Christine,
I came across your website yesterday, and I really like your straight to the point design advice. Maybe you might be able to give my living/dining area a nudge in the right direction. My husband and I have been married for about three years, and we built this house about a year and a half ago. I think that the space has a lot of potential, and the only thing I wouldn't consider is changing the paint color. (below is her inspiration picture from Pottery Barn.)
Several of the pieces you see are hand-me-downs (such as the blue swivel chairs, tv stand, and dining room set). Other pieces were handmade by my husband's grandfather (the coffee table, inn tables, bookshelf, chest of drawers, grandfather clock, and shelves). We bought the sofa and recliner (my husband's irreplaceable "man chair") after we were married.
We would really like to get a new tv stand/entertainment center, but don't want something that would overpower the space. Please excuse the Christmas tree in the corner. During the rest of the year I'd also love to replace those ugly blue chairs. I like the Dolce and Avington slipper chairs from Target, but think that they might be a little too low to the ground in comparison with the rest of the furniture.
The two prints above the couch have also given me a headache. I like the prints (picked them up in Biloxi on vacation), but I feel as though the frame and mat might be all wrong. My mom helped me with the curtains awhile back, but I really like the combination of bamboo blinds with sheer, white curtains that I've seen on several design blogs lately. The combination of the natural wood with white seems so refreshing and coastal, which is the look I'd really like to achieve in this area. I do have a few coastal accents such as the prints, framed photos, seashells, and coral. But I'm not sure if they're helping to create a cohesive look or seem more thrown together and kitschy. And I don't want to come across kitschy!
I feel a bit more pleased with how the dining area looks. We'd like to replace the dining room set, but unfortunately it's just not in the budget right now. But if I could replace it now, I'd definitely go with the Montego collection from Pottery Barn.
The thing that bothers me the most about this area is the wall with the lone mirror. I'd like to replace the mirror with something else, but I haven't found the right piece.
Let me know what you think!
Thanks,
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
When you have a piece of furniture against the wall- and wall decor above it- the wall decor should have a relationship with the furniture. Your shelf and wreath are floating out in the middle of nowhere. And- if they were down low enough to have a relationship with that piece of furniture- they would be too low- because the scale of the arrangement itself is too small. Solution- You need larger wall decor that is hung not more than six inches above the furniture- or remove the furniture. Personally- I would move the entire piece of furniture. I can see it's proximity to the legs of your chairs- and it does not fit. Your room would be better off without it. That might be one of the heirloom pieces you mentioned- but perhaps there is a better location in your home for it. Then- with the furniture gone- your wall decor should have a relationship with the wall size. I counted four shelves in these two areas- you need more variety anyway. Get rid of it. (I know it was handmade by your husband's grandfather- maybe you can give it to your mother-in-law?)
I like your idea of the woven woods with sheers. Hang your cheers from the ceiling on a rod. - I almost never like the swaggy look with the drapes. (Unless you are one of my friends that has this look- in which case it is beautiful.) The two shelves on either side of the window are OK- those are the two I'd keep. (Translation- both of the others go.) The reason you don't like the wall with the mirror- is a scale/ relationship thing. You have no furniture on that wall- so your wall decor should have a larger scale to it- giving it a relationship with the wall size. Check out this post where I explain the concept in more detail. If you had a set of three mirrors on that wall- it would work great- or if you had a buffet on that wall- your mirror would be the right scale. (You don't have room for a buffet- I am just explaining.) :)
Your small photo collage on the wall to the left of the window is too small- a scale problem again. Add more pictures- or replace with larger. Your TV stand is too small for the wall it is on. Get something larger- like this piece from Crate and Barrel. Notice how it adds texture also. Mount your TV on the wall- to one side- and balance it with additional wall decor on the other side- not one item- but a set- you don't want one and one (the TV being one). The plaques at the top of the post from Uttermost are my suggestion for you here. Your plant looks sad. Again- too small. Green is good- but it needs to be happier.
See the shelf to the right- too small again- audios shelf. You might not like the art work above your sofa but the size is good. It is a nice scale- and not hung too high. Well done. Overall- I am seeing too many small things . Little picture frames- little stuff on your table. (I'd move the table altogether out of the room. Do you see any little things in your inspiration picture? No. It's too cluttery.
I came across your website yesterday, and I really like your straight to the point design advice. Maybe you might be able to give my living/dining area a nudge in the right direction. My husband and I have been married for about three years, and we built this house about a year and a half ago. I think that the space has a lot of potential, and the only thing I wouldn't consider is changing the paint color. (below is her inspiration picture from Pottery Barn.)
