Steve's Place

( I will interrupt in orange.)
Hi Christine,
I came across your blog and was very impressed! I have an apartment I want to put some creative touches in order to accomplish my goals:
1-Make the place look larger and possibly taller. You do this by keeping your wall colors light, and adding more of a vertical emphasis.
2-Improve the overall design/look. One way to do this is by increasing your variety of wall decor. I see a lot of walls with one picture on each wall. Check out this post where I addressed this in more detail.
3-Eventually add some better wall art.

A friend suggested the following:
1. Take one wall, the one with the TV, and make that all wallpaper, essentially the focus wall with a single color but a texture design of some sort. This wall is what you see first when you walk in. It is so good to get advice from friends. Especially when their own home is clearly well put together- it is a great idea. In your case- I am glad that you are asking for a second opinion. Do not break up the space by having a different wall surface on one wall. This will do the opposite when trying to make the room feel taller. What I would do with that wall is this: Eliminate the trunk- make it go away. It is giving the space a cluttered feel. Get a smaller table (if you have to), and pull it out from the wall. I see one at a pub height, with barstools that tuck in to save space. Replace your drapes on the slider, and add matching panels flanking this window. These strong vertical lines in the window treatments will help make your room feel like it has a higher ceiling. I would mount the drapes from the ceiling- maximizing the possible height. Use a clean simple black metal rod. Make sure the drapes go all the way to the floor, but do not puddle on the floor. Have them hit perfectly.
2. Add a chair rail on all 3 of the other walls, about 42inches in height and take the darker color on the bottom. No no no- a chair rail will emphasize the horizontal and make the room feel shorter! Plus- there is no reason to have a chair rail in a room small enough where you have to have the furniture against the wall like you do. It would be awkward. In addition I am not a huge chair rail fan to begin with- as shown in this post. Also- you have a modern contemporary feel to the room- and a chair rail is traditional and formal. Was I too blunt on that one? Don't have your friend read this- it might hurt his or her feelings.
3. Then above the couch add a molding frame long rectangle with accent color inside (darker inside) and leave about 10 inches of wall space on the outside of the lighter color. No- no no no...
4. Then on the other 2 walls add a molding frame as well to be able to hang art and such.
Attached are some photos... no- no.

hope these help.
Your thoughts?
Suggestions?
Thanks
Steve

Dear Steve,
Let me give you a few more ideas- You have a contemporary/modern feel going here- I love it- it says, "I'm a super cool dude." OK- maybe it doesn't say that exactly- but I say- keep with it- make it work even more- add more contemporary elements- not the traditional ones your friend suggested. Check out the artwork below from Mike Klung. A fabulous piece like this, hung horizontally above the sofa would be awesome. (you need a larger one- about 60 x 36 or so) It would fill a horizontal space with a horizontal item that has good scale and balance, but the nature of the piece itself would still add a vertical emphasis.

To give your room more style- consider grasscloth all around. This will add texture, warmth and interest. When selecting the paper- find one like the piece below with a subtle vertical line.

Here is a little unsolicited advice. This is where you are getting what I try not to ever give to my friends- but since we don't know each other... Your sectional is wrong. It covers up half of the slider... Christmas is coming- be good to yourself- go get a new sectional- facing the other direction- where the L comes out into the room on the left side, not covering up the window on the right side. I like the sectional below- from West Elm- it has a nice low back- which will make your walls appear taller again. I would go for the color as well- and the two trunk looking pieces for a coffee table. It would be fun.

I can't see much of your rug- but from what I see- it doesn't work like I'd like it to. It is the only strong pattern in the room. You can't have just one. Your patterns need to be in balance with each other. I see the place with a super subtle pattern like the one in the "sweater rug" from West Elm below. I like the name of it- "sweater rug." Isn't that inviting...

While I have you spending all of your money- add can lights also. The darkness of the ceiling adds to the lowering of it. Your track lights are good- but more lighting is needed. Have you read my rules on lighting? You need a minimum of five sources. Check out this post. In your case, I would add to what I told Kim- to put in can lights- in general- your room is too dark.

