Carey's Living Room
Monday, October 10, 2011 at 5:43PM Hi Christine,
I am desperately hoping you can help me. I have never been happy with our living room and am embarrassed to tell you I have painted it 7 times because I thought it was the color. After reading your posts, I realize that is the least of my problems.
(Here is a link to Carey's You Tube video)
I believe the biggest problems I have are:
1. No focal point – I think the east wall should be where the focal point is but I don’t know what it should be or how to work around the obstacles. A large mirror will not work on this wall because of what it will reflect.
2. Furniture placement – The room is basically square but the walkway to the bedroom, which I refer to as an “imaginary hallway”, along with the odd space behind the sectional, throws the symmetry of the room off. 
You focal point is your television. For a mnore impressive focal point- get a more impressive entertainment unit. Your's is also on the small side for the room.
Find a larger piece that fills your wall space better- like the one above from Restoration Hardware.
3. Wall moldings – These really give me grief but I don’t think I can remove them because they have been caulked. Also, they have been painted so much that I would be worried about the groove of paint left once they were removed. Do I wallpaper inside them, paint the molding to match crown molding, can I hang things on the wall that cover them as opposed to always staying inside the lines? Maybe if the room was painted the right color of cream they wouldn’t bother me so much.
What is wrong with the moulding is not your paint color, but actually the size of the trim. Your crown moulding is a good size, but this trim moulding is way too small for the size of room. I would replace it with larger moulding- or more moulding, like in the photo below. 
If you choose to keep the moulding how it is- No, do not wallpaper inside, it is too small- and that will accentuate the problem. Treat your wall decor like it isn't there. Go right over it. Don't try to fit pieces of wall decor inside the sections. I would try to cover it up with bold wall decor.
I could see you using six signs, like the one below. Even all the same sign would be cool, just repeated. This sign is from Susie Harris's shop. I love her work- super cool.
My room faces north so in addition to all its other challenges, it also is dark.
- I plan on ordering custom drapes that are 108” length which will raise the rod (currently they are 96” length). They also will be much fuller and wider so that the curtains will be more on the wall and the windows will be more visible on the ends. Window is 154” wide.
- Do I need woven blinds also? If so, how would that work with the transom? I don’t want this wall to get too heavy looking.
- Should curtains be solid or patterned? I really want this window wall to be gorgeous.
I love your idea of having them to the ceiling, and wider. You are absolutely rith that that is what you need. Usually I say absolutely, "yes, layer the treatment, use the woven woods." in your case, I would say that it is optional. I would only use them if you actually wanted to use them from a functional standpoint. Your windows are so pretty, and your need for light would warant not having the shades. If you do use them, don't worry about the transom. Just have them as inside mount shades on your windows. I would go with a pattern. You have selected a pattern on the chairs, and need to balance that with more patterns. I also like the look of using two drapery panels, a sheer/ linen look on the inside, and the pattern on the outside. You can do this instead of using a double rod. You have enough room to stack both draperies on the side. 
Clearly the things you have selected go well together. Also- you clearly need a custom size rug with the square room. However- I find the solid Karastan lovely- but a bit too dull for me. You can select a rug that comes in a 9 x 13 that has a pattern that would allow you to have it cut down to a 9 x 9. This would allow you to have a bolder pattern, and also likely save you money. Check out the rug below. See how you could cut that down and not miss the four inches?The rug below is from the Martha Stewart Collection.
80s oak woodwork – I know its dated but I really would rather have this than paint it white. I have a feeling that white painted woodwork is becoming dated. My color scheme is soft fresh green with yellow undertones, caramel, creams, maybe gray, and a few black and white pictures. I know the sectional is chocolate brown but I don’t want any more brown. I would love to paint the walls a very neutral cream, currently crown and ceiling are Sherwin Williams creamy. I’ll do whatever you tell me on this one for both walls and woodwork.
You have wood trim on your walls, crown moulding, and baseboards, that are all different colors. That is just wrong. That is like wearing athletic shoes with a pencil skirt. I would have it all be one color, like in the photo below. The room needs to start with a good, clean foundation.
Good luck with your room. I know you sent this in a while ago- sorry- I get quite a few requests and I try to reply in the order in which they were received. If anyone needs fast service- you can always hire me. ;-)
picture frame moulding, wall decor, yellow in family room 