Several of the pieces you see are hand-me-downs (such as the blue swivel chairs, tv stand, and dining room set). Other pieces were handmade by my husband's grandfather (the coffee table, inn tables, bookshelf, chest of drawers, grandfather clock, and shelves). We bought the sofa and recliner (my husband's irreplaceable "man chair") after we were married.
We would really like to get a new tv stand/entertainment center, but don't want something that would overpower the space. Please excuse the Christmas tree in the corner. During the rest of the year I'd also love to replace those ugly blue chairs. I like the Dolce and Avington slipper chairs from Target, but think that they might be a little too low to the ground in comparison with the rest of the furniture.
The two prints above the couch have also given me a headache. I like the prints (picked them up in Biloxi on vacation), but I feel as though the frame and mat might be all wrong. My mom helped me with the curtains awhile back, but I really like the combination of bamboo blinds with sheer, white curtains that I've seen on several design blogs lately. The combination of the natural wood with white seems so refreshing and coastal, which is the look I'd really like to achieve in this area. I do have a few coastal accents such as the prints, framed photos, seashells, and coral. But I'm not sure if they're helping to create a cohesive look or seem more thrown together and kitschy. And I don't want to come across kitschy!I feel a bit more pleased with how the dining area looks. We'd like to replace the dining room set, but unfortunately it's just not in the budget right now. But if I could replace it now, I'd definitely go with the Montego collection from Pottery Barn.
The thing that bothers me the most about this area is the wall with the lone mirror. I'd like to replace the mirror with something else, but I haven't found the right piece.Let me know what you think!
Thanks,
Jenny
Dear Jenny, - Your furniture arrangement is not may favorite- with the furniture seemingly pushed against the walls. When you get the chairs from Target- (if they are more than six inches lower than your other furniture- I would say they are too small- go measure)- I would switch the new chairs with the recliner. Having two chairs out in the center of the room would be a nicer arrangement- or try putting the chairs both opposite the sofa.
- Your design mistakes are ones that are so common- and I know I have mentioned them many times- but -- here they are again- our old friends- Scale and Relationship.
When you have a piece of furniture against the wall- and wall decor above it- the wall decor should have a relationship with the furniture. Your shelf and wreath are floating out in the middle of nowhere. And- if they were down low enough to have a relationship with that piece of furniture- they would be too low- because the scale of the arrangement itself is too small. Solution- You need larger wall decor that is hung not more than six inches above the furniture- or remove the furniture. Personally- I would move the entire piece of furniture. I can see it's proximity to the legs of your chairs- and it does not fit. Your room would be better off without it. That might be one of the heirloom pieces you mentioned- but perhaps there is a better location in your home for it. Then- with the furniture gone- your wall decor should have a relationship with the wall size. I counted four shelves in these two areas- you need more variety anyway. Get rid of it. (I know it was handmade by your husband's grandfather- maybe you can give it to your mother-in-law?)
I like your idea of the woven woods with sheers. Hang your cheers from the ceiling on a rod. - I almost never like the swaggy look with the drapes. (Unless you are one of my friends that has this look- in which case it is beautiful.) The two shelves on either side of the window are OK- those are the two I'd keep. (Translation- both of the others go.) The reason you don't like the wall with the mirror- is a scale/ relationship thing. You have no furniture on that wall- so your wall decor should have a larger scale to it- giving it a relationship with the wall size. Check out this post where I explain the concept in more detail. If you had a set of three mirrors on that wall- it would work great- or if you had a buffet on that wall- your mirror would be the right scale. (You don't have room for a buffet- I am just explaining.) :)
Your small photo collage on the wall to the left of the window is too small- a scale problem again. Add more pictures- or replace with larger. Your TV stand is too small for the wall it is on. Get something larger- like this piece from Crate and Barrel. Notice how it adds texture also. Mount your TV on the wall- to one side- and balance it with additional wall decor on the other side- not one item- but a set- you don't want one and one (the TV being one). The plaques at the top of the post from Uttermost are my suggestion for you here. Your plant looks sad. Again- too small. Green is good- but it needs to be happier.
See the shelf to the right- too small again- audios shelf. You might not like the art work above your sofa but the size is good. It is a nice scale- and not hung too high. Well done. Overall- I am seeing too many small things . Little picture frames- little stuff on your table. (I'd move the table altogether out of the room. Do you see any little things in your inspiration picture? No. It's too cluttery.
You have a lack of consistency- very traditional mixed with the newer more contemporary look that you are drawn toward. Losing some of the more traditional pieces will help you look more like your inspiration picture. Your description says that some of these pieces were handmade by your husband's grandfather. I hate that. What pressure to keep them- even if they are not consistent with your look. I am just here to tell you what looks good- you do what you can get away with- and live with. I would give them to my sister if it were me.
Anyone else have some family heirlooms holding you back? Want someone to tell you to let it go? Let it go!
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