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robbie107

Living Room Refresh Questions

last year
last modified: last year

My design dilemma is wanting a refresh for my living room in general, including my cane back settee. We are a mash-up of boho-eclectic-MCM in style. Right now, we have to keep the sectional and area rug we could use the bergere chairs elsewhere, if needed.


The house was originally an auto garage, so it’s quirky. The size of living room is 19’11” from back of sectional to fire place wall and 14’ from window to settee wall.


The first two pictures are from the house entry looking into kitchen/dining (the small, off-white rug is gone). The 3rd is from the entry of the house looking over to the left, to the living room. The 4th picture is from the fireplace wall, past the entry to the stairs. Note, these pix were taken at different times.


Also, the dining/kitchen area is currently undergoing a “glow-up”, so I’m clear on what’s happening there.


While we do like this settee, we are open to other ideas. We plan to have the back repaired. The cushions are original to the piece (horse hair?) and in need of replacement. I am struggling with a color or pattern for it assuming we keep sectional, area rug and chairs (?). FWIW, The bergère chairs were recently reupholstered, which accentuated the frame color, which I wish were darker in tone. Additionally, I think we’d benefit from one large coffee table, vs the two small ones.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts and ideas.








Comments (16)

  • PRO
    last year

    Sorry, just to be clear, you're looking for opinions on what fabric to re-uphoster the settee with? Maybe it's just my computer screen, but your settee fabric looks like it goes in a more burgundy direction, and your rug is a rustier red. (Hard to say because the photos are so dark.)


    So I'd probably pick up one of the accent colors in your rug. The light blue catches my eye and will bring a bit a brightness to the room. I like the velvet texture so I would stick with that.

  • last year

    Thank you @Sabrina, yes, rug is a rustier red/orange. The rug is out for cleaning, so don’t have brighter pic, and not a terribly room in general. Do you have coffee table suggestions?

  • PRO
    last year

    I'd probably go for a large square coffee table that would serve both the sofa and the settee. Someithing with a glass top and black metal legs so your beautiful rug won't be covered up. Put the two small end tables you're currently using as coffee tables in another room.


    Elegant Coffee Table, Square Design With Mirrored Lower Shelf, Blackened Bronze · More Info



    Leon Coffee Table · More Info


  • PRO
    last year

    IMO get better lighting them come back a couple of pot lights are not near enough that ceiling needs drywall it is eating any light you do have.

  • last year

    Thank you Sabrina, I like the coffee tables. Thank you, as well, Patricia. I hadn’t thought about adding lighting. I like that idea. I must admit we were so happy to discover that ceiling during demo, and we do love it. Dry wall is a hard idea to swallow, but I will continue to noodle on it.

  • last year

    House is quirky so I understand hesitation to cover up exposed ceiling joists. Leave ceiling exposed but paint it tan or a really bold color from the rug (color with high light reflective value to bounce light off the ceiling). Add a chandelier with downward lights to light the center of the room. Add track lighting to wash down the walls to highlight each piece of hung art. Once
    You get the lighting plan right, the brick and upholstery colors will shift and you can move on to other issues.

  • last year

    Keep the navy bergere chairs, but see if the red top side table is right height to go between them. Try smaller lumbars, and in a darker color fabric and see if you stop noticing the light color chair frame.

  • last year

    Even with the pink seat cushion, the X chair with gets lost on the brick wall, it cries out to be a statement piece where it doesn’t belnd in with the background

  • last year

    Try some of your colorful toss pillows on the solid chocolate brown sectional to liven it up

  • last year

    Marylut, lots of great comments and ideas, thank you. I’ve got lots to think about with everyone’s comments. Just what I need. Love this forum!

  • last year

    If repairing and reupholstering the cane back setee is in your budget, consider a solid microfiber (performance fabric that looks like velvet), in a light tan/cream from the rug that will showcase the caning. Another option is a thin pinstripe pattern (will look solid from a distance but adds a pattern you haven’t used.).

  • PRO
    last year

    I would go with simple square coffee table with wood top.



  • PRO
    last year

    Or may be even better with glass top coffee table that Sabrina suggested, so not so clattered look





  • PRO
    last year

    IMO you n eed to figure out what your style is and IMO boho and MCM are at opposite ends of the decor spectrum

  • last year

    Thank you Celery. I was also thinking a round table because of hazard of sharp corners. Patricia, I appreciate your comment and have been trying to figure it out. I have been craving cleaner lines and also started purging very recently…we’ve accumulated a lot from loved ones who’ve passed and we’re on the difficult journey of taking back our space.