There are some GOOD DEALS out there!

Hi Christine,

I have a question!

But first, thanks so much for your blog.  I have learned so much about decorating, and love your choices.  Thanks for your advice and also the links to products.

 

Here's my dilemma:  I'm stuck with an '80's forest green leather sofa in perfect condition, and a rather expensive red plaid recliner in my lower level room.  The only thing wrong with each piece is the color!  I really need to update the room.  You understand!

Do you have a retailer you would recommend for slipcovers?  Pottery Barn Basics are nice if I got the more expensive ones, but for that price I might as well buy new furniture.  Or, do you have any other ideas on the cheap?

Thanks much!

- Carol

Hi Carol,

I understand your dilemma, but you are going in the wrong dirrection.

1.  Do not slip cover leather.

2.  Do not slip cover recliners.

Why?  It will look bad.  Anyone that says it will look good is either trying to sell you a slipcover, or is simply wrong. The slipcovered leather will not only look bad, but will also feel strange. 

For the price of a decent slipcover, go to Craigslist or the Penny Saver, or (my personal favorite) neighborhood yard sales in high- end neighborhoods.  The value of used furniture is so incredibly low.  It could take some time and effort, but you can find more neutral furniture at terrific prices if you are willing to put some time into your search. 

Start laundering some funds from your budget to save for some nicer pillows to put on your new (used) furniture. 

Add new pillows, and a new rug....

The rug above is very affordable, from Dash and Albert.   When I was single, I purchased an off-white sofa from the Penny Saver for $35.  Sure, it didn't look new, but it also didn't look bad. By adding the great throw pillows, you pull the eye away from the sofa's age, and all people see are the pillows. 

I recently purchased a Century bedroom set for my grandfather for $200.  Do you realize how expensive a Century set is?  I once ordered a Century dining set for a client  that was over $40,000.  There are some good deals to be had out there.  Give yourself more than one day.  Patience really is a virtue.  (I know, I already told you not to get a bedroom set...  but grandpa likes it...  and it is an excellent quality.... Ignore that part of the story- focus on the good deal on Craigslist)

Stop thinking about what you paid for the furniture.  Someone else paid a lot for their furniture too, and now they are are selling it to you.

While you are shopping, keep in mind the rest of the room.  Look at this great sideboard:

See the before and after project on Design Sponge.

Finish off the look with some great curtains:

Think neighborhood yard sales in high-end neighborhoods.  I also once got four Pottery Barn barstools for $25 each.  A current style and color in perfect condition.  I also once purchased a Bosch stainless dishwasher for $200.  Practically new.  Sure, many days I don't purchase a thing, (and now that I have a daughter in swim team, I don't go at all), but if you are patient, you can find good deals.  Hey readers, tell us about your good deals.  What have you found out there?  Inspire Carol!

Christine T. Needs Some Personality

Hi Christine,
I just found your website and I love it!  We bought our first home about a
year and a half ago and I was hoping you could help me.  My house has looked
bare for over a year now - I'm overwhelmed.  I love a light, soft and
comfortable up to date/fresh style home. I have 2 small girls so have to be
practical. I have no idea how to accessorize or what to put on my walls!  We
have an open living room/dining room in our small ranch and I just don't
know how to make this feel like home...if you could look at the pictures
attached you'll see what I mean~  any suggestions would be a huge help!
Thank you,
Christine T.

Hi Christine T.  Thanks for writing in.  I'd like to see you focus on three principles.

1.  Pattern

2.  Contrast

3.  Focal Point

First - Pattern.  I do see that you have used two patterns- which is nice- but when you look at the room overall- the larger items are all solid.  You don't have enough pattern, and what you have is too weak. 

A word about pattern.  If you have a very modern home- avoiding patterns in fabrics is the way to go.  Most of us- do not have modern architecture.  Pattern is sometimes intimidating, people worry of tiring of it, and are not sure how to combine it.  But- even though there are plenty of excuses - the result of being pattern shy- is seen in Christine T.'s photos.  The home lacks personality. 

I would bring in a stronger pattern on the window treatments.  This gives you another opportunity.  You have a low ceiling- what is it- 8'?  You can make it look higher with drapes that go all the way to the ceiling.  I think what people tend to do is say- oh, the 96 inch drape is too high, so I'll have to go with the 84 inch.  When the better solution would be to go with the 96 inch drape and simply have it hemmed.  Did the whole process cost more?- yes.  But it was money well spent.  You just increased the height of the ceiling!  Really it is a bargin.  Your drapes are also not full enough.  One panel is not enough on such a wide window.  Make it a totall of four panels- or two double wides if you have them custom made. (If I were you- while I was over there working on my windows I would up your texture by replacing your white wood blinds with woven Roman shades. )  Add a set of panels to the dining room as well.  The drapes you select will serve as your unifier, your inspiration, your color pallet.

