A couple of large matching lamps with colored bases on your end tables would be great.

hi,
in my humble opinion , u have too much going on on the left wall on pic 1 . I recommend to have 1 big thing on a wall instead of many small things. so my suggestion is wall mural or nice wallpaper. u can put a mural in the middle and add 3d panels on each side. as for the picture a would go for something neutral like in pic1
another thing u can do with that wall is add stripes to it with wallpaper (pic2) or long and thin mirrors.

the ceiling light has to go - it is SO LAST CENTURY, look for something nicer
i have no problem with blinds, but i would add some curtains on the side too

I go to T.J. Maxx first when I'm looking for home decor. Home Goods is also great for lots of colored objects. I wouldn't make them all small though, they will just look spotty instead of deliberate. Don't be shy! Could you stand replacing your white ceramic stool with a colored one? I think you might prefer cool tones, but add some thing warm, also. For example, blue, green and purple all look great with with yellow.

i saw u posted more pic while i was typing

I highly recommend u to separate the entrance from the lining room. u can do that bu adding a Shelving unit up to the column http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/30275861/

Karenfae,

I'm not afraid of spraypaint at all. I could spray the garden stool. :) I got it because I paid $30 for it on clearance and couldn't pass it up.

S&A,

I'm glad you mentioned wallpaper... The thought crossed my mind. I was told my house needed pictures of my three children because it looked like I didn't have any family...that was the only wall I had for a collage of frames. I am too OCD not to have them all the same! I had to have someone else hang them because I couldn't do it... Collages are too "all over the place" for me.

I'll have to go back to thinking about the idea of a wallpaper! Thanks!

u can put the pictures of ur kids in that shelving unit i mentioned in the other comment

Maybe paint that wall with the family pics, an accent color. Start there with color for your room. It needs a color. Say you go with a burnt orange for that wall, then purchase three large items of decor in orange. place one on each wall setting in room. Then purchase curtains of a pattern of orange, and neutrals. Just to get you warmed up to color. Once you do, theres no going back haha Also, just regroup your pics on the wall, try staying with maybe five, or seven, using odd numbers. Placing biggest ones from center out to smaller, it looks good you have good taste

One way to add interest is with texture. You might consider trying a long, low glass bowl of very interesting seashells on the coffee table. Consider adding some sea glass to this arrangement.

Another thought would be to change the ottomans to a rich gray so that it would accent the area rug. The rug is the only strong statement I see in gray.

I agree about adding curtains, it would soften the look, but still allow light. What is outside the windows? That could be another level to decorating the rooms.

The white pillows are a bit too intense on the two black chairs. If you did wall paper in the room, or painted a wall with stripes, then the pillows could be co-ordinated and repeat the pattern/color(s). Its a good idea to repeat something three times. It settles the eye.

WelcomeHome,

I'm not opposed to painting the wall. :) there are 9 frames on the wall right now. The 3 largest ones are 18x22 just to give you an idea of how big that wall is. Those 9 frames actually fill up a 76"x43" area of wall. There is only about 18 inch margin of space on the left and right side of the frames.

I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to neutrals. When I first looked at your pictures, I thought everything looked nice except the absence of plants or flowers. I think you could leave everything as is and add at least 3 deep green plants, one vase of flowers.

strahl
The ottomans can definitely go. I brought them down from the attic. I'm not fond of them at all. The leather color is actually a dark brown. I have thought about replacing the leather chairs.

Outside those windows, you wouldn't believe the space. My lot is about a half acre and the house is about 2350 sq feet. The back yard is amazing, but empty except for an oversized patio and the thickest grass I've ever put my feet on. It's very rare to find a lot this big on the golf course, and for the price I got the house, it was worth buying it to fix up. I would like to extend the patio over to my bedroom and cover it and put in a pool, but that will come in time. I do not have a terrible view at all. It's just very green. Haha.

