Rose's Sitting Room

Hi Christine!
I love your decorating blog and have been a frequent visitor and asked you some questions in the past. :) WELL ... we have moved and now I need some decorating help with our front sitting area!
Here is a video of the room. I tried to go slowly so the camera would not be too blurry:http://s18.photobucket.com/albums/b147/rkinkead/Sitting%20Room/?action=view&current=MOV07031.mp4 The sitting room is a small room, not sure what to do in there for furniture and decor. I would love your help!! Let me know if you have any questions that I can answer. SOOO excited to get your input.
Thanks in advance!!
Rose

Hi Rose,

Thanks for writing in.

First of all- before we start- go move the rug in your entry to the other orientation. It should go the long way- coming off the door.
Thanks.

Now- let me tell you what NOT to do. Do not get a sofa and put it on your long empty wall. Why? You need to ask yourself- what is the focal point of the room? Well- it doesn’t have one yet- but- when you have one sofa in a room- what that sofa is facing is generally the focal point. That one sofa would be facing the exit of the room. It in no way is creating a cozy sitting room atmosphere. All of the energy of the room is directed right out the door. We are trying to create a living space- not a leaving space.

Four chairs- with a circular table in the center

A small sofa with two chairs

Two love seats- or small sofas- brought out into the room- not against walls.

Your focal point is going to be one of three places.

It is perhaps going to be a case piece- cabinet or table- that you put on the long solid wall.
It could be the window- provided you like your view.
It can be the center of the room, using one of the arrangements that bring you to the center- Get a fabulous lantern or other cool light- (like the one in the photo below) and really bring the eye to the middle of the room. You could not ask for a better conversation area than a center based arrangement.
Your room is almost square in size- keeping your furniture floating and centered in the room keeps a square room balanced.

What else would I do? On the long wall- get a piece of furniture- like I mentioned before. This is where your fireplace would be- if you had one in the room. Add a couple of lamps to the piece. Don’t forget lighting- you should have at least five sources in the room- like I talked about in this post. Over the furniture piece- put a large mirror. To give your wall décor good scale- get a set of four pictures- put two on the right- stacked- and two on the left.

Add drapery panels to your window- and then add two sconces to finish off that wall.

On your wall that shares the pocket door- add a few wall shelves.

On the wall that shares your entry door to the room, add a collection of baskets, plates, photos- etc.

What do you think readers? What arrangement should Rose select for her room?

Photos from Country Living- except the four toile chairs is from House Beautiful.

Lauren's Anthropologie-esque Kitchen

Open Shelving Style Kitchen Uppers

Hi Christine!
I just found your blog! It's amazing! I just bought my 1st house, and I move in on June 1st. Right now, all I have are pictures of is from how the owner has it. So, none of my furniture. My taste cottage/eclectic (I love Anthropologie-esque stuff and vintage/antique).

The house itself is 100 years old and cottage looking from the outside. I love older homes- and I love that your interior is going to be consistent with your exterior. Anyway, I have time to paint and do other things during the month before I move in, and I'd love some help.

First of all, I'm trying to figure out what to do with the walls in the kitchen (maybe more white, instead of brown??). I would not go white unless it was white beadboard- just painted white would be too dull. The tile on the floor is a gray tone. I'm also not sure about the countertops (maybe wood? but would the gray floor look weird with that?). Wood counters are a classic. You could always bring in some gray in the backsplash to help tie in the flooring. I put a picture in below of a hand painted tile from Country Floors that has some white and some gray- you could absolutely use a tile like this on the backsplash and add a wood counter. Repeat the wood somewhere in your room- like your furniture. I also feel like the fridge looks bulky where it is, but I'm not sure what other option there is. Just replace it with a counter depth refrigerator. You pay more for less square footage- and it killed my husband to do it- but after bugging him for about 2 years- I got mine- and love it. From a design standpoint it is the best solution- and if you run out of room- just clean out your refrigerator- you don't really need more space. (coming from a mother of 4) I also thought about changing the hardware on the cabinets- what do you think?? I don't have a real good look at the hardware.... it is hard for me to say- but in general I'd like to see something with more contrast. Anthropologie has some really great hardware to check out- I like their button knob.

Check out I am cutting your e-mail in half- I will finish it with an additional post and just focus on the kitchen in this one.

