$$$$$!!! LOL

I'm not even close to being a designer, and this room isn't necessarily my style, BUT i love they way the designer has incorporated different colors cool and warm, masculine with feminine, and a serious more sofisticated look with a cozy/casual look as well as some whimsy like with the dog picture. It's a very pretty room.

I like the repeated use of the coral/terra cotta color from the rug to lampshades to the flowers, but in general, I think it's pretty safe. I like it, but it's more formal than I live, even if I was in that tax-bracket, and while not a real British Stately Home, it's got that vibe.

Not my style either and too much of the same color for me but they know how to use different patterned fabrics. That is one thing I am always unsure about.

I agree with jant ... it does look expensive! Definitely outta my league. ;-)

That said, I think it works because of the classic, timeless elements. It brings to my mind images of an English manor house that's been handed down for generations and is ever-so-slightly worn around the edges, but in a good way. It has a timeworn patina that denotes years of living. And yet, it remains fresh. I like it. I'm not sure I'd want to live in it, but I do appreciate it.

What I notice is that none of the tables match, but the styles and wood tones all compliment each other. Obviously a lot of brown and gold, but accents of the red and blue from the rug give the room some "pop". While it's really a very classic, even formal room, the upholstered pieces look comfortable and inviting. Also a lot of nice little trinkets give it a collected look, as if they were all found in exotic, far away places, or a nice antique shop :)

This is a great idea, bungalow. And I second everything lurkkiirish said including the 'I'm not a designer' phrase. I have no idea what I'm doing! What I notice in the room is that the furniture pieces are fairly neutral and 'collected over years' looking. That's where I'd stop and throw my hands up. I never would have thought of putting the orange/blue rug with that mauvish (on my monitor) chair. What seems to make it work is the way the coral from the rug is echoed in the lampshades and the box on the table and the two flower arrangements. It's not exactly the same shade of coral. That's probably important because it doesn't look too 'done'. Is there a rule of three going on there? Different heights with the lampshade/coffee table arrangement/rug. Then the blue in the rug is echoed in a throw and the leather chair is echoed in the leather books and the mauvish chair (which seems to have some coral in the pattern) has a pillow and that same pillow appears on the sofa.

And then of course there's $$, as jant pointed out.

In addition to what is already noted, furniture placed for function, textural elements, and the beautiful archetecture of the windows and the wall behind the dogs. The only thing I would add is a dog curled up on that beautiful rug. Great thread! Goes to show design principles are design principles no matter what the style.

An almost monochromatic palette. The vertical planes are monochromatic. The floor plane ignores the color palette and stands on its own. The biggest pieces of furniture are in the palette of the vertical planes and the rug palette is picked up in accessories.

My experience has been that most people are not afraid of color, (sometimes they are not afraid enough:)), but rather, they are afraid of pattern. This room would not work as a mostly monochromatic room without pattern, nor would it be as successful as highly patterned as it is with lots of different colors.

I think the main reason it works is because the designer has used all muted colors. All color have values. Let's pretend we're checking the values of black, it would go from very very pale grey down to ebony. In each color there are vibrant and muted values. If you do an entire room in muted, you'll get a classic aged look, vibrants go more towards moderns. The eye always goes to color so, if the designer had put a bright lavender pillow, your eye would go right to that and cancel out the muted colors for the first viewing. I prefer a room with all muted colors, I think it's a classy look and obviously, the designer thought so too. Aside from that, there are varying heights which add to a pleasant design and a nice repetition of shapes. Also lots of texture has been added too. All of these make for a gorgeous room even if it's low budget. Money isn't always necessary to attain a great look but knowing the basics can help so much. Okay, I'm done lol.

This room is right up my style alley ;-)

Obviously, the area rug is the unexpected element, but it is pulled in nicely by the throw and the 2 lighter pillows on the sofa. I expect there are other elements in the room pulling that blue in that we can't see in this one picture, but I like the fact that the terra cotta accessories are emphasized.

I think the main reason this room works is the height of the ceiling and the floor to ceiling windows bringing in so much light, otherwise it would be cave like and very dark. The wood work in the windows and on the wall would never work with a lower ceiling height. I'll bet this room looks much different at night, surely there is more lighting than the 3 lamps we can see pictured, but it would still be very dark... I would hope there is also a very large chandy, or 2 in the room.

