Green living room 21st century Farrow & Ball

https://www.farrow-ball.com/paint-colours/studio-green

MCM green living room 1959 Sherwin Williams

Let's not pick apart the OP's terminology. We see their sofa and desire for a moody green space. I think that sounds great. The sofa has enough MCM type lines to it that it is a good style to lean into. I am confused about your question. You say, what should you do with the walls. You are painting them green right? Are you asking what kind of artwork to hang?

This is a great moody green MCM space. I don't think you need a ton of stuff on the walls. Just a few small things that pop. The green speaks for itself.

These two rooms below are stunners. Any style furniture could go in them. And while there are many architectural wow features, I also think a big success is the pops of contrasting colors used with the green - brown woods and brown leather, pops of mustard, brass and bronze metals and frames. These would be great accents to place in your space via pillows, frames, art, accent furniture.

Where will you END the moody green paint on the long walls? At the header that lines up with nothing? At the end of the right wall that appears to not line up with the left and has no casing? You're showing one space, from one angle. Hard to advise much at all.

LOL Kendrah. Let's not ask the OP to clarify what she wants -- oh, wait, turns out you're confused about her post too?

Hi, NIkki! You haven't got an MCM space or sofa. The pictures Kendrah is showing you are not MCM spaces or furniture either.

Rather than deal with an imaginary space let's deal with your space, which doesn't have a ton of millwork and molding like Kendrah's photos of (very) traditional rooms. Yours will never look like that. Let's deal with your 21st c. space and 21st c. sofa. Easier.

What shades of green do you consider "moody". Have you got a brand and specifi paint in mind?

My thoughts are that if you paint a space with very long narrow walls dark it will look like a tunnel. Is that the mood you want to create?

Light can be moody (there exist more moods than just dark moods) and if I had that space I'd be most concerned how to light it. Whatever paint color you pick it is going to be very much affected by what kind of lighting you use in there -- wall sconces, recessed, table lamps? Do you want help with that?

Posting your floor plan, with dimensions, more pics of your room from another angle, and a more specific inspiration pics would be helpful in order to help you. Your ideabook doesn't focus on the style you prefer. Is there one particular room you have seen that makes your heart flutter?

A long dark room is tricky and you don't want it to look like a tunnel. It's smart to bounce ideas around on this platform. The fireplace wall is a perfect place to make a statement, but I'm confused as the the window placement and the other side of the fireplace column.

I would love to help.

Designers: How would you make the room seem more square with paint and maybe lighting? How would you make the long walls seem recessed and/or bring the shorter accent walls forward?

I don't usually associate moody and midcentury. In my mind midcentury tends to be lighter in color and design, somewhat sparse and certainly not cluttered.

I think you need to go and look online at MCM spaces to inderstand the choices you are making. Your idea books are not illed with dark moody anything really. I certainly do not think a dark green wall and a black sofa are MCM

Saying you want dark green walls and a black fireplace is confusing when we look at your space. In this photo the green wall wall has black consoles that break it up.

When you say “black fireplace” do you mean the whole wall that houses your fireplace?

In this photo, the combination is close to a very sunny window. What is at the end of your space? Is there a window behind you in the photo? We need more layout information.

Google images for ”mid century modern living room green black”. Find pictures that you like, then if you want to, you can post links to those pics on here. That will help some posters to understand what you like.

Everyone has stuff going on and sometimes we catch people at a bad time.

You can always delete the entire thread if you’d like to clear out some negative energy. However if you find something useful on this thread, before deleting, you can first save it to a PDF or just copy and paste the useful info to a text file or save to photos.

Hope this is helpful. I understood what you meant (I think). Probably had something to do with my current addiction to the Open House marathons on TV. Lots of moody spaces and MCM there.

"I had no idea asking for help on this forum would lead to such negative & belittling behavior. I may seek help elsewhere."

There was nothing belittling in the posts. There were a bunch of people trying to understand the look you want, and how you wanted to accomplish that look. It is common for people to look to your idea books to understand more, and they didn't see anything pertaining to your wish list look.

It's the internet, a literal highway of strangers. If you're not forthcoming with the additional information, nobody can help. It's helpful to realize that all the help is also...................free. Free for the dollars, the asking and the taking: )

To get better/more hands on help than Houzz affords? It's an interior designer, local to you and you can even find sources for such a local pro right on this site

I’m trying to do a semi-MCM vibe in a modern way, also with the use of dark moody colors & maybe a boho style thrown in here & there. I get that it’s a design amalgamation & that is why I came here. I don’t think we need to get hung up on terminology & strict use of those words. My idea books are all over the place as so is my mind. Again, why I came here for advice. Here are some pics of my modern space, messy & with some old pieces still in place.

