I’m back again with another decorating dilemma and I am going to count on all of YOU to help me out with this one. Janet’s living room is large and open and has a lot of angles and she’d like to cozy it up without changing out all the furniture.
Janet’s own words about what she would like to change in her space:
Suggestions to update the color palette, wall color, accessories, wall décor. lighting…the list goes on and on. Basically, I loved our other home and not this one. It is too modern/linear for my tastes. If I could make it look more farmhouse or casual traditional, that would be great.
The focus is on the grounds and views outside the French doors, so that is why there are no window treatments. However, as I mentioned it does get hot in the summer as it faces west (great for watching the sunset), so perhaps some sort of light control might be nice. But then how would I work that in with the huge plate glass window over the fireplace that would also need to be addressed.
So, let’s get busy and see what we can come up to help Janet with her room.
She’s got traditional furniture which looks very nice and that is not going anywhere, so keep that in mind.
With golden yellow on the walls, it works, but I could also see if with a lighter palette, something in the cream family, like my Moderate White or Natural Choice by Sherwin Williams. It would be a pretty backdrop to all the dark woods and she could bring in any colors with that. I’m sort of in love with lighter walls these days. That creamy backdrop is so soothing.
With gold on the sofa and a blue chair, I could definitely see adding a pretty area rug on top of that pretty wood floor. Area rugs warm up a space so much and this one really calls for an area rug. Janet has some nice wood pieces, so those could all stay and the focal point for updates could be rugs, throw pillows, lamps and artwork. That would go a long way towards giving Janet’s room a fresher look.
Check out these soaring wood ceilings, this sort of has a coastal feel, which would be great in here.
Dining room, living room combo is very big and I can see why furniture placement would be a problem.
I’m not going to give a lot of suggestions on moving furniture around, but I really think the addition of rugs, pillows, artwork and some updated lamps could really bring this room a fresh new outlook. Here’s the Olioboard I came up with, for a few new ideas:
I thought adding some navy and white in with the gold sofa and blue chair would be a great way to give it a little more modern feel. Janet mentioned casual traditional and this would fit the bill. See how updating the pillows and artwork would change the look of the space? Adding a touch of red in with the blues and golds would be a nice accent too. There are so many modern and updated fabrics that could be added with her existing gold sofa, so I do think this would be easy to update.
So, what do YOU think? All of you can chime in and give Janet ideas too! Have fun!
susan maclean says
I agree with you Rhoda that this room really does need deliniating, with carpet squares/rugs. and if Janet could afford it, I would divide up the dining and sitting spaces by placing either the existing couch or a new one with it’s back to the dining area, and with a console table at it’s back facing the dining area. I think that would make the sitting area feel much more like it’s “own space”. The windows that they favour for the view are crying out for something and I wonder if voiles like the ones you stencilled and hung in your own bedroom might be the answer here. Finally, the odd window above the fireplace might look cosier if it could be shuttered…… perhaps beadboard shutters up there will make it cosy in the winter, and would go with the farmhouse/traditional look she wants. Colour? Light and creamy would be good, and perhaps some of the black items could be sprayed for a lighter touch too (lamp bases and such); I love pale olive greens, which seem to fit anywhere and that colour could be echoed in cushions?
janet @ ordinary mom says
I love the combinations you came up with. We also have a house that faces west and is great for sunsets but because of the heat control, I just had to replace all my bamboo roman shades with horizontal slats. The bamboo does not offer enough control in the full sun exposure. Just wanted to add that in from experience. 🙂
Karen says
I think what needs to be added is warmth to the room through textiles. Definitely a rug to the living space, I would suggest a floral with soft muted creams, red, blue. Add some warm colored pillows to the sofa. A warm colored throw and a picture in the reading area. The picture will help ground the floating chair. Love Susan’s suggestion for added shutters to window area.
Lillydale says
I would have a rug with more colors and be tractional. Great room for so many ideas.
Jann Newton says
I like your ideas. Adding a rug, pillows and art will update the space. I do think that there needs to be window treatments though. Adding them does not have to close off the windows or take away from the view. The right ones will enhance the view and finish off the room. Shutters over the fireplace is a great idea. I would add panels to all of the windows in a fabric that will complement your color scheme.
Lynn says
Rugs, rugs, rugs! Too much exposed floor. I’m the queen of mismatch, but something needs to be done that sofa and those chairs. One fabric or closer tones would be a help. Pillows and art are a great idea. It’s just too bare, with no cohesive idea to pull it together.
Molly Tilson says
I agree with Jann. Window panels would soften the space. However those are doors so maybe some bamboo shades added. Possibly switch lamps with some ginger jar lamps with burlap shades. A lighter color, more casual flower arrangement on the dining room table with maybe a burlap runner would soften the dark wood of the dining set.
nancy says
Having just purchased an open concept home I feel that a warmer color for the walls will benefit as well as a more contemporary rug. A mix of her traditional pieces as with something more contemporary as you’ve shown will make a big difference.
Sarah says
I agree. A rug or two is a great place to start and zones of some sort to help cozy it up. Window treatments for sure. You ladies have great ideas.
