SFGate

Ellen Loker Please excuse the mess everywhere!

Ellen Loker Coffee table and large view of room.

shariatf2 I just moved to my mom is having the kitchen repaired I'm a tween but study with my friends about home design need any ideas

shariatf2 I think maybe a light green it looks really good with wood and brings out the space in a roo

collettec I think blue might be a good choice with the dark brown. Not sure what direction you're going, but have included a few rug choices with blue that might be something to consider. I would definitely do floor to ceiling drapes as well, perhaps in a cotton or linen.

http://www.westelm.com/products/alyson-fox-rows-rug-t418/?pkey=crugs-flooring

http://www.rugstudio.com/jaipurrugshulapasodoblehu10angelblueangelbluearearug.aspx

Rachel You should mount the TV over the fireplace, it would be a great focal point in your room.

Darzy Be brave and do a blue/brown with a hint of orange for some style.

Edits! Interior Styling I agree. Mount the television above the fireplace. You may need a swing arm mount from the wall for easier installation but the goal is to have the fireplace AND the tv in the same view. Then move the sofa facing with the fireplace. This will really open up the big window as well as create a more defined space. With a brown sofa, brown floor and brown table, wall color and accessories are important. Light blue with a pop of cherry red pillow or art work or green apple with a pop of persimmon are some suggestions.

missdenny50 I had a tv mounted up high and really disliked it! New house ....mounted tv eye level and it is soooo much more comfortable! Never again!

Edits! Interior Styling I agree you definitely don't want to be looking up. It looks like your room is pretty long though. What is behind the camera?

Ellen Loker The kitchen is behind the camera. I don't know about mounting the TV above the fireplace, but I am pretty sure hubby would not like that idea. I like the blue/teal/brown color combo with the pops of red or orange!

lvstotrvl I like the brown & teal, what about a soft lime green also.

Should I Go Or Should I Stay Do you like traditional, contemporary or any particular style/direction? Your kitchen, doors and trim tell me you are fairly neutral. What are your favorite colour. Do you like bold or soft.

Ellen Loker Our style is pretty traditional, and we prefer softer colors I think.

Ellen Loker Am having trouble navigating this site. I may try again at a later time.

Karen Garrett We just got done with 2 putting laminate in 2 bedrooms. I understand the process of picking out new furniture, etc. I gets pretty over whelming. I will be putting some pics up when all completed

Karen Garrett My husband refuses to put our flat screens over the fireplace. he is afraid of smoke damage

jannnnn right now you have lots of choices-- maybe pick a piece of art- an area rug or a pillow ? and work with that color scheme- i would just watch getting it too dark--

Rachel My husband says the same thing about the TV over the fireplace. But I posted that concern on Houzz and a few Interior decorators said that it doesn't ruin the TV. Apparently the heat/flames are contained inside and can't reach more then 3 feet, or something like that. My husband is still not buying it..lol

Darzy Don't put the tv over the fireplace. My vote. :)

2lindylou I think the fireplace is gorgeous so if you do want to hang the TV over the fireplace, I would think about having it enclosed in something...maybe a sliding painting that can be opened to view the TV?

backbonemountain Sounds like you like blue, so do it! Make sure to add some other colors as accents. Be careful. If your blue gets too dark it will seem neutral.

ADR and Son LLC blue would go pretty well but I think you should pick a blue closer to the grey family. Use other colors to accent, Pillow, pictures, etc.

Should I Go Or Should I Stay Some area rug sample to consider - more to follow. Tell me which one appeals to you and I will help with wall colour and window treatments etc.

Should I Go Or Should I Stay x

Should I Go Or Should I Stay oops

Should I Go Or Should I Stay x

Should I Go Or Should I Stay x

Should I Go Or Should I Stay x

Ellen Loker We have narrowed down our rug choices to 3 that I found on overstock.

Amy Stanley I think with your coffee table the third one seems to work.

Darzy Ditto Amy Stanley... I like the third one too.

Ellen Loker A few more rug ideas.

Ellen Loker 2 more

collettec I'm not sure what number it is, but I like the one with the blue base color in your first group of rugs. Also like in the second group the rug with the tan base and the leaves in blue and green.

Karen Garrett Gosh! Those rugs choices are just beautiful! You cant go wrong with any of them. I am price oriented, so that would push me one rug over another. I am also a red person and love splashes of red in my home.

I dont care what designers would say about the tv over the fireplace. Hubby wont buy it either. We have a fireplace in our master and he will not put it over it. We have it over a chest of drawers.

