazy here, I know you said where you live earlier, but I'm not going to wade through all of the comments looking for it. Where do you live? The reason I ask is if you were close enough to me I'd offer to make them for you. In any case, any good upholsterer would be able to make each one in about ann hour. Depending on the size, I usually figure 1 1/2 to 2 yards for each cushion.

mara117 @mjmil @Madeline, yes you definitely have good points. I am always working on trying to reconcile somewhere between quality and cost, so I will keep looking around. I also really like the idea of using extra to make pillows like Kathryn suggested earlier to tie things together...

@Nancy That is so nice of you! We are in the Dallas area if anyone else knows of someone who might have the seamstressing skills help :)

mara117 I am leaning toward something like this without a super clearly defined pattern and that has some different colors in it so there's room for error on all of the matching--this is definitely still not my strong suit. I kind of want to leave the fun pattern option open for a stencil, since I am loving that idea.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-Plain-Solid-Dobby-Weave-Tweed-Upholstery-Drapery-Fabric-/110707867411?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item19c6b3ff13#ht_763wt_997

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIGH-END-Camo-Greens-in-Ribbed-Stripes-Soft-Chenille-Upholstery-Fabric-54-BTY-/110787268293?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item19cb6f8ec5#ht_2168wt_997

If I do not find anything this weekend I may go the ebay route...I am eager to work on these but it is harder than I thought to find colors that go with all of the things we have chosen so far!

I need to get a head start on this because after this weekend, this project will now be competing with a project DH and his dad are working on for our back patio area :) : http://ana-white.com/2012/09/plans/patio-table-built-beerwine-coolers

Kathryn Peltier Design Well how cool is that table!!!!!!?????

Kathryn Peltier Design What do you think of this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arc-com-Spyro-Ocean-Turquoise-Cream-Woven-Modern-Contemporary-Upholstery-Fabric-/380592323227?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item589d11fa9b

Here is a solid microsuede but the color looks good
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICROSUEDE-SUEDE-FABRIC-TURQUOISE-L-36-X-W-58-6-99-PR-YRD-100-POLYESTER-/320819784273?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item4ab2596a51

Good color
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drapery-Upholstery-Fabric-Brietta-Sage-/170520120443?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item27b3ca8c7b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drapery-Upholstery-Fabric-Brad-Sage-/150473174656?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item2308e66e80

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drapery-Upholstery-Fabric-Candice-Sage-/170520132839?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item27b3cabce7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drapery-Upholstery-Fabric-Indoor-Outdoor-Sage-Brown-/150603849281?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item2310b05e41

Depending upon how these are constructed, you could do different fabrics on flip sides - for instance, the Brietta Sage with the Candice Sage. Another way to save some money would be to use a very plain, inexpensive fabric on the bottom with the better fabric on the top.

I still like the yardage that I posted before (even though there is a bit too much)

mara117 The color on the first two you posted is really interesting...I like the first on a lot but not sure if that would go with a stenciled pattern. I like the colors on the brietta/brad/candice sage fabrics but I am not crazy about the patterns. I really like that last one if it wouldn't be too busy with everything else. Great prices on all of these :)

I would like to be able to see/feel something in person if I can (like with our rug--online photos can be deceiving) but if I don't find anything I really like these options! Thanks!

mjmil Kathryn I really like your choices. Great selections. I think my favorites are 1 and 3. I think 1 would not compete too much with your stencil project. Different patterns can go together if they are different sizes. I still like the 5 yards that Kathryn suggested earlier.

Madeline I too love Kathryn's earlier eBay choice, the fabric that totals five yards. You could make two large pillows for your couch, or just save it in case something terrible happens to the fabric covering on one of the window seats. Kathryn's idea of using a less expensive fabric for the backside of a pillow is excellent and one I have used over and over over the years. If and when the okay comes for curtains for these windows will you be able to match the curtains already hanging in the room?

Nancy Walton If you noticed, the fabric had a $10 off coupon that went with it, making it 5 yards for 69.99. That would be about $14/yd. I didn't see anything cheaper than that!

bevballew Wow! Cool fabrics Kathryn. Really classy and rich looking. Did not care for the solid but the others first, third, and I think last two. Sharp, sharp. Very unique and professional designer look.

pgeis At least in the photos, the polka-dots, squares, and concentric circles all seem to have the right colors, and all look like good quality fabrics.

