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cookie1930

I need help with a few things : Create symmetry & home decor

last year
last modified: last year

I recently purchased my home and everything in the photo is new. From the freshly painted walls, baskets, live plants, plant stands , couch, mantle decor, area rug, floor lamp pillows... Everything! I decided I wanted to start over after so many things I've been through . A fresh start was needed.

Ok, I have a design dilemma. On one side of the fire place, theres a patio door, other side is a window. I dont think it would look nice to have a curtain ( blinds are't new yet) on that one window and the other side is a door. I don't want to hang a curtain on the patio door. How will I create symetry there ? Passed the door is a kitchen nook with four windows. I wanted all of the window treatments to flow there and look uniformed. What about some type of roman shades on the windows and some type of piece ( matching ) over the door? I don't know what.. Help!

In person the room looks nice and cozy, but it looks dull and boring . I love color ,but some how I fell into this brown , white and cream combo. It just looks dull to me. I just painted the mantel (Aug. 29th ) because it was in need of a fresh coat of paint desperately.


It is a beautiful 3,000 sq ft home thats in need of alot of TLC. when I purchased it. Mostly cosmetic. I'm laying out the foundation for you in case you're wondering from anything you see in the pictures. It still has a long ways to go to be up to what I've envisioned. I plan to change the rug and use this rug you see under the couch outdoors. Its and outdoor/indoor rug . I shouldn't have listened hubby. He wanted this rug. hehehe... It's isn't doing it for me.


The brick on the fireplace , I plan to have white washed. Your thoughts? The mirror, I plan to remove . Its new, but it was purchased on an impulse and it is too small and "plain jane." I love the blue vase. My original plan was to use the blue from the vase as inspiration. I may move it closer to the front door, as soon as my console table arrives. My decor style is traditional , modern , pops of very , very little glam . I love antiques as well. I don't know if thats too much, but I try to have a balance . I don't particularly like " matchy matchy , but this room looks like thats where its going. I can't have a formal style here ,because theres no livng room in this house. It kind of good, because I grew up in a house with a living room where my siblings and I weren't allowed to sit in or touch anything. I want to use every room in my house. I want this room be beautiful , but comfortable.


Recently I picked up this side table from an antique dealer. There was only one. I want one on the other side of the couch as well. I'm hoping I can find it some place. Its been tough finding good quality furniture lately. The particle board with big sticker prices are real these days ! Anyone knows what the name of this table is? I don't think the antique dealer gave me the correct name, becuase whenever I Google to no avail. I'm sorry if I overshared, but I am trying to provide as much information to get help .


The ugly ceiling fan you see reflecting in the mirror was already there and it will be going as well.





The photos look dull and dim, they were taken with my old iphone 8plus. I know, I know, I don't update my phones often. The pillow covers can be changed out. They came with the couch and I'm not inlove with them. The couch is microfiber. Its ok. I'll make it wiork; Its new as well. Some things I had to compromise on with dealing with hubby. I was trying not to make the place look to girly with light softer colors because of him. I have a rather large budget, but sometimes I choose items because of hubby. I'm decorating the way I like to a small degree. Ocassionally he gets involved . For instance one of my bathrooms is pink, white and green with gold. Its so pretty, but he was ok with it since theres more bathrooms in the house...hehehe The photos aren't the best with my old phone.


What is the technical name or style of this table ?

Tell me your thoghths about everything mentioned . I don't mind if you have some advice on somethng I didn't mention. Be respectful please, but be honest.

Comments (22)

  • PRO
    last year

    Symmetry is way over rated. Get off that train to start with.

    Cookie1930 thanked Minardi
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    ITA with @Minardi. You have a fantastic space to work with but too much symmetry becomes boring. You said you want more color and I agree the vase looks great. Why not bring color in to compliment the blue vase?

    Cookie1930 thanked ilikefriday
  • last year

    Just came here to say your fireplace stone is really nice - I wouldn’t whitewash it. Your floors are gorgeous. Great house! Take your time and have fun with it.

    Cookie1930 thanked Susan L
  • last year

    Ok thanks @Minardi, @ilikefriday I'll bring in more blue and gold tones, @Susan L , thanks . But what should go on the windows?

  • last year

    The table looks to be a mahogany demilune (half moon) but it’s hard to tell from the angle the picture was taken. It’s a style that spans a lot of years. If you can take a photo from above and also further back that would help id the wood type and style.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Whatever you like best goes on the windows. Draperies, sheers, shutters, blinds, whatever. Doors are not windows. Ignore the door!

    Cookie1930 thanked littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
  • last year

    Ok @littlebug Zone 5 Missouri , Thanks . May be I'm thinking too hard. Its fun to come here to see what others thoughts and ideas would be .

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    @Melissa , I researched what you shared and you're correct ! Oh my goodness thank you. The dealer called it a classic something, I can't remember but I couldn't find anything from their description. From a website I saw some that were similar and the price range anywhere from

    2, 800 - 5,000 . I'm just a nerd and love researching . Thank you ! I'm still going to share better photos with my camera and not my phone. I am a hobbyist photographer and love sharing photos. Pro photographers don't chop my head off please ... LOL I'm only sharing .

