My house, is a lot Victorian, with Tudor touches and anything else that moves me. It's pretty full! ;) We call it, 'Tudorian'. Oh and by the way, it's a very large mobile home.
Mo

On a budget; slip cover the two blue chairs.[houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=]

Backyard, just remember, you are donating Grandma's furniture, you are not donating Grandma! If you don't get rid of things you don't want, you will have to keep fitting them in somewhere and work around them.

Hi Backyard Biosphere, marie here.

I'd focus on your fireplace - and if you possibly can - add built-ins on either side creating not only a spot to display your cherished collectibles, but it will de-clutter the room.

You need to pick your favorite piece of art and use that for your inspiration in your colour palette.

the leather sofa isn't one of my favorite pieces - I love the style, and the shape, but I don't like that it is a pleather. Just doesn't fit your more eclectic traditional vibe.

Best thing to do - remove everything from the room and start over, adding each piece thoughtfully, carefully - choosing fabrics that are all complimentary to one another, and the biggest thing you can do - all your large pieces of furniture (sofa, chairs) need to be a similar fabric and colour, even in your dining room chairs - they need to compliment what's going on in the living room.

Drapes need to be again, a tone on tone - work on your fabrics to compliment your one piece of art that you must keep in the room - then repost your favorite - I can help you from there.
Start researching eclectic traditional spaces - the commonality is in the fabrics not in the items, that is the key to the success of your space.

There is just too much going on and some serious editing needs to happen in your fabrics and patterns. Some successful eclectic traditional rooms attached to inspire you.

PS I wouldn't paint my room beige - I'd find that magic colour that brings out your painting and the fabric colour story you are about to create. Beige is way too boring for your space, and won't compliment your hardwood floors.

Backyard, I just looked a the pic in your idea book. It is very much like what your home is like. Why not pick a color for that fireplace wall and paint the fireplace white like in the ideabook photo? Maybe pic some colors from the vangogh print? How about a deep blue for the fireplace wall and go with grays and blues and black for the living room? I think that buffet would look gorgeous painted black!

Taking another look, move that Van Gogh to over the fireplace, do the accent wall there and I think regardless of what other's have said, you can make the blue chairs work. Choose some accents from the painting too for throw pillows on the couch and blue chairs. Maybe work in a bit of green by draping an afghan or scarf on the couch. I think your style is less by the rules, as my suggestions for you are also. New built-ins might be nice, but I would make do with what you have for now until you are ready to really get what you want and know what you want.

Thank you for these comments. I am rethinking the room...

Thinking about painting the fireplace bright deep blue to compliment the Van Gogh, (Thanks Handyman!) which I would frame in black (?) and then use that art for my colour scheme -- it is my favorite piece of art. I appreciate Handyman's other suggestion about making do with the barristers for now, my husband is working on some new built-ins: a pantry and a display cabinet, and he is not too interested in more work at this time! Painting the buffet black sounds outstanding.

Marie, thank you for the inspiring pics. I think I need to get some more pics of the first floor since it is continuous, but a bolder look would be quite suitable. Would the art then go with the carpet?

I am not sure how I would do Grays, blues and blacks, even though I think it could be a super dramatic statement, and how would I pull that through the other rooms? I have a rather intense carpet going up the stairs...I'll go get a pic...

Ooooh. Please don't paint this nice piece
Mo

I hear you Mo, but strictly speaking, I do think my grandma refinished it at some point, it is from 1880

These are colours in my house

I understand. Difficult to tell on my small computer if it has been refinished. But you must do what will work best for your room.
Mo

My husband loves the stair posts!

Your furniture is not harmonious. You have some large heavy wood pieces that are nice but then the pastel artwork, neon blue chairs and ungainly couch and coffee table detract from the nice elements in the room. It is a hodge-podge of stuff. As someone said, just because you have something doesn't mean you have to find a place for it. Give it to charity or sell the stuff that doesn't fit in.

Figure out one specific style and stick with it. The artwork is too pastel-y, the bookcases should be painted, and you need new rugs and a sofa with shorter arms. Way too many styles going on.

Love the Van Gogh! I see the color at the bottom appears to match the stripe on your stairs, and the green is in your spindles. You are already going with the painting colors. Don't paint the barristers, stain the fireplace to match them. The green and blue will be sharp together.