Kathryn Peltier Design After looking at all kinds of fantastic fabrics, I happened to see these - solid color, but looks like the right one, and a very good price (probably what you'll spend to make them yourself). While not as interesting as the patterned fabrics, the wall could make up for it. http://www.worldmarket.com/product/green-khadi-tufted-floor-cushion.do?&from=fn

On the other hand, here is a DIY tutorial that estimates $22 per pillow. Certainly not as nice as having something made, but may fill the bill in the meantime. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/diy-comfy-floor-cushions-75375

mara117 Thanks! My father in law told me that my mother-in-law actually has a pretty new sewing machine somewhere (she does not use it). Maybe I can experiment with that!

No luck fabric shopping in person--I think I will narrow it down using the ones people recommended on here. I think I like best the 5 yards Kathryn posted but I am not sure I can convince my husband it is worth the money :)

mara117 I really could not find anything else I liked better so I went ahead and took the plunge on Kathryn's suggestion: http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-YDS-GEOMETRIC-HEAVY-TEXTURE-TAPESTRY-UPHOLSTERY-FABRIC-FABRIC-LESS-/150994862197?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item2327fec075#ht_406wt_997 (hopefully that link still works after I bought it!) Looking forward to actually making some more progress when it arrives!

mara117 In case that does not work, here is a picture of the fabric. Thanks for the suggestion, Kathryn! I think it will work!

pgeis It has a SOLD banner across it, but enough was still showing that I could see that it is gorgeous -- I can hardly wait to see your finished work!

Nancy Walton Good luck Mara, it will be beautiful!

mjmil Great suggestion by Katheryn and a wonderful selection by you. I think it will look beautiful. Can't wait to see it completed.

Madeline Also please keep in mind this seller does returns. So if the green does not work with the green of your rug you could return it within 14 days and get your money back. You'll be out the cost of return shipping but still you shouldn't feel forced to use the fabric if the color is not perfect for your situation. Good luck. I do hope it is!

bevballew Gorgeous! I loved that one! So glad you chose it! It will be absolutely perfect!

Susan Jacobs Can't wait to see the new fabric in the room! I hope it works!

mara117 Thanks, everyone! The fabric is on its way already. Hope it will work!

I found an idea that may put my husband's fledgling woodworking aspirations to good use with the rest of that 5 yards of fabric :) -- http://ana-white.com/2012/03/plans/upholstered-cubes
I would love to make two little ottoman cubes to go under a dark stained console table in our entryway. That would probably have to be several projects down the line, but I am adding it to my mental list of potential ideas for this space....

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara - hope all is going well :-) I just happened to come across this photo which shows the kind of bench I was thinking of for your living room
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/9-fireplace-design-ideas-from-candice-olson/pictures/index.html?i=1

mara117 Thanks, Kathryn! I have yet to convince my husband that this room could use any more furniture in the living room. Hopefully after the windowseats and maybe painting by the windows, we will have a better idea of what else we want to add. The fabric is supposed to arrive today! We are going away for the weekend but we'll be back Monday...maybe we can work on the windowseats then. I am also on the hunt for a console table to go in our entryway (espresso to match the coffee table).

By the time we are done with some of these things, maybe my husband can just make us some more furniture! Here is the outdoor table he built this weekend (the one with the built-in coolers). We have not stained it yet but I am really impressed with his first project! Maybe his new hobby can help furnish our house :)

pgeis Wow! Impressive.

Kathryn Peltier Design I love your new table! Have a great weekend, Mara (and all :-)

Madeline I hope your husband realizes that end tables are a necessary element to finishing the look of the living room, besides which they are functional. Your husband is off to a great start in his new hobby. The table looks fabulous! It looks like paint grade wood so do you plan to paint it now?

mara117 Oh yes, he wants to add some end tables to the living room --I was thinking more of major furniture purchases :) We definitely need end tables just from a practical standpoint...I would not mind a cute table lamp on one, either!

I think our plan for the outdoor table is to use a dark colored wood stain, but this may become another trial and error project for us...we usually ask for some advice at Home Depot and then try it to see what works! I have seen some projects online that used stain on similar wood, so I am hoping that will work for us as well.