I like the way the desk's foundation mimics the wood work on the walls and windows. I'm not going to judge the suitcases because they're obscured by the desk, but I wonder about them. Not crazy at all about the coffee table - it's the only element I would change. To me it looks like someone said "We need to soften this up a bit - let's stick some cabriole legs in there for good measure." Cop out, IMHO.

I absolutely adore the chunky based foyer table used as a side table and of course the awesome draperies!

I agree with palimpsest's assessment.

Lovely comfortable room!

Comfy furniture -- great furniture placement! Love that there are tables to hold drinkies!

And I like the way that the designer "moved" the accent color (that muted red) around the whole area!

Jan

Not my style, but it's comfortable. I couldn't live with the mauve color on that chair or the polka dots on the other chair. If I focus on the couch and table to the right I like the "flow", the muted colors, the circular arrangment of the seating for easy conversation of the rooms occupants. Nothing looks cheap. The room would look good if it were empty!

Pretty much my kind of room. I agree with gtf about that coffee table. I can think of a number of them I would prefer. The room has fabulous architecture to begin with, so there's little that would look bad in that room. The olivey predominant tones function as a neutral. The rug has those tones, but not predominantly. The pops of color (okay, shoot me for using that word) are all presaged in the rug. The sofa is a classic, makes me want to plop down in it. The dressmaker details in the valances are very well done. I like the proportions of the pleating in the valances and the welting/piping. The rosy lamp shades are my favorite color, so I am predisposed to liking the room. There is interest at every level, if you divide the room into several horizontal planes. I'm rambling.

Its Very difficult to do a room with an extremely tight palette on a small budget. If you are working with off-the floor and ready mades or even semi custom like Restoration Hardware / Room & Board (which are hardly "budget" for most people),getting a closely related color palette that manages to be both interesting and near monochromatic is a Lot of work. If you have the budget, you can get almost anything, all you need to do is Find it. I usually go the other way and go for "accumulated" where *nothing goes together too specifically. Its cheaper and things can be added and subtracted more easily.

I does have a soft contrast between the overall muted, tonal quality of the furniture and the paint color, the rug and the lampshades. Because you don't see much of the rich wall color in this photo, I bet the room is much more vibrant IRL.

It also has a great interplay between rustic and semi-formal with the wall treatment and stained wood moldings against the curvey legs of the sofa, coffee table and side table.

It is a very interesting room. One that you could walk around in without being bored.
Diane

Couple more comments... that chair is not mauve, there is too much light hitting it from the window. Look at the pillow on it - it's the same one that's on the sofa. Look at the draperies behind it. Nope that chair is not mauve. Also, those are not polka dots - it's an animal print.

I love it, it doesn't come across as too formal to me, it just has a grand scale and everything is in keeping with that scale, which makes it work. I like the blue and coral colors that make it interesting. I could see a different coffee table too. I don't think the chair in the window is mauve either and I think the animal print piece is maybe a chaise instead of a chair.
Syble

Every comment is SO amazing; you guys are GOOD! I would never have thought of putting the white lamp shade in the mix. Heck, I wouldn't have thought of most of it, but that did stand out to me once I took it all in. What a great thread idea.

I hate to be the odd one out but that room does nothing for me. I do not like that dogs painting -- I would hate starring at giant dogs all day! English style rooms are at their best when they are slightly rumpled, well lived in, and most importantly, must have lots of personality. This room just appeared very controlled, very perfect that it makes me uncomfortable & slightly claustrophobic.

IMO, the most important elements of a (successful) room is the mood & emotional it creates, and how well it reflect its owner personality. The above doesn't make me feel anything and it doesn't say much a/b its owner (except that she rich & loves dogs (maybe) :-D

It's a nice room but it would be so much more memorable if there's more drama & personality.

JMO

This is a great topic and you picked a good room.

I like the room because it looks lived in and not staged. There's actually a real throw "thrown" over the ottoman, like we do IRL, but not afraid to show it.

The room is designed to be lived in with nice & comfy furniture, not to show off.

It's a place I can put my feet up. It looks like a room we could easily decorate except for the walls and curtains.

I love dark rooms like this one. They invite hot chocolate and a good book on a snowy day. Plus they have dogs on the wall! lol

I have to agree partially with you bellaflora; but for the sake of the analysis, and the learning process, it's to be noted how big and plump the throw cushions are,
that's one thing that is often lacking in amateur decors, skinny flat cushions.

