New furniture would be lovely ! I would definitely go with a cream sofa, and 2 upholstered chairs with a cream/ green blue stripe. I would then cover the window seat with the stripe fabric, and put a roman shade instead of the curtains, with the idea of leaving up and letting as much natural light in the room. I would then get a coffee table in black iron/ glass look. I would get more tailored end tables and much larger lamps to go on them. I would have very little on the tables,as the books etc are enough for the room. I'm confused about the tv wall. Where is it in relation go the sitting area. The tv is far too big for the fireplace . Is this a portable electric one? If so, I would more it, and put something larger under the tv, with some weight to it. Could the tv move somewhere else in the room?
Anyway, you have lovely pieces ,enjoy

A

It's a gorgeous and comfortable room! Look to the rug for color inspiration, but pick a different color than what you have. :) The blues and beiges should work well. Maybe new lamps on the end tables and new sconces with small shades on either side of the beautiful art.

What about wingback recliners and chesterfield or camelback sofa for a more traditional look?
You could try out a cream colored slipcover to see if you want to go with a lighter sofa. Jewel tones like gold, greens or blue would offer a subtle contrast to the warm wood. Look for a color common to the painting and the rug. Maybe floral fabric in the painting's colors on the window seat and a couple pillows wouldn't be too girly for your husband. Light feminine accents would help tie the painting into the room design. You have a beautiful space to start, so a few changes may be all you need.

[houzz=] What do you think of a deep green couch with simple lines, similar to this color (I love the idea of velvet, which seems traditional, but with more modern lines) The green should complement the red in the wood and would look great with your painting and creams and blues if you want to go with lighter colors (just search houzz for more green couches if you like the color idea but want some different ideas on shape and material). I would start with the couch since that's the biggest item in the room...

A Cowhide rug it´s a exelent option for you good source of cowhide rugs it´s http://decohides.com

This room is beautiful, and if you even mention painting out the wood again, I will come over there and slap you silly.

As others have said, it's the furniture (Including the rug) that fights the room. Unlike others, however, I am not going to suggest beige or neutral fabrics--too earth tone-ish, will I think, bring us right back to the dowdy spot where we started. Instead I can imagine jewel toned (sort of turquoise) sofa, velvet or a distressed "low pile" chenille. Something rich. I'd start there.

Here's how I'd update and bring in some vibrance through color and the juxtaposition of new and old -- couch is Ikea, art from Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/search?q=blue%20brown%20painting&ship_to=US
Cursor over for enlarged view.

...just like jpp221 said!

Beautiful room. The painting is lovely. One recliner is nice. Check with the Lazyboy site to see if any of their recliner sofas will fit through your doorways. IME, they are quite large.

How tall should the lamps be in a room with 9' ceilings?

I am considering this rug with a cream colored leather sofa, what are your thoughts on this? Is it too modern for the rest of the room? My other rooms have oriental type rugs in red.

What about this fabric on the side chair:

Or this with a green rug:

Love this fabric, what do you think? I can always match the rug to the chair since I am starting over.

A simpler color scheme:

Like that blue rug a lot! It is not too modern - it's a nice update. Also like the coordinating chair fabric :). What I'm not crazy about is cream leather. I know you are trying to lighten up - consider a tan or golden leather instead.

I also like the bird fabric very much but like you said a different rug would work better

www.twitter.com/216Sharon

Another rug consideration

I love it as is. Get 2 recliners in a lighter color. Update lamps in a glass. Remove some books and replace with plants. Or other decor items. It looks too heavy.

I love the blue rug with the lanterns that you posted first. Not too modern, maybe a little mid century nod with the arabesque shapes. The second rug is nice too, if you are going for a more formal look, of course, I like mixing things up, so I'd probably go with the first rug given the heaviness of the wood paneling.

I have many oriental style rugs and they are a bit busy for any type of pattern to be successfully used in the room. However, they do hide anything that falls on them. I want to brighten the room, it's been dark so many years.

First of all, I am so glad you are not painting the wood. It is beautiful. I think a cream colored leather sofa might be too stark against the wood. With the rug you like, I think the blue sofa someone suggested is a good idea. Maybe blue velvet, blue corduroy, something with texture. There is blue in the painting so it works.

To me a green would look even better with the red color of the wood. Green is a more dominant color in the painting and it is complimentary to red. It is hard to tell in the pic whether emerald green or olive green would be best. Even though a darker color, it will brighten the room with color and contrast. You could accessorize with celadon pieces.

Either way, I suggest a tailored sofa, like a chesterfield, to compliment the library feel.

I don't like a cowhide rug for this room!

