The Rug that Changed Everything

Hello Christine,

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed your blog and appreciate your straight forward advice.

 

My sweet husband surprised me with a Turkish rug for Valentine's day. Actually I was quite horrified that he'd make a purchase like that without my approval! But, I'm trying to let go and make it work in our bedroom that I was in the middle of re-decorating. I'm so lost. The rug has a very fancy design and I'd like another pattern or color but don't how to make them work together.

 

So, could you please give me some advice? Curtains & Throw Pillows - What color or pattern? And any other suggestions.

I don't even know if I can turn this room around or not. It's really thrown me for a loop. However, the rug feels AMAZING under my feet :)

 

Thanks,

Ann

Ann-

You need to have a careful talk with you husband.  One of those genius conversations where you go away with him not being offended- and yet he understands that he is never to do this type of thing again.  Good luck.  ;-)

Power up the pattern.  This example is just like one that I had in a recent post where the patterned rug was not fitting into the room, simply because the room didn't have enough other strong patterns to balance it. 

Go with patterned bedding.  The one above is from Martha Stewart. 

Replace the wrought iron over your bed with a piece of art work that brings in more color.  Bring the eye up to the focal point- which should be your headboard area.  This piece is from Uttermost.

Your nightstands are too small, as are your lamps.  Replace your night stands with some Bombay chests, and get some lamps that are closer to 36 inches in height.

I like it when the lamp shade contrasts in color with the wall color.

Add more balance to your pattern with patterned drapes.  These are from Horchow.  A heavier color will also help. 

Replace your contemporary ceiling fan with a beautiful chandelier.  This will really change the mood of the room. 

After that all you need to do is replace your carpet with wood floors and then change your wall color.  Your husband will be thrilled to find out that the rug made you replace nearly everything in the room.  Perhaps it was a little more generous gift than he thought.  ;-)

Amazing Bathroom

I came across this photo and had to share.  I just loved this bathroom.  A few things to notice:

1.  The recycled shutters- of course.  They put everyone's super boring white wood blinds to shame! Notice how they are "too big"- it doesn't matter.  They can also be too short and work as well.  As long as they cover your naked body- they are perfect.  ;)

2.  Notice the side of the tub is wood.  (not to mention that it is the furiously popular white ceruse finish wood).  Builders and contractors all over seem to think you need to make  "tile selection" for this area.  - Well- you don't.  I love wood panels on the side of tubs.  Classic and beautiful.

3.  Look at the beautiful architectural arch.  You don't have one?  Maybe you could add one.  Look at your space.  Think outside the box. 

4.  Love the chandelier, love the accessories, love the stone.  Love it.  Love it.  Love it.

Photo from classy in the city.

Carla's Dining Room Light

Hi Christine,

My cabinetry and trim is all cherry -- And as you can see, there's a lot of it. My floors are hickory, except in the hall, which is multicolor Rajah slate. The walls are a light-manila folder/butter color. Overall I'm happy, but there's just so much wood to deal with -- and it makes the interior quite dark, even in daytime.

In Oregon, in winter... it's darker still.

What I think I need is:

1) A unifying chandelier over my dining table. The present 3-pendant fixture is just not cutting it. Hung too high, style is wrong and, worst of all -- it doesn't provide nice light to eat by. I envision something like the Niermann Weeks beauty I saw in an old post of yours. Would that I could truly afford such a thing. Anyhow, it had an antiqued acanthus white/gold thing going on, plus a whole lot of candelabra lights. Ah, found the photo, attached it for you. Thoughts?

- Carla

Hi Carla-

1. I would not go round over your table. You have a rectangular room, a rectangular table- an oblong/ oval chandelier- would really fill the space nicer.

2. Also- the style is really wrong for your room. You have a very clean line- somewhat craftsman interior- with more contemporary furniture and rug- that distressed look is not going to fit in. I would consider a look more like the one below- or this onefrom Visual Comfort. If you want to change your furniture and rug- you can go more traditional- but even then- not as distressed as the one you selected.

Personally- I like shaded light in a dining room. I prefer the light quality in a dining setting that you get from shaded light rather than direct light. It is forgiving and romantic. This is not task light- light over a kitchen island. The object in a dining room is to have more atmosphere from your shadow, with areas of light and areas without light. If a light is too bright from above- you lose all atmosphere. This is the difference from dining at a fast food place compared to a sit down restaurant. Remember that your dining room should be the sit down restaurant. If the room needs to double as homework or scrapbook central- add can lights that operate separately from the chandelier- for options in different layers of light.

If your concern with your current light was that it does not provide enough light- or is too bright- I would go to a real lighting store- not a big box or chain store- but a store where the people who work there could answer the question- "How many lumens does that light have compared to that light?" If they can't answer the question- and act perhaps like they don't know what a lumen is- go to a different store. ;) Find a knowledgeable lighting designer that can help you get the light you need in your room. It is an awful lot of work to get a light installed only to find out that it does not give off enough light (or is too bright)- and know that some stores will not allow a return or charge a re-stocking fee for already installed fixtures- especially if chains are cut- etc.

