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danielleagates

Front sitting room is drab

12 years ago
Our front sitting/living room area is all white, with a white brick fireplace and laminate wood floors. Lots of light and big windows, but we're not sure how we want to decorate. We have a separate tv/family room, so comfort isn't necessarily as important as a fun style. The only item we want to keep is the golden gate bridge painting. Maybe work some features in that play off the colors in the painting? We have no clue about paint color, furniture or any other items. Help!

Comments (24)

  • 12 years ago
    The red-orange in the bridge would look great with grays as in the attached photo. Maybe start looking for a rug that you like or a sofa that you like and match everything else to it. Larger built-in looking book shelves next to the fireplace would be lovely.
    Study · More Info

    Courtyard Residence Living Room · More Info
    Danielle thanked Dar Eckert
  • 12 years ago
    Well, you need a new furniture arrangement, first of all. And this appears to be the dog and cat room as well as the living room, so I assume you wish to accommodate the animals, too.

    Could we have a closer shot of the painting? In the meantime, let me see what I can do.
    Danielle thanked groveraxle
  • 12 years ago
    So this is a sitting room? The dimensions of this room would be great as a library/reading/dining room. With of course space for animals!
    Danielle thanked Rawketgrl
  • 12 years ago
    what about two arm chairs on either side of the fireplace and the couch in front of the window?
    Danielle thanked sweeps22
  • 12 years ago
    I like the idea of big (orange) armchairs, and we're also book nerds so bookshelves sound like a great idea too!
  • 12 years ago
    Depending on what your aesthetic is, you could either do built-in bookshelves, or some floating bookshelves would also look really great on either side, and then you could put a small painted dresser or end-table on either side of the hearth.
  • 12 years ago
    Hello Daniella, Nothing wrong with giving your pets a little space of their own! I would keep a sofa on that wall that is facing the window, then place two comfy armchairs in front of the window, angled toward the sofa. Makes for a nice conversation area, as well as lots of places to read by the light of the window, stretch out on the sofa and take a nap, or sit and watch the birds fly by!

    Using the colors of your Golden Gate Bridge pic, I put together a collage that starts with a Dash & Albert striped rug. Whatever you do in this space, start with the rug. Find something that seems to resonate with the art you love and the rest will fall into place.

    Hope you and your pets can find a look,you love!
  • 12 years ago
    That wall color is Olivetint by Ben Moore, btw.
  • 12 years ago
    Like karemore's colours. Karemore, typing is not upper arm exercise.
  • 12 years ago
    The bookshelves are going to make a huge difference, plus the cat will love them. Some kind of window treatment beyond mini blinds would make the room less stark. Don't know how the animals feel about curtains so you will have to figure out that on your own. not so crazy about the plant on the cat tree. Maybe on the table. Or in a not-easily-tipped plant stand Realize it would be a big investment but plow and hearth does carry less industrial looking dog cages. It is a good room so enjoy
  • 12 years ago
    What could be more fun than a cat wall? I've moved your sofa so the fireplace and the new cat wall are focal points (as they should be). I added some more San Francisco art--framed vintage prints--to fill the big wall and add some color.

    The cats are going to love this room. The dog is not so happy.
  • 12 years ago
    Groveraxle that dog bears a remarkable resemblance to you! Hmmm........
  • 12 years ago
    Haha, if the dog ran free, we wouldn't have a living room left! Yes, those kennels are nice though, might fit in with the wood flooring...
  • 12 years ago
    karemore, that dog looks nothing at all like me. You think I wear these shades to look cool? Hah. I'm incognito. Nobody knows what I look like. I like it that way.
  • 12 years ago
    Just so you know, Danielle, the plant in the corner? Put there especially for the cats to do...well, you know.
  • 12 years ago
    Well, the plant is out of the way on the cat tree because the dog eats the plant and the cat is too lazy to get up there, haha. Michael I like the idea of built in bookshelves; what do you think of wood paneling along those, or any part of the living room? I definitely love the bookshelf idea since we have so many books. Thoughts for rug color or texture?
  • 12 years ago
    I would paint one wall with a muted green, the other with a similar green but more olive in it. Along with that theme, add a few taller plants that do well with the great lighting you have. Make sure it is plants your dog would not eat, lol

    I would put more art work on the walls. Either photography or water color with glass frames to reflect light. A rug should tie in with your art work in some way, Put a neutral but interesting valance around the window.
    Danielle thanked Lynnie
  • 12 years ago
    I cleared out your room and painted. All but the fireplace; brick is too hard to paint.
    Danielle thanked groveraxle
  • 12 years ago
    I'm liking the gray. It seems to coordinate with the painting best.
    Danielle thanked Dar Eckert
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Here are a couple of ideas for fabric and colors
    Danielle thanked Exeter Handkerchief Company
  • 12 years ago
    Yellows and grays are good colors to play with. They bring subtle elegance with popping bright statements together. I'd keep the furniture a solid color, gray with a slightly lighter gray on the wall, white painted fireplace, and go nuts with patterned pillows, curtains and area rug that incorporates the yellows. Make sure to add good lighting, overhead and lamps on white end tables. Keep it simple and get a few ornaments or vases but keep it simple and in groups of 1,3, or 5. Add a picture on the wall behind your couch wall and wherever seems blank or empty.
    Danielle thanked Jay Freedome
  • 12 years ago
    Too much white. Change color of blinds, not the walls
    http://www.blindster.com/wood-blinds/
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I like the color a lot. And lime & a light olive green along with the coral mentioned by ARKfabric would look really nice. I would say a blue-green would go with those colors too. Personally I would not go with a lot of beige with those color walls. But a little off-white in the mix too. A modern looking Chrome floor lamp would punch it up. :) And perhaps a zebra throw rug. Here is a link and I like the one with the arms and legs rathern than just square IMO http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=zebra+rugs&taxonomy=dep3&cid=128510&kid=118674752438970&TRACK=PSGGL&mkwid=s118674752438970&pcrid=31226366964&pmt=b&pdv=c&mtrckid=17394at10470