Yes repeated use of black and white. And also if you notice they have a lot of gold accent pieces, several gold lights and gold hardware and gold decor items even inside the glass cabinetry

I don't think this space would be nearly as fabulous without the red chairs. Really they could be any color that pops off the black. Yellow, green, purple, etc.

Eta -

I also think it works because it is an uninterrupted use of black. If you have a secretary that is painted black against a white wall it will not look the same.

Yep. The red chairs create the fabulousness for sure.

I think everyone above is correct. I see black and white as the base colors, with red and gold, plus the warm color of the flooring, bringing the room together. Black and white alone would look boring to me, but the warm colors add life to the room, and make it all look right, regardless of the different styles of furniture and accessories.

Contrast and repetition as other pointed out make this room work. Our eyes register pattern--colors, styles, finishes. Emily pointed out the gold finishes throughout. There's no nickel or bronze that I can see.. The red from the chairs is picked in in two pieces on the cabinet and a couple of the bottles--not too much since the red takes up so much visual space. The red chairs are high contrast to break up the black. The black sideboard and walls are a lot of black, so when black repeats it's in a pattern--gingham seat covers, black and white rug, and plenty of white just outside the room to keep things from being too dark.

If you have a room that's a mishmash, take into account the main colors you see: walls, floors, big upholstered or wood pieces. Then make sure everything else in the room--pillows, rug, art--have just a touch of that main color or secondary color, and your eyes will connect the pattern. Check your finishes in hardware and lighting. If they're all the same, you'll get a feeling of harmony. This isn't "matchy/matchy" It's repeating a visual element that connects the pieces so they "talk" to each other.

It does help to know the color wheel so that you know which colors are complementary. That helps you connect pieces, too. If you inherited your grandmother's big golden oak table but you want a modern look, then pick modern chairs with wood legs that echo the table.

Many of us wind up with Design Dilemmas because we bring home pieces that don't in any way connect with the palette, finishes, or style we have at home. It's great to mix it up, but you do it by "echoing" one element from piece to piece. I hope that makes sense.

Oh, this is just me, but I start with art--have a lot of it, and every other choice of furnishings in my house somehow works with the art. But you can go the other way if you don't have art. Pick a big piece in a subject and style you like that works with what you already have. Here's an example of a palette that would pull things together with your green sofa, black sideboard--pillow is MCM style and has many of the colors of the art. Now you wouldn't put them side by side, but displayed 5-10 feet apart, they would work together.

would you mind sharing a pic of your space to see how it compares to your inspiration room?

following

Photos of what I am working with are not loading. I will try in a few separate posts.

Are you willing to paint the room black?

I thinks those worked. FYI: I know this is a hot-mess. I have been pulling stuff out the attic and trying stuff from different rooms. The 3 prints will be used in this room. End tables and lamps are not working. Coffee table/ottoman can stay or go. Sofa, leather recliners, secretary, and bar cabinet need to stay for now. Carpet could be changed but I think it works??

If you are trying to find a room that works, the artwork is fine. If you are trying to get to the inspiration room, I think you should start by painting the room black. Or at minimum everything on the fireplace wall. The entire room would be ideal.

I am not willing to paint it black. I am not trying to make my room look like the room in the OP. I just like the room in the OP because it takes different styles and makes them work together.

I think you are on your way to having a lovely and cozy living space. I think you can absolutely mix styles and the mcm bar with your more traditional sofa and leather chairs and wildlife art look great together. I agree that the side tables arent quite right. its hard to see how the different pics you show relate as an entire room. wondering if you can get a pic of the whole room and then pics of the four walls. I am showing a pic of a room that has different styles. modern elements like art and chair fabric and side tables combined with traditional pieces like the style of chair and sofa.

a couple ideas..

1. I would consider some more modern feeling side tables, maybe mcm style to bring the look of the bar into the seating area. something less heavy feeling compared to what you have now.
2. I think you need side table lamps and maybe even a floor lamp and those could be a little more modern feeling too.
3. I think your traditional pieces are the sofa, leather chairs, ottoman, rug and wildlife art, so bringing in more modern side tables and lighting could help bring the two styles together...
   
