Karen's Family Room

I was at Karen's house today.  She wanted to decorate her family room and didn't know where to begin.   I am not a big fan of the little niche above the fireplace. (and hate the accent paint color)  I find most of those awkward and busy.  I suggested that she find a piece of artwork that would completely cover it, making it look as if it is not even there.  Her "hole" was 46 x 38.  With that said, that is a good place to start.  Whenever you have a lot of restrictions on an item, in this case, a very specific size, that is a good place to start.  If you had to add that, a minimum size, PLUS, it has to match things..., then it would get much harder to find something without paying to customize it in some way. 

And so, I started with the artwork over the fireplace. I found this piece, 48 w x 40 H.  Now we also have a color pallet to start working with.

When it came to her furniture placement, I thought, I recently saw a family room almost exactly like this one.  So- let's re-use the furniture advice from Hanna's family room.

First select a sectional.  Here is one from Macy's.

Then we need to find a couple of chairs as well.

In Hanna's Family Room I suggested a coffee table with two pouffs.  This same arrangement can be done in a lot of different combinations.  For Karen's family room, I am adding an ottoman instead of the coffee table, and two rattan footstools in place of the pouffs.  There is no right or wrong.  The idea is to have a variety of textures.  Avoid the matching set.  Karen has a matching end table and coffee table.  Keep the end table, and use it with these items. 

I loved the vibrant colors in this ottoman from Anthropologie.  Whereas the sectional and chairs were pretty conservative, this piece adds a big splash of fun and personality.  Something to make the room look unique.  Something memorable.

The Hana ottoman from Palaceck is full of textural variety.

Karen needs to replace her carpet.  One of my favorite sources, (the brand I have used in each of my personal three homes and loved) is Masland.  I really am a Masland commercial.  They should be paying me.  For Karen I selected Pariament, color River Thames.  Here is where I would find the paint color.  She definitely needs to paint.  For anyone considering painting a small portion of their room red, like this entertainment area, look at this and don't do it!  I think it looks horrible.  (Karen didn't do it by the way- it was the previous owner.  ;-)  I would suggest something light and neutral.  The room is going to look great with our great selections.  It doesn't need some bright paint color.  Consider something like Urban Putty by Sherwin Williams, 7532.  (You need sample quarts, I can't really select paint without the carpet and fabrics in my hot little hands.) Removing that accent wall, and having it all one color, will make the most wonderful difference!  What a great example of a disaster of an accent wall.

Add nice white moldings in Swiss Coffee.

Now look over at her table/eating area.  Her furniture is good.  The drapes are too short, and they break the cardinal rule by not hitting the floor.  I call them highwaters.

(not the cool- gay guy highwaters- the geeky kind)

Get some new drapery panels that are the 108" length, and hang them to land exactly on the floor, not half an inch above, but also not puddled. (drapes below from Pottery Barn)

Now look at her light fixture.  It is hung too high, it is too small, it is a bad color, and it is the wrong shape.  Other than that it is great.  ;-)

In an area like that, go with a rectangular shape, mimicking the shape of the table and the room, and hang it lower, about 36" over the table.  I found the fixture below from Shades of Light.

Then you just need to add a coordinating table runner, and a rectangular shaped centerpiece would be great.  You could find a long bowl for fruit, or a rectangular shaped green centerpiece of some kind.  Maybe take up growing wheat grass. 

Can you see how that repetition of shape looks so much nicer, and makes the room feel good?  OK- now picture the rectangular table with the round light, now the rectangle.  Can you see the difference in your mind?

 

Re-read the advice to Hanna on lighting the room, and don't forget a live plant in a corner.  Add throw pillows to bring in more personality and color. 

Thanks!

- Christine

 P.S.  Check out my Facebook page today- I have some terrific pictures of the Hand Chair by Pedro Freidberg. 

Lauren's Anthropologie-esque Kitchen

Open Shelving Style Kitchen Uppers

Hi Christine!
I just found your blog! It's amazing! I just bought my 1st house, and I move in on June 1st. Right now, all I have are pictures of is from how the owner has it. So, none of my furniture. My taste cottage/eclectic (I love Anthropologie-esque stuff and vintage/antique).

The house itself is 100 years old and cottage looking from the outside. I love older homes- and I love that your interior is going to be consistent with your exterior. Anyway, I have time to paint and do other things during the month before I move in, and I'd love some help.