Thanks for the advice about the pillows on the chairs.. They are gone an going on the window bench in the kitchen. I'll have to remember the group of three advice. :)

S&A,

Hahaha! Are the fixtures horrible! Every fixture in this house needs replacing! You should see the hideous small white ceiling fans in the bedrooms. Builders specials. If you have a suggestion for new fixtures in this living area and eat in kitchen, let me know. The only thing I've added is the glass pendants in the kitchen above the bar. Those were recessed can lights.

I think Roman shades would add much to the room. Have you thought about navy as an accent color?

Love the pillow from your daughter's room! It adds some life to the room! This might seem a bit out there... You said your daughter is a talented artist who obviously isn't afraid of color if she painted her room lime green. Why don't you take her with you to pick out pillows for your room. Pink is my favorite color too! Some fuchsia pillows, maybe in a pattern.

I attached some pillows that might work... Now, one is a khaki, which is neutral, but if you combine it with the other two, it might be easier for you to accept the color in the room. The one with the flower gives the illusion of some life. The two patterned ones are from Overstock, and the flower one is from One Kings Lane.

BTW, adorable pug!!

Loribeth,

We are getting ready for fuchsia shopping! Wish me luck. Hopefully my 14 year old son doesn't mind!

Reneebev,

I have never thought of using navy! Navy and grey... Sounds pretty! What ever color I pick has to be my duvet in my bedroom... It currently ALL white! I'm even afraid to pick an upholstered headboard!

Good luck! I've found that most men don't mind a bit of fuchsia because it's a stronger color than pink, but they don't even mind pink when it isn't overdone. Our living room is mono-chromatic, but I've added dashes of burgundy and pink. My very masculine "I hate pink" husband doesn't mind it at all because it's an accent and not the whole room. I'm sure your son won't mind. ;)

I like neutral rooms, but I take issue with the black club chairs - they need to be somewhere else - maybe in a man cave, but they don't work with your soft, neutral, feminine feeling sofa. Your rug is too small - needs to be wider than the sofa so it grounds the seating. In the two-story foyer, I'd stack the two large seashell pix vertically without the console table. You might put a clear acrylic or glass console table with them so they'd show through it. I'd put the sofa where the two club chairs are to open the space. Move the desk to the center of the wall where you have the art grouping, but re-organize the grouping above the desk. Narrow your coffee table style to something with more femininity - perhaps oval glass and chrome. Add new art above the sofa and a pair of chairs flanking the FP or floating opposite the sofa, or with their backs to the entry, and a side table with them.

Way too much leather. I know it is hard to get rid of things that cost dearly to replace, but try deco's suggestion and move the sofa to the wall; remove the rug; remove the coffee table; remove the grouping of frames on the wall; remove all the accent pillows; remove the ottomans.

Try using the white table as a coffee table with the leather chairs flanking it. Now your shells are over the sofa, so you can move them farther apart. Leave the two pillows that came with the sofa on it; put the other two on the leather chairs. Find a smaller, fun rug for under the coffee table.

Put the console table in the front hall.

Looking into your kitchen: remove the two prints; center the clock on the wall; consider another chandy and/or lower the one you have now.

The console table is actually a desk. It is 24 inches deep. Is it too large to use as a console table on the wall by the collage of pictures?

I hate tape measures. My console table is too wide for my entry. It runs into the door space. :(. Great thought about moving that with the shell pics to the entry way. Darn!

There is a really pretty duvet cover on the cover of a recent Pottery Barn catalog. It is patterned navy and white but really tasteful. Good luck with your fuchsia shopping - I really liked the pillows that were posted.

Well, we always seem to end up with some type of window coverings, probably in addition to blinds, and bringing in a fabric that can also be used as slip or chair covers, pillows, etc. I'd pick two coordinating fabrics, one stripe and one patterned, and hang panels where there are no doors (hard to tell if that window left of the fireplace is truly a door) and either add valances or cornices over the doors/windows. Ceiling to floor is best for panels, and you can add a solid flange trim to set them off, just like when the kids would outline their colorings. Good luck!

