Upgrading a Living Space
Originally a very formal and traditional space, this area has changed as our family needs have morphing into a huge storage room and even an unconventional bedroom for my college age son. Today, it will again become my special living space with hopefully a more Contemporary feel. My dilema? I have no clue how to do this or how to incorporate the pieces I've collected over the years into my new space!
I have a beautiful natural manzanita wood table that is going to be refinished and used as my coffee table. To the left of my new couch is a beautiful preserved petrified wood stump that will now become my end table. Not sure about my lamp but there is no ceiling lighting in this room so I'm dependent on accessory lighting. My original thought was to have a student desk against the widest wall for me to keep my paperwork off the kitchen table. The accessories include an antique, hand carved Japanese Ranma, two ancient Asian door panels and an abstract painting I received as a birthday gift. Any thoughts on where to put these or if it's time to get something else? I know I need an area rug but should it be solid, flat, shag, with geometrical designs? Like I said, clueless and needing direction.
Comments (94)
9 years agoHere are my current lamp choices. I will be adding two, one on either side of the sofa.
- 9 years agoAnd finally, the only other room that has been updated is my kitchen. Here are some photos. The wall color is called "Sage".
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9 years agoSylvia,
Just read through your posts. You have great taste and love what you're doing!!! I like these lamps below. They add a touch of the orient to the room & look great with your art work. Also another suggestion is to have a piece of granite or marble cut and leathered to go on top of your driftwood table to make it a little bigger around. Just maybe a 4 inch overhang all the way around.
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9 years ago- 9 years agoWhat do you mean havingfun? Your lamp was the first one of the group. Also, I've been thinking that a floor lamp on either side of the sofa should give a more linear feel or the lamps might consume the sofa.
Mind you, I have no interior design experience so I don't know the rules that apply here. Thoughts?
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9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoWhat a special room with a beautiful mood.
Here are some suggestions only.
Overall goal of room? See how close bottom of picture is to top of sofa?
Transitional Living Room · More InfoOnce color in art is repeated strongly in pillows and lamps for impact and balance. Check out the more info for this picture below and see the love seat that goes in this room; a repitition of colors in the art.....pretty!
Kilburn Apartment · More InfoI think woven roman shades in the windows for a more natural feel in the room.
Newport Beach - Bonita Canyon · More InfoPlace sofa on longest wall and invest in a pair of end tables in steel and wood and a large size and color from the painting for some type lamp with a cylindrical shape. Hang your beautiful picture above the sofa, with bottom being 5 inches from top of sofa. I think the combined height of end table and lamp is 54" for best light and reading.
Coventry Antique Brass Finish Resin and Crystal Table Lamp 34" Tall · More InfoPlace your cocktail table 18 inches from sofa.
I like the placement of your pair of chairs. Your small wood table/stump is lovely and might work between the two chairs. Add bright brass pharmacy type lamps on either side of the chairs or try this one in between and have two small end tables on either side of chairs. If you use the great stump, then something else in similar scale for other side works too.
2 Light Metal Floor Lamp · More Info
Metal Floor Lamp, Brushed Brass · More InfoPut a sleek desk with storage cabinets on either side on far wall opposite the entry.....try two floating shelves over your desk for accessories and books, and your carving, the Ranma, horizontally above or below the open shelfing. Tucking in a horizontal bulletin board could work too. Add a pretty colorful office chair that feels good.... Also a tall green bamboo plant might look good in either corner of the far wall by the desk area.
Newbury Street Penthouse · More Info
King's Road Luxury Living · More InfoI am just throwing this in, but grass cloth on your desk wall would look amazing.
Greenwood Village Home · More InfoThe door panels can be put on the narrow walls on either side of the entry to the room.....possibly with small console tables underneath them or in front of them with bonzai trees on them, possibly matching lamps and again natural growing Bonzai. The pot shown below would be lovely inspiration and if a color is chosen would be a nice surprise of color in the room.
Contemporary Powder Room · More InfoA rug that covers all but 12 inches around the room will add softness, warmth, and pattern, and various pillows on sofa and chairs that repeats the color/s in the art over the sofa. A color or colors form picture in a muted pattern or weave could work.
These are just suggestions but your room idea is so unique I sorta got carried away. Keep us posted on what you do next.
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PRO9 years ago- 9 years agoYes, guidance....sorry....got caught up thinking about all the ideas that I got distracted. That's usually my problem. I like SO many things that over the years my home had lost cohesion, each room having it's own personality. Too difficult for me to sort out what we've collected over time or how to incorporate it into some new and calming. So, thank you all for giving me a center of gravity.
Below is my Japanese color palette. With only hints of color and mostly in things that can be changed like pillows or accessories. My kitchen only has color in the countertop because I didn't want to distract my view to the exterior through my windows. As a matter of fact, when you walk in the front door, it's a straight view to my backyard. Therefore it's important for me to connect my interior decor with my exterior landscape.
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you know, i might have a rug that at least fit in your color realm? I am sure i put some up before, hope they don't overlap, just going by your colorchart now.
Modern Area Rugs | AllModern · More Info
Area Rugs | Joss & Main · More Info
Bashian Rugs Ashland Aqua Area Rug | AllModern · More Info
Mohawk Home Huxley 8'x10' Rug, Adobe · More Info
Surya Rug Co. - Aberdine ABE-8014 · More Infonote these all rely on teals more than blues, it can be hard to pick out sometimes, i kept trying drk blues and none worked. let me know if you want me to toss some.
Stave Area Rug & Reviews | AllModern · More Info - 9 years ago
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well i don't know if it is a fail, i just want to to give you what you want and now i am confused?
ok, so you want your room to include the red in this pic?
now i might be wrong, but i think that the red in the print is fairly bright, which i don't see going with the lovely subdued stormy colors of your palette, huh-could not spell that for nothing yesterday! now I can see the red surrounding the painting going with it. but, there is always a computer color diff to take into account.this looks ok
3 Creek · More Info
brighter than this does not?
housebeautiful on Instagram: “Making things merry in the butler's pantry. · More Info
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- 8 years agoFirst, I cannot begin to thank everyone for their incredible advice! I am amazed at the time and effort that many of you put into my project with numerous pictures, photoshop designs and sketches to help guide me through this. I'm not completely finished, as finding what you want sometimes takes longer than you want, then you have to be able to afford what you like, lol! Nonetheless, here are some photo updates.
I finally found the perfect area rug! My pillow covers are in but I won't get the inserts till this weekend. My desk will hopefully be ordered this weekend and my abstract painting will go up after delivery so that I can center it with the desk in place. Lamps will have to wait a few pay checks. Still looking for a desk chair and the perfect accessories but I'm always open to thoughts and ideas! Thank you all again!!
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images