The layout of the room is very challenging. Ive attached a couple more photos. I had to go with a sectional for maximum seating and comfort.

Amyz is your hearth painted?

Yes, it's white, (was like that when we moved in)

I like your fireplace but it is the hearth I thought which looked too white in the picture.

What color would you paint the hearth? We have fires all the time in the winter and would be nice to paint darker to hide the dirt! :)

Grey/brown would be good, and also it would work for hiding the dirt.

We make Contemporary Stained Glass Lighting and Art. Some of our pieces such as the Plice or Safari would fit perfectly in this room. Visit our website at http://www.lightinart.com/ to see more options.

I love the rug in this room and how the pillows work with it. Just wondering.....can you switch the direction of it at all? You might need to tuck more under the legs so it does not hit the hearth, but I wonder if it will fit better turned.

Hi Abby jean. Thank you! I think it might work! I'll give it a try!

The furniture arrangement is odd. Should be the other direction, the rug size, orientation and design is not the best one. Pillows design and distribution are not in properly displayed. There are so many things wrong with this room.

Pretty room- very inviting.
I'd paint the fireplace a couple of shades darker than the walls, and tuck the rug in so it doesn't lay in the walkway. Maybe extend the panels down the wall, leaving them open and gathered between the doorways.

Since you are keeping the rug, can you put part of it under the couch and the other part will have the coffee table on it? That way it will look like a smaller square rug and not stick out past your couch with the table behind it. To answer your original questions, I think the pillows go very well with the rug and sectional. I think painting the entire room (also the wall the tv is on, a deeper, richer color would look nice. I wouldn't paint the fireplace; just the walls and your curtains would look fine then.

I think you should rotate the rug 90 degrees and push it under the sectional a little more if possible or you may even need to push the sectional back a little. If you just play with the placement a little I think the rug will look better.

I too have a challenging room very similar to this one and had the exact same issue with the rug (which I loved) that I was using. I opted to try a much larger rug and it changed it up a lot. I like the other posters idea of using a darker color for the hearth.

On second thought; I just noticed your walls with the windows are painted a tan color? Are the walls painted by the tv the same color? If so, I would go a little darker. Does the room have a cathedral ceiling or just the right side of the fireplace? Maybe paint the fireplace brown so it's a contrast with the white ceiling. Paint does magic for a room.

Lovely room. I agree - turn carpet the other way round. Also - the two lamps on your sofa table,
maybe put one on each side with pics in the middle.

Looks like you've had simple and great suggestions. where are you talking about putting a chandelier? Can't see it??

Agree: re-orient pretty rug so that furniture sitting ON it...to me your sofa looks same length both ends, but I'd still like to see pic with it turned 90% and / or tucked under.

Paint cabinet to right of fireplace for eye to flow over. What does that space look like back there? Room for small reading chair? ( on phone and can't see well.)

Paint hearth floor dark like you thought...maybe matching table?

If new drapes aren't in budget, simply sew or fuse a chocolate stripe (ribbon or fabric) down inner edge of curtains, 2" was suggested to me.

Agree on separating lamps on table and group photos and basket in middle.

Save the vertical fireplace wall to last and if room still doesn't look good, follow suggestions mentioned above...1 or 2 shades darker.

Love fireplace painting but it looks small and lonely.

Great job on a difficult space. :)

Ok, looked at mantel again...move painting to left where blue jug is (love it! Want one!). Then...are those 2 shelves on up? Will blue vase fit on one? Or anything else in your colors? The painting is squished too close to the right shelf...it doesn't have to be centered. Wonder if simply painting the shelves a shade or two darker would punch it up a bit? Hmmm

Your family room is so warm and inviting. I really like the artwork on the mantel is looks stunning next to the vase. You did a lovely job.

The room looks fantastic. You've done a great job.

I agree with the earlier suggestion that the cabinet to right of fire place would be nice painted to reduce contrast with fire place. However, if you do repaint the fireplace that would change what colour for that cabinet. I just think it would help if it didn't distract from the focal point of the picture/fireplace.

I really like the room just the way you have it.. if I were to change anything, it would be to do something to the fireplace. nice job.

Try pulling the rug back under the part of the sectional that backs up to the window. That way it won't stick out on the other end.

Amyz.....LOVE the colors in your room! Try turning the rug AND the coffeetable. Then try to scoot the sectional about a foot toward the tv wall and maybe back from the fireplace about 6". I'm not sure if you have the room, but hoping those few inches could be done and still give plenty of wall way behind the sectional (at sofa table area) and in front of the end of sectional by tv. I know the end closest to the fireplace will be a smidge forward, but being pulled back should still help with passing that end to get to the built in unit.

Since I have always had to make do with what I had, I would just tuck the rug under the sofa so that it gives it the "squared" look you're trying to go for? I think the room looks great!

Thanks for all the great feedback! I'm going to try turning the rug this weekend when hubby is here to help! so next question. What kind of chandelier would u do? I'm trying to go for warm and rustic!

Your ceiling appears to go on forever. How high is it and did you want the chandelier centered in the grouping?

Just move the rug under the sectional so it does not jut out so far. Then it will be more balanced. Beautiful room.

