Who Likes Wing Backs?

Hi Christine!

It's Sarah from Austin. We're making slow headway in our house; finished the dining room & getting together our living room. 

I need a little living room chair help now. 

We have that pretty sofa that looks like this: http://tinyurl.com/8jdz65w that I would like to cover in a greyish blue velvet or stripes as we talked about. 

Now we need a chair that will give neck support while we watch tv (football specifically!). You had suggested some white tufted chairs.

But ... we want something that maximizes comfort & something that will help us as we're both tall - 5'11 & 6'1. We really liked this one: http://tinyurl.com/233ech3 but I worry that the leather will be a little overwhelming. There are some ok La-Z-Boy recliners, but a wingback seems so stuffy! 

2 Questions, then:

1. Is leather just too much? Does one have to be careful about using it? I'd love to buy that Pottery Barn chair but I think it might become the focal point of the room if I'm not careful. 

2. Do you have any brilliant sources for comfortable, neck-supporting, tv-watching chairs or recliners for tall folks? 

Feel free to use me as an object lesson. :) 

And, I keep thinking about you - as I walk through our neighborhood, there are so many funky exterior paint colors, and so many pretty details. I'm going to take pictures & send them to you. 

Take good care.

- Sarah

Hi Sarah,

This is hard to explain. I just don't like the chair you selected with the sofa you selected.  Maybe it is too overwhelming, and lacks balance- maybe it is just off in the style.   It is one thing to have a real contrast in style, a true juxtaposition. Like using a super modern chair- like the phopto below from Elle Decor:

Your combination is not like that.  A recliner from La-Z-Boy would be far worse.    I also am maybe not the right one to answer this because I love wing back chairs.  The right one can be super comfortable.  I love how they cradle your head, and sit you up at the same time.  If you find the look stuffy, you can also get some very contemporary ones that would be cool with your sofa, like this one from Nathan Anthony.   Or what about this one from Revenge?

I tend to think that if you don't like wing backs, you need to see and sit in more of them.  Sure- some are ugly- but then again, others are fabulous!

If you want to shop at Pottery Barn, I selected some chairs that did go well with the sofa. 

Want to go leather- how about going all the way totally different?  There are some surprisingly crazy comfortable chairs out there- like the Wassily.  Can you see how a chair like the Wassily would be crazy different enough that it would go, but yours is not different enough- and it is just a miss.  I think it is a combination of the leather and the leg style in the chair you selected.

Most of the time the advice I give is correct vs. incorrect.  Today- I think it was more subjective.  I like to think that there are many ways to decorate a room, and when all things are correct, I should let the client express their personality, select what they like and what is comfortable.  But something inside me doesn't want anyone to select a recliner...   So- what do you think?  Does anyone disagree with today's advice to re-select?  Do you like Sarah's leather chair?  Anyone know of a super comfortable chair that would go better with her French sofa?  Sarah- if you end up getting a recliner- don't tell me.  In my imagination, over here in my office in California, everyone takes my advice.  ;-)

Susan's Living Room

Hi Christine,

I'd really appreciate your advice on our sitting room, which has a difficult fireplace wall. It also has a lovely window seat but this makes the room assymetrical and is challenging my novice furniture arranging skills. I know you will be completely frank with me, but I think my main problems are: 1 - Should the focal point be the fireplace or the window seat (or even the TV)? I know it should always be the fireplace, but maybe our room is an exception because our fireplace is hideous and we never use it.

Your focal point should still be the fireplace. Your furniture will have to face the TV as well- but the focal point should still be the fireplace. I don't think it would ever really look right to ignore the fireplace. Consider a flat screen TV over the fireplace.

2 - What should we do with the fireplace? The chimney sticks out from the house (hence the flat wall) and needs work to stop rain coming in. If we have any form of gas fire, that work will be much more expensive. We never use the fire, so we will have it removed and spend the money on a piano instead. This will leave the empty alcove. I would never dream of ripping out an original Victorian mantel, but given that someone else has and given that the alcove floats above the ground, I'm tempted to have a modern alcove filled with big stones or candles. I like the simple modern fireplaces in your blogs of 17 Feb and 8 May 2009 and also at these links:>> http://www.modernfireplacesdirect.co.uk/

You can combine traditional architecture with modern furnishings- it can be a very cool juxtaposition- however- a fireplace is part of the architecture and should be consistent with the architecture. Absolutely do not put a modern fireplace in your very traditional home. Check out this post where I discussed this same principle. I would go to an architecural salvage place and find a cool surround. It doesn't matter if you use it or not. Unless you are going to spend a lot of money on a big overhaul- I would make it look like the fireplace it should be the best I could.

