I'd use the black---add the blue accents elsewhere. JMHO.

Neither.

Fun2BHere-Why neither? Wrong style, colours, you just don't like them?

I am in the neither camp here, too. I sort of like them, but I see something sleeker and more sophisticated in your space.

Neither. I don't like those metal bases in the first place, but I really don't think they go with the rest of the room. Too harsh and sterile.

I vote neither too. Just not the right fit.

I like the blue one better. However, I don't really think they look like ottomans and could potentially just end up looking out of place. The base makes them seem more like tables. Where would you put them? In the middle of the room? One in front of each chair?

Neither. They're too odd, and remind me of little short aliens from the Velvet Planet.

Also vote neither. I'd put the money in more substantial end tables.

I don't think you need to introduce another piece of furniture with different color upholstery into the mix. What you have looks great but don't think those will work. Are they really ottomans? They look too high and unstable for feet.

If I get ottomans or poofs or a bench, they'll go under the window to the left of the patterned chair. I just need something for extra seating that I can pull out and put opposite the couch when needed.

Olychick-They are 19.5" high.

I'm with deeinohio on this one. They look like they might follow you around the house.

Oh, that's helpful to know how you will use them - I was picturing them in front of the chairs as ottomans or two in front of the couch. But I still think the bases make them look a little precarious. But they are fun!

I think the blue ones looks kind of cool:

Chickadee2-Maybe I should buy them and paint little faces on them?

I was looking at navy leather poufs on ebay. The unstuffed ones. I have a foam mattress that we aren't using that I could stuff them with.

At the moment I'm just window shopping. I'm not going to buy anything else until my trip to Halifax next week.

I think something chrome/silver would look better but I think those are cool!

I understand you're going for a modern/contemporary sort of look, but IMO, you may be getting too 'carried away'. It seems the room is starting to look too contrived(staged), and loosing what should be, I just-bought-this-and-added-it-to-the-room look, ie, natural. A coffee table that could hold a few books would give a more lived-in look, as would a few pictures on the walls.

Patty_cakes- I don't have a problem with contrived. In the past I've decorated like you said, "just bought this and added it" (due to finances) and I hated it.

This picture is of the opposite wall.

I will be buying a coffee table and a tv stand next week. Art work is a definite and I have been looking.

the picture

Jena, maybe contrived isn't the right word. I think there was a discussion some time ago about a house(or room)having a 'soul', or life. Somehow the room needs to come to life and not look as though it were staged for resale. There's more to it than placement of furniture, or even adding wall elements. How about a large plant in one of the corners.

Another thought, with too much symmetry, a room can start looking a little predictable~2 lamps, 2 tables, 2 pillows on the sofa, 1 pillow on each chair, and now the 2 ottomans.

Again, just mt 2 cents, but I think you should shake things you a bit, add something 'unexpected'(I know, it's an over-used word!)I would love to see more pattern~~a pattern rug would have added more life. Even a floral design can be abstract and contemporary.

This fabric looks to be your colors. If you don't care for florals, there are other patterns that that would work.

Here is a link that might be useful: fabric

Another vote for neither. Obviously, this is my opinion only but (a) you already have a lot of disparate objects in the room, none of which shares a color or pattern with another, (b) they look too small to be comfortable or useful but too big for the room, (c) closely related to (b), I wouldn't want to be a person having to sit on one of them.

BTW I love your bookshelves and doors!

Your 'tone' of colors, but lighter/brighter. What do you think of the stainless steel coffee table? And the wallpaper!~~love it!

Here is a link that might be useful:

I like both the wallpaper and the coffee table.

We're considering removing the double doors and redirecting the foyer into the next room over. That would give me a better spot for the tv stand (would be directly across from the couch) and a wall to paper.

I think the problem with the ottomans is they look like they're just perched there and ready to topple over, it's disconcerting and not user friendly nor cozy looking. Your room is fairly traditional and the ottomans look like they belong in an outer space decor. I can just picture a beautiful ottoman, larger and more interesting with lots more texture to it. Two is one too many. I'm sorry I don't love them but we're here to tell the truth. We could help you find one if you wish.

I'm not necessarily in love with them either. Just trying to get an idea for what styles to look for.

Hi! Sorry to be so long in responding, but I see plenty of posters have weighed in with exactly what I would have said which is:
- A pair makes the arrangement look too static
- I don't like the base and I don't think the style fits with your other choices.
- You already have lots of legs. I think you need something with no legs.

Fun2BHere-Do you think I should go no legs with the coffee table? That was my plan until I put the rug in. Now I'm debating it.

I do think a table/ottoman with no legs would work well because you have show wood legs on both your sofa and chairs. another option would be one of those simple Lucite C-shaped tables.

I would love a lucite table but I worry that the kids would scratch it up.

Here are some Lucite images from Houzz.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Lucite

Oops...simultaneous posting. You're right, though. Lucite will scratch.

I think something like the ones below would be perfect. They would look nice against the wall, they look comfy in the velvet and they suit the room very well.

Here is a link that might be useful: ottoman

Before stylish, before taste, before all other considerations--- is it useful? The top is not big enough for a tray, therefore no solid surface on which to put a glass or anything else... the top is not big enough for a board game or for more than one small pair of feet. As extra seating it might work, but not as a coffee/cocktail table or ottoman.

IMO adding round ottomans is a good idea but I don't personally like the style of the ones you posted. What do you think of round Moroccan leather ottomans? They come in many colors and I can see silver ones in your room.

This blogger found hers at HomeSense for $70. http://www.inthefunlane.com/2009/07/frequently-asked-questions.html

Here is a link that might be useful: silver leather poufs

This is generally considered HD faux pas so please forgive me, but I have a question about the bookcases as they are very much a part of the room. Do you plan on doing anything to them? Is there a big picture plan that includes them? I find the curly q woodwork (which reads country, to me) at top to be wildly out of line with your lovely living room. I would personally make that a focus before many other elements.

