I think full white sheers starting about the height of the bottom of the lone window. Then hang the picture over the fireplace so the top portion is also on the same plane as the curtains. Then a large black or brown and white zig zag rug. Colorful pillows in greens and yellows interspersed with the beige and brown. Do try turning your furniture on an angle. Maybe the sofa faces the fireplace and the chair now is where those black stools are.

I like that the console adds some curve to the room, but any number of things might replace it - sculpture, storage, etc.
I think you could use a mix of materials on the sofa, of which linen might be one. You could also add in heavier textures, and zebra print would look well,too.

Try transferring some shots to your ideabook to see both what can help you finetune your likes, and to compile products side by side. It could make shopping time easier - especially when it comes time to replace the sofa.

I see nothing some wood and paint won't fix. I would get a longer console in a weathered wood (grey tones).

Oh...This..

Thanks for the great ideas. There a few I can do right away and few that may need little more waiting. What would be a good place/website to buy cushion covers?

Try Etsy.

Cassie, have to agree with Ann on this one.

In my humble opinion, your room is just different shades of brown and is begging for some color. Yes, I agree the art over the fireplace needs to go. Good luck on your project.

I'd take a different tack with the space. First, cover the glare from that window up top. Try antique distressed or whitewashed shutters on it. Then forget about any of the walls above window frame level. You and your stuff live below the window and door frames. That means no art !!!!! AHHHH! What will we do? This room is for TV and FP enjoyment, so just let the two of them dominate the room - the FP is already doing its part. Just get the TV and credenza right and add color with stationary panels and a new larger colorful rug. A great looking rug has every bit as much impact as art, and doesn't put holes in the walls. Assuming the smaller seating is a loveseat, I'd advise replacing that with a pair of swivel/glider chairs for a more open feeling on the window side of the space. They can bring color and pattern to the party too.

Cassie-how could Ann be a hater when she graciously allowed you on her dilemma.

A few sources.
cushion covers:
http://www.cushionsxpress.com/

http://www.jcpenney.com/home-store/departments/home-decor/categories/slipcovers/cat.jump?id=cat100240135&subcatId=cat100240022&deptId=dept20000011&cm_mmc=msn%20non-trademark-_-m_home_decor_covers-_-m_cushion_covers_bmod-_-cushion+covers

Pillow covers:
http://www.potterybarn.com/search/results.html?words=pillow+covers&cm_sp=OnsiteSearch-_-GlobalNav-_-Button

I am with Lucidos for a longer sleeker console table under the tv. Also, maybe try flipping the fireplace painting on its end with fronds going up. I also agree with adding curtains.

I think you've done a very nice job with this room. I agree that the plates over the tv are too small and a larger tv cabinet would be nice.
I think you might want to try some red throw pillows.

Shetalb, if you're still there?
Read studio10001's comments. I think she has some good ideas! I was saying red pillows for warmth and to accent the bricks but if you're thinking more tropical, her idea of linen print pillows is a good one. I also like the idea of panels to soften your blinds. They aren't necessary but it would be nice to soften some of the angles in your room.

Is that an arched doorway at the entrance? Maybe you could find a tv console that has an arch too to repeat that element...just throwing out some thoughts...

The fireplace is arched too...

I really appreciate everyone's time and comments. I am personally not big in abstract n modern art. I am inspired by nature and want the same warmth and freshness in the room. Also we just invested jn that fern picture n tv console and so 'have' to make it work...;(. I really like the idea of curtains or panels to soften the look and may need to invest in them sooner than later. Cushions could be another cheaper option that can be added easily..:). I am also attaching the picture of the entrance wall to the living area. It does have an arch too. Also if I do curtains what color could they be? How about coloring the tv console wall a different color?

Per my image above I would bring the eye down with a continuation of the mantle and an earthtone paint. This would give a weight to that portion of the room and tie both the TV and the fireplace together. Furniture should be placed to equally embrace both the fireplace and the TV. I would stay with larger pieces as smaller ones will dwarf on your walls.

A more expensive option would be to have a full wall built in made that would account for the vents or move the vents higher. If possible can you take an image of the wall ..straight-on where the TV is, without the sofa in view?

I'm not crazy about the idea of painting the console wall a different color...I think that would break the room up. You already have two focal points, the tv and the fireplace...I think painting would just confuse your eye. I think the feel you want is one of cohesion, so I wouldn't do that.
You do have an opportunity here to add some pattern with the panels...you might want to consider a subtle leaf pattern to pick up on your painting, with a couple matching pillows. I'm not that into matchy matchy, throw some other pillows in there too. Mix them up a bit.
You could do some sheer panels, white on white leaf pattern.
And another idea, just a thought, is to move that center plate up over the tv, to get that arched effect...or move those three wood carved panels(?) on the wall next to the fireplace and hang them sideways over the tv..like in a pyramid, to get a sort of arched effect...try your fern painting next to the fireplace to bring your eye down.
I'm not sure, but I love your look, I really think you can work with what you have, just add your panels and some pillows and I think you'll feel good about it!