Susan Jacobs I love the table, bravo to your husband! How do the coolers work? Do you put rectangular buckets inside the holes, fill with ice, and "VOILA!" ?

mara117 There are wood boxes built into it and we put plastic planter boxes in them--the plastic boxes are removable so you can add/dump ice. I think I posted the link to the building plan earlier in this thread. It is pretty cool! Unfortunately we are stalled on it for now--we are under crazy storm/tornado watch right now so we will have to wait to work on it.

Susan Jacobs Oh dear, I hope you all make it through the storms okay! Please be safe!!

mara117 Thanks, Susan! Luckily the tornadoes passed us by and we just had some thunderstorms with a ton of rain--there was a lot of shifting around in our garage to try fit both cars and this table in so it would not get too wet to stain this weekend.

Our windowseat fabric arrived yesterday and I forgot to take a photo, but I just have to say y'all give fabulous advice! No wonder I find myself having trouble making decisions without consulting my decorating team :) It looks absolutely perfect in the living room. It has just the right mix of the color and the size of the pattern looks great. Five yards of that fabric is extremely heavy, haha--it was a struggle to move it. Hopefully we can make these on Monday!

Loom Decor @mara117- I LOVE what you are doing!! GREAT TASTE! I hope I am not too late.. but I wanted to invite you to check out loomdecor.com, a design-it-yourself home decor site( we also have complimentary stylists that would be able to walk you through your project, big or small). We have your chair fabric, "awash in the park", and would love to help you choose coordinating fabrics for pillows and drapes. In addition to our online catalog, I can also source our archives. Please email me jackie@loomdecor.com, as we would LOVE to help you finish off this room!
Happy Decorating!:)

smdrovetto Hi Mara,

I hadn't logged into this discussion for a while, and was interested to see how your room was progressing.

I haven't read all the thread, (I still have to finish War and Peace!), but honestly, the photos remind me of what appears to be identical photos in the puzzle section of magazines, where the reader is asked to find the subtle differences.

It's very sweet; you are entitled, and have worked very hard. You remind me of a proud parent with a stack of photos of a new baby, who is so excited to show you every subtle nuance, but they all look the same to the observer. This house IS your baby.

I think it can be harder to decide on accessories, pillows, for example, when you have a rather minimalist enviornment, and not as much detail to draw from. Pillows are usually one of the final touches on a room. Decorating is not easy.

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall discussion about Kathryn actually coming to your home............She is really something, and I have a feeling she would be really fun!

She at least deserves candy and flowers, champagne.........................

Jane Kilpatrick Schott When you get to the final details, stop in and see my one of a kind collections on ETSY.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/janeschott

trishlovesdecor Love the supportive suggestions from everyone. I love accessorizing a space. And I love cushions, and how they can transform any space. Just bought some lovely colourful ones from www.zahaarasanctuary.com. They post worldwide cheap. You may find the site useful too.

mara117 @smdrovetto Thanks for checking back! I know when I first started browsing discussions on Houzz, I would always find myself scrolling through and looking for the Before and After pictures, but since I have started my own thread I have realized that in real life it's a long process with a lot of little steps! That's why I so appreciate all of the people who have helped me with all of the minor details. I envy all of the posters on here who can go shopping in their own houses--we have almost nothing in ours! These things take time, so maybe if you check back in a few months you will see some changes :)

And as far as I know Kathryn has never been to my house, haha, but she should know she is definitely welcome if she was ever in the area! We probably owe her more than candy for all of the time she has spent helping us.

mara117 Whew, we finally got some projects done this weekend! We made our windowseats, I love the fabric. Thanks everyone for helping us pick it out! After we made them, I remember that Kathryn had suggested keeping the corners square--I think we should have done that, but overall we're happy with how it turned out.

We also did a little Ikea hacking and glued a Lack tabletop to the bottom of another Lack side table to make a cube table like one we had liked at West Elm (this one only cost us $16, though). I am hoping to find a nice aqua lamp to put on it.

Our windowseats definitely are crying out for some throw pillows to finish it off, but we want to stencil that area first. Does anyone have any suggestions on what color or pattern might look nice on those inset walls by the windowseats?

mara117 And just for fun...a few photos of our almost finished outdoor table with built in coolers :) I found some chairs for $7 at Ikea that we are staining to match.

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara! Your living room is looking spectacular :-) I really like the window seats - they pull that area into the room (and I think the cost of the fabric was worth it)! Is the wall color the same color as the rug? If you are going to do a 1 color stencil then I would go with the turquoise, I think. If you can find a 2 color, I think it might look nice to bring another pillow color in - the green?