Reneebev
Oh, I like the duvet on the catalog cover. Pretty!

Love the calm and elegant feel of your monochromatic color scheme. To liven things up a bit, without shouting, try painting the walls Sherwin Williams' Silver Strand (it's a soft, sagey bluish green that looks dynamite with white woodwork!). Use Pottery Barn's Cynthia Drape on your windows. Select some of the soft colors in the drapes to use as accents in pillows or accessories. If I can figure out how to do it (don't ask...I'm technically challenged) I'll send a picture along.

If you want to keep your ceiling fan but would like to update it, Casablanca has (for under $200 at Lamps Plus) a simple brushed steel hugger with the light and fan action, but has a fresher look and blends into the ceiling.

I found myself in the same situation - loved the mono look, but it felt a little quiet or cold. So! I painted the walls, hung the drapes, added a few color accents (for the dining chairs - that look much like yours - I used a soft, burnt red slipcover matching a color from the drapes) and used all my monochromatic furniture pieces (similar to yours). Looks grand! And I smile every time I walk in the room!

Good luck with your project. You have a lot of wonderful ideas to inspire you!

Judy,

I moved the couch and chairs. It wasn't right. The room is a long awkward rectangle so it didn't flow.

Thanks for the suggestion of moving the other prints next to the clock. I centered it and lowered it a little. It's not centered with the table and chandelier any longer, but it's center with the wall. I like the fact that the clock is the only thing there, but now something else looks off... Not sure what.

I removed the ottomans and put the chairs where the couch was. So less leather, but not too sure about the setup.

There is about 9 feet of space behind the chairs without anything there. It's where the desk was.

I did fins a color. Don't laugh at my logic. I found placemats I liked. They are doubled so I can fill them with batting the find more matching pillows. What do you think of this blue?

Someone suggested the desk here in the second pic...it's too large for my entry. :(

Went back and looked carefully at your pictures. I liked your original sofa/chair/ottoman setup (sofa back to front door) and the original placement seemed to fill the space nicely.

I loved that you moved the sofa table "desk" to be against the wall under the picture arrangement. You might even add a smashing silver/chrome lamp to the space.

I liked the suggestion that you replace the coffee table with a glass/chrome oval. I would keep the gray rug as you have it. I like to reuse or repurpose rather than replace expensive items, so I would slipcover the leather ottomans in a patterned fabric that matches/compliments new sofa pillows - like your placemat colors! Find that color in a patterned fabric and use that to slipcover the ottomans. I know you are not looking for side chairs, but Pier 1 uses some cool fabrics that, as I remember, match those placemats. You might use them for fabric inspiration.

Regarding the kitchen clock - love that change! The placement on the wall looks perfect to me. Maybe a larger centerpiece on the table might visually fill in for what you think is off.

Regarding the excessive space you feel is in back of your sofa without the glass desk there - find a backless bench - almost as long as your sofa - and use the same patterned fabric you use to slipcover the ottomans, to either slipcover, pillow top, or reupholster this bench seat. If the bench frame is ugly but the right size, slip cover it (to the floor). If the bench frame is unique or interesting, use a pillow top or reupholster the bench seat. You might even consider painting the wood bench frame that placemat color! The key to a successful bench will be either its unique and beautiful architecture and style, or a fabulous fabric that brings your placement blue into the room.

BTW, I love the blue in your placemats...carrying that color through out the room in various aspects is very appealing to me. You could also add a bench cushion to your dining window seat in a complimentary, patterned fabric.

Again, good luck!

Much improved already. It may be that the chair you ordered for the desk will work as an accent chair with the seating. You could try a pair of hassock/seats slipped under the desk.

Thanks for all the feedback. Lots of ideas to play around with. I'll have to post a photo once I get some color. I should have posted photos before I bought that coffee table. I fell in love with it. I think it was the dark grey mixed in with the wood tones. So, the table stays.