I love the scale of the big painting, that's the drama of the room I think.
This probably is a room that looks better in real life than the way it was photographed; the red spotted sofa is not very visible and looks gorgeous, and the beige fabric on the couch under the painting has a nice weave to it, hardly visible also. Overall, I see many layers and textures, the rug color is
unexpected, this where we can learn to think outside the box and not pick too neutral rugs.

I don't know that anybody can fully critique something without personal taste coming into it, but I think the most learning-oriented way to analyze a room is to NOT take into consideration whether you would want it for your own. Try looking at rooms you DON'T particularly like and see what it is you Do like in it. There are plenty of well designed rooms I don't care for at all, but it doesn't lessen their value as a learning tool.

The other aspect that confounds the decision about how this room works is the staging--I don't think most published rooms look exactly the same in daily life, so something in a picture can come off looking a little stiff compared to how it may look in use.

I agree with you Palimpset about the staging. One thing that bugs me? The two florals in the same colors as the shades. Just a lil' too obvious perhaps?

I also question somewhat the function of the room as regards WHERE do your drinks, cigars (yes..it's that kind of room!) go? Coffee table is a fair bit away from the sofa, trunks don't allow it, other table is a stretch upward. Other sofa or whatever has nothing available either.

I don't love the coffee table either...maybe that's because I had one almost exactly like that once? (gone to niece lol!) It's a little "grandma" but ya know? That might be one of the secrets to this room's look: just slightly "imperfect". Like Real Life.

Cool idea, bungalow.

I am drawn to the low seating and the soft-looking fabrics. The sofa and chairs all look very inviting. Although it is pretty lush, the colors would hide stains well - it looks like they'd let the dog sit on the furniture.

I really like the varying heights of tables. I would love to have room for a tea table in my living room - I think that is a nice touch. Ditto for the desk.

I like the reading lamps over the sofa though there is a little voice in me screaming "ARGH! You drilled through the panelling!!"

The draperies are classic, perfect in this room. I can see that it would be very cozy at night.

The rug lightens things up, but my eyes weren't immediately drawn to it. It also helps to balance out the amount of wood in the room. I do think they did a little too much staging, trying to pull all the colors out etc. The rug would look just fine even without the throw, coral accents, etc. Those flowers won't last forever!

The large dog painting works with the room; your eyes are drawn right toward it and then your gaze kind of wanders about to the windows and furniture and back to the painting. That being said, it is not a painting I would have chosen.

This room seems really livable to me. I can imagine lying on the sofa with a book, a cup of tea nearby, while dd does art work on the desk and dh is busy at his laptop on one of the other tables.

I'm not crazy about the animal print (red spotted fabric) on the armchair (chaise?) in the foreground. I probably would not have selected a plaid for the throw pillows on the sofa either, but that's nitpicking.

Overall, everything is in scale - the window treatments, furniture, art, etc., and the colors work. Yep, I could live there!

It is very Ralph Lauren - masculine and very rich in detail and depth of color - I could so live in a room like this - I love everything about it - fabulous. The mix of fabrics, the blue and coral (that is probably about a $35,000 rug), that amazing, amazing painting and the lavish architecture of the room - it all comes together like a beautiful song....love the coral animal bring couch, the correct balance of fabric to wood and those windows are to die for (along with the drapery) - I could eat it all with a spoon :-).

OMG I was just thinking Ralph Lauren back in the early ninty's. I loved it back then now my style has changed.

Good subject!

...Jane

I really like the overall feeling -- masculine but elegant, rustic but refined. The furnishings and accent pieces work beautifully IMO except the too-perfect coral flowers, (but hey - it's a photo shoot) and the rug is a favorite and reminds me of mine -- but not the same price point, I expect ;-)

But I'm just NOT loving that huge dog picture! The dogs are OK as a theme -- I could maybe see a fabulous hunt scene. Or even the same picture but much smaller -- maybe 2/3's that size? And in a more elegant frame please. Sorry -- but to me, that picture looks more like a 'decorator piece' than like art.

I particularly like the deep-toned paint above the panelling. A room like that would be So Wrong in beige!

The first thing that struck me was the scale of the painting. I think people often use art that is too small for the space and I love this piece in this room! Not sure I see the problem of where to put a drink or whatever. Every seat has a table next to it except, perhaps, the middle couch position, but the coffee table-a different one, I agree- could be moved closer for that. Not my style, but I could curl up happily in one of the comfy chairs or sofa for a good read. Jeeves, my tea, please!