I can't see everything going on in the room, but my inclination is to take advantage of the lovely window area and move the seating area back to take advantage of that area.

@Nikki,

Your additional pics are very helpful. I'd paint ceiling and walls in the room dark green. Use paint to create a "hallway" into the room on both sides of the fireplace. Paint the walls and ceiling of the "hallway" a color that is not green, nor the dining room color. (See my pic below using mustard to delineate the "hallway" paint areas.)

Still not sure if this is the kind of info that you are are looking for. Your question was not clear to me. Feel free to ignore comments on here that you find unhelpful. Most people here are incredible at space planning and know the rules of decor inside and out. This isn't a great site for getting advice on eclectic decor or thinking outside the box.

i think if you just do a green on the fireplace wall, it could give you the vibe you are looking for - and could also keep your space more open feeling, versus green on the other walls.

You could bring in art, lighting - to create the mood you are going for.

BM Vintage Vogue is a beautiful green.

What about forgetting about the green altogether and deciding what to do with walls later? I was wanting to do a black/dark charcoal on the fireplace wall. Do I paint the soffit? Leave it? Paint some of it but not all? I asked this on a previous post that I deleted.

I love the area rug in the living room and would use that as a jumping off point as it has a slight MCM or maybe vintage vibe. The dining room table/chairs are great as well (not fond of that area rug but that's just my taste).

Here is Benjamin Moore's take on what I would call "moody" MCM colours including suggestions for colours and ideas of rooms. They present an easy MCM sensibility without going all in. For accessories you can use blues or mustard yellows. I happen to love MCM and am incorporating a little of it into our new house but to go all in you really have to understand it and be careful of becoming a caricature of the style.

https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/colour-overview/colour-palettes/colour-by-style/midcentury-modern-paint-colours 

Hi again Nikki---

Don't paint your soffit no matter what color you choose to paint the fireplace (if in the end you do paint your fireplace)

I think if you want to mix boho and modern in your space consider whether it will work better if you mix minimal and natural. You've got a head start with a lot of minimal modern things in there already, with your metal floor lamp and b&w rug simple line low chairs. I would move next to add more dramatic plants, some natural fibers, and organic shape ceiling fixture.

For dining room chairs and the B&W rug consider adding some white fluffy flokati chair pads to your dining room chairs? Can you bring in an electircian to give you a pendant chandelier? Not this necessarily -- black rattan would be maybe even nicer -- but I would stick with a black and white theme

In the living room I would play off the two competing deep tones of your chairs, rather than paint the walls green. I'd add deep dark dramatic art to the walls

Dark moody paint colors covering every square inch of wall surface and ceiling play best in old rooms with lots of architectural ornament (as you can see from the photos Kendrah posted) and you've got a space with lots of clean modern lines and blank flat surfaces. I'd be moody with my art and spot colors, and casually slip in some natural materials (leather, textured fibers, plants) to offset that drama, but keep the white walls and white shades. The long clean white corridors of your layout have suspense (what's coming next?) Don't make it a monochrome experience.

Your place is fantastic! So glad you posted more pics. Thanks, it really helps.

Don't get yourself down on the snarky comments. I never understand why some posts just scold the OP. By now we should all realize that this platform is for people who are not familiar with professional lingo or the process of design. Plus in the real interior design world, the clients are more to handle and have way more expectations.

I'll look at this later and back. Really like your place and I'm sure we can figure it out exactly what you have in mind.

I wanted to show you these types of LED sconces since you asked about your long walls. I think it can be a high-impact wall decoration at a very low price, even act as an unusual piece of art over a fireplace (if positioned horizontally) or fun along the corridors, creating mood

https://www.wayfair.com/lighting/pdp/orren-ellis-almae-1-light-led-black-flush-mounted-sconce-w004630003.html?piid=354005372

https://www.wayfair.com/lighting/pdp/orren-ellis-macaullay-1-light-black-flush-mounted-sconce-w001018146.html

I like what you have so far,,,you just need some tweaks.

if you like dark and moody, (shown here w/dark sofas) what about these?