Can I base a scheme on the painting and the rug? or does the rug go back in my bedroom?

What are 'barristers'? Do you mean bannisters? You know - the things that go up along side stairs, to hold on to?
Mo

barristers are what the bookshelves are called because they are actually used by lawyers (aka: barristers) for legal tomes. Our's came from my husband's grandfather. The rug either gets to be a foundation/ground or I guess it needs to go. We have another rug with more black and a pastel border which, lucky for me, also doesn't really match this colour scheme. thanks for your comments.

Got it BB. So they have glass fronts which sort of slide out and push in above
Mo?

exactly, Mo, they are very cool for books, not really meant for my junk.

Yes. Great for things you don't want to have to dust every day, eh? I think my daughter has one, in which she keeps a large amount of sheet music.
Mo

The Van Gogh is great but the fireplace is a NoGo. In my humble opinion you need to inject some life into that piece.

Trying to get the painting and the rug together.

I think I'd like to see the painting framed and hung, to make a statement. At the moment, I think the chairs overwhelm the space.
Mo

I think that the chairs look great with the painting which will even look better once mounted! Maybe a blue color for behind the fire place and a lighter couch will help tie the colors together!

I was glad to see the painting over the fireplace. This room likes water colors. The sofa is more inviting to come in and sit down. Can you put the chairs facing each other on each side of the fireplace? I can see the deep browns working with the blues, you can incorporate more black in the rug with some accents like pillows and throws. bounce some more white and beige accents in throws and candles. You can pull some of the oranges from the painting also with some accents. Also the photos can make a statement in a wall organizer frame.

Thank you for your comments.

Mo, I think you sent out an inspiration because my husband suggested switching the living room and dining room. How would that be to walk into my dining room?

Hmm. Well, that might be a good idea. If you have a lovely dining room suite, then you could just do up the fireplace a bit and maybe the curtains and you'd have your show-piece.
Mo

Backyard, there is a post entitled "Need a accent color" that shows a gray-blue wall that was what I was thinking of for your living room. Do a search for it because I am not smart enough to get you the link, lol. The poster was having trouble picking a color and someone was able to show it in a dark blue. Please, don't paint the fireplace blue, paint the wall. If you look at the post you will see why. The blue wall would be a beautiful backdrop for the blue chairs and have the blue chairs make sense. The fireplace could even go unpainted .

I don't like the idea of switching rooms. It would be odd to walk into the dining room, and a pain to carry dinner through the living room to get to the dining room..

Backyard: Now I'm confused. What look are you going for? Your living room is screaming for color, which is missing, yet your stairs are painted green, so you're not afraid of color. Right now you have a clutter of hand me down furniture and in-cohesive pieces. To make them go together, you might have to paint them all in the same color scheme. I would empty the room - put in the basics one at a time. Pick one main color and up to 3 contrasting colors (perhaps from your rug) and use that theme throughout your home. In regards to hand me downs....people love to dump their old stuff on other people. If it is special to you KEEP IT, if your only using it cuz it was theirs, then it's time to donate to another family member or Craigs list. By keeping their stuff, you are making your home theirs- Not yours. Would they really want that? Also, don't alter major pieces (Painting the fireplace..NOOOO!) unless you plan on replacing it someday. For more seating options have you considered a bench with ottomans that store under if for additional seating?

thank you for the comments. the fireplace is actually meant to be painted, we stripped it thinking it might be oak, but it is pine and the central carved piece is actually terra cotta, not fired and would benefit from a coat of paint to protect it. If I get rid of every piece in the room, I am still afraid that I will just make mistakes. No one is afraid of color here, but the rug and the stair carpet don't go together. The blue chairs are not staying in the living room. I just put them there for placement. I don't think I would paint the buffet, I would just get rid of it.