I may paint the other living room by the entrance charcoal grey (then move that coffee table in there). It's the one of the only rooms that hasn't been painted. The ceilings were tall so I left it and my bedroom for last. I really like bm grant beige, which is what I've painted the rest of the house. I'm thinking of painting those kitchen cabinets too...white dove...the color of my trim.

I think in time, I'll finally get exactly where I want to be. For now roman shades, curtains and blue are on my list! :).

Love the blue!!! Great choice! I can't wait to see what it looks like when you have splashes of it around the room. Don't forget to pull a little of the blue into your dining area. It's going to look great!

Have not read through all of the comments. But... I could totally envision a tangerine hue with a shot of lime green in the mix! Love that color combo with a neutral palette!! Also, I would suggest getting rid of the current blinds and replacing them with roman shades. I would then soften the windows up with stationary panels (just 1 width of fabric is all you would need). Try using something organic like a "belgian" linen or even a "burlap" fabric. Keep it going... you are doing GREAT!!!

If you need color inspiration check out http://design-seeds.com
The new placement of furniture looks great! Maybe adding another white stool on the other side of the silver table for symmetry. Wood floors would look amazing in the room.

The picture wall needs editing. Remove the three frames furthest to the left. Leave the remaining 6 frames in their current arrangement but center on wall and adjust the lowest and the highest pics so that the perimeter of the arrangement forms a box.

Slight update...still not finished. Can't find a coffee table or light fixture I like. Can't decide on that huge mirror either. I'm a decorating mess! Haha!

The huge mirror is a hit as it reflects the art-wall on the opposite wall, and you need a lighter feeling cocktail table, but the shape is good. Do you need the fan with the light kit?

I'm working towards a new table and lights. I know they are horrible, I just want to be sure to choose the right type of light. These were in the house when I bought it. I'm looking forward to getting rid of all the light fixtures!

Update: I've changed a little at a time. The light fixture is next. New furniture, fireplace, and area rug!

Love your space, you have done a nice furniture arrangement. I share your passion for neutrals and whites. I would suggest eliminating some of the picture frames on the wall -or arrange them as a gallery wall by placing them closer together - there are great pattern ideas on line. That could be then your source of color- it could be a fun way to change or add color. I would also get rid of the blinds-your space looks contemporary and the blinds look dated. Side panels would be a great idea. Plants -as has been suggested- is a great addition. addition. Love your orquíd by the way.

Check here for artwork with color and also some neutrals: http://www.houzz.com/projects/1295077/art-original-abstract-paintings

Beautiful room Keena! Nice update on the mantel - you removed the television and replaced with a beautiful accent piece! A few suggestions though:

- Make the arrangement more conversation oriented and reinforce your beautiful fireplace as THE focal point: move two club chairs to each side of the fireplace (at an angle and enough distance between each one and from the hearth) and place a small reading light for each of them, move sofa back to its original position (with its back facing the entry). I actually like how you had it originally, even with the console table behind the sofa back to give a sense of "entry". Put two lamps behind sofa (on console table or as a pair of floor lamps). Now, the sofa floats and is parallel to the club chairs and you have access to the seating area along the two sides of the sofa, the fireplace is reinforced as the focal point. If you have space, you can even put slim ottoman/s oriented perpendicular to the sofa (or facing the coffee table) for extra seating when entertaining. Make adjustments to the position of the rug, making sure that AT LEAST all the front legs of the sofa and club chairs (and ottoman possibly) are on the rug. Center the rug and coffee table on the fireplace as well as on the light fixture on top your living room. Do not forget to add layers and pools of light in the living room for DRAMA and AMBIANCE as well so that overhead lighting will NOT be the main source of light especially when you entertain.