   

   My Houzz: Eclectic English Cottage in the Hollywood Hills · More Info

forgot about the black desk. its more traditional too so more modern pieces are needed

heres a few more pics of rooms with multiple styles, traditional and modern, working together... just for some inspiration

Eclectic Living Room · More Info

Living Room Makeover: Union Square, NYC 1 bedroom apartment · More Info

Traditional Living Room · More Info

I am now on the hunt for more modern end tables and lamps for this room. Feel free to throw some suggestions out.

Room is 20x14 .

ok.... I will start with side table ideas for the chairs and ends of couch. my thinking is that the room needs to have some less heavy feeling pieces. options include wood that brings the color of your mcm bar to the sitting area, as well as other materials that add texture and color and some different shapes...

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/retro-tripod-nesting-tables-h2091/?pkey=cend-side-tables&isx=0.0

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/lawrence-drink-table-h4028/?pkey=cend-side-tables&isx=0.1

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/floating-disks-side-table-dark-walnut-h4033/?pkey=cend-side-tables&isx=0.2

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/terrace-side-table-h530/?pkey=cend-side-tables&isx=0.0

https://www.potterybarn.com/m/products/hale-adjustable-accent-table-mp/?pkey=cend-tables&isx=0.1

https://www.roomandboard.com/m/catalog/living/end-tables/slim-end-tables-in-colors

Thx! I like the terrace tables! The other ones seem too small surface wise.

What do you think of this? It's in my attic.

a few ideas on table lamps...

https://www.potterybarn.com/m/products/seville-led-lamp/?pkey=ctable-desk-lamps&isx=0.1

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/sphere-stem-table-lamp-w3704/?pkey=ctable-lamps&isx=0.0

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/ribbed-glass-table-lamp-9-8-w3627/?pkey=ctable-lamps&isx=0.0

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/pelle-table-lamp-2-light-w1934/?pkey=ctable-lamps&isx=0.1

https://www.westelm.com/m/products/revolve-led-table-lamp-h3405/?pkey=ctable-lamps&isx=0.1

The honest truth? A day of styling, hours of careful balancing of color, a designer & a talented photographer :)

love the trunk!!! bring it down and see how it looks in the room. love the silver and gold on it and it has great texture.. what other surprises do you have in the attic.

i was thinking some of the options might be too small, but I was thinking a couple of them could be used as a place to put a drink down next to a chair, not necessarily to put next to the couch....

Depending on its size, I'd try that trunk as the coffee table. It will pick up the gleam of your nailhead trim. Then, if there's room, I'd put the round tufted piece out in front of the fireplace with a throw and a tray on top, plus a few items in the tray. I love the large animal piece and would hang it 5" above the sofa. As mentioned, you do need new tables and lamps. Here's a chart to help you get the heights right.

I will have DH bring the trunk down. It's smaller than the ottoman and a bit beat up. I bought it 30 years ago from a storage facility that was closing so it's been moved several times. I will try that configuration to see how it looks.

..."what pulls this together"??...repetitive geometric pattern (grids,squares, stripes,

,crosses) a controlled palette (charcoal,red,white), a VERY purposeful limiting of contrast (note that the dark wall blends into the large dark buffet), a unifying bit of gleam, and a few natural elements. And a lot of editing and staging. Pic below is another angle on the space.

Black and White Living Room · More Info

Something else to consider in your space is that it looks like all the 'height' (and interest) is currently on the fireplace and door walls.

I love your room. It's not a hot mess. Some modern MCM side tables and lamps would modernize the room. Arrange your art above the secretary so it balances out the height of the MCM piece on the other side. Think about a modern woodland landscape over the sofa, which would relate to the animal prints you have and picks up some of the colors in your room. (I mistakenly thought your taste was way more MCM, so I thought art connecting to that style would work. However, your pieces and current art are more of a mix. The MCM piece you have is incredible btw.)