#2 Contrast.  Look at your furniture and your rug.  Beige beige beige, mixed with some dark taupe.  If I weren't drinking a Diet Coke, I would seriously be asleep righ now.  Wake up your room with contrast.  Contrast in tone, contrast in hue.  You need some contrast.  I would start with your rug.  This gives you more opportunity to increase pattern while we are at it.  Just becasue you have young children, doesn't mean your rug needs to be the color of dirt.  As a mother of four- with the oldest age 9, I feel qualified to make that statement.  A rug like the one below will make it look like the sofa was a terrific deliberate decision, not a "that doesn't look like it will show anything" decision.

Your dark sofas need some stronger contrast as well.  I would increast the number of pillows.  Keep them light, brightening up your dark sofa.  This also gives you a third strong pattern in the room. 

  33.  Your focal point.  I like your TV above your fireplace.  A single focal point it nice to work with.  But now, we need to make that wall look much "cooler."  I would start by putting your components next to the chair as a side table rather than having them against the wall.  It is bad rhythm to have them next to the fireplace.  Now, you have two, fairly symetrical sides to the fireplace.  I would use a set of two paintings here.  Why paintings instead of other wall decor?  I want to introduce more color into the walls.

I found this painting on Overstock.com.  I would get two paintings, similar in style and color, same artist, similar sizes.  For the novice, it is much easier to go symmetrical than to try and balance asymmetrical. 

What to do on your other walls?  Things other than art.  Start an antique plate collection.  Go antiquing and look for random cool stuff.  Add some wall shelves.  Add two sconces on either side of your french doors.  (Allowing room to stack off your drapes.  Your art above your sideboard is a good scale and size.  Your set of six small frames is too small for the wall you have it on.  Your furniture arrangement, by the way, is very good.  Well done.  :)  You also have great wood floors and a nice fireplace.  I also think your paint color is just fine.  I would consider adding crown molding before doing your drapes.  Do all of that and write me back and we can address your lighting. 

XOXO

- Christine

Drapes and pillows from Pottery Barn,  rug from homedecorators.com, art from overstock.com

Two Options for Laura

Hi Christine,

We are slowly getting settled into our house.  As you can tell, our family room is in need of some help.  We want to get an area rug to add some color, but need to be budget friendly.  We kind of like the colors in the pillow that came with the sectional, but are open to ideas.  The windows also need some type of window treatment, too.   Coffee table?  We probably won't get around to painting for a while, so we'll be sticking with the white walls for now.  Thanks for any suggestions you have!   You're the best!  (Let me know if you want better/different pictures).

Laura



Hi Laura,

Your room is so neutral, it is hard to know where to start with colors.  Because of that- I thought I'd show you two totally different options.  The first is the more neutral of the two.

The Chrysanthemum rug is from Martha Stewart's line on homedecorator.com.

The pillow is from DwellStudio- I would get a couple of these as well as some solid blue and brown throw pillows. 

The drapes are from West Elm.  I would get three panels. 

Next- I wanted to show you a more colorful option:

The rug is from homedecorator.com. 

The bird pillow is from DwellStudio.  I would also add some solid color throw pillows to the mix. 

The drapery panels are from Pottery Barn. 

There you go- let's all vote for Laura- which collection would you go with?  They are both very similar in price- The colorful options total $569 and the the neutral items total $537. 

Another Pottery Barn Sighting...

The interior design on the comedy Modern Family always stirs up a lot of "where can I find that..." questions.  I love to laugh when I find that more and more of their decor can be found at Pottery Barn.  The set designer there does some one stop shopping.  ;) 

On last week's episode, when Cam was in bed complaining about getting attention on "Mother's Day"- I spotted the Simone drapes from Pottery Barn. 

OK- so maybe none of you think it is funny- but I think it is.

BTW- see this link on the discussion page- a question about their home- and I don't know the answer.  I would have to see it- and I haven't noticed it on the show.  Perhaps just check out Pottery Barn's wooden wall decor...

  

The Order of Things

Christine

I have the exact rug you pictured (2nd of the two) and am trying to find a paint color for my family room to coordinate with the rug, camel-colored sofa and brown leather chair. I'm thinking of trying a sample of SW oyster bay. Any thoughts?

- Susan

Hi Susan,

In your question you only mentioned one pattern- the rug, and then two solid colors.  If this is what you are working with, it is premature to be selecting paint.  As I have said many times in the past- paint should be the last selection.  When done in the correct order, after all other selections are made, the paint practically selects itself. 

First of all- you need more pattern in the room. 

Add some patterned window treatments.

Add some pattern in throw pillows.

If you were to select the paint first, it will make your fabric shopping more difficult.  It takes time to find a good fabric that goes with your rug.  It is really a piece of cake to find paint.  Selecting the paint first will make your fabric and pillow quests infinitely more difficult.  Now, when you put paint samples on your walls, you will really be able to tell if it goes well.  Oyster Bay is a great neutral shade or bluish green.  This post  lists some other similar tones. 

Fabric from Robert Allen and pillows from Pottery Barn.