We are gettin furniture back in today. Sweaty in South Texas! I will take pics when the rooms are done completely.

lvstotrvl I like the one that Amy Stanley said looks good with your coffee table.

robinbird I like the blue gray rug with the branches. I don't think you'll tire of it as easily as some of the others. It's the one in the next to the last group you posted. I think it would look beautiful with your floors.

dclostboy I, too, like the blue gray base with the branches. Ties the dark brown leather and the light brown wood nicely. Based on that, consider a soft gray paint like BM Mineral Ice.

mrsben IMHO re location of the T.V. would not suggest putting it over the Fireplace reason being a) restricts you to furniture placement b) depending upon your seating placement may not be the most comfortable for viewing particularly if it is too close c) dates the home to a degree. As for your choice in your area carpet consider the colours of your fixed elements that being, the colours in your fireplace brick work (including the grout) and your hardwood flooring plus those in your furnishings. Re the design/pattern basically choose one that appeals to you that will camouflage the high traffic areas. (For durability you might even wish to use an indoor - outdoor one as they now come in a range of colours, patterns and sizes.)

missmaryqboe We dislike tv's above or on the fireplace as well and that one is beautiful. However, what we just did was cut the same size piece of cardboard as the tv, the kids drew on it for fun, used painters tape and stuck it on the wall to make sure we liked where we were going to install the mounts before permanent installation. Glad we did since it was moved a couple if times!!

rosebud3 Rug - tan base with tan and blue/green branches.

Ellen Loker TV will not go over the fireplace. My husband built the fireplace (he's a mason) and would never go for putting holes in it! Thank you for all the input regarding the rugs. We still haven't made a decision, but I also like the blue/gray one with the small branches. He likes the more colorful ones, so we'll see. He will finish the floor today :)

steve j good luck with the dog claws at night on the new flooring. try wooden louver's for the windows and don't put a TV of any kind above any heat source, ITS PLASTIC and full of items that require cool areas to operate in.

steve j nice job on the floor colour,keep a neutral colour like wheat carpet with a brown boarder will look nice and wont clash with the dog. oh sorry the new darker furniture.

lsemartha refinish coffee table....Shiny Black?. This looks too ordinary..make it unique

mendi1 The room seems dark but may be the photo. I would keep wall color light. Love the rugs suggested with cream and blue. Our TV would not fit over the FP, so we found a walnut credenza with clean lines from an estate sale. It fits along one wall and holds games, blankets, etc.. An old buffet would work as well. TV's are great on the wall but you still have to find storage for the components and hide the ugly cords. Best of luck and love the floor!

bonjon9 I love my tv over the fireplace. In a large room, with the recliners in front of it about 16 feet away, it's perfect for viewing. I should say though that I seldom use the fireplace - maybe once a year. I know you're saying you're not doing it and others have suggested against it, but really, it's a shame you can't do that because you could then also see it from your kitchen.

Ellen Loker I have thought about refinishing the coffee table, or getting a different one that would have storage for blankets. I also have an antique low round coffee table (that needs refinishing). Any ideas about this piece?

Ellen Loker That trunk is for sale here locally. I wonder if it would look good below the window next to the fireplace?

londonmo I would definitely put the TV over the fireplace, we have had ours over the fireplace for 8 years and not one problem. Also the fireplace is the focal point in the room so your furniture should face that anyway. Brown sofa and brown floors need light walls, I love the blue or lime green.

londonmo By the wy, we have the sliding screen picture of the TV but they are expensive.

burbcountrycottage Love the floors! Where did you purchase them and what is the name? You may have already said, but dont want to read the entire feed... =o) Thanks!!

Cindi Restoration hardware makes a Beautiful Blue Sage. More traditional and will go with your shades of brown in kitchen and family room : i found a picture of it on this remodel: http://christineplatt.typepad.com/love_generously_praise_lo/2010/04/beforeafter.html
My whole home is done in the Restoration Hardware Colors... Blues are the new green -> per the homeshows last year. You can even keep the current window treatments. Like yours, my family considers the tv over the fireplace a sin :) we put it in the corner against the windows facing the kitchen to avoid the glare from sunlight.

Ellen Loker Burbcountrycottage-engineered flooring is from Lowes-Allen&Roth handscraped Acacia. We love the variation in colors that it has!

Ellen Loker Like this look too.

Diane Way The blue and brown is tdf! LOVE that rug, too.

jakerr1950 Shutters, shutters and more shutters....in white or if you have a ton of light coming in, use black. You can never go wrong with shutters. All the best!

rzqueen looks like you have the same layout as my room. Go on google images and start looking up pictures of tv over fireplaces. You have to mount your TV above the fireplace. But I would suggest a mantle above the fireplace and below the tv (It would accent your Fireplace). You could do either long curtains or blinds on the windows. I am doing wood shutters and I am adding storage cabinets below the windows that also serve as seating to store the electronics from the tv and a seating area. I would keep your couch on the same wall it is currently on and put that recliner on the opposite wall with the coffee table in the middle. put a huge carpet down under it all (Costco has some great ones right now). If he still won't buy off on it, then either build the TV into cabinet on the wall opposite the couch and put the recliner to the left, by the window, not the kitchen. Or, you could put the tv it in the corner at an angle where the window is, but definitely in some piece of furniture. You want to be careful not to distract from the fireplace that your hubby built.

moccasinlanding Seems to me that is a working fireplace with no mantle, so the heat would rise to damage the TV. Mounting it low and close to the firebox is not a good idea, and it would be necessary to make it low to give the connection of one glance take it all in.