I had the exact same layout--small entry, long and narrow living room that you need to walk through to get to dining area.Hardly used the room at all and it was cut off from kitchen. The only layout that works with furniture is putting the sofa in front of the window and 2 chairs flanking the fireplace. Assuming your kitchen is behind the left wall? we just finished a remodel where we enlarged the entry by taking about 4 feet from the living room and knocking down the wall between the kitchen and living room, adding a double tiered island where the wall was . now we have a kitchen/sitting room with the fireplace wall as a focal point. it is awesome

Dear BB: Your head must be swirling from all the great comments you have received. I saw the original of the Van Gogh at the Met Museum in New York some years ago. It was an amazing experience - it radiated power and I actually got tears in my eyes (and I am not the crying kind). If you love the colorsof the painting, use them as your guide. Feel free to use lots of color - it is friendly. Even the bright blue chairs are welcoming, compared to the dark sofa. Is it possible to place chairs facing each other right at each end of the sofa in a "U" shape? Or even one of them? I have used this arrangement in both large and small rooms. It makes a great conversation area with the round table inside the "U" with a few items on it. This might take away from the fireplace but make room for guests to sit. I would try placing the blue chairs this way and putting a throw with blue colors in it on the sofa. I hope you don't feel pressure to have the perfectly decorated room as shown in all the magazines and websites. There is a style called "eclectic" which would describe your colorful stairs, the blue chairs, van Gogh & all the marvelous antiques. Honor the bookcases - I've always wanted some. You can have an exciting and original home using the art work and colorful furnishings you have. My best wishes to you. Nancy

Didn't know you needed so much seating. You might try 2 sofas not more than 6ft long across from each other in front of fireplace. Center in room. coffee between them sofa should match. Then 2 chairs at end facing the fire place. With small low table between. The one sofa would float out from bay window not up against it. Take dn drapes. Not a good look. If you need privacy, use a pleated shade. Lowes have in stock. The shades should be white. And left up most of the time. Print walls same as dining area or room right next to this rm. in fact paint all the areas same color. The area rug would go between the 2 sofas, no furn except coffee table should sit on it. Put white crown moulding around each bay window. You can buy faux wood already white. Use it for ceiling also. Put plants and candlesticks on table between chairs. Use table lamp on small table at end of sofa near fireplace. Hid cord by running under sofa to outlet.put a large picture over fireplace.make sure you measure after crown moulding goes up. You want hang pic 3-4" above top of fireplace. Have a 4-5 dn from moulding. Never hang to close.
Instead of group. Looks cleaner.put small plant an vase candlesticks . Don't over do.

I like the idea of cabinets on each side of fireplace. With matching lamps then you wouldn't need table at end of sofa or lamp.There is a tall piece near bay window. Can that be broken dn to 2 pieces that might work. What wall is the Buffett on? Is it living room. If so is there room for it in dining rm? Do you have a entry hall?

Well, here is a shot of my latest efforts--moved buffet into DR. new sofa and chairs, waiting on the coffee table, vintage danish. painted ceilings and walls in LR & DR same color. More painting to do in front hall so no photos yet. Still need to frame painting and hang properly.

Love the sofa and chairs. My only advice now is to pull the floor lamp closer to the chair, and add a table at the far end of the sofa with a light. The room looks so welcoming now.

Whoops. I see there is a table down there. Just the lamp, then!

I have an Eileen Grey side table which doesn't show in these pics, but it is great!! Original! Vintage!!

Wow!!! The living room looks great - it says "Come right in" it's a room a person would want to join. Bookcases are very good. Lots of style without too much formality. Colors in the rug complement the Van Gogh and it looks
beautiful over the FP. I'm curious now how it all looked in the beginning - can we see a before and after shot?

Oh right! I just scrolled up to the original request from you. You have made a terrific improvement. There were so many unrelated artifacts. I would move the scales from the mantel to the left bookcase. van Gogh doesn't need
the company. Congratulations again.

looks beautiful and fresh--great work (and editing,)

So jealous of that sofa and new chairs. Almost exactly what I wanted and didn't get. It could be the camera angle but it looks like the chairs could be spread out just a couple of inches so as not to block the fireplace. Agree that the scales could be tried on the left bookcase as the right side looks busier than the left. It is coming along so well that I think you should grab that arm off the mantle and use it to give yourself a pat on the back. ; )

Chairs are vintage 1950's and they swivel!! The arm on the mantle is one my mom made using my dad as a hand model. Thanks so much everybody for the great feedback--I feel about 50% done.

Gotta get a hipper rug

wow! I haven't checked this in so long, it is great!!

I have theC table next to the couch also, love it! I agree with the person who said to put the scales on the left bookshelf and call it done.

I would try putting the front feet of the couch on the rug. a pain to vacuum, but pulls the seating area together just a teensy bit.

Congratulations!!!

It is looking very good! Very fresh!

Looking good! Keep us posted.