I have another canvas painting that is a picture of dogs, it is predominantly black and white...I may post it to see which most feel would best compliments the room. The picture hung there for several years but I wanted the room to look lively and knew that painting, regardless of the fact that it doesn't match the style of the room, would definitely give it life.

a library calls for a chesterfield sofa, no doubt ;))

available in ANY color as you can see ;)) of course i wouldn't recommend the pink or purple for your room ;)

xoxo eva @ monarchsofas.com

What are your thoughts about this sofa and window treatments in the room?

Better pic of it

I too think a velvet or corduroy in deep blue would be much better, and much more teen friendly than fussy florals

why not see if your teens are interested in helping to decorate....?

He isn't much into the fuss about things. He might be more into the fabric content...lol. I want to brighten the room and considered that sofa because it's slightly used so a good deal with the cornices. But good isn't good if it doesn't look right.

The chintz sofa and cornice style together look 1980's to me.

They might be from then, not sure.

I think your wood dictates in a way what it needs for furniture. I like your choices in general but I find it too discontent with the regal/rustic wood panelling. I would stay with neutral colours in the blue and off whites range and then accent with pattern or accent colours with pillows or trim on the curtains. If you keep the rug you will do well with a blue or whitish chesterfield. Maybe simply slipcover your current furniture and call it a day.
Here a few inspiration photos. Less is more in your room, because your walls are the focal point. Texture and lighting will make it cozy. A modern side table or interesting lamp will update the overall look that will still stay true to the rooms original character.

that lovely room wants an oriental rug and a chesterfield sofa. keep the picture because you love it. I like the room the way it is.

Thank you for the pictures and ideas. I do believe a Chesterfield is the right choice for the room. You are correct about the picture it has sentimental value to me and I do find it beautiful although I will admit it does not match the room. However, I can find another home for it in my living room. Sometimes the memories associated with it are bittersweet.

Thanks again for the ideas and comments.

I would leave the wood but I think the problem right now is that the colours and pattern of your furniture is so similar to the walls it disappears, when choosing your new pieces I would choose more contrast, beige, blue accents will look nice with that painting...

I like the two pics on the right that mveasey displayed.

This is a really beautiful room, oozing with potential, I would personally add some deep emerald drapes into this room with a few green touches here and there to really bring the wood back to life. You can look at ottomans and pillows in this color as a great contrast to the burgandy. Good luck I look forward to seeing where this room goes :) It really is an exciting project.

Thank you so much for the ideas, they certainly are beautiful!!! And so creative!!!

Any thoughts on this sofa?

Too busy. Keep large investment seating pieces in a solid fabric so they'll endure and continue to be timeless. That kind of fabric could be reserved for a small accent or slipper style chair to give a pop of pattern and color, and be ditched when styles and your taste change.. A library should be a calming place and the vibe should enhance quiet activities like reading, letter writing (a lost art) etc.

I love your room and I'm not really into all that wood but I would keep it. I think I would go in the direction of rustic Lodge. I can see a brown leather button tufted sofa in there. Bring in some more masculine pictures I have one in mind I saw it online. It's a picture of a deer on white background

Go with a rustic lodge look. A button tufted leather sofa. More masculine art work a sort of gentleman's den look.

Using your bird fabric (which I love) as your starting off point, I would furnish the room with light rich velvets - inspiration pic picture below - just imagine your colors instead - ivory couch, creamy yellow chair and other chair in your fabric. Use your fabric for roman blinds and a same yellow or a deep pink window seat. Consider a regular chair with a foot stool for your mom. I would change artwork's frame and update sconces. Change accessories (vintage bird prints, new lampshades, a tripod floor lamp, ottoman coffee table, new rug, and remove some of the books and accessorize for a lighter feel - see 2nd picture). It doesn't have to be a dark, traditional room.[houzz=];[houzz=[houzz=[houzz=]

You may have redecorated by now, but your lovely painting would look great in a room with one of our Martha's Vineyard rugs:







We have many more rug ideas on our profile page.

Best of luck,

Capel Rugs

I am considering one of these carpets and will pick a sofa fabric from the choice. Any suggestions on which matches the wood best? Pic of wood also is attached.

I'd choose the blue or green... the red would just blends I with the wood same as your existing furniture.... I think the blue goes particularly nicely...

I thought the same thing but needed someone else's opinion to be sure. Thank you.

Anyone else have a preference between the three?

I prefer the blue.

I finally decided to do something with the library so here are the partially finished results. I need to order a window seat cover and add a few accessories, as well as pictures. I applied polyurethane to the walls, which made a big difference! They look new now!

Fantastic! Love the blue chesterfield and of course the cat...