Thank you soooo much. This is the best blog ever. ANY advice is appreciated!!!!
Sincerely,
Lauren

Well Lauren,

Congratulations on your new home! I'd like to add a few more thoughts to what I said above. I would have one dining set in the center of the room- and no additional furniture. The arrangement the previous owner has is really not good. If you are interested in making any structural changes or additions- consider adding a display area above your cabinets- where there is space- like in the kitchen above. Or you could take down all of your upper cabinets- and have a more open feel like in the photo at the top of the post.

Over your dining room table- remove that horrible ceiling fan and add some charming lighting. I found this glass jug pendant from Shades of Light- I would do a little collection of three of them- hung in staggered heights.

Add some Roman shade or cafe curtains on your windows. Find a fun vintage fabric like the one below from Amy Butler. Your curtains and backsplash will bring in your character.

I would put beadboard on the wall- floor to ceiling would be perfect- painted white. Then add a vintage plate collage to the larger back wall.

Consider some retro chairs like you see in the red and green kitchen photo above- paired with a simple wood table that brings in the colors of your counter- and adds warmth to the stone floor. The addition of the retro will give you more of an Anthropologie feel- and not too country.

Any more ideas for Lauren? Anyone seen any cool vintage Anthropologie-esque kitchens lately?

The Beadboard Backsplash

Hi Christine,
I'm in need of your expertise. What are your thoughts on beadboard backsplashes in the kitchen? Can I do it and pull it off without looking too country? I would also beadboard the island and paint it the same color (white/off white-ish) to pull it all together. Do you hate it? I'm also considering doing a tin backsplash like this one. Overall my style is shaker/mission/coastal, but my house is anything but that. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Jen Dear Jen,

As soon as Abercrombie and Fitch decided to put beadboard all over their stores- the whole idea that beadboard is too country went right out the window. I think the beadboard backsplash look is great- and certainly can be incorporated into many kitchen styles that seem to fit with your home. Take a look at the pictures in today's post. They are all country on some level- but certainly can be more of a Coastal Pottery Barn Country rather than what you might consider too country. I would take a look at your room- and beadboard the walls as well as the backsplash.

Do I like the tin backsplash?- Yes- it is also a great look- especially the real deal. (Always a richer look than the fake wallpaper look.)

Keep in mind that deciding to beadboard your walls will also require casing your windows- and adding trims and mouldings- I would consult a professional.

Thanks,

Christine

Photos from Country Living and Sub Zero

Lisa's Palladian Windows

Dear Christine.
Let me begin by saying that I am so excited to have stumbled across your blog! Your advice is terrific.
I may have another stumper for you. We are planning a full redo of our living room, from furniture to cabinetry to fireplace mantle to paint colors. The room has (from what we've been told) Palladian windows. The windows currently have custom wood shutters that were installed before we moved in. The house is a Spanish/Mediterranean style, and the shutters seem incongruous with the style of the house. So we've been thinking of doing an alternative window treatment as part of the decor. But what? As you can see, our living room has a slightly rounded ceiling (not quite a full barrel), and windows on three of the walls. The middle window on the back wall is taller and wider than the others.I have attached photos of the walls with the windows, and also a shot of the other side of the room. We are planning to install floor to ceiling built-ins for the wall opposite the windows (where you see the television) and also get new furniture for the room. (lighter color rug and couch, with some darker accent colors.) Basically, everything in the room is up for redesign, so we are very open to any ideas! But the window issue seems the most complicated to me.The windows on the bedrooms upstairs also have the same custom wood shutters, but we are also considering putting in roman shades. I think the window treatments should look somewhat consistent (or at least in harmony) from the front street view. (also attached)I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Thank you in advance!
Sincerely,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Let me start by saying that I would definitely not remove the shutters. Keep them. They are a great start for your window treatments. The style of the shutters is not your problem at all. The Palladian windows are too strong a statement in the room. Part of that is accentuated with the high contrast in the trim color and the wall color. I would lighten the trim, or darken the walls. Make the look more subtle. You will like your windows better the day you paint.

Secondly- I would add panels- like in the photo below. This will soften the line of the windows, and also add a lot to the room in general as far as adding more textural variety, softness, and pattern if you choose.

Those two changes are exactly what you need. Don't remove those expensive shutters!!!! If you have other questions with your project- let me know.

Thanks,
Christine

Thanks to Country Living for the photo.

PS- it takes a little more than some Palladian windows to stump me ;)

PPS- I like your sconces.