Hey Steve- that's that. I hope that wasn't overwhelming... ;)

The Loft

Hi Christine, I am so glad I found your website. It is great! I have exhausted my search of what to do with this space. We just moved in and are the process of adding a staircase to the first floor for better access to the kitchen. I am at a loss of what to do with furniture placement and paint color with these slanted walls. I am ready for new furnishings for this space. The only thing I have picked out is neutral carmel colored wall to wall carpeting. I guess you could call our style "casual" traditional. I would greatly appreciate any advice you can give.
Sincerely,
Joanne

Dear Joanne,

I want you to do three things as you decorate this space:

1. Define the Space
2. Use Low back furniture
3. Be daring.

First, define the space. When you have the sloping ceiling action going on, it is important to bring the furniture out into the middle of the room. Of course, once you do that, you don't want it to be "floating" out there. That is why you need to define the seating area. Two easy ways to do this are to first of all- use a sectional- by design it really helps to define an area- and #2- use an area rug- go ahead and put it right on top of your carpet- it will help to say- "look- this is the seating area- not a floating grouping of furniture. "

Second- use furniture with low backs. Parts of your sitting area will be beneath your optimum ceiling height- help this to look right by finding furniture that has low backs. The sectional above is from West Elm- this chair is from Anthropologie. Put two of these chairs to the right of the open portion of the sectional- and have a "TV" stand for your TV to bring it into the room as well- not pushed up against the wall- but in such a way that you don't see the back.-

Third- be daring. This area is away from the general flow of your home- why not have a more daring fun look than you otherwise would put downstairs. Break loose! Have some fun! This rug is from Anthropologie.

A few more things-

Keep your paint colors light- Don't forget to add lighting. If you need a ceiling fan- get a darker one- and drop it from a down rod- that white one is way too high. If you don't need one- replace that with a fun chandelier- like this one.

You can bring your low walls a little closer into the room by putting shelves on them- like these from Ballard Designs.

Add some great drapes. Hang them high- make it look like you have larger windows than you do. Add Roman Shades- woven woods- or fabric.

Treat your windows with the same materials- but a little differently- as I have done with my sharpie. :)

There you go- it is going to look great! If you want to go all out- I would panel your ceiling, the slanted part also- and paint it white. You will love it up here- a fun get-a -way!

Sofa for 8 Sided room

I hope you can help me. I have received conflicting advice about what to purchase for the 18'x21' family room in my new home. The space is an 8 sided step down. Three sides have floor to ceiling (12') windows; the opposite 3 sides open onto a hallway connecting several spaces; one side opens to the breakfast/kitchen; across from the breakfast area is the final side and only wall area, housing the fireplace and wall-mount TV. I watch TV from the kitchen.

Spacious enough for sectional. L-shape or U shape? Should sofa face the wall of windows and our woods? That would expose the sofa backs to hallway and breakfast area. Current 90" sofa in front of windows looks dwarfed. Need to seat my family of 6 comfortably but 7 or possibly 8 would be wonderful. Finding that not all corner units of sectionals are functional. Too crowded or too deep.

I would appreciate any help at all. We are anxious to purchase but have received different advice at each store.

Thank you.
Gayle

Dear Gayle,

From your description, I did my best to draw your room to scale- What do you think of having two sectionals? Bernhardt makes one called the "Archer" - it comes in leather or upholstry. The sectional has a nice curve to it that would mimic your architecture, rather than compete with your existing angles in the room.

You can then put a console table on the back side of both sectionals- symetrically. This not only "decorates" the back side, but also gives you a place for lamps, and storage if needed. You could then finish the look with a couple of ottomans in the center. This would seat 8 comfortably, as the angles in the sectionals are subtle, and not true "corners." Let me know if I can help you further with ordering anything, I would be happy to get you some leather and or upholstry samples from Bernhardt, as well as some pricing. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Let me know what you think, or if we need to re-work your plan!

Thanks for the question!!!

- Christine

The sectional and console table are from Bernhardt. The ottoman is from Padma's Plantation.