Some dark colors for you

Best blacks without being 'outer space' black:

The two on the right are more of a cooler toned soft black. Jasper is a beautiful deep green

This one is SW Cyberspace, shown w/the white walls.

I have a black sofa w/a vintage mcm credenza. Walls are Simply White.

I have enough black in here, along w/other colors, that I didn't need a black wall. (although, right off the dining area I did paint a wall black)

I do think the camel leather sofa is a better choice (can you change the order?)

Here's one w/the white walls done in a mcm/boho style. notice all the elements. (all of those pics behind the sofa are hung WAY too high. 4-6" above the sofa please)

So here is your view

and Emily Henderson and what she did w/a similar window view

I’m not in love with just painting the fireplace wall black. However, if you do it, I would not paint the soffit.

Nikki, What is the length and width of the room?

I think it’s about 12.5 x 45

Furniture Layout: Consider putting your main seating at the far window. You have a beautiful MidCentury Modern coffee table, work around that as inspiration for all other tables and wall unit/cabinet. Be consistent with the wood selection as you don't want your focus to jump around with all different styles and wood tones. Look at the Design Within Reach dwr.com website to see classic MCM furniture. There are tons of places making copies for much less money. I would like to see an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in that room also.

Bring the green two seater, that you have near the window now, towards the fireplace and create another seating area in front of the fireplace with the hairpin leg chair you have now.

Rugs: Switch the rugs and put the black and white stripe with the black leather sofa. I would get a grey sheepskin rug to put on top of the rug as layering will add to the cozy feel you like.

Fireplace and Wall Paint: Below is a wall paper to wrap the fireplace. Behind the sofa, paint a big grey block in the color from the wall paper color background, painting ceiling to floor and about 6" past the width of the black leather sofa. Hang a large piece of art on top of the grey paint over the sofa. This will foreshorten the length of the wall and invite you to that side of the room.

TV Wall: I like the TV next to the window on the opposite wall you have it on now. The window balances out the TV.

Window Treatments: Find open weave curtain panels, ceiling to floor, with simple nickel plated rods, nothing fancy. Could be a natural color weave, but could be any color, like dark grey or the color green you like. Green curtains will look good as a color in the background looking down from the green two seater.

Fireplace Wall Paper (Perigold Candice Olsen)

Art on grey painted block over sofa

Eames Chair and Ottoman

Grey Sheepskin to put over the black and white stripe rug

Dark Curtain Panels (ceiling to floor) and Layered rugs

Dark Curtain Panels

Keep Wood Same Tones

@ Nikki Grizzle I was born in 1961 and my family moved into a home my parents built when I was 2.

In my dad's study was a black leather sofa that other than not having a Chaise, strongly resembled the sofa you purchased. It went well with the now iconic Herman Miller / Eames black leather chair and ottoman.

Growing up in and MCM neighborhood I don't recall very many white walled interiors. Our home was all ribbon stripe mahogany paneling and concrete block with the exception of the two kids bedrooms which were both painted blue.

Not much to paint, but the homes in our neighborhood that didn't have paneling had color. Orange and dark blue and greens and browns.

Look for authentic photos and ads from the 1960s. Furniture ads are a great way to see what was truly "in style".

I think you may find some inspiration.

I actually have always loved the Danish design period where they had large white walls interspersed with bold color block walls and bold colorful furnishings and I think your home could really pull that look off.

Today's version of MCM is white. There was a lot more personality in the 1960s version.

Not exactly sure what's meant by 'moody', but it does make me think 'dark'.

Paneling is definitely an MCM room darkening thing.

Found a few more MCM style rooms with black sofas:

I concur with Jan that Room and Board has great MCM type furniture, love that it is made in USA, and they do have good customer service. I have been disappointed more recently with their quality though.

I went into the flagship store to check out bed stands and console tables. The finishes were really cheap and seemed to scratch easily, a lot of the legs were uneven and wobbled. I talked to a sales person who confirmed - yes the finish will get ruined quickly and the legs often are not the same length. Well, at least it wasn't in my mind! I sat on a lot of furniture, felt a lot of their towels, and so many of their products don't seem quality. A lot of their online reviews seem to point out much of the same.

It is so disappointing because I love supporting a business that uses so many USA craftspeople. They really used to be tops on my list.

For what the OP has mentioned, she likes classic modern, with MCM thrown in, not MCM all the way. The black leather sofa reminds me of a black leather sofa by Florence Knoll - a very classic design through the years.