  • last year

    Yes, they told me Classic Concepts at the antique shop , but I didn't find anything. Wow ! Thanks.

  • last year


    It's the exact table, Melissa found on the web. It was sold . I was a bit reluctant to purchase from the site, because I hadn't heard of it before, but the table was sold . I liked it so much I didn't think about the fact it may be difficult to find a match. Oh well , I'll make it fun . No need to stress about . Life is too short to worry about a matching table. My photo isn't the best, but I just picked up two lamps . One for each table . My future table and this one .


    The other lamp will sit here on this tiny marble table for the time being .


    This will motivate me to keep looking. In fact it doesn't have to be the exact style as long as its not extremely different. Thanks everyone , for your input. I hadn't posted on Houzz in a long tme .

  • last year

    Those are beautiful lamps! I agree that you don’t need an exact match. My mom always used to tell me it doesn’t have to match it just has to go together ;).
    Maybe you could look for a demilune in the same wood tone —Houzz has a few—here’s an example. Make sure you check the measurements though since a lot of the demilune tables are consoles and too wide. Have fun with it—you have a beautiful space.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    As you said, the mirror doesn't fit. Do you really want a mirror that will reflect the ceiling fan as it does now? How about a picture instead?

    Your fireplace appears to be limestone and from the picture yellowed. Do you know if smokers lived in your house? I would try to clean it before I painted it. Limestone is usually not painted. Maybe painting the mantel or changing it would help, it appears a little formal with the more casual stone. Is your house older and in the midwest? This stone was used frequently in older homes here.

    I do not care for the demilune as a side table. It is too high above the arm of the couch and awkward to put a drink or plate on as it is up against the wall, not the couch. These are usually used as decorative tables in a hall or room. When Googled, I did not see any used as a side or end table.

    My 2 cents worth!

  • last year

    Great start - some color will really give you the vibe you are going for. Please post 1 picture of the entire room so we can see everything together. A demilune table usually is against a wall not a side table. It looks like the rug may be too small. Do you have a 3rd candlestick? I would put the ginger jar on the right and 3 candlesticks on the left. Odd numbers of items are more pleasing to the eye.

  • last year

    Perhaps rather than symmetry, you might go for balance?

  • last year

    I agree that demilunes aren’t usually used as end tables, but looking through your ideabooks I noticed that you had two inspiration photos that showed a couch with a larger antique piece being used as an end table—one a concave sideboard and another a pedestal table. I can see why you chose the demilune as both of those photos are lovely. I would suggest just using the one demilune (I would move the lamp to one side of the table and set some books and decor on the other side) and finding another actual end table for the other arm of the sofa if you feel you need one there. I also think that using natural woven shades on the door and window be a good solution.

  • last year

    Johnny Kasmire, thanks for your comment

  • last year

    Hello everyone, I diodn't want to start a new post regarding the side table update. I have new side tables and someone here requested a full view of the room.

    Reminder: This is my new house ( Old, but new to me) I've had a lot of cosmetic work done to it, but it wasn't a rehab. Unfortunatley I didnt get a good deal on it , in case you're wondering ...hehehe

    Recap: For those who are new to the post, I had the entire interior painted egg shell, trim , bright white, and ceiling , white as well. Just in case you're wondering why the walls are so bare. The home is 3,000 sq ft. I'm doing a few rooms at a itme. I wanted to get the main room situated frist. The family room. I know it lacks color, but 95% of the furniture is new, with a few old pieces I've had for a long time such as the old console table by the entry way. It is very old, form Haverty's furniture, when Haverty's used to sell heavy good quality furniture. Not so much these days.


    The pillows on the couch came with the couch, they will be replaced with something brighter to give it the pop it needs . The wreath over the mantle is just for the fall season . The halloween pillows on the love seat is temporary as well. I will constantly changing decor until I get it to look more to my taste. The rug under the furniture will be placed on the patio. It is actually and indoor/outdoor rug. I will replace it with a larger, rug , but not sure of the color yet. I wanted something fluffy and soft to my feet, but not sure of the color.


    Here are the new side tables. They are so simple, but I love them. They are heavy and sturdy. Hopefully I can have them for a long time. I know alot of people don't like to have matching side tables but in most cases I do. I know it's probably doesn't bring insiterest to the room, but my OCD got the best of me and I had to have matching tables.








    Plus, I agree with the person here who stated that my Demilune console table is meant to be up against the wall. Not to mention, I couldn't find the matching one . I got it from an antique shop. Its in a great place now, in the hallway upstairs against a wall. It looks nice. I'll probably style it with a mirror on the wall above it.



  • last year
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    You'll notice my user name is different . This is from an old account I forgot about. I don't have the password to my original account which is Cookie1930. I will get back into the account . I wanted to explain in case anyone noticed or even cared. No biggie, I'm sure, but I felt copmpelled to explain. Next , I will be working on bringing it to life with color and finding some types of pieces to place on the walls, behind the couch, and near the entry. Ideas are appreciated .

  • last year

    "Johnny Kashmire" (upthread) put a spam link in the post. Please flag.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    @sushipup2, I am not sure I understand what you mean? I didn't realize i had two accounts here. I wish I remembered my original password, when I started this thread.

  • last year

    I read it again . OK