Thanks Ted! I can’t figure him out either ;P .. He has some years on me, therefore yes his parents are older.. but his mother just has such weird, dark, old fashioned taste. I am more into the modern whites, grays, etc. i was actually just on pinterest trying to save ideas of things that I do like. Are there any programs online where you could “create” a room? The house is really nice & has so much potential - but it really needs a womans touch. I truly dont know why he is so resistant to change.

Y'all stop it - she's got it, and wants to do this!!! pick items you like and show them and/or click the 'like' button so we know.... ted's post about modern floor - like I said! yeh. don't darken it.

I happen to like my large floral in a warm/cool coppery color. Bring in lamp with old-color finish, but new shape, etc... something like that.

To me almost a classic shape in statue! -- ?

old and new

[https://www.houzz.com/products/tribal-impressions-1-light-table-lamp-in-african-walnut-prvw-vr~101836444[(https://www.houzz.com/products/tribal-impressions-1-light-table-lamp-in-african-walnut-prvw-vr~101836444)

So Sherri now that we've had our say, can you give us your thoughts whether you and the budget are open to more than replacing the pillows such as lamps and a rug or the budget right now is for pillows and that is it.

pasting previous posts:

I like the first lamp- I actually some similar to it but in silver at my old apartment. I had gray couches with dark purple/white/silver pillows... an pretty area rug that pulled everything together....

I haven’t seen any pillows/rugs posted that would make me happier with this room. And at no fault to anyone- it’s obviously difficult to make this room young and fresh. Everything looks it belongs in the brady bunch house. Seeing all the options of things that would work in this room make me realize even moreso that all I can do is keep fighting to completely re-decorate & start over.
I really appreciate everyone who took the time to try and help me- I had no idea I would get so much input!

Tongue in cheek, joke ok? but go funky or go home! W 15" / H 8" / 6 lbs. recycled books / Designer EcoFirstArt

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I totally agree with Grover. Nothing short of a nuclear disaster could help those things. They look like they are doing their level best to fall apart on you as the cushions look deflated and worn. I would try to work a small hole or tear in the cushion on a seam or portion of the couch where it’s visible from any angle or flip of the cushion. Then every few days I would attack it vigorously and pull on it like my life depended on it make it get worse all the while acting like I had no clue what or how that happened. After a few weeks maybe staple gun into the cushions from the underside, preferably on the side where your husband sits so he gets a good poke every so often.

I wouldn’t do too much at once so it’s obvious you hacked it with scissors and a cheese grater. You need to be strategic. But good lord you have to do something you can’t be expected to live with that much less work a design plan around.

People can think less of me for my devious tactics, but by rook or crook I’d stop at nothing until I succeeded at victory and wiped any trace of their very existence from my home. Your husband is being unreasonable. In this case need to fight fire with fire, not throw pillows.

Hi Sherri, you said the couches are 11 or 12 yrs old. Does that mean you have had them in your home for that same amount of time?

Sherrie- not Brady Bunch as that was mid-century. More like Victorian-lol.. If you have a Home Goods store near by, stop by and take a look at their pillows. Purple might work and at least give you a good feeling.

HAHA DALLison thanks for the laugh!!!

Yes these couches have been here since 2006/2007. I’ve had to live with them for 2.5 years.

This living room has no TV- its just a formal living room. I want new furniture in the entire house actually. IMO 11-12 years does not make me evil for wanting my OWN taste! And clearly every single person on this thread agrees!

@ted, one of my friends says it looks like a Persian prostitute waiting room LOL !!

Does your in-laws have the same style of furniture?

I read OP only. My biggest fear is killing my SS w/kindness by setting his or his/his mate’s household. Many parents have trouble coming to terms with the adulthood of their offspring and hover around in less than subtle ways. It’s an overbearing act. If parents really wanted to help, why not give them the $$$? I hope for your sake that a conversation over lunch will help loosen the reigns, so to speak. Best of luck.

PS: I’d accidentally spill paint, grease, pet urine, whatever to get rid of that thing.