Instead of the TV above the fireplace, it does need some lightening up, and that would be a very tall wall mounted piece of metal artwork. Pick a theme that you like, that is significant to your lifestyle or activities or profession or favorite geographic area. It would need to be tall and narrow to fit with the raised bricks of either fireplace edge. Or something like an oriental scroll which does not extend so low that it overheats with the use of the fireplace.

What I'd do is leave the TV on the wall behind where it is, but build a frame/box around it, so that you don't see the mechanics of the wall bracket when you enter the room. If I'm not mistaken, there is a doorway near the TV? I'd put some folding shutters over the box to close off the "black hole" when it is not in use.

Then, for the window treatments, I'd definitely do wide board plantation shutters on all the windows. It will fit better with the room than curtain treatments which look tired and dated quickly. Excellent way to give more architectural look to the space. Of course, you need some soft items to keep the sound from bouncing around the room, if this is your main TV relaxing space. Get a big ole fuzzy high-pile rug in the middle under that coffee table, or put a nice leather huge ottoman in there too. Maybe off the rug but close by. If you have kids, that would be prime space for them, as would the rug.

bsko Your TV will look its best when viewed straight-on, at a height where your eyes are level with the middle of the screen - read any electronics or home theater resources to verify. I hate seeing tvs mounted over fireplaces, totally wrong height for comfortable viewing.

Ellen Loker We are thinking of a cabinet like this for the TV, rather than wall mounted. I am open to painting the coffee table. Undecided if we should go with black for these pieces, or the dark mahogany.

http://www.wayfair.com/Crosley-Alexandria-60-TV-Stand-KF10001A-CRY1230.html

Valerie Hoffmann Just don't make all of your wood one color. Or have too much wood in a room. I've done that before and it just made my room look "off." Not interesting enough. Paint some pieces. Great rug choices! I like the one with color, but that's me. A color freak!

pattiegoode Love the FP! And your new floors! Have you considered painting the FP wall the darkest stoney taupe in the brick? It's the perfect wall to accent and it looks like it has symmetrical windows, which means you can use pairs all around the room to echo that symmetry. Without seeing your new sofa it's hard to talk about the rest of the room - but I will anyway! lol The FP begs to have the sofa facing it floating in the center of the room with a table behind it toward your kitchen. Linen is super popular right now and very comfortable. You could face the TV with a pair of linen recliners or club chairs with ottomans:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Chester-Linen-Press-Back-Club-Chair/6605244/product.html

I like the trunk but would use it as a table, not just park it under a window by itself: Modified Telluride by Candlelight Homes

Personally, I don't like any of the rug choices because you said you were traditional and with your great room, FP brick, and wood, I think you need a classic design more like these with brown & blue:
Handmade Heritage Mahal Blue/Gold Wool Rug or
Classic / Informal Rugs or a kilim or flatwoven stripe:
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/lexie-stripe-flatweave-cotton-rug-blue/?pkey=crugs-by-style

Table lamps will add so much to your room, too:
Duchess Table Lamp
Jar In Basket Lamp
Montagne Lamp

And my last thought before I get back to my real job (LOL), if you like the black TV cabinet, then I would consider painting the square coffee table to match. I don't know the dimensions of the room, but it looks huge! Please make sure the TV cabinet is not too small. Your scale is set by the FP. You could do floating black shelves on either side of the TV to "beef" it up.
Woodbury Home
Or find an antique piece or reproduction with character to match your FP:
Media Cabinet

lvstotrvl Love the trunk, great for blankets, extra pillows or childrens toys!

Connie Fickel Hi Ellen,
Lucky you for getting new flooring and furniture. Love the dark wood. With brown leather, there is a lot of brown. You have indicated a penchant for blue or teal. I found a photo with ideas on lightening and brightening all of the browns that you are leaning toward. Pops of a great color scheme as identified by your 3rd overstock rug choice could really tie the entire room together. You mentioned the possibility of painting the coffee table...great idea. How about a teal that would be similar to the ottoman in the photo I attached, then picking up a little more of the teal in art or accessories. The dab of orange also updates the combo.

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. Find your inspiration - it can be in a painting, a toss cushion, or a fabric that has all the colour of your room and some added colour for your accent -

Then go to that inspiration to help pull more colour out of it, and disperse it through the room in toss cushions, candles, vases, bowls etc. Good luck...