I can't believe you got those chairs at Ikea - is that the normal price? Wow, that table is really, really nice and I think your husband did a great job. You should have lots of nice memories around it ;-)

pgeis I love the way the end table echos the square shape of the coffee table -- different, yet repeats the basic shape. The room is acquiring a nice polish that is far more interesting and pleasing than you could achieve by going out and buying it all at once.

pgeis A stencil thought: What about pulling the pattern from the seat cushions up the walls in a stencil? Maybe a single column of larger scale diamonds running up either side of the windows? The stencil would have sharp edges, but you could do a second layer freehand to get that softer look at the edges that the fabric has. The walls look like they are already a good match for the background color in the pillows.

mara117 Thanks! It has been very satisfying to knock out some projects. We are already itching to build some more things. Kathryn, those ikea outdoor chairs were on sale for $7.99, they are usually $19. They are like these but with vertical planks on the back: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50240031/. I saw them on my way out and had to grab a few at that price! My total bill for the two lack tables and 4 folding chairs was $50! :)


I like a lot of the stencils from this site Kathryn posted earlier: http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/ . I told my husband about the idea of doing two colors but he said he could not really envision what that looks like. the walls are the same color as they are across the rest of the room (other than the white brick fireplace).

Susan Jacobs Mara, for the bottom part of your fireplace? http://www.pier1.com/Black-Metal-Lanterns/PS6727,default,pd.html?cgid=savings-clearance

Susan Jacobs here's the picture... I was thinking for the left side

Kathryn Peltier Design Mara: I think one of the things you have to consider with the stencil is the dimension of the walls you are working with. Also, I think you do could do one of two ways: one would be an allover pattern; the second way would be a large, random design. If you add a second color, no matter which way you go, I would make the second color kind of random so that the eye moves around.

Without knowing how much wall you are working with around the windows (I'm guessing it looks like about 11" or so on the sides?) something in an overall pattern like this might work
http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/Fleur-Craft-Stencil-Kathy-Peterson.html
This is a 5" repeat, which may be too small (I would kind of layout whatever pattern you are thinking about on paper and stick it on the wall so you can stand back and look at it) but if you did this one, for instance, I would do the circles in the middle a different color on every 3rd/4th/or 5th one - but randomly so that it doesn't establish another pattern. This pattern also comes in 9" repeat, which might fit better.

Here is one shown in two colors. You could either do it the way they show it, or you could ,again, make the 2nd color more random. http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/moroccan-tiles-wall-pattern.html Instead of adding another color, like the pillow green I suggested before, I think it might look nicer to use the ivory color of the fireplace surround as your second color - that would REALLY ties everything in.

I think this one is too big overall, but you could also go in this direction to pick up the pattern in the chairs:
http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/wall-stencil-branch-butterfly.html

A large pattern like this could also be very cool, but again, this one is probably just too big but gives the idea.
http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/sari-paisley-allover-stencil.html
This one might work if you used half of it (centered on the edge of the window) They show it in two colors, too; you could even pick just a small part of the 2nd color area they show (maybe even just the dot?)
http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/damask-moroccan-stencil.html

In addition, there are several that are very similar to your rug pattern, which might be OK. It would basically bring the rug up onto the wall if done in the ivory on the wall tone.

mara117 @Susan--I like those! I want to get a few more big things done before accessorizing, but I like those lanterns a lot.

@Kathryn Thanks for the ideas! I will have to measure the space. I think we had in mind more of an allover repeating pattern. My husband liked the idea of doing it in the same pattern as our rug, which I thought was interesting. Would it be the same colors as the rug if we went that route? I like the Morrocan one a lot, too. I know my husband would appreciate keeping it in the not-too-girly realm :)

Susan Jacobs Mara, I know you don't want to be going in a million different directions, I just couldn't resist distracting you with them :) I think I might get some for my mantel - they're on clearance.

