Wingback Sofa

I like scale.

And wingback chairs just fit a wall with such graceful height. Instead of those squat little chairs that look amazing all by themselves in the store display but never feel right unless in front of a window or in the middle of the room or with a reason for being so short.

This flexsteel wingback loveseat was on craigslist for cheap because the ottoman was ruined.

So I played with it.

A glam gold slipcover over the ottoman with some gold throwpillows. It looks better with a tray or something styling that ottoman because it's such a large bulky object. But overall, it's such a comfortable set, and has some fun sparkle to it now. Too bad I have no place for this either. So back on craigslist it goes.

chair makeover

When I saw these chairs I was drawn to their sturdy simple lines with the understated design flair of the curved arms and back.

They were old and ugly but I wanted to try to make them glam and stylish.

A gold or copper finish intrigued me, but I stayed a little safe with aged silver because these were unfortunately for resale - no place to keep them. And white fur isn't practical for my house. Though I'd love them in a pretty little office or guest room.

 

 

Fun project - wish I could have a glam area to makeover. But these get posted to sell.

Friend's Home

Looking at ideas for a friends house - writing them out here!

There are defining choices for each room, and from these the other options will have a guide.

Girl's rooms = wallpaper or fabric choices (if you want wallpaper in one room you probably will choose some solid prints for bedding or painted furniture. If you are having no wallpaper in a room, you probably will pick some prints for bedding and windowseat and these fabric choices will be what guides your choices for wall paint and other elements. You have to start with the "pattern" choice first and then get your solids around that - much easier to match paint or solid colors to a pattern than to find the right patter to go with your existing colors)

Kitchen = backsplash and countertop are the overall tone of the room choice but light fixtures are your statement (I think you want to be neutral in your hardware - just the brushed silver, simple tones, can be more modern shape but color not too much of a contrast on the white. It's just classic)

Family room = fireplace (TV console is going to need to be right scale and fit as well so worth considering)

Your room = color of furniture, if you paint yours it will have a different feel... your bed should be the statement piece of the room (it sounds like a fairly simple bedroom in color - will it be carpet or a big area rug? Rug is much more artistic. A big new headboard and keeping existing side tables/dressers etc is one way to make a specific statement. If it's a large bedroom you don't want it feeling empty and unfinished - you may need two chairs or a sitting area.)

Diningroom = light fixture makes a big statement - it can alter the feel of the furnishings too. If you have very traditional rug and table, you can go for a bit more edgy light for a fresh current look.

Bathrooms = think balance. Concrete sink is heavy and masculine, and you could counter this by a lovely curved mirror. All gray is very cold - mix some brown warm wood tones and soft fluffy textures.

Guest room = multifunction, clever storage, it's all about scale here, finding how to make everything fit well, be the right scale, so it doesn't look like a couch stuck in blank room full of toys. If you have wood floor in this room, or even if you have carpet, a large area rug would be a great starting point. Choosing a large rug will make this space inviting and the floor a great place to play. Because the center of the room will be fairly blank (maybe poofs or coffee table from couch but overall a blank playing area) the rug will give a completed feeling to that empty space. Once you chose a rug that you love, you can build off of that. If the rest of the house is fairly calm and neutral you can afford to add some pops of color in this room. It can be in the rug - or the rug can be very calm. Just find a rug that speaks to you and the rest of the room can build off of that concept.


Bedrooms in general, it's nice when the door opens to look directly at the bed. But if the room isn't set up like this, make some focal point to whatever you see first when opening the door.

Now, to scroll through some eye candy photos for general ideas.

GIRLS ROOMS: Again, if they're not both having wallpaper, than go off of the bedding/fabric/windowseat choices. If you have wallpaper, solids for bedding and headboard are balancing but I think having fun patterns on the throw pillows on the windowseat will add a lot of sparkle.



Below is a wallpaper and bedroom that are fairly monochromatic - calm and neutral. It's beautiful.