Here is the picture of the wall straight on.

I like the fern art. I'd go ahead and hang it centered over the fireplace so the bottom is about 6" above the mantel. I'd just leave the trio of objects on the mantel as they are and let them overlap the centered art a bit. Nothing else added to the mantel. I'd definitely remove the plates from above the TV and put nothing there. I'd hang the other art above the table too as long as the table is a little bit wider than the art and not the other way around. I agree with a previous post that Etsy is a great place to shop for pillows. Also, Crate and Barrel, CB2, Pottery Barn, and especially West Elm. I like your window coverings as they are and would not add drapes. Keep your room uncluttered - it's a great look and a nice room.

Oh, and I would not paint an accent wall.

Ann, sounds good. Start with the pillows and hang your fern painting over your fireplace.
You can always add panels later

I think painting the entire room is more effective than is a single wall to emphasize your television. These are some examples to compare how your artwork will appear against neutral, saturated, and darker backgrounds. Keep in mind that the the darker the wall, the less visible the TV will be. You can play w more shades by uploading your photo to Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams.
A few small points: darkening the grout or will give a more uniform look to the fireplace. The triptych may work better placed at a steeper angle, or stacked, ( or a single over the small console table?) but look rather bunched up, as is. Use your fern painting for accent colours: chartreuse and mustards to brighten, linen beige and bronze to soften.

As we are jn this discussion can I ask one more question for bar stools? This is the view of our open kitchen which opens in living. What kind of bar stools (in style) would be a good idea?

You should try a minimalism decoration

I really like studio 10001's color suggestions. Even that last one (the dark one) looks cool! Then again, I like bold colors. You seem to like neutrals? Either way, I would definitely NOT go with any crazy rustic "art" thrown about over your TV or FP. :)

I admit I haven't read all the comments, so excuse any duplication. Longer media cabinet for sure, nothing above the TV, but art to the left if it isn't crowded, replace table in corner with plant.

Curtains will soften the windows.

You've done a nice job on the room. Just needs a tweak.

It's much easier to see the scale of the room in the closer up pics. I think it was throwing everyone off seeing it from up above. I think your TV table looks nice...any larger table would probably outdo the TV.

How in the world are you guys making those pictures?! I need photoshop!! I just realized that your TV isn't sitting on the table. What if you hung the TV a bit higher?? And I agree with the above poster that the plant would do better in the other corner. It would help keep the TV as your focal point.

We put the tree in the corner next to the tv to balance for the fireplace height. If we move the tree from there to the console corner, would I need to have another art/sculpture in that corner?

I would consider adding some wainscot or tongue/groove in the walls to minimize the length

.

I am living with "builder's beige" paint right now and hate it, so take this with a grain of salt, but there's too much brown. White walls with some bright art (I love the three staggered art pieces--maybe move those above the tv? But keep them staggered.) And yes a longer tv console, perhaps in a glossy black if you want a more sleek look.

Well, I'm late to the party but I think the problem is the overall aesthetic. Right now it looks like you were going for a jungle, tropical or grass hut theme. The bamboo looking window coverings, the palm tree in the corner and the painting all sort of have that theme. The fire place brick though doesn't work with that theme. It s big and grand almost colonial in it's aesthetic. Like old school colonial where people actually cooked stew in the fire place. The house though looks more modern or contemporary. With vaulted ceilings etc. I would go with a completely different theme for the room something modern and contemporary. You might need to update the fire place with a more modern facade. The sectional is more modern looking then tropical r grass hut. it's also not colonial.

i would add modern end tables with a contemporary modern lamp or a lamp behind the,sectional that hangs over the sectional. I would suggest a nice contemporary granite finish over the fire place something that matches your sectional which,looks black and white in the photo. Prob a black granite would be nice. Then a couple of more modern art pieces. A sculpture perhaps and a,painting. Finally perhaps a nice throw rug under a table in the center of the sectional that ties it all together. Probably should,have some black with white accents.

Groveraxle..god you are talented! Very helpful modifications using photoshop. I am tempted to try some out too!!!..:)

I agree with a couple posters. First, my eye isn't sure what the focal point of the room is. Am I supposed to be drawn visually to the tv or to the fireplace? For me, the correct answer is the fireplace, so I think maybe a bigger stand that looks more furniture like and boring might help.