Staged & Styled by Susan Please do not mount the TV over the fireplace. Google it and all articles will tell you WHY it is a
very bad idea. The heat will damage the electronics in the TV and it will not last as long. Also, the viewing angle will be way to high and your neck will ache when you watch TV. My daughter mounted her TV over the fireplace and now hates it. I get a headache every time I try to watch TV at her house.
Purchase a credenza or interesting cabinet and mount the TV above that, i.e. PotteryBarn has great pictures in their catalog. Because the floor is wood and your sofa is brown, bring lots of bright
colors in with pillows and interesting rug on floor (kilim pattern blues/orange/cream)

Debra Gunstanson Everyone has given u great ideas it depends on your favorite colors

Staged & Styled by Susan I forgot to comment on your rug choices...not meaning to criticize, but they are rather boring and ordinary. I love the classic informal rug that is shown above. That would look amazing and bring in the rug colors for pillows. Another great choice might be to add some texture and do a textured jute or sisal rug but with a bit of pattern to it.

DOWNS INTERIORS Eggshell is a good paint type for easy clean.

Ellen Loker Would this rug be too "busy"? I am also going to look at this cabinet tomorrow to see if it would work for a TV stand.

Edits! Interior Styling I like them both...a lot. It's looks like you found your wish list. Make certain the cabinet isn't too tall. It's hard to tell from the angle. Are you still wanting to paint the room? The blue in the rug looks perfect. I also liked the idea of dark taupe on the fireplace wall. I can see it coming together!

collettec Not sure if I like the rug as a first choice. The color looks a little vibrant in comparison to the more muted colors in the fireplace and what I see in some of your other choices and in the inspiration pic. Like the idea of pulling a blue gray from the fireplace for the wall color.

rosebud3 Love the brown and blue in the photo cefi posted.

pattiegoode Ellen, I like the rug and the cabinet. What are your thoughts now on wall color and coffee table? When does your sofa arrive? If you can post a new pic that will be helpful. I would be so excited if I were you - getting to put together a new room! How fun!

aimran http://st.houzz.com/simgs/13c2b2870144e49c_7-9472/home-design.jpg would look great. even this one is good that you posted: http://st.houzz.com/simgs/5b828d8c0147d84b_7-2927/home-design.jpg

love that you've picked blue n browns.. add diff shades of blue b/w (mostly light ones, with red n dark/navy blue in accents).. for colour palette, see this photo:Phinney residence living room.....
add hydrangea blue flowers on coffee table with dark blue n red candles of diff heights in one flat woven basket/silver platter... like so: Carolyn Miller Interiors .. n your coffee table, can it be stained? i liek it.. but i feel square may not be the first chocie for thsi room.. i wonder how your other round one looks liek... if it's big, shape'll be good..
please have dark mahogany, n not black pieces.. or match stain colour to most furniture in room plz..
http://st.houzz.com/simgs/46d281ee0147d84c_7-2927/home-design.jpg
would look great for tv.. as you need wider furniture on that wall to fill up..

you need one-side swept curtains for windows flanking the fire place... pick one colour up from teh rug you finalize, for curtains (would be best if it be some light blue such as in this photo, consider raised rods too Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.).. plz take off the cloth hanging from the middle of your curtains.. no frills please. Plz add a floor lamp (mahogany) in the corner where tv & single leaf windows are... also remember that your kitchen n living are one space almost, whatever wall colour you choose will also be required in kitchen.. so pick neutral bieges or greys or light blues or grey-blues like this: http://www.houzz.com/discussions/225235/Wall-color)..

place your new sofa a little away from the wall (the room is big), is new sofa L shaped? if so, great.. that way you can divide the space form kitchen as well.. Place red/blue solid coloured vases on one side of your fire place on the bricks.. place a large centered flower arrangement on the mantel, flower arrangement height should fill 1/3 to 2/3 of height above mantel.. or do vice versa.. add flower arrangement sweeping down to floor on bottom bricks of fireplace.. while solid coloured red n blue bottles on mantel of different heights..

for new sofa, you need fat cushions, in blues (diff shades, diff patterns, no two same) with red piping around the edges or red tassles at one-two cushions' corners..
behind the TV, random install paintings/coloured plates/ a mixture in short, in different shapes n medium sizes, say 1/4 of your tv screen size..

For overall: East-meets-west in San Francisco's Russian Hill & Entertaining Living Room for a young family

Connie Fickel Hi Ellen,

One thing that I forgot to post originally is the fact that coffee tables are actually a pain with reclining sofas. My work is custom soft home decor (drapes, pillows, etc.) and furniture sales. I am constantly moving coffee tables out of the way when people try out the reclining furniture. I would skip it totally, or replace it with a smaller ottoman type on rollers, but only if you have to have a table in front of the sofa. Also pillows on leather do not stay propped as nicely as on fabric furniture.