Another alternative would be to fill in the alcove with drywall or hide it with a TV unit, but we would need an ugly ventilation grill, and we still need the tiles over the hearth because the floorboards stop. It is better to just keep it a fireplace- even an unused one. 3 - What should we put on the rest of the fireplace wall? The little windows make it difficult to position furniture. Mount a flat screen over the fireplace and angle your two chairs in the corners beneath the two windows. Even centred under the window, the current bookcase looks strange. That bookcase needs a much smaller wall- perhaps the wall to the right of the window seat- (when you are standing in front of the window seat). Currently you have an end table there. - Can I use your idea of a canvas or double canvas to make the picture over the fireplace a better scale? Can I tell you what I don't like about it? I can't see it. This is your focal point wall. The art should be visible from the furniture- this is so light you would have to stand right in front of it to see it. Anyway- I still think you should have a TV there so that you can center your furniture better. If this does not work with a framed picture, or if the drawing just doesn't have enough weight, where else could I put it? Put it on the wall to the left of the window seat. It is my favourite picture and the red in the frame goes with the other reds in the room. Also, where in the room should I put a photo gallery? Since I moved your sofa away from the back wall- you have an entire wall there that needs something- a perfect place for your photo gallery. - Finally (sorry this is so long!), how do I pull the furniture in off the walls without cutting off the window seat? The things which will stay are the sofa (recovered in the same red when it needs it), the end tables, you only have room for one end table- that is how you keep from blocking off the window seat- a TV (not necessarily this one) and a bookcase or shelf unit (not necessarily this one). I would like to add a piano. Add a low back piano to the back of the sofa- like a sofa table. Or skip the sofa table look and just put it against the back wall.The chairs were a yard sale find for our first apartment but now need replacing, so what other seating do you recommend? We can fit more than the current sofa and two chairs. I wouldn't add more furniture- a sofa and two chairs is perfect. I'd still like one or two simple modern chairs, probably black. In my dreams I'd have an Eames lounger - not sure it would go, but you get the idea! The Eames lounge is not the right size for the room- (although I absolutely LOVE it!) but there are a lot of great modern chairs that you can find that would fit great.

Thank you for being so generous with your time.

Susan

I included a couple of examples of homes with traditional architecture and modern furnishings. Photos from Elle Decor.

Which Modern Family House is your Favorite?

I think I need to change my profile, because I have not been watching much American Idol this year- my Wednesday nights are spent watching Modern Family instead. Today's is the first of three posts on the interior design of the show. This is Jay and Gloria's house. It is the most modern of the three.

I like the subtlety of the paint choices in the two tone kitchen, as well as the smoky glass. I also like the classic wood floors. The clean lines and neutral colors of the walls and floor make a great background for the art.

The counters are also super neutral- probably a Silestone- or similar material. It makes for a really pretty kitchen.

Here you get a peek at the dining room. Check out the roller shades- one of my favorite choices in window treatments. I am frequently saying to "layer" your window treatments- that advice doesn't go for the more modern interior- where simplicity rules. Notice how nice the large plant is in the photo above. Plants make such a big difference in an interior.

Here we have some more bright art- with neutral furniture. Here we a get a little juxtaposition of style with some more traditional leather pieces.

The entry table is lovely. I like the simple floral arrangement as well.

So- how would I describe it? It is definitely modern- you can tell by the exterior shots that you see on the show. But the invitation of traditional elements keeps it from being stark. It is still homey and warm. A little bit Jay and a little bit Gloria.

What do you think? Do you watch the show? What do you like, or not like about the house?

The Juxtaposition

I will interject in red today :)

Hi Christine,
I have a question pertaining to style. In this post, her contemporary table doesn't match the traditional cabinets and I know there have been other posts where you said styles didn't match. I am wondering if it is possible to mix styles. absolutely- of course. I have seen photos of rooms designed with some traditional elements and some modern. Let me show you some examples: check out the picture at the top of the post. traditional, somewhat distressed chairs, a traditional lantern, traditional draperies, and check out the table- smooth metal, round legs, with a modern glass top. Does it go? Yes- it is wonderful. Is there a way to make that work? Another example below- traditional draperies, piano, wall decor- and what? Two wild chairs. Do they go? Yes! Are they the same style? not at all... Different furnishings in the same room do not have to be the same style. I am wondering because I find myself drawn to a variety of styles. Hey Becky- look at this picture below- traditional everything- with a folk country influence, and see that green marble table? Very contemporary in style- but it is melded in so well that it makes it look like a perfect fit. Sometimes you mix styles in this way- Other times you might be going for the shock factor. Check out the photo below- see the gold leaf intricate mirrors with the modern furnishings- they are going for the contrast there- the juxtaposition of style. This is TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS. You know how you could be watching extreme sports on TV- and they might say- "don't try this at home"- mixing styles can be like that- if you are not good- you could kill yourself.

Thank you so much for your awesome blog!
Becky

Thanks for writing in Becky- if you are good- go for it. If you are not- hire a professional. :) Notice that the photos have an element contrasting in style, MIXED in- Have some consistency- then add a chair, or table, or piece of art- that shows your other side- like the contemorary room below with the antique chest... Don't mess it up :)

Thanks to Lofts and Condos 2009 for photos.