New to the forum, just wanted to say I love your room and plan to steal some of your ideas!

Haha! Thank u! Would love to see your end result!

I kind of like the idea of turning the rug diagonal to the sectional. It would take the squareness out of the space. Your pillows are great. You may try to find two that have just the blue with the gold to add a touch of the gold in. I think repainting the fireplace hearth is a great idea, but don't go too dark. Very dark colors show just as much dirt and scratches as very light colors do. Your drapes kind of disappear into the surrounding wall. Consider putting a blue or chocolate strip down the two sides. Iron on or stick a piece of ribbon?
Your room is really pretty. Relaxed and the blues have a calming affect.

I would hang the draperies above all windows all the way across the room at the same ceiling level to make the windows appear the same height. The things that are distracting to me are what looks like a magazine rack on the right of the sofa in front of the window, and also what looks like a color jungle gym on the left of the picture.

another peak at what you've done?

I'm going to move the rug tomorrow and will post a pic! :)

Great room, love what you've done. There is very little I'd change about it. Maybe I would move the coffee table more into the center of the rug, but only because I'm looking at it from above.
And I'd perhaps find another nice, soft painting like the one you have over the mantel, and hang it over the TV.... to keep the TV from dominating that wall so much. Only looks that way from one direction, though..
Just love the colors, and please leave the white fireplace alone.. it's the star of the room!

The room looks very warm with honey browns & pale blue/greens. The white fireplace color just doesn't blend or feel as warm as the rest of your decor. It feels very stark in comparison, maybe you can paint or a rub that could soften that.

The room is very close to working as it should.

Three suggestions. .
1. Paint the fireplace/hearth something a bit darker. The white paint makes it seem quite monolithic.
2. Find an area rug that fits the space a bit better.
3. Be more selective in the use of accessories. There is quite a bit going on in the room and the elimination of a few things here and there help to calm the environment.

I have altered your submitted photo to reflect the suggested changes.

Consider SW's outerbanks for the FP and wall. Tidewater might make a nice accent wall under the railing if you like accent walls. Would the rug work with your dining room -4' wider and longer than the table? I'd like simple linen roman shades for the windows and glass doors, so they could be pulled down and hide the room next door. Wish the TV was where your built-in is so the sofa wouldn't be up against the French doors.

Thank you deco enthusiast. I too wish the tv wasn't on the current wall but I have no other choice bc of how the room is laid out. I like that paint dolor you suggested but ideally I want the room to be as warm as possible. Any suggestions for a chandelier?

Rick Alexander you re good! Love what you've done with my room. I agree rug looks much better pushed under sofa. I'm just sad bc it's a gorgeous rug and now you can't really see it! Also love the pic hanging but I can't do that bc there is a dumb decorative shelf built in the brick that is too small to hold anything. I'm thinking of having the fp refaced with a stacked stone but am afraid it will cost about $10k. I don't want faux stone as an alternative either. I thought about glazing it too to tone it down maybe? But I also like your suggestion of darkening the hearth. Any suggestions for a chandelier? I love the idea of raw, organic woods and rustic! Also, I feel my room lacks texture which I love, any suggestions on what I could add to give texture? Burlapish drapes maybe?

Linen or linen like drapes. Easier to find than burlap unless you make them urself.

I really love your room. Looks very cozy. Love the pillows on your couch. Where did you get them?

Don't know your budget for a chandelier, but one of my favorite makers is www.hubbardtonforge.com they are a Vermont company that offer fixtures made by American craftsmen. The three fixtures I picked out all work on sloped ceilings.

http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/ProductsInfo.cfm?Design=138589
http://www.hubbardtonforge.com/ProductsInfo.cfm?Design=136315

Love your room. I like the white FP, it makes the room bright. I always love white, wood and blue. classic! If FP is painted grey or beige the room would be too neutral. I love your mantel design as well, esp the blue glass. Sofa pillows and rug all gorgeous. Just move rug under legs do sofa to shorten a bit. Paint bookcase to blend in with wall colour. Give it a sort out and cull. I like sofa table with out the wicker bowl. Maybe a platter instead. Also, an interesting table at left hand arm of sofa. But don't add any more accessories to room. You have have done a great job!

Shantal, the pillows were custom made and a decorator helped me pic them. I find fabric selection overwhelming! I bet you can find them on etsy though.

Your room is beautiful, and my few suggestions would be to pull the sectional out from the windows about 4-6inches, then scoot the rug under a few inches as well, then you won't lose so much of the rug. I wouldn't paint the built in, but you should edit most of the accessories, and add back in some punches of white and blue. A chandelier would be amazing, but make sure it is large and hung low enough to be in the visual plane of the room. Ballard's, Pottery Barn, and Shades of Light all have great selections...depends on your budget.

Thank you amyz. You have done a fabulous job!

Have you seen the articles on Houzz and elsewhere about faux painting brick on a fireplace? If you made the brick more cream, light browns, etc, I think it would warm it up (no pun intended). lol.

I I see some baby equipment in the room. If you decide not to move the rug you could put a covered basket beside the sofa to hold toys. Just be sure it's a stylish, simple design.

old post August 2 0 1 3.....................................................