Typically, two seats are used on a sofa, the outside sections. Most center sections do not recline. I would do nice lamp or chair side (more narrow than a lamp table) tables on either side of the sofa. That would create a good reason to add an accent chair or two (or even three - two flanking the fireplace, and the third on the opposite side of the sofa) for additional seating. Accent chairs are a great way to follow through with your chosen color scheme. They also help to 'anchor' the area rug, which is really just defining the seating area boundary.

I am not convinced that mahogany or black is the best choice for wood pieces. The room is just getting a little too dark for my taste...but everyone has a different style and vision. Mostly, we are all great at spending another person's money...LOL.

pattiegoode Cefi, you are so right! It's great therapy to stop from spending our own!!! lol I'm at a point where there isn't anything else I need or want in my current home, but I'm addicted to searching for stuff. Houzz makes a great opportunity to continue that habit. lol

nursellie Ahhh....so many options and decisions!

aimran Lol no one has spent anyone's money here. Discussing helps realize n open up to possibilities. :) its pleasing to see someone complete their dreams .

B/w, instead of floor lamps, you can add identical lamps on side tables, stationed on either ends of sofa.. Fat lamp base sort that add a touch of lightness to the room.. liek these:


Lighting is poor due to two layers at the windows b/w.. Light shades required..

Debra Gunstanson Sure u can use the lamps they don't even have to match I agree light shades

Ellen Loker Thank you everyone for all the suggestions! I do plan on getting at least one accent chair, maybe more depending on how much room we end up with. I am going to do a little shopping tomorrow to get some more inspiration. I just have to make my mind up about the rug so I can move forward with painting and other decor.

Cheery Curtains some curtain designs for you to consider

aimran Good idea Ellen.. that's like an evolving design n practical too..

even a nice painting can be placed on the mantel like so:


try their curtains: https://secure.common.josscdn.com/lf/8/hash/0/7861975/1/Cindy+Rinfret.jpg

Ellen Loker What about this rug? It has the colors of the fireplace, as well as the blue and brown. We don't like the traditional "oriental rug" style, but this might be different enough for hubby's taste.

lvstotrvl Oh, I like that one! Not to dark or too bright. Very soft looking.

Ellen Loker I like it too...but now I can't find where I found the picture! I thought I had bookmarked it, but apparently not :(

lynn3215 I would have put the flooring in at an angle

Distinguished Flooring LLC Gonna look very nice

rosebud3 Flooring at an angle? That would take much more work and planning. Not sure it would be worth the effort. JMHO.

pattiegoode lynn3215, why would you angle the flooring?

Ellen Loker Ok, found the rug on Overstock, so if hubby gives the ok tonite, I'm going to order it.

aimran angling would have helped keep the kitchen and living seperate, as you could've finished (left) the work at an angle..

rosebud3 Anumaura, call me "dense," but I'm not understanding what you mean.

aimran sorry, it may be that i didn't convey well.. lynn3215 suggested laying the floor at an angle.. and i like their idea as advantages will be adding interest to overall flooring in the room (everything's coming out very squarish in the room example location of tv, even fp), as well as at the same time, the portion of floor where the new will meet the kitchen tiles, that would have harmoniously & interestingly blended into the tiling...

another possibility: flooring edge could've been angled, and not left perpendicular to the walls. this would've been an unconventional division of space, interesting too....

lightinggal Can you tell me what flooring you are using?

Debra Gunstanson I used unstained floor because we also put a design in it we used walnut and fruit wood for the other but my daughter used the tone u are using and I love it

Ellen Loker Lighting gal-the flooring is engineered wood from Lowes; Allen & Roth "hand-scraped acacia".
I ordered this rug, which I think will bring out the colors in the fireplace, but still give us the blue color. Once it comes, I want to paint one wall the same blue. Should it be the fireplace wall, or TV wall?

rosebud3 Blue wall - my vote is for the tv wall.

Debra Gunstanson Blue is good did u see this blue? Was it to dark it's pretty

Ellen Loker Debra-that blue is too dark. I will be using the light blue/gray that is in the rug.

rosebud3 Good choice on the light blue-grey, Ellen. I have two adjacent walls in my living room painted blue-grey. I was trying to find a color that would not clash with the blue-grey tile surrounding my wood stove. Every time I brought a chip home it either looked too grey or too blue. One day I was in Lowe's with one of my tiles. A couple who had a house painting business were there. They picked out a chip for me that I swear looked way too dark and too grey. I trusted them and bought the paint. When on the wall it is perfect! I am so mad at myself that I misplaced their contact info. I would definitely seek them out and hire them as consultants!!!

aimran Ellen loker: sounds good what you're doing :) One step at a time..

Ellen Loker Rosebud...I wondered if painting both walls would be ok too, but wasn't sure.

rosebud3 Ellen, try it. It's only paint. You can always change it.