First of all, I'm trying to figure out what to do with the walls in the kitchen (maybe more white, instead of brown??). I would not go white unless it was white beadboard- just painted white would be too dull. The tile on the floor is a gray tone. I'm also not sure about the countertops (maybe wood? but would the gray floor look weird with that?). Wood counters are a classic. You could always bring in some gray in the backsplash to help tie in the flooring. I put a picture in below of a hand painted tile from Country Floors that has some white and some gray- you could absolutely use a tile like this on the backsplash and add a wood counter. Repeat the wood somewhere in your room- like your furniture. I also feel like the fridge looks bulky where it is, but I'm not sure what other option there is. Just replace it with a counter depth refrigerator. You pay more for less square footage- and it killed my husband to do it- but after bugging him for about 2 years- I got mine- and love it. From a design standpoint it is the best solution- and if you run out of room- just clean out your refrigerator- you don't really need more space. (coming from a mother of 4) I also thought about changing the hardware on the cabinets- what do you think?? I don't have a real good look at the hardware.... it is hard for me to say- but in general I'd like to see something with more contrast. Anthropologie has some really great hardware to check out- I like their button knob.

Check out I am cutting your e-mail in half- I will finish it with an additional post and just focus on the kitchen in this one.

Thank you soooo much. This is the best blog ever. ANY advice is appreciated!!!!
Sincerely,
Lauren

Well Lauren,

Congratulations on your new home! I'd like to add a few more thoughts to what I said above. I would have one dining set in the center of the room- and no additional furniture. The arrangement the previous owner has is really not good. If you are interested in making any structural changes or additions- consider adding a display area above your cabinets- where there is space- like in the kitchen above. Or you could take down all of your upper cabinets- and have a more open feel like in the photo at the top of the post.

Over your dining room table- remove that horrible ceiling fan and add some charming lighting. I found this glass jug pendant from Shades of Light- I would do a little collection of three of them- hung in staggered heights.

Add some Roman shade or cafe curtains on your windows. Find a fun vintage fabric like the one below from Amy Butler. Your curtains and backsplash will bring in your character.

I would put beadboard on the wall- floor to ceiling would be perfect- painted white. Then add a vintage plate collage to the larger back wall.

Consider some retro chairs like you see in the red and green kitchen photo above- paired with a simple wood table that brings in the colors of your counter- and adds warmth to the stone floor. The addition of the retro will give you more of an Anthropologie feel- and not too country.

Any more ideas for Lauren? Anyone seen any cool vintage Anthropologie-esque kitchens lately?

Sheena's Kitchen

Dear Christine,

I love your blog. I really, really do. My family and I just moved into our first house and I need some serious design advice. (my husband just peaked over my shoulder and asked, "does she do that for free?" I said, "Yes! She really does! Isn't that awesome?!" ) Anyways, my kitchen/dining room/living room need some help...

A couple of dilemmas-

There is too much wood in the kitchen. The cabinets, the floor, the kitchen table. I'd like to paint the cabinets and the kitchen bench white, but I'm not sure if it would go well with the black counter tops and black appliances. Would you paint the kitchen table white too? Or would that be too much white? Could I get away with NOT painting the cabinets? I love country/cottage/farmhouse style, and bright colors. My favorite color is a limey, viney green, which I would love to incorporate in the kitchen. Turquoise is beautiful too. (I don't know if these are colors would look good, I'm just saying. I LOVE green.) I'm want to choose colors and items that I won't have to change for a while. I love patterns too, but don't want to choose something that will be outdated in a couple of years.

Ahem. So. Too much wood.

Then there is the kitchen back splash. I'm just not sure what would look good with black counter tops. I really liked the pictures in your recent post with the bead board back splash. I've been dreaming about a green tile back splash too, but I'm not really sure how that would look. Maybe white or teal subway tile?

Last, there are built-in shelves running the length of the living room and above the kitchen range. I'm confused about these shelves. Am I supposed to put decorations up there? I'm worried about hanging stuff on the walls AND putting things on the shelf. I don't want it to look cluttered, or create competing focal points. What do you think about adding some architectural details above the shelves...such as beadboard or stonework. (ha! like I could afford stonework) Brick wallpaper, perhaps?

Anyways, I know that is a lot to cover, so whatever you can get to would be much appreciated!

Thanks again,
Sheena

Dear Sheena,

I want to add some style to your kitchen. There is simply nothing happening in there right now.

