Liz's Living Room

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Hello Christine,

I was so happy to find your blog.  I would love your advice for my house.  We just finished a green remodel of our house.  We are currently looking to furnish the great room.  I was hoping to find 2 chairs to face the sofa with a coffee table for the center.  I really like this coffee table.. but it seems it's only 17 inches tall and 16 inches wide.  I think it pulls in the exposed beam in the ceiling.  I really want something without sharp edges or glass ( I have a 18 month old).   I was thinking that it might be best to get 2 chairs with a bold (yet not overpowering) pattern... maybe a dark teal damask or something.  Have you seen any reasonably priced accent chairs anywhere?  I have used all Benjamin Moore colors for the walls.  The great room is painted "Mellowed Ivory".  The office through the french doors is "Mill Springs Blue", and the family room is "Palladian blue".  All trim, doors, and ceilings are "White Dove".  I have attached pictures.

- Liz

Hi Liz.  First let me address the coffee table.  It is too small.  You could get two of them - but I would not do that if you get two chairs.  The two and two thing is less than ideal.  It also looks pretty "ouchy" for an 18 month old.  :) 

Consider instead a tufted ottoman.  They are tight enough to add a tray for beverages, but soft enough to learn how to walk around.  (overstock.com)

 I do appreciate your idea of repeating te finish on the beams- but you can do that in and end table, and/ or accessories, like this tray from Uttermost:

Now for your two chairs.  Teal damask is pretty specific.  Even just Teal is hard to find in a pre-made chair.  That would be no problem if you had not added the phrase "reasonably priced."  You could always have a fabulous set of chairs made for you in a fabulous fabric like the one below from Lee Jofa:- but you might not consider that "reasonably priced". 

 I tried to find some well priced chairs for you- without a lot of luck.  The one below is definitely more of a turquoise.    

This chair is from CSNSofa.com.  $249.  I found this manufacturer when I had a client interersted in a chair in the Macy's furniture showroom.  The chair had a name on it- the Jasmine Chair.  I thought I'd google it and sure enough I found the same chair from CSN for a much lower price. It iwas a very comfortable chair by the way- and a fun style:  (but doesn't come in teal)

I also like to check out homedecorator.com  I liked this chair quite a bit:

The leaves do have a teal:

I am far from an expert on great sources with low prices.  I am more of an expert on fabulous sources and who cares what the price is. So- here is where I'd like some help from all of you- if someone asked you where to find a great chair at a reasonable price- where would you send them?  What are your favorite sources?  Let's share.  :) 

Donna's Living Room

Christine,
I just had a new leather couch delivered today - as you can see, there is no place for it except under the window..I am keeping the side window panels..but want a new shade or something under -- I usually do Kirsch..also - need a suggestion for 2 chairs around fireplace..need to replace pink one (from my blue/mauve days)..and maybe do something else on other side of fireplace? Any suggestions would be welcome (but the couch cost a fortune, so don't say anything bad about it!!!) thanks!
- Donna

Hi Donna,

I really like your new sofa. Don't worry- I won't say anything bad about it. :) With that said, I might say something bad about combining the camel leather with red... ;) Look at the photo where you see the sofa right there with the red in the drapes. It is not working together. The red pillows are screaming, "Take me off of this sofa!" I would take the red out of the room- or at least minimize it. Replace it with the color of the leather- and you will LOVE that room. Everything will fall into place.

Start with the rug. You can go more contetransitional if you choose- or keep it traditional- I selected both for you. I kept the green you had in the room- but replaced the red with your leather color. If you do not repeat your leather color- it will stick out and not fit in. Repetition is the key. These rugs are from Homedecorator.com. (The more I think about it- I think your furnishings overall - especially the more traditional case pieces in the room- would lend themselves to the more traditional- only go more transitional if you want to make more changes.)

I found some inexpensive drapery panels for you from JC Penny- a semi-sheer- only $20/ panel- so replacing something you told me not to- won't break the bank- but will make a striking difference. Check out these panels- DO NOT DO THE swag. I hate those. :) I would do the desert Khaki or the Tennessee sage. The blinds below are from Kirsch. Here I would really repeat the sofa color. There are some really great woven grass shades that incorporate both a sage green and the sofa color. Check out Harvest Straw on this page.

So- for your chairs- first of all- I would move your sofa to FACE the fireplace. Is there a TV in that armoire? DO you need a TV in this room? Can you do a flat screen over the fireplace? I will just tell you that your room is far better balanced if your main sofa is facing the fireplace. If you can- move it around. Follow that move by adding a sofa table. I wanted to bring in a pattern on the chairs. With that said- the best options are going to be in custom pieces- so I tried to find some non-custom less expensive options for you. The green one below is from CSN sofas. I have found their prices to be an excellent value. I would get two matching chairs in your room. In a larger room, with more furniture- it is easier to shake it up- but in a room with as much symmetry as yours has- I wouldn't fight it- keep it symmetrical.

The chair above is only $399, CSN sofas. If your budget is closer to $900- check out this one. When you do all of that- take photos and e-mail me back- I would like to address your wall decor, mantle decor, and wall color. ;)