Sherri- ha, ha. I had to google Persian prostitute waiting room as I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing that. No room came up so I'll take your friends word for it-lol..

Kind of- very dark looking stuff. Their house is a lot smaller though- it would never fit their place. I dont think they measured here when shopping- the dining room set & master bedroom furniture (which match each other) are way too big for the rooms. I would compromise to leave the dining room, though.

Oh no.. "kind of" that remark could take yrs of therapy- for your husband not you! LOL

How about making the wood lighter and simplifying the accessories:

Or, removing the small, fussy accessories and adding large modern accessories:

Love the funky pillows on this one.

Poor Sherri. I get it! get it. I got married four years ago and I entered our union sweet, kind, and agreeing to compromise. I was met with the same absurdity in reason about what sucked as you’re dealing. Not willing to budge and bless his heart, terrible taste. Terrible. Just God awful.

Years of that made me less sweet apparently lol.

In all seriousness it’s not just the color it’s the fact that the cushions do show age. They are a decade plus in years so that fact is not any dig on the pieces themselves- just the breaks of aging. If you google European furniture, it’s both elegant and expensive. Possibly the reason everyone is so attached- my guess is they were not cheap purchases.

The bottom cushions are not boxseat kind with piping. If you got a piece of fabric and tucked accordingly you could totally change the look with merely the cost of some fabric and a few pins and double sided tape if it’s for a formal room no one sits in. Why not? Here are some real pics I just found that look very much like your pieces with different fabric.

Some more:

Love that fabric on the third one.

Pin the fabric around the bottom under the seat cushion like you would a bed skirt. Fold over the cushion and tuck on sides and in back. The bedskirt ish tuck of fabric covering the bottom will also eliminate some of the ornateness and darkness. Pin the back or use double sided sticky tape/ fabric pins. None of those options will do any damage to the pieces themselves. Plus if inlaws come over you could remove it in like five seconds!!

solids.

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If there's a hell I'm sure the devil is going to make me live eternity in that room. I will pray for you.

good news, heard the pope just declared there is no hell, you just vanish. now that puts that room in perspective. lol

Thought I would try too. Has anyone suggested accenting the brown of the wood in the pillows? Ouch, I feel your pain! The close up seemed more beige, so I threw in a pillow with that. (I really just wanted to follow along) :-)

I'm still not convinced these are actually expensive couches. In my experience, this kind of couch can either be expensive, or mall store. Think: mall store that sells large marble sculptures, ferns, life size jaguar cat floor art, and weird crystal wall hangings. Older inlaws, terrible taste, overbearing control over their grown middle aged son... all screams to me that they came from the latter, and are not expensive. These types of elderly inlaws often *think* they bought you something expensive, so the lore gets handed down that you can't get rid of them. That doesn't mean they didn't cost $1500 each, and are ripe to be replaced.

I still take the position that it's not worth doing anything to this room other than contribute to its demise, and push for all new stuff.

And i don't say that because of some silly "happy wife, happy life" mantra. I don't think just because new wife comes along, she gets to call the decorating shots. I say that because this room is objectively hideous, and thus demonstrates your husband is totally unable to make reasonable choices on decorating. So wife here should get to take the reins.

Been said? If you don't add color, I don't know how... almost as light and you can go:

Do you have anything in the house that's yours? Would he agree that once the furniture starts looking worn, it needs to be replaced? Or that you get to redo 1 room (with his input) every few years? Do you have anything that drives him crazy you could get rid of as a "trade"?

My husband moved in with me and brought almost nothing, but quickly broke my antique yellow couch. He was upset to not have any of "his" stuff, so I let him bring in a sofa of his choosing. I lived with that massive, awful paisley-and-leather monstrosity (similar in tone to this stuff) in my vintage 50s house for 5 years. Ugh. Just say no to unilateral furniture choices in joint spaces!

Prints |

Do you have to start with this room? Seems you said the whole house is "his" stuff. Why not begin with the room you spend the most time in? By the time you get back to this room perhaps he will see this, ahem, fine furniture is not working for both of you.