My suggestion to to look at craigslist and facebook marketplace especially for side tables, and coffee tables, also Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. The quality 50 years ago far surpasses what is being fabricated today. It's usually someone who inherited furniture from family members or changing their space. I have found incredible items for clients and even though it needs touch- up or some loving, it still is a better buy than new junk.

Color block wall with art

I keep coming back to this post and cannot help thinking that some fabulous, bold art is what is needed. Once found the rest may fall into place.

@mytwocents …. ”black leather couches are not MCM” …. Huh??? I distinctly remember my parents’ black leather sofa ( probably Danish, idk ) & black leather Barcelona chairs in their MCM home decorated from the 50’s & 60’s. i remember soft white walls throughout , also quite a few Danish teak tables & wall units ( bookshelves, desk, magazine rack , etc ) . That I remember, helping to unwrap, Danish newspapers. Funny, the odd things you remember from your childhood. wish I had some of those things today. 😪

Jan Moyer …. I can attest to what you said. I have two homes furnished (90%) with Room & Board furniture & some art & accessories. Their customer service is incredible.

K Laurence

I see someone else in this thread suggested a caramel leather sofa which would be more appropriate if some really wanted MCM styling. I actually almost typed earlier in this thread -- " Please don't start posting photos of Barcelona chairs folks, they cost a fortune''-- but then how much time can you spend anticipating ridiculousness? The OP had already posted a picture of her very non-MCM black leather sofa. And now that we see the rest of her furniture and space, she has an MCM coffee table and plausibly MCM floor lamp. Unless she is prepared to open her wallet plus exchange the sofa, she's not going to end up with moody MCM (still a puzzle). She's going to be working on an eclectic style, and she knows that.

It's a lovely and interesting space with many options for getting a great look. Moody MCM vibe was misleading but further discussion means the OP is getting useful advice for the space and furniture she actually has, rather than photos of expensive icon furniture or saturated dark paint in 19th c. ornamented rooms.

You stated you want a ”moody MCM vibe” …. you don’t have to be a slave to what others think of when their perception might be different. . Do your thing. So many incorrect statements on here re MCM , IMO. I grew up in MCM homes here in SoCal, including Palm Springs & other MCM neighborhoods, not all one note. I realize geography plays a part, however.

Great space. You can create a gallery-like effect with multiple large art along the long walls. I normally like a white/cream background for art. But it really depends on the art - some sort of wide painted stripe or wall color blocking with paint as suggested by @Denise Marchand could work really well too.

my two cents…. I certainly wasn’t suggesting people run out and buy Barcelona chairs. I do realize they’re expensive, I’m not totally clueless, lol. I was merely pointing out the fact that black leather WAS used in MCM homes. I just remembered I had a black leather chair with teak legs in my childhood bedroom.

Back then, I feel like black upholstery was considered more on the masculine side and used for a den, bachelor pad or office more than a family living room. Today, of course, there's not so much division based on gender.

We got our couch!

Very nice sofa, Nikki! Where did you get it?

Article

Absolutely love your sofa.

I also just posted something that I think may resonate with you.

The woman who sent me the e-mail coached me through selecting colors for my home many years ago, when I was just starting my color journey. Over the years she helped other I knew and coached me when I helped friends and family pick colors for their homes. She is an Incredible lady.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6407905/drowning-in-a-sea-of-neutral#n=0

Photo from her website:

Here’s where we got with the fireplace wall

We recently painted our TV wall a moody dark greenish blue - it is a Dulux color that is the equivalent of Farrow and Ball Hague Blue. The TV credenza is authentic MCM from 1960s. I love how cozy the paint made our space.

Here is what the wall looked like before painting - a world of difference, right? :-)

Great couch, Nikki! Looks comfy.

The fireplace and the new sofa look great. Do you want to add more color anywhere or is the fireplace enough?

The next step would be to get some floor or table lamps so you don't have to use the overhead lighting and art for the walls.

You can certainly try to move the furniture around to see how the suggestions given might work better than the arrangement you presently have.

With the black sofa and the colour of your settee, I suggest a blue & green theme such as illustrated below. You can install drapes by the windows for a more finished look, buy accent pillows, a new area rug with blue & green tones. I also suggest installing a nice pendant instead of the flush light you presently have. A suggest a blue wallpaper on the fireplace (Candice Olsen Cork Blue - or similar ones) and match a blue paint for a colour block on the wall behind the sofa.