Nancy says
I totally agree with everyone’s comments on the rugs (that is a lot of wood to be looking at), more substantial lamps and pops of color, etc……I don’t mind the wall color but maybe a shade lighter…since you mentioned the Farmhouse look, have you ever considered painting your dining room hutch with some chalk paint…posssibly the table/chairs as well? That area has so much matching wood
Christine@DecorumDIYer says
Yes, area rugs are a must for this space for defining spaces, anchoring furniture arrangements, and probably softening the din in this enormous room. While the ceilings are gorgeous, it does seem like an awful waste of energy and space, but clearly that isn’t going to change.
My eye keeps going to the staircase unit. Would it be appropriate to paint it in an earthy rust/copper hue (to pair well with the hardwood floor and beamed ceiling) to sort of ground the space a bit? Also, as to window treatments, perhaps some drapes and sheers hung above the windows/sliders for both light control and acoustics. Lastly, a double roman shade in a matching or coordinating fabric with a back layer of sheer for over the fireplace. It might be best to have that window treatment on a remote, as it seems that it would be difficult to reach for raising and lowering. Or, alternatively, a large, stained-glass piece hung from the ceiling above the fireplace so that it is perfectly framed by the window above the fireplace? Are plants out of the question? Seems like a lot of lovely sunlight!
Lissa says
Rhoda—you are on the right track. Love the pillows you suggested. That sofa will come back to life if you do ome thing this fun—-and the blue chair too. There are lots of affordable choices out there to jazz this up.
Go to O.com to find a rug for living space first—-and if $ permits—-then add to the DR
Please find and affordable window treatment and hang them high—-treatment not coverings—-so the room softens.
Also, is that fireplace really at an angle—-I HATE that you have to have the sofa on the diagonal.
Lastly, something needs to be painted—-tooooooo much brown furniture everywhere—-they need to ” unbrown” that room for sure—–and add a few contemporary items as you have shown too. Very easy updating can be done without breaking the bank. Even less $ if the owner can sew herself.
Cyndi says
I agree with you about the room needing a rug and pillows.
Loved what you picked out. Especially the large art piece. Where could I find that, it would be perfect in my house?
Karen says
I’m working on updating my house and started with almost the same color scheme that she has. Our sofas look identical.
I started by changing my wall color from that pale gold to a more neutral pale gray. I kept one navy chair and had the other recovered in an apple green color. My color palette is navy, yellow, apple green and emerald green. I think this would work for her as well, with her existing furniture.
To control the light, I’d suggest some dark bamboo shades. They can be rolled up so as not to obstruct the view, but lowered to control light and heat when needed.
I’d paint the walls a neutral gray or greige, arrange the furniture symmetrically in front of the fireplace instead of at that weird angle, add a fun rug with shades of navy, green, gray and yellow…. there are lots to choose from with these colors, and accent with vases, pillows, etc in those same colors.
Love her coffee table, but I’d suggest painting the hutch and dining set white and recovering the chairs to bring those colors to the dining area.
Karen says
I’d also paint or replace a couple of those side tables with something white or colorful. There are too many matchy matchy woodtones in that room and everything blends into the floor.
Maybe paint that media cabinet emerald green?
shar y says
Everyone has such great ideas. I really agree that there is too much wood and painting some of the wood pieces would help. I also think there are too many items in the room. I would take a few pieces out. She could always rotate them in again, but in the meanwhile, use in another part of the house. Just my thoughts! Love your board, Rhoda!
Nicole M says
I’d add big antique Persian rugs. I’d also change the direction of the dining table, and perhaps get a bigger table or add leaves to make it big. Upholstered chairs would look great there.
That table in the dining area that sits against the wall I’d take out. There is too much furniture. Space will be better defined with less.
I’d get rid of the fake flowers too. It’s cluttering the space. I love the big painting on the board. Throw pillows would be great.
Maybe a new coffee table that is an upholstered piece, or something wood.
What a great house! I’m not a modern person either, but that space would be great if you have those views she talked about.
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
I so agree, an area rug to define the space and then some woven woods or bamboo blinds on the windows and door. They would look fabulous and help control the light when needed. Marty
Vicki says
Window treatments are certainly needed. Shades with a low profile when raised will allow the doors to open and fit in the windows around the fireplace. There are several brands that will allow filtered light in when the shades are down or the shades can be closed for privacy. The shades will also help with heat gain and loss, add a more contemporary look, and soften the room. Stationary fabric treatments can be added to blend with the wonderful style and colors you selected for the Olinboard. I would also turn the dining table 90 degrees even if it meant moving other pieces.
Cheryl Ann says
This is a beautiful room…what interesting pieces! I have a similar situation, lots of open and windows! One suggestion is to move the TV to the wall on the left of the fireplace. That way there is a large wall to anchor the sofa. Then, just rotate the chairs so that the space is open and welcoming.
Cost=00 Cheryl Ann
Kim says
Wow, what a wonderful crazy space. The possibilities are endless! I love it!
I would consider rich and creamy on the large walls, the stair walls and openings a warm darker color would should soften the modern angles.
There is a sea of brown. Some of the brown matching woods and accessories need to be either removed or brightened up.
Definitely go with colorful rugs and pillows, long and lean window treatments. Eye candy is needed. Go with larger pieces of art or photos for your walls, and/or do groupings of smaller miscellaneous pieces to help fill up wall space.
With all this space and height, I would bring the outdoors in! I’d bring in several large and small plants. I’d replace the chair and ottoman space with a beautiful large tree and possibly a small white rustic bistro table and chair to help separate the spaces. Maybe a Forsythia or hydrangea by the dining hutch would also help separate the space.