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1maryannegauthier

Need help for my new apartment

12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Just painted my living room revere pewter by Benjamin Moore, thought it would be lighter, thought my couch was whiter than it was, and now im worried it looks blah. I want it to be to be dramatic and beautiful and exotic. A friend said add black, black pillows and a rug, but I want to do a leather ottoman the same color as the couch. Or there is a round tufted ottoman at pier one that has a French print on it and the writing is gray so maybe that would work?? Don't think I should do a rug. The 2nd photo was how it looked before with the old tenants. I don't want it to look like some preppy living room out of house and garden. Thanks in advance for your ideas!!

Comments (127)

  • 12 years ago
    You have the skylight above so you could easily put a little plant on one of the tables.
  • 12 years ago
    The lower shelf on the console table wouldn't be easily accessible but could still be useful for storage of things you don't need often.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Sonomamama Cruz
  • 12 years ago
    The room would look good with a contrasting coffee table. See if you can find an old work table or industrial relic to offset the glam room. Something with interesting character.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Dar Eckert
  • 12 years ago
    If it doesn't bother you that the sofa is right under the sloping roof, I wouldn't be too bothered with putting a sofa table behind it. You can also pull the sofa forward and forget about the table behind it. Can't see the point of a sofa table. You would only be able to put a couple of stacks of interior magazines on it, cause anything taller will hit the roof ;-)

    As soon as I have time I'll put the ottoman in your room, so you can see.

    Love the pillows. You really went overboard, but I do like it. Thought you would get 3, or maybe 5 pillows... chuckling. What was I thinking!
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Carolina
  • 12 years ago
    You could always use two tables, placing one on each side behind the sofa and place a board on top of them to make a long table.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked gypsyrose17
  • 12 years ago
    Here's the ottoman:
  • 12 years ago
    A nice lacquered tray for the ottoman when using as coffee table would be the perfect addition. Could also be wood, metal or mirrored tray.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked gypsyrose17
  • Maryanne Gauthier thanked Carolina
  • 12 years ago
    Caroline, didn't know you lived in Europe. So except for Ikea, you don't know what we are talking about referring to stores here. I love seeing what you do with photoshop. And always love your suggestions .
  • 12 years ago
    Thank you Nancy. That means a lot to me :-)
  • 12 years ago
    I love the west elm table. Gives the room some interest. Did you decide on rug. Dark in a color wash would be nice. Why can't you just turn sect to face into room? Did I already miss post on that? Sofa looks pushed into corner. And those low ceiling makes it worse.
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    I agree with carolins about not putting a table behind the couch.......I don't really see the point. I like that you got lots of pillows but it would've been more interesting if you chose some with different textures and patterns (and still staying with the silver and white colour scheme). The starburst looks nice though!
  • 12 years ago
    I like the add black idea, but I think the room would really come together if you tried maybe adding some pictures or if you're artistic maybe paint a picture on the wall.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked suttonm37
  • 12 years ago
    I agree add some pattern to pillows. Not so many and more on ends only.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Nancy Travisinteriors
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Carolin can you teach me how to do that photoshop thing? Lol. everything makes sense when you see it in the room. Now that you put a pic with the ottoman I was wondering about I can tell that it doesn't look right. I love yours because it has that exotic thing going for it. Good idea! Youre right about the table behind it, nothing would fit on top of it. I did go overboard with pillows. Spent way too much. I might return 2 lol. Going to paint the whole thing over in white dove, just decided with my bf that we both don't like it. Color has such an influence on you.. I really never realized how much until I painted my walls gray.
  • 12 years ago
    Hmm... I think you can lose two pillows. No one will notice. Good luck repainting. Have you tested the White Dove on your wall? Please do before you start painting everything.
  • 12 years ago
    Check out the embroidered/animal print pillows on Pier One's website prior to returning your pillows...there are some that look like they will go with your colors and add depth with a bit of pizzazz. I could not figure out how to copy and then include in my comment.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked gypsyrose17
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    gypsyrose17, I don't know how it works with an iThing, but on a computer you can rightclick on a photo you'd like to copy, choose the first option from the list. It probably says something like: store image as (I'm reading it in a different language on my computer, I'm in Europe). You can then save it as a jpg image to your downloads-folder.
    Use the attach images button under the comment box and you can add 4 pics per comment.
    Good luck. It's easy once you know how to do it.