Kathryn Peltier Design Yes, I would keep the rug colors if you repeat that pattern. Maybe then you could do just a small pattern, in the middle of one of the centers of the repeat, in a turquoise pattern. You might even be able to find a stamp. How about one of the circles in this set? It would repeat the pattern in your pillow!
http://www.michaels.com/Arabesque-Laser-Cut-Stencils/cp0553,default,pd.html?start=66&cgid=products-craftpainting-stencilsandaccessories
As I said, put it randomly in the center of the pattern, and do it in turquoise. That way, you get the repetition and color simplicity of the rug pattern, but you are able to pull in the turquoise in a small way.

mara117 @Kathryn Oh wow, this idea is getting complicated, haha :) I will need to take a look at it with DH and see what he likes. I measured the area and it is very small--about 8.75" on each side and 14.75" on the top.

mara117 Hm, this stencil looks just like our rug: http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/moroccan-stencil-pattern-3.html Would something like that work, with the rug green as the background color and the wall ivory as the pattern? I read through your advice about using a smaller stamp or stencil as an accent but I think I am misunderstanding it :)

Otherwise, I also like this one with maybe a muted green as the main color and aqua as an accent.... http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/moroccan-tiles-wall-pattern.html

Like Kathryn suggested, a sample pot of paint should be plenty to cover that space, so it would be really easy and inexpensive if we changed our mind on colors...

Kathryn Peltier Design Hi Mara: I just happened to run across this stencil that I had pinned on Pinterest, and it gave me the idea that this treatment might be nice for your walls. Instead of doing more/multiple colors, what would you think of doing a tone-on-tone approach with the enamel over flat , or even better, a metallic look against your wall color? That could be really nice! I have to warn you, though, that the metallics tend to look somewhat streaky (i.e. it's hard to get a consistent finish) but it could be pretty cool. Benjamin Moore stores (at least the one by me) carry quite a range of metallics. Just an idea!
http://pinterest.com/pin/147704062751562408/?e_t=fa540eafddcd44ae9ed917ca18ba9482&e_t_s=pin-liked&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=activity_aggregation

pattiegoode Sorry, but I'm lost & confused! Which wall are you planning to stencil? If it's just the bits around the windows flanking the FP, think about the scale. Am I wrong KPD? like the window seat cushion cover & would pick up on it (larger than that grid pattern but not the big design of trellis that is so popular today - the wall segments aren't big enough ) - or your fabric chairs (vine, maybe). Personally, I love stenciling but would not do it in your room. Consider stationary panels that will just hang from the window edge to the wall corners. Alternatively, I think that if you painted the wall segments the color of the FP & the window blinds (It looks the same for me here in cyberspace), it would take away the disjointed feeling. KPD, what do you think?

mara117 @Kathryn--I like that idea a lot too--I think it might depend on how the stencils that we like are structured. If the part that you paint is the background of the pattern (and we could leave the pattern as the current wall color) then it might be a bit harder to do the metallics. I love the way that looks though! You keep giving me too many ideas, haha, it is a bit dangerous. I want to make a decision soon...I think we will be having a housewarming in a few weeks :) I went to check out paint samples today.

@pattie--yes, we are thinking about the bits around the FP. We have not decided on a pattern yet, but it would have to be something with a small enough repeat to be seen on that. I like the idea a lot for that part of the wall because I love the idea of having some color and interest there. I like the idea curtains there but my hubby really does not...

mara117 We decided we needed a console in our empty entryway so we built one this weekend! Trying to make good use of all of those new tools :) Still need to stain it dark like the coffee table and get some baskets for the shelf--we want it to look like this: http://ana-white.com/2010/01/plans-easiest-rustic-modern-console.html

mjmil You guys are doing such a great job. I like what you have done and think it will be wonderful!

mara117 Whew, sorry I have not had much of a chance to update! I have had a very busy work week. Luckily coming home to stain our console table helped to keep me sane :) I will have to post some photos this week when it is all done. We bought some baskets for the shelf and I think it will be a nice addition to our entryway. Hopefully it will help make that space look a bit more finished since it's so empty right now.

We changed our minds about making cubes for under the console--I've mentally replaced them with two of these little x-benches instead! http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2012/08/x-leg-bench-guest-tutorial/. I am thinking of making those with the same fabric as our flowered chairs to help tie those in better. We are excited to have something new to add to our space!

pgeis Love the idea of using the chair upholstery fabric on these benches!

pattiegoode Love that site & the bench plan! I didn't realize you could get yardage of the chair fabric. That is great!