Crestview "Double Birch" Wall Art, 2-Piece Set · More Info

Vincent Van Gogh The Grove Framed Canvas Print, 20"x25" · More Info

Original Landscape Painting Large Art 24x48 Sun Trees Wall Decor by Thomas John · More Info

Tennessee Forest, Original By Alexis Baranek · More Info

I'm eager to see how the metal trunk looks.

Like most of your items together.

End table swill work but a pair of tall thin lamps (metal painted black or any color you like) with matching medium/large white shades would work better. You might also look for a floor lamp that will go with the lamps you choose.

Much prefer the ceiling fan idea and even the recessed overhead lights to the gaudy brass in the inspiration pic.

Would center the black secretary between fireplace surround and outside wall and add a black wall hung cabinet or wall hung shelving -- such as a box shelf -- above it.

https://www.target.com/p/wall-mounted-hutch-espresso-inval/-/A-77395869?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Furniture%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Furniture&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9011029&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg6XQsJHI5wIVGpSzCh0gYQ-AEAQYBiABEgIvR_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Your foot locker could be painted -- black or your favorite bold color -- (and perhaps a glass top or a really large wood cutting board added as a top d) so it could serve as a third lamp table. You might also consider adding framed prints to it -- at least the front and to any sides that show.

I like your dry bar as is but if it begins to seem out of place, (instead of painting the cabinet) you could add (black or your favorite bold color) painted panels inside the top open shelves part of it against the back of the interior -- something you could remove later if you choose to do so.

This looks promising??

CLs $175.00 Lane Cameo walnut table.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/fuo/d/pittsburgh-lane-mcm-end-table/7039646090.html

That table is great! Don't paint the MCM bar; just pick up a couple pieces like the one you just showed to echo it.

Here are two more modern lamps for the possible side tables. The gold brass would echo your brass trunk and the black your black secretary.

I dig that 1st lamp! Where is it from?

Don't worry - I am not painting the bar cabinet. It's solid walnut and in fantastic shape. All the glass and lights are original.

love the lane side table you found and both lamps

love that you went to vintage options...a few more.... I like the two tier options quite a bit

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Mid-Century-Modern-Mersman-2-Tier-Round-End-Side-Accent-Table-Retro-1960s/274213903767?hash=item3fd86c1d97:g:X4QAAOSwrcRd6bbI

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mid-Century-Modern-Mersman-8196-2-Tier-End-Side-Accent-Table-1960s/274203880724?hash=item3fd7d32d14:g:0bQAAOSwE3peHiLh

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MID-CENTURY-MODERN-LANE-PERCEPTION-SIDE-END-TABLE-BASKET-WEAVE-DETAIL-DANISH-MOD/183907977500?hash=item2ad1c5091c:g:UagAAOSwjsldRJD1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mid-Century-Modern-Wood-2-Tier-Accent-Side-End-Table-retro-deco/133313584898?hash=item1f0a1bdf02:g:~noAAOSwdQFeKcj2

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mid-Century-Modern-2-Tier-Side-Table-by-Viko-Baumritter-A-Pair/202710328411?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item2f327a245b:g:8fwAAOSwJ1xdCDNn

Hey Rory,

from what i can see it's the balance of color. For instance large dark cabinets white wall in the hall way to balance. The rug, the color of the table bottom, and the white center piece play into that color scheme as well. The Metal finishes in the light fixtures and the vase on the end table, I personally would have opted to make the hardware on the cabinets that same Satin Brass color just to further tie this look together maybe something fro Century Hardware's Glamour collection. Wood table top to match the flooring. You see what i'm saying? Over all who ever designed this did a pretty good job at balancing a lot of different things in one space.

Glamour · More Info

How about some gold rub n buff on the secretary handles to warm them up and make them work better with the bar? It is so easy to do and would really make a difference I think.

I'd like to address the two white elephants in the room- remove those two column posts on top of the mantle-please!