I hope this wasn't too disappointing- as I can see that the lights I suggested are incredibly different from the one you had selected- that is the beauty of me- I tell it straight. ;) I will tell you what will really work well. I split your questions up- and will address the others in another post.

Thanks for writing in,

Christine

The Colors of Sun, Sky, and Sand

Hi Christine:-)

Just back from our lakefront house with MORE pics:-) I am going to clarify all that is going to be done so you don't have to work too hard:-) We are going to be recarpeting the family room........we are going to be repainting the family room a nice neutral medium tone brown.....we are going to be refacing the fireplace, hopefully in stone with a nice mantel and put a tv up there too, we are going to be removing ALL GREEN marble in the family room....Now, here are my issues: It is a narrow, yet long room. We have three grown children who take up a LOT of space when we are watching movies. The chocolate sectional is a favorite as it is very comfortable so that stays. ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES ARE CRAIGSLIST OR TAG SALE FINDS :-) My younger daughter and I made the cushions for all wicker/rattan pieces so we really like those. I desperately want to make it more homey and comfy and accommodating for the five of us.....AND IF WE HAVE FRIENDS OVER WE ARE IN TROUBLE....the white wicker set is in the family room too. However, it is cut off a bit due to a hallway immediately behind the sectional. So basically it is wasted space where we never, ever sit. I would love to somehow incorporate that area into our tv viewing area to give us more seating. The corner where the tv is now I was thinking to put the tall, ladder like shelving to house our components and maybe some "beachy" things:-) We cannot take down the blinds as they are saving us literally hundreds of dollars a month in our heating bill. I would like to have some sort of valance to not mar the view. I did purchase the ones from Target that I am enclosing but feel that I will have too much blue/brown.....I am such a mess. :-(

- Debra

Dear Debra,

I don't like your direction. Harsh huh? sorry....

Anyway- Let's just start with the blue and brown. It is such a drab blue. I would much rather see you pull in a brighter turquoise color. Your little window frame to the right of the fireplace is far to small a scale to balance the window on the left. Let's start with putting a piece of art there- the piece below from Uttermost would be perfect.

Your furniture is all over the place. You have three different kinds of wicker. I would replace the bench in front of the window with a backless bench- wood or upholstered. Get a long one to seat as many people as you can. The little white chair in the corner is too small in scale and doesn't look right so close to your sectional. Of all your wicker pieces- I like the one at the top of the post the best. I would paint it a bright turquoise like the one below and cover the pad in a crisp white canvass. I would put it where your white chair is. Move the rest of the wicker someplace else.

Your rug is too small. I would use a nice large 9 x 12- like the one below from Dash and Albert. In a beach house you can use brighter colors than you might in your everyday home. Bring in the colors of the sun, sky and sand.

I am not a fan of the valances. I would take them back- throw them out- whatever. I rarely like the look of just valances. I find it uncomfortable. It's like someone put their shirt on- but not their pants. There are exceptions of course- but they usually include lower ceilings and kitchen nooks...) You are wrong in thinking that some panels will obstruct your view. Have some single width panels made- ceiling to floor- put them in between your windows. The panels will frame your view. You won't miss a thing- but it will soften that wall- and give you some style. I selected a Beacon Hill fabric for you- below. It is a coral print- bringing in some bright yellow. Not too themey- but still beachy.

I want to shoot down the stone fireplace idea too. I feel like it is too heavy. I would take off all the stone, and find a reclaimed wood surround- paint it a nice crisp white and then add hand painted tiles on your slip.

Provided you don't NEED the fan- take it out and add a fun bamboo chandelier like the on below from Shades of Light. It brings in an unexpected color that you can repeat in a small pillow on your wicker chair.

I am sure you will never invite me to stay at your shore house. You might be mad at me- hopefully not crying- or worse- you might stop reading my blog. Please don't hate me- I am here to make it look fabulous!

XOXO

Christine

P.S.- I would do a turquoise or white grasscloth or beadboard on the walls.... Also- in long narrow rooms- I almost always break up the room into two seating areas. I would put a pub table behind the sofa- the seats will be high enough to see the TV- and it can also be multi-functional.

Sonia's Bedroom Part III

Today I am still working on Sonia's bedroom: catch up here and here. We selected new bedding:

And I took the liberty of selecting an easy to find Robert Allen fabric for her to have drapery panels made: (I would pair them with dark woven wood Roman shades)

And now we need to select the replacement for the not-so-lovely ceiling fan. I selected three- from Lamps Plus: They are all very different- but I think they would all look great:

Let's have a little vote: #1- curvy wrought iron

#2- the classic drum shade

#3- the ring thing.

What do you think would look the best? Whatever light gets the most votes- I am certain Sonia will purchase. ;) Just leave a comment.

Thanks,
Christine