- Curtains: Reinforce Symmetry in your room by also putting decorative panels where the door to your patio is (copying what you have on the window at the other side). Please please please do this, I promise it will make A LOT of difference :D I also LOVE that you hung your curtains at the right height and that really gives a sense of height and drama to the room BUT I do recommend that you also consider switching to a more substantial / LESS SHEER material (In the picture, I can still see the blinds behind the panels). Perhaps you can choose a linen material (see IKEA Aina) or 100% cotton (see IKEA Merete). In terms of color, I already love the warm white color / natural linen that you have and suggest to stick with that color (do not go too beige with the curtains). When you buy or have your roman blinds made, make sure to suspend it almost up to where the curtain rods are in order to cover the gap between the top of the window frame and the curtain rod. And again, (:D) do the same roman shade treatment on top of the patio door even if it just decorative - but at least it will reinforce the symmetry in the room.

- Accent color / Accessories: I could not quite determine the color of the beautiful plate on your mantel but it reads on my monitor like a CELADON GREEN color - which I also think is a nice subtle accent color to your living room. I suggest using that (or whatever the color of your plate is) as your subdued accent color in a few pillows, throws and decorative accessories (do add a few more on your mantel and coffee table - a dark brown rectangular tray, etc) combined with the off whites, natural linen, beige, khaki (walls) and deep brown (sofa and chairs) colors. Also, just a note on TEXTURE, since you already have a shag / high pile rug, I suggest switching out your shad pillow to one with a different texture. NEUTRALS come to life with controlled texture. The color is great but I suggest keeping the shag only on the rug and playing with other textures (you several options but do not use all, select 2 max 3: flatweave and chunky weave, knitted, crewel stitch, low pile hide pillows, velvet, linen, cashmere pillows, etc) on your pillows. For cushions, you can also pull out the colors from your STONEWORK then just add a few pops of accent colors based the color of your plate. As a final touch inspired by the (Celadon) GREEN accent color from the Decorative Plate and to create a bit of TENSION in what is now an otherwise (too) symmetrical room, you can put a nice live palm tree behind or beside the armchair by the window in the corner (that is, with the layout I have recommended) or any large lush green plant (climate appropriate "greens" in your living room depending on where you are located)

Lastly, just a note, do consider the metal finishes you have in the room at the moment as you choose your light fixture. They do not have to be all the same and mixed metals are a HOT trend right now but as a rule - it's 60, 30, 10 percent (in terms of percentage of how much each metal finish is used in the room).

Hope that helps!! Excited to see you finish your room and hope to see more pictures!

Thanks liv! I can try the new arrangement. The problem is that the new furniture is so big i don't think it won't fit the other way. ☹️ I'll have to post another pic from another angle. The sectional is quite long. I had curtains on the patio door. I loved it, but they kept getting in the way when you went out the door so I took them down. I'll have to try that again.

Oops! I didn't notice that it was a sectional. Do share some more pictures and even measurements so we can see the size of the new pieces in the room. So what color is the accent plate after all? As for the curtains, maybe some curtains weights would be enough to make them stay in place or try to hook the edge one of them discreetly at the baseboard, I even think it might even be worth it convert you patio door to swing outwards.

Just looking at the most recent picture again, may I ask why you is the chaise part of the sectional oriented that way (i.e. towards the dining kitchen area)? Did you transfer the television to that area as well?

Hi liv. We don't watch television, so there's actually not a television in this room, or in the kitchen (which is the way the couch faces). Also, the sectional is so large, this is the only wall it fits on. The room is rectangular.

Where did you find your chair covers?

Loudon1 I am a local shopper. The chairs came this way but uses Velcro to attach to the parsons chair, so they can come off. I've had them several years and have never taken them off. Gamble's Furniture in Jonesboro, AR is a great local store with amazing furniture. They can be reached at (870) 931-3352.

Couple of more angles of this room.

More updates. I knew this would be a long time. Replaced all floors and baseboards, painted kitchen cabinets added curtains. Peek through kitchen updated laundry room. Still have more to do. 🤷🏽‍♀️