    For pictures from the Houzz site: left click on the pic, it will enlarge. Copy the url and paste it in a comment. Job done.

    (not all websites let you copy their images. Pier1 does though.)
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Carolina
  • 12 years ago
    I'm surprised that people don't like the sofa table behind. It would bring the sofa out 18" or so and when seated wouldn't feel so close to the ceiling. But, yeah. You can just pull the sofa away from the wall in the back and at the right end. Best!
  • 12 years ago
    Funny, I usually don't like grey, but I do like what you chose! I've seen this dynamite blue-turquoise color of furniture and pillows in several places like Pier One, Ballard Street, that would look fabulous in there! Love the windows. Good luck!
  • 12 years ago
    Lydia - Could you please tell me where you found the dark teal chair that you proposed for this room? Love it and it would be a perfect fir for my family room! Thanks!!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    BTW......I agree with you that the ottoman definitely doesn't go with the rug. Assuming you decide to choose that rug, I was thinking that a table like one of these styles would go well with your casual chic design. This type of table would allow some "visual space" in the small room. I know a round table would possibly fit the space better but since these are "transparent" a rectangular one might work depending on the size of course. The round one posted by Kelsey Warren or the oval one with the bronze lattice legs I posted earlier would also work well with your design.
  • 12 years ago
    Instead of a table behind the couch, you could install a shelf. It would be very inexpensive. It could hold short things: Cup of coffee, paperback books, short pix. frames. small plants. I would put my Dicken's Village on it at Christmas.
  • 12 years ago
    How about something like this for that loft look.
    Traditional Living Room · More Info
  • 12 years ago
    Okay, so to show you how a more transparent rectangular table will look:
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Carolina
  • 12 years ago
    Here's a little update... still need a coffee table and a rug but adding a little color helped a lot I think.
  • 12 years ago
    Perfect!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Vote for an area rug to add warmth, color, texture and pull the space together. Think about painting the interior walls inside the skylight window wells a deep grey or black. The ottoman do not match the sectional. Go for the patterned option. Best of luck with your new home.
  • 12 years ago
    Hmm... so.... inspired by your copper/burnt orange pillows, I thought that I could maybe find another rug-option for you. See what you think about this. And I found a really cool table too. I could see one or two of those in stead of a coffee table.

    http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Spirals-Orange-Rug-8-x-10/7917765/product.html?refccid=ET2KESL4FF7KQKCLKOK47E7HTY&searchidx=5