Kswl-They would be strictly for extra seating. We're getting a coffee table.

Luckygal-I love the Moroccan poufs and locally they are $375 each. I can order them from ebay unstuffed for about $100 for two in either grey or navy. I'm considering all options before I commit though. HomeSense is going to be my first stop next Wednesday.

Bumblebeez- The bookcase trim was brought up in another thread. It was put up when I was trying to go for a cheap rustic/country look, but it's just not my style. We were planning on putting up crown moulding anyway, so it makes sense to remove that trim and continue around with the crown. Hubby is out of town at the moment but when he's around and has time he'll get on that job. The plan for the bookcases is to fill them with books. I'm not sure what else I would do with them?

The biggest issue with the room is the tv. It needs to be in the room and opposite the couch. The only place that works is if I put the tv in front of the doors. That's not going to be a permanent solution unless I wall up the doors and reroute the hall.

Here's the layout with the tv in front of the doors and the future coffee table in place. Extra seating would sit under the window at the top of the image.

That makes sense. Crown molding will look nice and so much better than that country look. I like books, btw, I'm a reader. Fill those things, buy more books, read more on that nice sofa.

Can you remove a shelf or two and fit a flat screen tv inside the bookcase instead of losing the doors? The room is coming along nicely but I am not feeling the ottomans either:(.

In that case I think they would work well, especially for smaller adults or kids. If you're restricted to those color choices I'd go for the blue.

Roarah, I love that idea! In that case, I would pull the furniture away from the window wall(toward shelving, maybe 2 1/2 '), and push toward side wall. Move the rug also, placing at least the front legs of the sofa on it. Use one table/lamp at the end of sofa closest to the wall. Get a sofa table, and use the other lamp on it. The cord gets hidden under the rug, using an outlet on the window wall.

The chairs are placed together, on the other side of the room and opposite the shelving, creating a 2nd area. Angled the chairs slightly, facing the side of the sofa, with the table in-between. The 2bd lamp would need to be exchanged for a floor lamp, or if the sofa table is long enough, both used. There will be a 'nice' space in the middle(of the sofa table)for a decorative object, something necessary in the room.

Yes, I know the room will be 'off symmetry', but it may look balanced with furniture on either side of the doorway. AND you won't need an ottoman. ;o)

I like patty cakes ideas alot but if you want to keep you present layout I was thinking of a articulating mount for the tv that can be pulled out and centered more to the sofa for viewing.

The reason for the square layout is for board games. I need all the seating surrounding a coffee table or at least easily movable to that position, hence the need for ottomans.

Patty_cakes-That's a really unique setup but it doesn't work for the room. It's too small and just looks awkward. Also it doesn't work for the reasons above.

Roarah-I would not be willing to cut into the shelves. I don't even like having baskets on them. When the room is complete they will be for books only. Also the positioning of the tv would really only work in Patty_cakes setup.

On an earlier thread I have the layout turned so that is diagonal across the short wall with the open entrance to the next room. I really like the sofa diagonally but everyone thought it was too tight into the corner and I couldn't pull it out anymore from the wall because the chair blocked the entry. So tonight I switched it to the other corner but pulled it out much farther into the room. I can see the tv easily from all the current seating and I can still fit some poufs in there when I need to.

Obviously the tv stand (sewing machine) needs switching out and when we do we'll move the outlet so that the wires aren't all hanging out.

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm turning down advice left, right and centre. The discussion has helped me a lot and I really appreciate it.

I am SO confused, Jen!! I like your current set up, and can't quite get the photo you just posted to see your newest layout!! Did you say if you are getting a coffee table that goes to the floor or one that has longer legs with space underneath? Another idea would be to get two ottomans that could fit under your coffee table to pull out for playing games, etc. Would it be mostly kids who would use those? If that doesn't work, maybe smaller square leather or faux leather ones with lids, so games could be stored in them & place them where you originally said next to the window behind the patterned chair, until they need to be pulled out.

I love your french doors and bookcases...they had texture & a coziness to the room. I also like the idea you had, if you move your furniture to how you have just tried, of a sofa table, with one of the lamps on it, thus giving height and dimension to the room.

When do you go to Halifax?? Hope you can find some great things you love to finish off your room!

I don't really want to cover up the rug but I think a more solid coffee table with storage for board games is the way to go. The kids would be the most likely users of the ottomans.

I'm going to Halifax next Wednesday. I can't wait!

You have a beautiful room, and lovely furniture. I have to say, I think the rug is throwing everything off. I found this picture on Houzz, and the size and color of the rug seem to really anchor the seating area ~ although I think if you wanted to bring in some of the color that you are using with the lampshades the rug would be the perfect place to do it, the table is great for your board games, and the ottomans would be the perfect style for your current furnishings with a nail head trim. Think 'repetition with variation.' I'm no expert, trust me, its just a thought.

[Traditional Family Room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by Baltimore Interior Designer Elizabeth Reich

There was lots of back and forth on rugs on my other thread. Some said pattern, some no pattern. Some said colour, some said no colour. I bought the one I liked best and that it. Everything currently in the room (other than the tv stand) is new. I like everything that is there so won't be replacing it. The only new I'm buying is a coffee table, artwork, tv stand possibly some extra seating and a bar cart.

Zoey B- That's a gorgeous room.

In other news I ran two ottomans through Overstock to check the international shipping and nearly died. $400 for two ottomans and another $300 for shipping. I'm crossing my fingers that I find something in Halifax.

Jen if you like it, that's all that really matters. Opinions are like dessert, you either take it or you don't. It's all good. ;o)