Cynthia

It works because they obviously love dogs! LOL If you love dogs enough to display them in that huge picture, (and the brass bookends) your "good taste" shows through, even if you're rolling in money!

Okay, seriously, this room looks so comfortable and welcoming, even though I'm sure the one room cost more than my entire home. I would love to visit this house and experience it IRL!

I think we can learn from the things that we dislike as much as from the things that we like.

I went back to look at the original photo at the Cote dT. The larger pictures does provide more details as to the prints on the sofa, and that room has a lot of details & nice play of texture (which isn't obvious in the small picture). Also, I read that the room was in an showhouse maybe that explains the lack of personality. :-)

I don't mind the scale of the painting -- the room demands it. I just wish the subject is something a bit more provocative & passionate -- the room has plenty of suspense: the mix of different style of furniture (the curvaceous yet not too ornate coffee table pair well w/ the pedestal side table, then you have a more ornate desk, the traditional fabric on the green sofa pair w/ the more exciting dotted print, etc..) Then you have this painting which is supposed the piece de resistant, the primary focus of the room and it's a major let down. I wish it's something like an English lady draping over the fainting couch smiling mysteriously at me, or even a bloody hunting scene LOL :-D

Another thing that bugs me are the floral arrangement. Oh come on, we are in an English house and you give me that tepid arrangement... What about some lush weepy arrangement of English roses and clematis vines. Or better yet -- give me an exuberant arrangement of red/gold butterfly orchid (maybe the owner is an English gentlemen who has a green house in the backyard ) :-) ...but please, not that dye to match Martha inspired arrangement. :-)

I love your suggestion, as that's how I try to learn from my favourite designers and inspiration pics. I don't know why I love an inspirational photo until I start dissecting it layer by layer.

This room has high ceilings and a dramatic back wall that is echoed by he windows. The colours are muted with coral accents running throughout. But it's not a boring, monochromatic room because of the diversity of pattern and texture.

The over large print anchors the room with some whimsy and shows that the owner isn't stuffy:)

I still haven't figured out how the desk and coffee table with its queen ane legs work....but somehow, it just does..

My eye went right to the sofa. It looks so cozy even though it looks like a formal room. I would feel very comfortable taking a nap in there under the watchful guard of the hounds.

Perhaps it would be helpful to mention the colors that I perceive on this monitor. Since some have referred to the color scheme as monochromatic, it may be that different monitors are making for extreme differences in our perceptions of the aspects of this room that are objective, not subjective. On my monitor, the colors appear to be
charcoal/gray/brownish limed wood
olive green sofa
rusty ceiling
medium blue throw on chair
blue, terra cotta, coral, olive green, slightly greenish cream rug
various browns in furniture
coral lampshades on sconces
coral flower arrangements (I'm not sure that these should be included as I suspect they have to do with "styling," rather than installed decor)
salmon and olive on window treatments, throw pillows, tufted easy chair and ottoman (could be a chaise?)
Cream on lampshade, maybe on piping of window treatments, candle stick section of reading sconces
Gold on club chair
Pale blue gray on desk chair
Coral and gray green animal print on rolled arm sofa
terra cotta, green, and gold bits on books and boxes (accessories)
My monitor is old and not great, so these could be way off, but I do not see a monchromatic room here. Many, but not all of the colors have a somewhat muted presence. Many, but not all are mid-range in value.

I really love this room and I want to hop on the couch and take a nap. After looking at photos and looking at each thing in the room I'm sometimes amazed that the other elements aren't something I normally would like. The example in this photo being the rug. I don't gravitate towards those colors and I wouldn't of looked twice at that at a store yet I think it goes well in the room. This shows me I need to learn to think past my "three colors" and think outside the box.

I called it monochromatic, and it is full of color, really.
If you do a squint test on it, you will find with the exception of the rug the "envelope" of the room is maybe..
"almost mono-Value" rather than monochromatic, and then a certain amount of color floats within the room. It becomes "color as texture" in a way...its a very complex way of having a monochromatic background of sorts.

