I see some relationship issues, and some commitment issues!

Hi Christine,

I've been following your blog for a few months now and love it.  Your new layout looks great!!   I am so excited for your help!!  For years I've been using a brown/green color scheme with red highlights.  I'm ready for a change.  I would like to add in a dusty blue and switch the red for a coral color.

 

I am a DIY-er on a strict budget.  I am willing to paint frames, the mirror metal, recover, and whatever else I can do myself.  I just inherited the orange chair and I like it, but am not attached.  However, it is probably last on my re-do list.  I want to recover the green chair and wondered what you thought about my fabric selection (taped onto the bottom of the painting).  I love my painting and wanted the chair to match.  I am also having a hard time picking a fabric for curtains, and can't decide how to hang them with the double windows.  Should they go from the top of the top window all the way to the bottom?

I know you've said all the curtains visible should be the same fabric and my stair windows are fully visible from the rooms on each story.  The color palettes do flow, but do I have to have the same curtains on both stories, so the stairs will match?  Although the current paint colors go fairly well with my current color palette, they came with the house, and I'm ready for a change.  While I know paint is last, I've been thinking about a light dusty blue from the painting.  And lastly, with a step right in the middle of the room, what do I do with my furniture arrangement, and if I were to get them, rugs?

Thank-you so so so much,

Lyndsey

Lyndsey, Lyndsey, Lyndsey,

Where to begin?  First of all, Your floating wall decor is so distracting, I can't even focus on anything else.  Pull it down.  Like today. 

Look at this post.

And this post.

And for sure look at this post.  they will teach you what to do.

You say you want to add in a dusty blue and switch the red for coral.  Your fabric and art has no coral.

When I read that, I think of this Tobi Fairley look:

If you want blue and coral, do blue and coral, but when you try to do blue and coral and yellow and brown and beige and green, you are simply too all over the place.  Decide what you want and show some commitment to your pallet.  Is blue and coral what you want- or is your pallet in your painting what you want?  Don't try to do both. 

And on your curtains, yes- go from the top all the way down.  Have them end exactly on the floor, not half an inch above, and not puddled.

Why is my font two different colors and why can't I figure out how to fix it?  You would think, that now that I'm 40, I could figure this out....

Have a great day Lyndsey, I hope I wasn't too hard on you.  I really am trying to help!

After Photo

Rachel Re-hung her photos!  (from this post)  Thanks for the after picture!  It would be fun to recieve a lot more of those!

Evelyn's Living room

Hi Christine,
Here are some pictures of the long rectangular living room which is 14' x 31'. Anything you can suggest will be welcomed with open arms! Bland fireplace- I know it should be our focal point but we don't use the insert any longer as we have a boiler outside that heats our home. This was getting too messy bringing wood in and cleaning it out.....it is 8' wide.

Pretty much everything can move except the TV, which is the only place we have hook up for now......the bay window opposite the fireplace is 111" long and has a marble top.

Good luck and this is so appreciated.....I am running out of ideas. I get in the middle of changing and hold my head in my hands with frustration....Broke 2 beautiful lamps trying to rearrange.
Evelyn

Hi Evelyn,

Where to begin? Let's start in the TV corner. It is far too cluttery.

1. Take your ladder display case and move it to the wall to the left of that far door. (The TV is to the right- the bookcase is now to the left.) I like that clock- but it needs to move. Your corner should just have the TV in it - nothing else. Move the clock to the wall adjacent to the bookcase- to the right of the window. Hang it lower. The middle of the clock should be at your nose. If you are extremely tall- let me know and I will change the guidelines. Generally speaking- everything in this room is hung way too high. If the wall decor is not over furniture- it should be hung at eye level.

2. Remove the display/storage thing to the left of the TV. It is just too cluttery. Simplify- keep what you need in this room on the larger piece- and move the smaller display piece to another room.

3. Take down the letters over the door, take down the photo display to the left of the door- there is a bookcase there now. You have too many "things" on your walls and in this room. What might be helpful is removing everything and then re-introducing just your favorites.

4. In the top photo I see two different kinds of drapes on the same wall. In an open room- even if one area is the living room and one is the dining room- your window treatments should be the same- or coordinating.

5. Don't try to put your large furniture on an angle. This works great for chairs- but very rarely works great for sofas. Put your large sofa in front of the window- not squished against the window- but about 18 inches in front of it. Get a narrow sofa table to put behind it- with a lamp. Set the smaller sofa on a right angle on the side with the desk. Your desk might fit behind the small sofa- or against the wall.

6. Get rid of the shelf- hang the picture that is above it lower.

7. I don't know what to say about the fireplace. The mantle is too small and all of the small shelves are hard to work with. I think I would perhaps get candles of different heights and fill the shelves with candles. Use off white candles- nothing bold. I would make it part of my long term plan to redo the front of the fireplace. :) Get one larger piece of art for the mantle sitting on the mantle- maximizing the space before you hit the small shelves.

The more I think about it- the more I think the best solution would be to empty the entire room to start with- then re-invite items to the room in a deliberate manner.

I hope that was clear. I know that was a lot of small specifics.... Do all of that- take new pictures and e-mail me again. There will be more to do. :)