Ellen Loker I spent several hours this afternoon looking around at TJ Maxx. Home Goods, World Market, and Kirklands. I restrained myself and only bought a couple of throw pillows.

lvstotrvl We need pictures! Lol

Ellen Loker Here are the pillows I found.

lightinggal Thanks so much! Looking good!

aimran if you are looking for such pillows, why not go over this discussion going on on houzz : http://www.houzz.com/discussions/398148#792115

personally i would wait till you have had a few things that have been already decided upon, added in into your canvas (room)..

Ellen Loker I hadn't really gone looking for pillows, but these caught my eye, were the right colors, and on clearance! I do plan to wait for other accents until all main pieces are in.

lvstotrvl Thanks Ellen the print & colors are terrific!

rosebud3 Ellen, love the pillows!

travisinteriors If your sofa is a recliner using a big coffee table may not work, when reclined. Is it a sectional? I would not keep old recliner. But put two swivel chairs looking at fireplace. In a fabric print. You have a lot of brown going on. Put some color. Use a area rug. 8x10' would be good. Put small table between chairs. Don't mount TV on wall. Get new low media, Ikea has good price. Paint walls, a warm color,maybe pick up a color from chairs. I would do a solid area rug. A cream. You need panels on windows. With nice rod. Keep them simple and 2 shades darker than wall color.

travisinteriors From last post. I see panels on big window. To save money just add panels by firepl windows in same color you have.

travisinteriors Add end tables with lamp on end by fireplace. You can have fun with end tables. Do something in color. Ck out TJMax. World market. Stay away from dark wood. Too much wood. Think funky.

travisinteriors Put some interesting bar stools at counter. Measure height, there are bar stools, and counter height stools. Measure.

travisinteriors No TV on. Firepl. Too high.

travisinteriors Put a nice painting with color over. Fireplace. Something too almost cover the whole area.

travisinteriors You could use trunk for coffee table color is good.

travisinteriors Sorry I don't like rug you picked a over. Way too country and busy. Stay more subdued.

travisinteriors I agree with the recliner sofa being hard to work with. What reclines? If on ends then get coffee table that is is not long. A ottoman in a color, on wheels or lite wt. would be idea. Don't be afraid to mix it up.

travisinteriors Again sorry but I hate that rug. Don't bookmark it. Too boring.

travisinteriors A little to late to say angle wood.

travisinteriors Take the wood into. Kitchen. Work but will look better. Engineered wood can work anywhere in house very sturdy.

travisinteriors Paint all your walls incl kitchen, same color. Get samples from lowes. Keep it to 3-4 colors so not too confusing.

gypsyrose17 For curtains I would go for grommet style floor to ceiling in a natural or off white canvas or linen...it will keep the room bright and airy and let the rest of your decor ground it. Once I tried grommet style drapery I realized how heavy regular drapery with pleats dragged down and closed in a room.

Ellen Loker A couple of questions about curtains. Should all curtains in the room be the same?(I would assume so). Right now we have pleated shades on the fireplace windows and the large picture window. The large window also has a roller shade beneath the pleated shade because of the glare the window causes on the TV. Would the grommet style curtains be able to be pulled closed for privacy, or do they just hang on the sides? Sorry for all the questions, but I am truly curtain-illiterate!

rosebud3 Gypsyrose17, my little female dog is named
Gypsy Rose : )

gypsyrose17 Yes, grommet style for full width of windows...they just fall in soft wave like folds rather than the crispness of pleats, they also slide on the rod very smoothly so you don't need the pulls which are problematic for children and pets. They are also sold with and without lining, and also in blackout fabrics. And yes, I would have all the curtains be the same.

gypsyrose17 rosebud3...my cat is Gypsy Rose:)

lvstotrvl Personally I prefer the shades that you have now. I have Hunter Douglas Nantucket Shades & I love them, not a fan of drapes or curtains. But then I have Cornices which are probably way out of style now... Please don't put or hang anything on that beautiful fireplace!

lvstotrvl On second thought, if I was going to do drapes I think the grommet ones would look good in your room.

collettec I would definitely do floor to ceiling drapes. And all the way to the ceiling, given that your fireplace surround goes all the way to the ceiling. A heavier fabric, perhaps a cotton, linen or burlap. The same drapes on all the windows in the room, and perhaps in the tan, rust or blue gray color of your fireplace.

Ellen Loker I am going to post some photos of a few paintings that I currently have, to see if any would work in the room. My mother painted most of them, and she tends to favor purples, so I know some of them will not work. I could probably commission her to paint something too, if that would be better.

Ellen Loker .