Susan Jacobs Love the x-bench idea, such a good call! Pictures soon??

mjmil Love the bench plan and that extra fabric from the benches will be perfect. Great idea. Your creativity is overflowing.

mara117 Thanks, everyone! I think I will order the fabric and the foam for the cushions sometime this week. Now I feel like we are on a roll :)

This has been a pretty busy week but we just need to finish spraying the polyurethane on our console and that will be done--can't wait to share some "after" photos!

bevballew Love the bench!

mara117 Woo hoo, our console table project is done! Now we just need to find some fun accent pieces to style it with. Sorry for the poor quality photos--I took them at night with my phone, so the light is not great.

mara117 Also, we really need to move that frame--it is a little too low now and off-center. At least we were able to make the table to fit perfectly in the space! That is definitely the fun of making something ourselves.

pgeis Perfect.
OK, agreed on moving the frame -- either centered, or the right edge lined up with the divider below, and then something tall on the right side, in the corner. I like the height. I might even put it lower, depending on what else you arrange here. It ties it to console

pgeis Think of the picture as one of the elements in the arrangement on top of the console.

pattiegoode I'm behind on your progress! The console looks great, and I don't think I would move the picture yet. Isn't it centered on the wall? The console should be centered, too. Anyway, just wanted to say, "Good work!"

mara117 @pgeis thanks--this is a time I really wish we had an unlimited store of accent pieces I could play with. A trip to Homegoods is probably in order :) I have been looking for some good inspiration photos, I feel like there are a lot of fun ways to style an entryway table.

@pattiegoode--we have not made much progress recently, haha! The picture looked centered on the wall until we added the table--I measured and there are 18" on one side and 20" on the other. I think we'll wait until we decide what should go on the table before moving it, though.

pgeis Do you have a flea market nearby? I have snagged some awesome pieces for very modest prices at ours. You never know what you will find, so you have to go with the attitude that it's an adventure into trash-or-treasure land. You generally have to have cash, and you begin by asking "what are you asking for this?" Wince, pause, count your meager dollars, and finally reply, "I'll give you $X for the pair."

Be resolute about NOT buying anything you can't use right away.

Take a cold drink, wear a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses, and have fun meandering.

Madeline Browsing eBay can be a lot like a flea market but much bigger, and without the heat and flies. And many of the vendors allow returns. I can't begin to tell you (bore you?) of some of the great original art or bronzes, fabrics and yes, furniture I've gotten on eBay for fabulous prices. Give it a try! P.S. Mara, console table looks fabulous! I would consider a terrific mirror above it.

pgeis I used to use ebay -- but when my account was hijacked by a Nigerian scammer, and ebay told me it was my responsibility to contact everyone he had tried to steal from and clean it up, I dropped ebay. That was several years ago, so maybe their security and customer service have improved, (I did contact everyone he was trying to steal from, and I caught it quickly, so I don't think he was able to actually accomplish his goal.)

mara117 A flea market does sound like fun! Life has been a bit hectic for us lately so we have to find some time to head out to one in our area :)

Ebay is a great suggestion (though I am sorry to hear about pgeis's experience!) I have purchased a lot of things from there in the past, it can just be a bit overwhelming to comb through everything. @Madeline--I am thinking that eventually maybe I'd like to find a really large mirror to replace the green painting over the fireplace. The scale on that is still a bit too small. Maybe eBay has some affordable options!

Kathryn Peltier Design I am sorry to hear of pgeis' experience on Ebay, also. My husband buys and sells vintage watches, as well as a lot of other items, on Ebay all the time (I do some selling, also). The worst experience we have ever had was a buyer who damaged something and tried to say it was sent that way, and then that it happened in shipping (pick your story!). Luckily, we had photographic documentation that called their bluff, and Ebay stood behind us. I have found it to be a relatively easy way to buy and sell.

Love flea markets, estate sales, garage sales though!

pgeis Maybe I should give ebay another try. I'm looking for a pair of Eastlake or Mission corbels to make into a pot rack, and have struck out on the local flea market and antique stores. Thanks for the review, Katheryn.

Kathryn Peltier Design @pgeis: if you really have trouble finding something, you could give this place a call. They don't have a website, but maybe they would be willing to photograph what they have and email it to you (although I don't know about this). I have found great stuff here over the years and it has been very reasonable. Detroit Antique Mall 313-963-5252

Also, have you tried Etsy?

pgeis I did see some corbels on Etsy that looked great -- but they were fairly pricey -- and the original motivation to creating something myself was the notion that I could make a pot rack for a lot less than the going price. Now that I'm convinced I can create something I like better than a pre-made one, I may have to take another look at what I'm willing to pay. hah.