I'm desperate to change my dull, boring, man-inspired house!

13 years ago

I have a very small house, 1600 sq ft total. Our main living area is one big room which includes the kitchen, dining area and living space. My husband chose all the furniture and colors, so the walls are all tan, the furniture is all black leather and nothing on the walls. I especially hate the ugly brown curtains he chose. I can't purchase all new furniture so I'm hoping I can paint, add some color pops and artwork so it looks like a woman lives in this house.

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Barnhart Gallery

13 years ago

last modified: 13 years ago

Eagerly awaiting photos to offer some help. I'm the lone female in a household of Aquarian men -- what a birthday season we just had!

I have to say that at home I quite purposefully design with an aesthetic that skews masculine, yet my women friends swoon at the result. One who came to hubby's 50th who hadn't been here before said that she'd peeked outside at our patio and hoped that I didn't mind when she and her husband show up this summer with a few bottles of wine to enjoy by the fire, lol. At the end of the party her normally quiet husband made a spectacle, marveling at our foyer's corner chair and demanding one for himself. (Yes, he'd had a nip or two of the high-test home brewed mead.) Come to think if it, they showed up late the next morning for some reason or other.

I'm inspired to create settings where Cary Grant and Bogey might stroll in and put their feet up for a glass of brandy (making a batch of orange brandy now in fact.) But it also has to be just edgy enough to entertain, say, Sting and Paul Weller from 70's punk band The Jam. And perhaps Thomas Jefferson, too. I think if you forgo the floral and frou frou for a look of quality and luxury, on any budget, you both win.

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Comments (13)

Manon Floreat
13 years ago
This sounds like a fun and promising project. Please post pictures of your space and sit back and watch the ideas fly!
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ASVInteriors
13 years ago
You have a good start. You can paint your walls, what colour are your floors. If you cannot change your curtains - you can "adapt" them to add cream or other colours on them!
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The Look Interiors, Inc.
13 years ago
You make me want to rush in to help you! You're living in a man cave. Sigh! Get an accent chair or an ottoman in a print that includes black and tan, if possible. Trade out the brown drapes for a tan that's close to the wall color, so they soften the room, rather than close in your small space. Consider an area rug, and if you want to make your man happy, but give it "a girl with good taste lives here look", think about a very cool cow hide in front of the sofa. Add a cream or tan throw and a couple of throw pillows to compliment the fabric chair or ottoman you've added. I always love to add a lamb fur pillow whenever possible. Find lamps that are large enough to work with your leather furnishings, but add style and flair. A few simple changes could make the room elegant and inviting without chasing your man out. Attached is one of my versions of a man cave that works for both sexes.
Judy M
13 years ago
Add a pop of a bright color you like!

Our Island Retreat · More Info

Yaletown Loft · More Info
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Barnhart Gallery
13 years ago
LOL, Pandora just played me "That's Entertainment" from the Jam, and now Sting's come on. Not so unusual for my playlist, but funny.
Manon Floreat
13 years ago
Barnhart, I love reading your posts. Should you ever decide to publish a book of anecdotes, I'll gladly add it to my humble library.
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Barnhart Gallery
13 years ago
Thank you so much -- I'm a big fan of your stylish perspectives as well!
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Susan Mills Design
13 years ago
Agreed! Manon has a wonderful sense of style, I always find new perspective from her posts. I would buy both those books, Barnhart.
Darzy
13 years ago
jennifers399...if you don't post pictures and get free top notch design advice from the above posters it would be like losing a winning lottery ticket. : )
Jennifer O'Dell Sample
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Here is a photo right before we moved out. We moved back in last year and my husband brought with him an entire household of man cave items, all black and brown. I posted another thread with a photo, so I think I have two threads going at once. UGH!

This is the kitchen/dining room. Imagine the rest of the living area as one big stretch from the kitchen to the front window.
Darzy
13 years ago
Great start and the first thing I noticed was that fabulous chandelier. Can you delete one of the posts? It will confuse us. :)
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Barnhart Gallery
13 years ago
Hi Jennifer -- I glanced at your ideabook to see what sort of elements would bring you into the space, and you don't seem uncertain at all about what you like. Plus, I think you've got a perfect neutral backdrop to Jennifer up the place!

I saw a lot of teal in your book, so popped some items in for inspiration. Just choose paisleys instead of flowers, teals instead of pinks, botanical rather than floral, etc. and bring some sparkle to the space. I already love the globe birdcage lighting.