Although I love colors that all flow - I also love the playful freedom of mixing patterns and colors




And I also love a simple wall and furniture choice but with super fun accents and cheerful accessories



So - lots of options for girls room. For boy room, the plank wall and Up North type photos and decore and outdoor inspiration is very fun. I prefer it to balls and sports but... You might need to cater to his love of basketball too

But let at least blend in the style! Like this basketball hoop stays true to the plank-wall natural feel.


I like painting his furniture in a gray or gray wash - I know this is a bunk bed, but look at the colors. Gray wall, gray furniture, natural wood (plank wall) touches of orange and navy, Industrial lighting/bedstand:

 

And here is an example with navy painted furniture - white plank (this is ceiling) natural wood in floor and dresser (could be on plank wall or in the furniture), industrial lighting, gray in curtain and accents

 

 

So I like these pictures because they show how the blends of white, natural wood, navy, gray, and touch of orange are good combinations - different ways to do it. Both of these examples have a pattern in the rug - if you have no rug you may want a print to the bedspread or curtain to add interest - or in a cool accent chair.

 

Below is a good visual of what all these colors CAN do - and I find this room below a little too dark and not cuddly and inviting enough. Maybe you like it, which is fine, but if you don't like it we should figure out what it is that you dislike because this is easily how the room could turn out.

 

 

 

This is the same room with different bedding and something white over the bed

 

 

I think the bottom line is - get enough white into the room. If the white isn't going to be in the bedding, consider the walls being white with plank wall in natural wood and the bedding in a gray or navy print with the bed in gray or navy paint. OR a white washed (or gray washed, or solid paint) board wall and the headboard left wood. But whatever combination you choose - make sure there is enough white somewhere :)

 

For example - I love this room, where the wall color is considered a light nice warm gray. BUT it is still paired with white nearly everywhere else - table, chairs, wall pictures, rug and table accents.

 

 

In Fireplace room, having a nice media wall on that staircase is practical and will save your fireplace - as well as save the impracticality of craning your neck to view up above mantle.

 

It would look something like this - mirrored to this image - with the TV on the stair wall:

 

 

 

 TV consoles have a lot of great options but finding one that compliments your space will make it look natural and intentional instead of an afterthought. This will keep Matt happy.

 

 

 

 

 

I like the slight rustic look of console or board background to keep TV from being too boldly electronic for an inviting space

 

 

Althought I'm not drawn to these photos below, they give an idea of building in the TV under stairs as well - though I think I prefer a console

 

 

 

 

I don't have enough information from you to give any samples of master bedroom

 

For the office/toy room you just want great storage so that when it's being used as a guest room, it still feels welcoming and personal. But it's going to be about 7 years before you will be done with toy area and really use office - so you could be more colorful and fun in rug choices and accessories.

 

 Here are two pictures where the rug and accessories are bright.

 

 

 

There are so many kinds of fun banners - etsy has many - they add a lot of color and can be removed easily when you're ready for simple. This keeps the paint and floors and furniture more neutral while still adding fun. They're nice on a wall or over window or anywhere.

 

 

 

Not sure if your kids are into costumes and acting or singing but these corner stages can be made easily with a curved shower curtain rod and give a lot of fun. Also the teepees can be found many places right now and are delightful. This one is one example of how many styles there are

 

 

Of course you want it to be gender neural - not so much pink

One current color scheme is this:

Turquoise and navy with a splash of gold or coral and a lot of neutrals

 

 these colors

 

 and many rugs could go with these colors like the one below

 

 

 

 

or you could have some white walls and big cork boards and chalk boards and bold art and bright rug with black sofa and contrast in a totally different style

 

 

or neutrals but still artsy

 

 

or neutral colors, quiet pallet but still artsy like the rug above would set a tone for that type of playroom

 

or the very quiet neutral below - but with great texture - warm caramel colored leather poofs and classic navy bins on white wood cube-storage and a simple beauty with more texture then color.

 

 

I would love any style (well executed) but you can just pick a rug that speaks to you and build from there.

 

Here is an example of a more classic style - which would also be beautiful as a play room:

 

 

And this wall-mount style desk looks fun for kids

 

 

And I totally approve of a good pull out couch bed - but I also love this murphy bed

 

 

And that is my list of thoughts on where to start your house design!