(I also say something smells brown or tastes green, so if colorful monochromatic makes no sense to you, its ok ;-)

Love the style and could move right in! And.....not necessarily expensive if you do your homework and know how to shop. I've seen simimlar enough tables at consignment stores(a friend works at one),as well as the upholstered pieces. The lamps, Hobby Lobby, JC Penney, Marshall's, etc. The pillows/throw could be found at Marshalls, HL, Ross, TJ Max, Kohl's, Steinmart, or HomeGoods. Draperies, JC Penney, Tuesday Morning, Z Gallerie. The area rug could be more difficult, but Tuesday Morning has a large variety as does Penney's, or if you *can* spend a little more, Macy's has a nice variety. Ebay, too. Even the wall paneling could be done with plywood and 1" x 3" pine boards, stained and varnished. It's the artwork that would be the biggest challenge to imitate, although you could use several smaller pictures, or find a college student to replicate something similar. Or someone at a fleamarket who paints/sells his own work~they're usually willing to do a custom piece, and unframed, won't cost a fortune. The accessories don't look to be much~books can be found at a thrift store, as well as the vase, and even the flowers. You can also use what you have.

I would say the room could cost *roughly* between $45K-$75K depending on the fabrics used~Cashmere is more than cotton velvet or chenille(upholstered pieces), wool is more than acrylic(rug). The tables don't look to be antique, so they'll be a savings there.

Anyone else care to take a guess? ;o)

Pal,
I get that. Really I do. Especially since numbers have color for me. Just making a distinction between value and hue and, more significantly, between my monitor and the rest of the world. (I have never been able to wait the centuries it takes to download Cote de Texas photos, so that's not an option for me.)

Things I would change, if anyone cares:
1. coffee table
2. add arms to sofa, for functional purposes. I'd get sick of fishing the pillows off the floor.
3. I'd prefer a similarly scaled, but differently composed focal artwork. Even a group of works would work, but I think the designer didn't want to mess with how a bunch of squares or rectangles would work into the recesses of the existing paneling. It could be done well, though.
4. I'd use looser floral arrangements. A bit wild.
5. The gold (is it leather?) chair by the desk. Bugs me the way the wood seems to try to match the desk legs. Sheesh, I think I'm getting really neurotic.

PC,
All I know is the mohair velvet I wanted for a sofa was $400/yard on drastic sale. Copies were still not inexpensive; and they just didn't have anyone near the OMG/gasp factor. So, yes, you could have a striking, similar room, but it wouldn't have the same impact, or the same detail and seductiveness. Fabric is present in huge amounts in that room, and it really adds up! It's also difficult to find upholstered pieces with the right proportions, not to mention remnants that are large enough for entire sofas with loose cushions and throw pillows. Okay, just whining in frustration here.
I'm bad at estimating costs of rooms, but I do know part depends upon what had to be done--was paneling there? Was reclaimed wood used? Remilled? Refinished? Labor to cover ceiling and upper portion of wall (is that fabric or a faux finish?)? That an oxblood vase? Etc.

The upper ceiling and ceiling is silk taffeta. $$$$

Paint it.

Sorry..upper WALL and ceiling....

I like the realism in the painting. My beagle spends most of the day doing what the dog in the lower left corner is doing. :-)

KD, i'm sorry, but I beg to differ. Impact doesn't necessarily = $$$$. Have you seen Magnaverde's living room? If you've ever read any of his posts, he'll tell you he hardly spent a dime. His sofa is *painted* to assimilate leather, almost everything else has been given to him or he's 'found'. I agree as to what possibly needed to be done to the wall, but the photo revolves mostly around the furnishings, the wall is just a small part.

To each his own when it comes to art. As it just so happens, I have a friend who painted for many years, and decided to sell some of her paintings~mainly they were dogs dressed in clothing from different eras, and very realistic, not cartoonish. They make up a good portion of my GR 2-story wall and although unique, not for everyone. It's my bit of whimsy. ;o)

In general I love the room. Love the colors, the warmth and the fabrics. What I'm not wild about is the painting above the couch, just my personal taste and the table to the left of the couch looks way to high. I also don't like having the two lampshades on that side so close together. Of course this could just be how it is perceived in the photo.

LJC7757, the lamps/shades are also not the right proportion, too small, IMO. ;o)

I love the big painting of the dogs, but then I have dog etchings in my den! I really like this room ALOT! A few things I am not crazy about:
Not so sure about the valances
The swing arm lamps on the wall
Coffee table looks a little low to me - I like tall ones

Jjam, I love that leopardy fabric in the foreground. Wonder what something like that would look like on your wingback chair?

Smiles:)