I also agree that the room is a bit too brown. The only real green I noticed at first was on the one painting, and even that is kind of a browning green (or at least looks it on my screen). I think you would be well served to grind in a little more green, and in more than one shade, and to maybe throw in a splash of a sky colored blue. How you do that is all up to you and your budget, could be with a chair, pillows, drapes, throws, art...

Ejcj, I agree there are some parts that are not gng together that well. Leaving the fireplace, the sectional is a little too modern. I plan to change that soon to fit the tropical theme but yes fireplace def throws things off.

You really really really need a longer TV cabinet.

The height is the thing that is difficult. I feel like you need something to bring everything down to a comfortable level. Although the ceiling is high and that's something you don't want to lose, you may be able to add something architectural (molding, etc.,) to bring the eye level down and it won't seem so overwhelming to you. It's difficult because it looks like you're somewhat limited in that the television can only go on the one wall, and the fireplace is so tall that it makes the artwork awkward to place. Once you figure out the correct scale, everything will make much more sense to you.

Ok I mocked in a Curved top unit someone had mentioned. I think I still prefer the idea of extending the trim at mantel level and the longer grey washed console. One question how the heck do you close the blind way up there :)

I like the room a lot. The warm wall color looks really nice with the wood tones and the brick, and helps to cozy up the fantastically tall ceiling. The furniture layout is perfect for enjoying the fireplace or watching TV. The TV is at the perfect height for watching TV. However, the TV wall is weak. It could use a much wider and taller unit. I don't know how to add a photo, but I can envision something made up of a wide console that the TV stands on, with a vertical tower on each side, and a bridge linking the tops of the two towers. An eyebrow arched bridge to echo the arches in the architecture might be even better. This unit should be taller than the fireplace. The photos show that you do not have a lot of clutter, so perhaps the vertical pieces could be open cubicles for displaying decorative objects. That would also be a good way to keep the speakers exposed. (I assume that would be better for sound quality.)

The art above the fireplace is too solid when the fireplace is already so large. I would like to see what it looks like to switch the position of the palm painting and the 3 wall hangings currently at the right of the fireplace. I think a live tree is a great idea, but you need a taller one. I love fishtail palms (the variety that grows from one trunk rather than the bushier variety) because it won't take up much floor space, but the palm fronds float above the room. Up-light the tree with a can light on the floor hidden behind the planter.
Lastly, I like the shades on the windows but I agree that additional drapery panels would look even better. You need stationary drapery panels at each end of the set of windows and between the windows. Hang them on one long decorative wrought iron rod with iron rings. The rod should be at least 6-8 inches above the opening. (I need to see how tall the other elements in the room are before I decide on the drapery length.). A brown and off-white print would be one way to maintain the warmth of the room and bring in the white in the kitchen cabinets.

Groveraxle, you have a great eye... well done! The room is big scale, so furnishings & art need to balance. the tree, the curtains, the placement of 3 part screen. the placement of large painting all perfect in your suggestions.

Just need to balance some colour on the sofa instead of all plain cushions. Less is more in this case. a print.

Keep in mind your very visible kitchen has a heritage feel to it. When you replace your sectional, maybe go with a little bigger, bold sofa & some classic club chairs. Think Restoration Hardware feel. The pieces are timeless & have the scale & sense of permanence that would look great in this space. Their colour palettes in sage & taupe & celadon green & soft yellows would look great too.

You could still have your tropical accents, but think old world tropics. Ethnic pieces that would be from some 150 year old plantation house. Caribbean, Indonesia, The deep South. etc. your space could take inspiration from Morocco or Spain too. Those type of classic pieces would all be great in your space. maybe add a ceiling fan? beams. Character!

Groveraxl, you're great! You illustrated exactly what I was thinking of regarding switching the art.

There

I haven't read all the comments so I am not sure if this was already discussed. What about putting the TV above the fireplace and the fern pic above the TV stand. Position your furniture so the fireplace is your focal point.

I did kind of like the example where grover switched the fern art and the three panels!

You asked about bar stools for the kitchen. I like these for your space:

Love your kitchen and think you need some of that brightness in the LR. Maybe paint kitchen area and the LR room a warm white like Benjamin Moore Cloud White or Sherwin Williamns Topsail, a pale blue. I also think the brick should be painted out white. It matches nothing in the room and looks like a sore thumb. If the brick stays then I think you need some really unusual big clay pots in the room with plants or flowers or curly twigs in them so the fireplace can relate to something. What ever color you paint the walls then maybe a pair of small chairs unholstered in a fabric pattern that compliments the walls then add sofa pillows in more intense colors used in the small side chairs. Side chairs can be placed on either side of TV console at an angle to each to give it more width and interest and more seating for parties etc. You might even have extra breakfast room or dining room chairs that would fill the bill. Love the switch on the art work.

DEAD THREAD - one year ago.