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sis2two

Decorating Advice Needed

10 years ago

I would really appreciate some advice on a specific area in my family room. It is the area over my antique cabinet where I currently have a window paned mirror with an old hayfork above. I am going to be repainting this room in a much lighter gray green color and am wondering if another mirror would be better in this spot since the rooms gets very little light or if you would put something else there.

To me it just seems to not work in the room. Also putting another picture of the room to give you an idea of my style. Thanks!




Comments (30)

  • 10 years ago

    I like what you have done, it justs needs a little editing. IMO, the lamp is the wrong scale and eats up the space. If you removed that and then pick 3 of the 4 remaining items to accessorize I think you'd be good to go. I'd probably go with the taller flowers on one side of the table with the apples on the other side and the box sitting next to it.

    Without the lamp, most of the mirror will be exposed and that will help to reflect your lighting better. If a lamp on that table is important to you, I'd find a style that is more appropriate in size, like a candle stick lamp maybe. I'd swap out the flowers if I went that route.

    sis2two thanked User
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Taking another look you may be able to use the lamp instead of the flowers, but the bright white may still throw it off as the color is much brighter and doesn't seem to work with the more subdued colors you've incorporated. KWIM?

    sis2two thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    I'm thinking the space is a little crowded. I'd probably hang the fork tines down someplace else on the wall by itself, and then trim what's on the cabinet. The lamp is pretty but has a large footprint as does the fruit basket. I really like the paned mirror and would definitely keep it.

  • 10 years ago

    Try the fork, tines down, to the left, and only the yellow arrangement in same place. Just that. Take a picture and let us know how it looks. Do you need the lamp for lighting?

    sis2two thanked sushipup1
  • 10 years ago

    I agree with moving the hay fork to the left, also consider rotating the mirror so it's the long way, centered over the chest. The lamp, try turning is to the handle is on the left and remove the basket of apples (?), I like the tall flowers.

    sis2two thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    I like the mirror. It's the items on the cabinet that seem "off" to me. The lamp is too big for the space. Do you need a lamp there?


  • 10 years ago

    Thank you all so much for your help!

    We do need a lamp of some sort as our room is very dark but I do agree it really is too big for that spot. The mirror is actually pretty square so rotating it won't really help.

    Now when you mention moving the hayfork to the left, do you mean beside the mirror? If I did that it seems it would throw everything off balance?

    The lamp has the cord attached to the back so it can't be turned. I really do think I need to replace it so any links to something that would work would be great!

  • 10 years ago

    I love your style! I think that the hay forks looks great....I would remove the tall flowers. I also really like your P.Buckley Moss print!

    sis2two thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • 10 years ago

    Can you put a floor lamp to the left instead of the white lamp?

    sis2two thanked S Rodriguez
  • 10 years ago

    I really can't because we have two floor lamps in the room already and we have a door leading to the porch that opens on that side. I definitely am going to find a slimmer lamp to go in that spot where the white one is now. It really does take up a lot of room.

  • 10 years ago

    yes, a floor lamp would help. And put it past the corner to the left.

    sis2two thanked sushipup1
  • 10 years ago

    My preference would be: keep the fork and mirror where they are (I like both of them and the mirror helps to reflect light). Replace the lamp with a smaller one. Edit the other items. I like to change things up seasonally. Depending on the size of the lamp, perhaps keep the taller flower arrangement and the antique book (?).

    sis2two thanked torreykm
  • 10 years ago

    I just wanted to say how much I like your rug. The couch and pillows are perfect with it.

    sis2two thanked ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
  • 10 years ago

    Thanks Ingrid! Would you believe I'm still trying to pick a wall color? Something that's not too light or as dark as the current one.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    What about swapping the white lamp for the black one?

    sis2two thanked Kippy
  • 10 years ago

    I think the fork is large enough to be by itself on a wall. Above the mirror it's too high and it diminishes the mirror. Don't try to make it part of this arrangement...

    sis2two thanked Annie Deighnaugh
  • 10 years ago

    I like it just like it is. Yes, it is crowded, but I think that is what you are going for.

    sis2two thanked graywings123
  • 10 years ago

    I like it just as it is too. I like the oversized lamp and think it gives the entire vignette "presence." I wouldn't change a thing.

    sis2two thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    i like it as it is, tho i agree that the hayfork would look best by itself on a more narrow wall space and think it's cool enough that it can stand alone! it might also look nice hung horizontally over a fireplace...

    sis2two thanked busybee3
  • 10 years ago

    Oh guys- I wish you were all here to help me play around with your ideas! I will be taking everything down to repaint anyway which is why I thought it would be a good time to change things up. The lamp does seem to take up a lot of space and I have always thought I may need to move it but just love the lamp itself. If I lose the hayfork I'm thinking I need to move the mirror up a bit? The mirror by itself seemed a little too short when gazing around the room at the height of other pieces such as the picture over the sofa, the tv over the mantle and pine armoire to the right of my fireplace. I hung the hayfork to compensate for that. I love old rustic things as you can tell. I even thought about looking for a bigger window pane mirror. I have found several of them on Etsy but they are either wider than my cabinet which is 40" wide or smaller in width than my current one.

    Thank you all so much for taking time to weigh in and appreciate any more suggestions.

  • 10 years ago

    I love the lamp!

    I would move the hay fork elsewhere and remove the small floral. The mirror looks like it's placed at the right height to me. I think it looks better to have things placed at varying heights.

    sis2two thanked Kitch4me
  • 10 years ago

    Try removing the daffodil arrangement leaving the tall floral and try the black lamp that is currently on the end table to the right of the sofa. Leave everything else the same.

    sis2two thanked tuesday_2008
  • 10 years ago

    Yeah, try switching the black shaded lamp in the other picture around with that white lamp. You might like the switch in both spaces.

    sis2two thanked l pinkmountain
  • 10 years ago

    The lamp with the black shade was given to a friend who absolutely loved it. The problem with it was that it gave out very little light which in that room didn't help matters. I have since replaced it with an antiqued gold lamp from Pottery Barn. And I love the new one beside my sofa. If anyone has specific lamp suggestions for that spot, please send me a link. Thanks so much!

  • 10 years ago

    I love it as it is. The white lamp might be a tad big-but it's something strangely cool about it being a bit off. Love the mirror. I'd just take a thing or two off-like the bowl or the little box -and leave the rest exactly where it is.

    sis2two thanked aprilneverends
  • 10 years ago

    How about taking everything off of the dresser except the lamp and moving the mirror to the left to line up with the left side of the dresser. Leave the fork.

    sis2two thanked Jak Perth
  • 10 years ago

    Take away the 2 vases of flowers and leave lamp, bowl and books/box. Three things is plenty....leave the fork where it is...looks good.

    sis2two thanked erinsean
  • 10 years ago

    If I move the mirror to line up with the left side of chest, then won't more of the mirror be obscured?

  • 10 years ago

    I don't mind the mirror, but the fork bothers me. I would take the fork down and think about changing the lampshade.