Living Room From Scratch
Hi all,
After living in this house for three years, I am finally planning on getting rid of the ugly carpeting in my living room (and elsewhere).
I’m also looking for néw sofas and chairs.
The niche in the wall is too small for our TV. I’d like to widen the space, cutting into the wall between the niche and the door to the patio.
We don’t like the fireplace, and never use it. I’d like to get rid of the stone surround, including the hearth, and have the bottom of that wall flush with the cabinets further along the wall. The picture below is of another house in this complex with the same floor plan. I love that look.
But wait, there’s more! We have the plantation shutters throughout the house. I want them painted or restrained to dark brown.
My style is British Colonial/Traditional/eclectic. I like some of what I see at Anthropologie. I really like Ballard Designs, but they get terrible reviews.
We have hardwood floors in the kitchen:
Please pardon the clutter. It’s not always like this.
I’m not a big fan of the light hickory hardwood as it is. Dirt gets caught in the roughened top edges. The color is too cottagey/rustic for my tastes. What would cost more — extending this floor through the living room, stained or painted to taste, or putting in all new wood?
I’m leaning to engineered wood because we have two small dogs, one elderly, one off his rocker (extreme canine ADHD). Also, I am clumsy, and both of us like to drink and snack in front of the TV.
Laminates and vinyl don’t appeal to me because they’re ... laminate and vinyl.
Budget is $50K.
Walls: I love the French scenic panels that cost 3200 € (even more in dollars). I could really see some kind of India-themed panel or panels on parts of the wall. Paint will be a bone color, lighter than what we have now and less yellow.
Colors: dark red, yellow or gold, and aqua blue/turquoise/bluish green. This is to go with the artwork over the fireplace, which stays. You can’t really see it in these photos; I will post more.
The corner cabinet, although from the 1940s, is veneer and can go. The sofa table — I’d like to keep it. Coffee and end tables, below, are from Pier One. OK to stay. We like the rug and would want to keep it, too.
Questions: do we have to stay with leather, given the dogs and our slobbish tendencies? I am really sick of the rec-room look. I want something more sophisticated, but slipcover sofas don’t quite look right. We still want our recliners, but they don’t have to scream “recliner.”
Even bigger question: are my instincts sound? Light to medium wood floor; bone-colored walls with white-white trim; dark shutters, around the same color as the coffee table shown here. Of course with the British Colonial look there will be plants, maybe botanical prints, and accessories like old maps, compass table, etc. No big elephant tusk (or fake tusk) on the floor, though.
Thank you in advance. I’m afraid of decorators: the ones whose web sites I like seem to cater to movie stars (we are in Los Angeles County) and are probably beyond my reach. The local ones do work that look like the cool decorators’ “before” pictures. I was raised with Mid Century Modern, and it is not my style. Looking for comfort, elegance, and a touch of exotica, hoping I can do it on my own.
Comments (23)
Sylvia Weiser Wendel
6 days agolast modified: 6 days agoThis is an example of the pricey French wallpaper:
I love the sepia.
It’s by Zuber.
Sylvia Weiser Wendel
6 days agoThese are examples of what I like:
Roll-arm sofa, generous side chairs, dark trim against white-white, beigey walls. Knobby table and chair legs. Wood floors and rugs.
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Help with decorating formal living room from scratch!!!!
Comments (1)More pictures...See MoreStarting a new living room from scratch
Comments (14)ok, I see a picture of a dining area, is that what you mean by kitchen? What are the measurements of your room? When I looked through your ideabooks there was very little glass, but a lot of dark furnishings. There was always a significant amount of dark area, whether it was doors or furniture or walls there was dark grey or black. your sofas and other padded furniture seem to match what your purchased, classic lines but indicating luxurious seating (comfy too). I love the art work, rug feels more casual then you want. Something I like to do, and it sounds like you may prefer it is to make a visual barrier from the front door to the kitchen. I tend to use book shelves, even if they are cheap, noone can tell, you can wall paper or even apply paintings to the flat side then use the shelves for decorative elements. 2 other questions, will you not watch tv in your family room? do you really want for both? Are your books good leather bound ones? you may well find that with the gorgeous couch and other expensive furnishing you want prettier things on those shelves, no? When you move from one room does it all to having 2 rooms, sometimes your have to plan out the uses. That couch wont be beautiful as long if there are lot of football games and pizza boxes on it. Same if everyone is lounging around reading the latest novel. Just things to bear in mind. Having dealt with lots of teenage boys.... So now a few ideas for you to reject or say i like this part. Color Schemes, gold tan and dark gold tan black red green and orange tossed in A little blue too casual? colors nice though can look very upscale classic everywhere another color scheme, although at first you might say not my colors but these are only variations, the blue can go all the way to teal, the tan is nearly gold. dark brown is the furnishings. this is someone, who managed to make black tan, teal, gold, red and blue all go together through art and paintings. a little busy but you get the point. so what is your palette going to be?...See MoreLiving Room From Scratch
Comments (3)Hope do I erase duplicate post?.. My phone has a mind of its own......See MoreNeed to redo living room from scratch....looking for design ideas
Comments (7)OMG, you have some really nice pieces of furniture! I'm sure that once you go neutral on the walls, new sleek drapes, add a big, but chic, rug, and a new chandelier above the dining table, you would have a really beautiful eclectic style; trendy. Perhaps the sofas could be changed or reupholstered, but the ones that you have have a good scale in comparison with everything else. Keep the leather ottomans! Oh well, getting all new can be refreshing too, I suppose....See MoreSylvia Weiser Wendel
6 days ago
lara1812
6 days agoSylvia Weiser Wendel
5 days ago
everdebz
5 days agolast modified: 5 days agowellllcome.
I'll go look at the cabinet photo -- question is what shape/s would the paper create? if I get it, it's a no. I've seen wp trimmed with wood to look like large piece of art though....
just posting ideas to talk color palette:
Swavelle Fabric Sandoa Saffron Grey Gold Ikat Damask · More InfoSylvia Weiser Wendel thanked everdebzSylvia Weiser Wendel
4 days agoSylvia Weiser Wendel
2 days agoeverdebz
2 days agolast modified: 2 days ago
everdebz