Ellen Loker Old round coffee table

Ellen Loker A few more. I have no problem buying something new either. Just thought I'd see if anything I already have works.

collettec Well - love your mom's artwork - difficult to tell colors online sometimes, but from what I can tell, the colors of the top picture on the right with the mountain range with the blues and browns looks like it might work - but would want to check anything once you get your rug. As well, would be a matter of where it might work in terms of size. Really like the table as well. For that, might be a matter of size in terms of height and space in working with the surrounding furnishings and space - but do like it. Was wondering in terms of your coffee table though - are you not planning on using the coffee table you have? I think the one you pictured would work well if it works in terms of size.

Ellen Loker Coffee table is up for discussion. We could use either, and are open to painting them. The finish on the round one is pretty rough. I took a few photos of other paintings that appealed to me when I was out browsing the other day. Anxious for the rug to arrive next week so I have a better idea on colors.

collettec Really like the paintings above - they look like they might work well if they would work in terms of size and and color.

veggieerp Putting a TV over that herribone fireplace would be criminal and cliche. Mounting to the wall might be a nice idea if you can hide the wires. I'm a bit of a DYIer but it has to be easy. With all the brown (new sofa and floor) to keep the coffee table and save $, I would paint the legs and base and then either keep the wood top as is or stain it a bit darker to go with the new darker wood tone. If you haven't checked out the Home Decorators website they have inexpensive area rugs. Have fun!

backbonemountain We hid the TV wires in the wall. My husband had to add an outlet behind the TV. He ran the wires down to the bottom of the wall. Your wires will be near the accessories. We were lucky. Our living room is a couple steps down from the rest of the floors. We built a box in the wall (under the upper floor) to house the DVD player and Dish network. We framed it minimally and used screen so we can use the remote control. Works well for us! They also sell equipment that can house your accessories in another room and you use your remote.

Cindi Look at the blues in the Restoration Hardware Paint collection - very neutral and soothing. I have found Ikea has great drapes in 98" and 118" lengths at a fantastic price. I love the grommet style curtains, they fall very nicely. You can mix up the drapes in your room... I have full length drapes in my bedroom along one wall (bay windows) but i have a roman blind on a single window along the south side of my bedroom. With your set up, i would probably keep all full floor length drapes if you no longer want the roman blinds. Personally, i would get new drapes last. See if it works with the curtains you have, from the pictures they look nice as they are. Can you update us with pictures on your progress? it is fun to see things come together.

aimran round table should be stained darker.. better to see your rug in a new picture of the room with finished floors as well as your new inclining couch...

the shades in these paintings would look great for your room: http://st.houzz.com/simgs/7452e2d0014de65b_7-9745/home-design.jpg

Ellen Loker The rug should be arriving tomorrow. I expect the couch within a couple of weeks. I will post updated pic once the rug arrives.
Anumaura-I also liked that picture when I saw it in the store! I think the colors will work beautifully. I am anxious to get my big pieces in place so I can decide on artwork.

Alicia Blackwell I like the color in your wood, what name and color did you use?

Ellen Loker The rug arrived last night, and it is much more "teal" than the blue/gray that the picture showed. I took a pic of part of it, along with the TV console. I am thinking of painting the TV wall the lighter rust color from the rug instead of blue, since it is much more vibrant than I expected.

Ellen Loker Another view. I plan to get an accent chair near the window next to the fireplace.

Ellen Loker I am also thinking of a lighter blue/teal than the carpet for the wall.

rosebud3 Which wall? Fireplace wall?

rosebud3 The rug looks great.

Ellen Loker I am not sure which wall to paint! My husband and adult children think it should be the TV wall instead of the fireplace wall. I was originally planning on a light blue/gray, but now with the rug being more vibrant, am trying tomde ise between the orange/rust in the rug or a blue/green.

collettec I would check lots of different paint colors against both the rug and fireplace. Given that the rug has more of a blue green and the fireplace more of a blue gray color, perhaps there are blue shades that would work with both.

gypsyrose17 Be careful with blue/greens, they can look more turquoise when dry...you might purchase little sample bottles and try them on the walls so you can see how they dry.

Ellen Loker Here is a close up of the rug colors. Since the overwhelming color is teal, should the accent wall should be the rust or red color from the rug instead of blue?

Ellen Loker Close up of rug.

collettec What are you planning for the paint color for all the walls in the room? Any visually adjoining rooms that have a specific paint color?