    http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Tellurium-Silver-Cube-Stool/7388209/product.html?refccid=LYL4N2ASCDHJHH2GLEG67BJEZ4&searchidx=707
  • 12 years ago
    The rug really makes a difference. I got a table yesterday, Ill upload a pic of it as soon as I get it delivered. Thanks for all the suggestions I appreciate it!!
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Yay......you chose to go with burnt orange! It looks much better than just the white and silver. :)
  • 12 years ago
    I do like the burnt orange, but I thought that the white and silver look very chic :-)
  • 12 years ago
    Wow!!So many great suggestions and pictures! Love this site.
    I tend to agree with travisinteriors...move the sofa.It seems to be in the darkest part of the room.Didn't like the round ottoman.Wish more of the suggested stores were available in Canada.
  • 12 years ago
    So I found this coffee table at a furniture thrift shop, got it for 50 bucks. It is rather large, but whatever. I was considering painting it, im not usually the biggest dark wood fan. I thought maybe paint it white- my boyfriend mentioned paint it silver- or even a bright color. I love the designs around the edge. Hopefully I can get some advice on here how to make it look best. I do plan to get a rug just haven't found one yet.
  • 12 years ago
    I love your new coffee table! I actually like it "as is", but I would definitely not paint it until you have the rest of the room done, I don't think you could choose the right paint until you know the rest of your look.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked gypsyrose17
  • 12 years ago
    The table is lovely. I would leave it as is or paint it white. Can you remove the bottom shelf? If so, there would be a lot less dark wood, it would appear much lighter, and your area rug won't be obstructed.
  • 12 years ago
    Leave it. It's very nice wood. Good buy. Painting wood is tricky, and can chip. Put accent color tall pots group in 3s and a big coffee table book. It's done.you can use contrast in room with that very big sectional, in white.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Nancy Travisinteriors
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    What a great price! The table has very nice details but I really don't find the wood fits with the design you want. I would definitely paint. I suggest choosing a greige colour and slightly sanding it to give it a Restoration Hardware look. You could even change the glass for an (antiqued) mirror top to glam it up.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Lydia (Kazza Design)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    This is what I meant about the greige paint.
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Lydia (Kazza Design)
  • 12 years ago
    I would leave the bottom shelf of the coffee table...whatever you put there will reflect through the glass. Also, was thinking about references to paint it...you would have to sand the sheen off the wood to make the paint stick and that would be a heck of a job (one I personally would avoid).
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked gypsyrose17
  • 12 years ago
    Great find. Would wait with deciding whether to paint it or not until you've found your rug. And if you paint it, I believe that if you use chalk paint, like Annie Sloan paint, you don't have to sand or prime. Not sure about that, but worth looking into perhaps:
    http://www.anniesloanunfolded.com/products/chalk-paint
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked Carolina
  • 12 years ago
    I think you’re on the right track.
    I Love the big windows, BUT they do throw the couch area into a lot of shadow. Before I did much more I would put some serious thought into adding lighting? Maybe pull the couch out a little and add some up lighting behind it?
    Maryanne Gauthier thanked typoagain
  • 12 years ago
    I keep clicking in here, hoping to find the sofa floating perpendicular to the window that's above it now, and the TV mounted on a swing arm attached to the brick chimney so it can swivel and adjust for viewing. I love the table but it isn't the style vibe I thought you were going for - a bit too classic, I'd say. Might make $10 selling it on Craigs List, but a "good buy" doesn't always mean its the "right buy.".
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    What a nice space! I can't help but think about how much fading that skylight will do to all of those new furnishings. Getting shades in those skylights would help with light/ temperature control and block UV Rays. You can get light filtering and they stack pretty small so when you want to enjoy the open window, they won't be in the way. We build ours right here in Vermont too! Your landlord might even pay for them since they'd stay with the space. http://cellularwindowshades.com/balcony_skylight_shades.html
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Before even considering other things ,I really think that you should focus on the skylight ,the sun will damage your sofa during the day , here is an ottoman that will work for you ,I will add to this a bit later.

    Family Room designed by Lux Decor · More Info

    Window Treatments-Shades, shadings, sheers · More Info

    Hillside Sanctuary: White living room by Kimball Starr Interior Design · More Info


    The rug

    Black and white rug · More Info


    AF Lighting Santorini Transitional Table Lamp · More Info

    'Black, Berries & White' Leather Art · More Info

    Nelson Ball Clock, Red · More Info

    Kal Barteski Be In The Moment Throw Pillow, 20"x20" · More Info
  • 12 years ago
    Carolin thank you for the chalk paint suggestion, I hadn't even heard of it before and after looking into it wish I had found it before I painted my dining room table and chairs. Its non toxic and dries twice as fast as regular paint, and you can use it on any surface without priming or sanding. Thank god because I wasn't up for sanding that table.
  • 12 years ago
    Maryanne How is the progress coming along? What have you decided to do with the coffee table...?
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    I think the key to designing an amazing small focus is to actually not focus on the fact that it is small. Great your dream space. Incorporate all the things you love then devise a plan to make them work with the space you have.

    I have an amazing blog post that I think may help.

    http://timothyriversinteriors.com/2015/01/19/decorating-a-small-apartment/
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