In our first house, my husband accepted a free sofa from his friend, which had been the the friend's Great Dane's dog bed. It was monstrous. Smelled. Covered with dog drool. Honestly, though, I don't know which is worse. The dog sofa, or yours, LOL.

I like how eclectic [how I understand it] goes fully with an item's vibe/ era, etc... and you somehow! could... what is it now?... not ignore your furniture, but dress it up with modern you like... idk.

Try blocks of color maybe muted orange, purple: one for art, purple solid [pillow or even rug] and how can that be offensive? as long as the color looks good with everything in the room...

One more: pick a color you love love and build around that - let's say it's autumn some color -- ? -- mishmash around, maybe red-dish pillow:

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Go Moroccan!

Replace the pillows with bolsters.

Area rug that works for “today”...

And the best…a killer coffee table in brass and glass with wood accent like the sofas.

Lipstick on a Pig. The furniture is 10+ years old and ugly; don't throw good money after bad. Time for an honest, adult conversation with your husband. This is your home, not his parents'. Thank them and move on.

you know, maybe we are going about this wrong, that couch might be an excellent participant in a boho room. what do you think?

Well, altering wood and/or upholstery is above -- havingfun did you have a direction- idk that I've asked you if you'll want to learn the digital way of placing items in a room - pretty sure some day I'll take it up...

nope even the houzz one, everytime i think i have it i don't, so i have given up pretty much. yes, drection i was thinking is everz is a take on boho.

… and I haven't read anything about 'how' pillows would fit and look: what measurement would be needed?....

'YOUR' parents gave you this painting and you absolutely refuse to take it down for fear you'll hurt their feelings

More to a physical point…the sofa is so low to the ground, it isn’t a good choice for ergonomical seating. Neither I nor my husband could sit on it, assuming we could get down and then up. Try approaching it from that direction. Could hubby’s parents seat themselves comfortably when they come to visit? I would bet not.

I wish we could all sit down and have an intervention…not with you, Sherri, but with your husband. The obvious is not the furniture; it is the control. Your husband knows you hate the furniture, and yet, he will not agree on a compromise. Everyone makes concessions in a marriage. Neither has power of attorney.

I don’t know the relationship he has had with his parents, although I could give a good guess. I do know that his first concern now and forever is you (as yours is for him). “Flat out” no’s have no place in a marriage. My wish for you is this is a one and only time.

After reading all the wonderful replies you have received, you must realize no amount of tweaking will make you happy with that room. But, again it isn’t about the furniture, it is about the fact you are sad and discouraged with your husband’s refusal to make you happy.

I sound like a therapist and I guess with 50 years of (great) marriage under my belt, I might qualify.

I hope I haven’t offended…I just feel disappointed for you.

First off - beautiful furniture. You can actually get the couches reupholstered and change the glass out for a custom granite or marble stone piece. Replace the rug with a pastel color to brighten the room up and consider a shade for window treatment. Your decor has a regal feel to it, and thats a great way to spruce up your space. Also compliment your furniture with neutral earthy tones and add a floral pillow as an accent. You could also get rid of your coffer table and add a trunk instead for more flair and a different look.

Sherri, it must be strange to have strangers analyzing your husband and marriage. Funny things can happen on an Internet forum when the answer you were looking for was about pillow selection. Probably not what you expected or signed up for.

Would you consider having your husband read this thread? These comments from unbiased people may open his eyes. Judy G's comments were spoken from the heart and from years of experience, maybe he will actually see himself through her words. I hope he can read the thread with an open mind.

I can’t believe this hopeless situation has so many responses. This is a marital issue, not a decorating issue. My advice is to see a marriage counselor.

Sherrie, None of us know you, your husband or your situation but what it comes down to is that you and your husband need to sit down and have a good open conversation and figure out what will make you both happy and within your budget and then put together a plan of attack. It may all have to be done in baby steps but at least you'll have a plan and both of you will be on the same page. And if he doesn't want to do anything, then you probably should think about that...