Debra Gunstanson Just a thought I think I would go and get diff color samples put them against the rug then maybe it would be easier to decide on colors to go with .......beautiful rug

aimran i think ur carpet colour turned out well from maintenance point of view..

pattiegoode Here's the rule I was taught in a decorating course about painting one accent wall:
The wall must be opposite the main entry into the room AND it must be either symmetrical or undivided.
Decorators believe the main entry must be the entry that would be used if you were inviting formal company into the room - so, the front door, even if that's not the main entry for your family. I've seen this "rule" be broken before & the family was very happy with the result. Remember that the accented wall will be the focal point of the room. Does your husband want his FP brickwork or the TV to be the focal point? ;) Love the rug! I wouldn't try to match the blue. As I suggested earlier, I would accent the FP wall with the darkest color of the brick. MHO...

aimran agree with pattiegood on painting firewall an accent.. i had the same thought on the tv wall being painted an accent.. it isn't visible until you turn around in the room after entry.. so it's not the first focal point... while the fp wall will grab attention if painted accent.. as it would be lurking in the corner of ur eye when you enter.. fp wall will also be directly visible from kitchen entry doors... it would be a better payback for getting a rich accent wall colour on fp wall.. minimal toned down window treatments will be required on fp wall though.. which i believe isn't a bad idea..

but for an accent, it shouldn't be dull..

pattiegoode Oh, and there can only be one true focal point in a room! Everything else will be secondary.

lvstotrvl Love the rug it's going to look great with the chocolate brown couch! I vote for the accent wall to be the fireplace wall.

Debra Gunstanson I made my accent wall the tv wall because the living room has a entry way to dinning room so in my eyes when I stood in either room I could see both accent walls and the other colors on the walls it prob doesn't make since but we like being able to see all of the colors

Ellen Loker Ok, so if I put the accent color on the fireplace wall, which color will be best? The darker taupe of the brick, or the rust color? I will attach a close up of the brick so hopefully the colors will show up.

aimran i think rust colour... your fire place should stand out abit and not blend in in with the wall accent colour.... do cardboard trials of both shades..

aimran http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/masada
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/desertbeach http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pumpkinspice http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/peruvianchili http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/byzantine

Mariah Perez Your kitchen reminds me so much of my kitchen before I stain the cabinets.. Here are pictures of the before and after

Mariah Perez One more

lvstotrvl I like the Masada or the Peruvian Chili it will bring out more of the rust in your bricks. Have you decided what color you'll be using on the other walls?

rosebud3 I tried for a couple of years to find the perfect rust color for an accent wall in my dining room. Could never find the right one. Gave up. The wall is still white.

robinbird I would try and match it with the brightest rust colors in the brick shown in the picture of the brick you posted. The BM colors above are a good place to start.

bumblebee728 Whatever color you decide to pull from the rug, remember it doesn't have to be the same intensity. You can use a lighter version of it. Also, I'm so glad you're not putting the TV over the FP. A beautiful FP deserves better!

pattiegoode Darkest taupe is my vote! You'll have to bring home chips & match the color, then do a test if you're still not sure. Here's a few samples:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/mtrushmorerock#ce_s=rock
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cotswald
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/equestriangray

Ellen Loker Thanks for all the great advice. I will be bringing home some swatches to see what most closely matches the rust in the brick. I think I will be keeping the other walls the light beige that they are now. I wish I didn't have to work all weekend, but might be able to get some paint on Monday. A little premature maybe, but i saw these chairs at TJ Maxx the other day. I know I will probably have at least one accent chair in the room; maybe 2.

gypsyrose17 I like the chairs...the design in the fabric echo the design in the rug..nice subtle touch. Also, as to your chest, you can place it under a window if it will fit by the fireplace and place pillows for seating and/or plant//art /whatever on it...I did that with an old cedar chest.

pattiegoode More help: http://thedecorologist.com/how-to-choose-the-right-color-for-your-walls

collettec I think a rust could look great as the accent color, but would have to work with both the fireplace and rug. If difficult to find a rust color that worked, I think the taupe as a neutral would be a good choice. There are different shades, so match it against the existing fireplace, rug and chairs if you're getting them. Wanted to add if going with the beige walls for the other walls, they also need to coordinate with everything else existing in the room. If your new sofa is going to be dark, you don't want to go too light and you don't want too much of a shade difference in terms of light/dark for the accent wall color and other wall color as well. The accent wall should be the same degree of darkness or not much difference in shade of darkness as the paint color of the other walls.

Darzy Hi...I like your idea of the rust-ish color from the area rug on the wall. But, I think it would look really nice and cozy to do all the walls color - not just an accent wall. Warm and cozy. On second thought, how about sticking with your original inspiration photo, you could go with a soft yet warm teal wall color (from the rug). That would look great next to the brick, new floor and furniture. You'll probably need a few different samples to get the tone just right to work with everything. Not too dark and not too light. :)

aimran You know what just assemble everything first. Go for colours last. In the end, You'll know exactly how much more your room can take through accent wall colour

laurae1967 Be careful not to make the paint too close to the color of the brick of the fireplace. I personally think a paler shade of the blue on your rug would look beautiful and provide the right contrast to the brick if the FP. I like the rug and the floors. Not crazy about the side chairs you posted. I think you should pick your paint color and then choose everything else, including side chairs.

collettec I do like the idea of a blue that would work, doesn't have to "match" but just 'go with" both your rug and your fireplace for all the walls which I think would help tie the room all together as a whole room.