1. Window Treatments. All you have is hard surfaces. This room needs some fabric. If you are concerned about it going out of style in a few years- simply avoid your trendy color combos. Go for something more unexpected. I selected one for you below from Amy Butler. The black background will do wonders in helping to pull your counters into the pallet rather than being the lone black item in the room. It will look more like you chose them specifically to go with your fabulous cafe curtains.
2. Don't limit yourself to just one pattern in the room. Pull in some color and softness with a rug as well. The rug below is from Dash and Albert. I love how they go together - but not too matchy. Put it under your table- or in your work area. (not both.)
3. For pattern #3- look to your light above the table. I would hang a patterned drum shade like the one below from Shades of Light. You said you love green, right?
4. You need new lighting in the adjoining entry as well- go with something totally different like a metal lantern. Don't' try to have a matching set of anything.
5. So- should you paint your cabinets white? I would paint them green. I like the kitchen below with the green lower cabinets and white shelves above. I would take out the entire upper cabinet that is over the peninsula- and all of the dry wall above it. Totally open it up. I like your idea of a cream subway tile backsplash- and also your idea of bead board above the shelf area. Add black hardware.
6. One of the nice things about painting- is is allows you to make some changes to your cabinets. I would add a nicer hood- like the one below- or even a more simple one made of beadboard- like the ones in this post. The hood should aways be the focal point of the kitchen.

Good luck with your changes! Don't skip any steps! Do everything I said.

The Colors of Sun, Sky, and Sand

Hi Christine:-)

Just back from our lakefront house with MORE pics:-) I am going to clarify all that is going to be done so you don't have to work too hard:-) We are going to be recarpeting the family room........we are going to be repainting the family room a nice neutral medium tone brown.....we are going to be refacing the fireplace, hopefully in stone with a nice mantel and put a tv up there too, we are going to be removing ALL GREEN marble in the family room....Now, here are my issues: It is a narrow, yet long room. We have three grown children who take up a LOT of space when we are watching movies. The chocolate sectional is a favorite as it is very comfortable so that stays. ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES ARE CRAIGSLIST OR TAG SALE FINDS :-) My younger daughter and I made the cushions for all wicker/rattan pieces so we really like those. I desperately want to make it more homey and comfy and accommodating for the five of us.....AND IF WE HAVE FRIENDS OVER WE ARE IN TROUBLE....the white wicker set is in the family room too. However, it is cut off a bit due to a hallway immediately behind the sectional. So basically it is wasted space where we never, ever sit. I would love to somehow incorporate that area into our tv viewing area to give us more seating. The corner where the tv is now I was thinking to put the tall, ladder like shelving to house our components and maybe some "beachy" things:-) We cannot take down the blinds as they are saving us literally hundreds of dollars a month in our heating bill. I would like to have some sort of valance to not mar the view. I did purchase the ones from Target that I am enclosing but feel that I will have too much blue/brown.....I am such a mess. :-(

- Debra

Dear Debra,

I don't like your direction. Harsh huh? sorry....

Anyway- Let's just start with the blue and brown. It is such a drab blue. I would much rather see you pull in a brighter turquoise color. Your little window frame to the right of the fireplace is far to small a scale to balance the window on the left. Let's start with putting a piece of art there- the piece below from Uttermost would be perfect.

Your furniture is all over the place. You have three different kinds of wicker. I would replace the bench in front of the window with a backless bench- wood or upholstered. Get a long one to seat as many people as you can. The little white chair in the corner is too small in scale and doesn't look right so close to your sectional. Of all your wicker pieces- I like the one at the top of the post the best. I would paint it a bright turquoise like the one below and cover the pad in a crisp white canvass. I would put it where your white chair is. Move the rest of the wicker someplace else.

Your rug is too small. I would use a nice large 9 x 12- like the one below from Dash and Albert. In a beach house you can use brighter colors than you might in your everyday home. Bring in the colors of the sun, sky and sand.

I am not a fan of the valances. I would take them back- throw them out- whatever. I rarely like the look of just valances. I find it uncomfortable. It's like someone put their shirt on- but not their pants. There are exceptions of course- but they usually include lower ceilings and kitchen nooks...) You are wrong in thinking that some panels will obstruct your view. Have some single width panels made- ceiling to floor- put them in between your windows. The panels will frame your view. You won't miss a thing- but it will soften that wall- and give you some style. I selected a Beacon Hill fabric for you- below. It is a coral print- bringing in some bright yellow. Not too themey- but still beachy.

I want to shoot down the stone fireplace idea too. I feel like it is too heavy. I would take off all the stone, and find a reclaimed wood surround- paint it a nice crisp white and then add hand painted tiles on your slip.

Provided you don't NEED the fan- take it out and add a fun bamboo chandelier like the on below from Shades of Light. It brings in an unexpected color that you can repeat in a small pillow on your wicker chair.

I am sure you will never invite me to stay at your shore house. You might be mad at me- hopefully not crying- or worse- you might stop reading my blog. Please don't hate me- I am here to make it look fabulous!

XOXO

Christine

P.S.- I would do a turquoise or white grasscloth or beadboard on the walls.... Also- in long narrow rooms- I almost always break up the room into two seating areas. I would put a pub table behind the sofa- the seats will be high enough to see the TV- and it can also be multi-functional.