The Cozy Factor

 Hi Christine,

I've been faithfully following your blog, and I've read every single post you have written.

I am a desperate woman, in dire need of your blunt help with my family room.

This is our main room for TV watching and entertaining, and I kind of hate it. It does not feel cozy or balanced to me.

We ripped up the carpet and put down the hardwoods to match the existing that was everywhere else in house.  I removed the 8 x 11 rug I had in there (this one), as I wanted something a bit bigger and not so brown. I like traditional Persian and oushak rugs; however I don't want a red-dominant one.  My very patient husband has driven me all over NY, NJ and CT the last few months to go rug shopping. I've not found any Persians I'm overly keen on, so I was considering a seagrass rug and then punching up the pattern by replacing the linen drapes with something graphic (something like this? , or maybe this? ). I know you like a minimum of 3 in a room.

 I thought you might tell me to put the TV on the fireplace. We tried that, and it was too high and hurting our eyes.

I plan on removing existing vertical blinds left by previous homeowner and installing Roman shades, probably in a woven. If you want me to keep the flax linen drapes, I will have them hemmed and weighted, and also get a longer rod to increase the stack off to the side of the windows.

The only thing I really like in this room are the Greek key pillows I had made.

I was planning on having the armchairs reupholstered in something very graphic. I am at a loss on what to do with the huge wall behind couch. I have a 6.5ft long mirror I was considering, but that still doesn't take up the length of the wall.

My house is a traditional New England colonial, and the rest of my house is done in greys, taupes and blues. Those, along with light green, are the colors I gravitate towards. I'm including some photos of our living room (the blue room, or where our furniture goes to die) in case you want to tell me to use any of this furniture in the family room. The living room is currently a TV/train table room for the kids until we finish the basement. It will be dealt with at a later time.

I am excellent at following directions, and I hope that you can help me. I promise to take pictures and show you what I've done.

Cheers, and thank you ever so much,
Laura

Hi Laura,

Your wood floors are beautiful!  Good move!

I want to address three things with you that will make all the difference in the room:

1.  Your TV

2.  Your big blank wall

3.  The Cozy Factor  (or lack of it)

Let's start with your television.  Yes, it's true that the first thing I would say is, put it above the fireplace or move it to a different room.  So- now that it is staying in this room, and not above the fireplace, I do have another plan for you.  What is really wrong with having it like it is, is your rhythm.  It is very poor rhythm the way it is.  To improve that, I added two large shelves, and set it on an angle on one of them.  The height of the shelves (from Dovetail), gives a different type of rhythm and balance to the wall.  Is it as perfect as no TV at all?  No- but it is a good solution that doesn't sacrifice your furniture arrangement and balance that I am trying to achieve in the space.  Number 2- that big wall.  You have two ways of dealing with the large empty wall.  First, you could have a large collection of wall decor.  One large mirror will not do the trick.  It would still be out of scale with the massive size of the wall.  Or, secondly, you could add furniture to the wall.  When you do this, you change the scale for the wall decor.  Instead of having a relationship with the wall it is on, the wall decor now has a relationship with the furniture that it is over. The piece below is 94 inches in length.  That is great.  With that said, your furniture should have a scale relationship with the wall.  I did this by using a very long buffet table, and then also adding two sconces on either side. 

Do you see how I took you from having to cover 240 inches of wall down to about 70 inches?  You're welcome. 

Now for the cozy factor.  Your room is not cozy because:

First of all, your furniture is too small.  Get larger, taller furniture.  I selected a couple of pieces for you from Bernhardt.  Nothing is cozier than a wing back.  It's like you're being hugged as you sit there.

I also selected for you a sofa that is a larger scale than your current one, and with a softer fabric, and a higher back and arm.  The larger size with be a better scale for the room, taking away the awkward "I'm too small" look that you have. 

I also added two large ottomans for the center.  They push right together to look like one.  An oversized ottoman, or oversized coffee table, could serve the same purpose.  However, you would pay quite a bit more generally for an oversized piece.  Using two is sometimes a cost saver. 

This is the Ulster ottoman from Bernhardt.

Secondly, the scale of the patterns in the room make a difference as well.  Larger patterns in darker colors brings a large room in.  I just went off your pillows and selected a rug and fabric for you.  This rug is from Uttermost:

Of course, sometimes a rug is like a piece of art, and you might want to stumble upon the one that is perfect for you.  Either way, you could get a jute or sisal rug,  (9 x 12) and then later layer a patterned rug on top of it in an 8 x 10.  When you are purchasing a very expensive rug, this can save you thousands of dollars.  It also increases your textural variety, and can buy you time if you want to take your time on the second rug. 

I would not use your soft fabric on the drapes.  The bolder option you had selected is alright.  I also found one from Lee Jofa for you. 

Again, the bolder print will make your large room come in closer. 

Texture is the third aspect that will make a room cozier.  Ramp up your texture in your rugs, woven wood Roman shades layered with a textured drapery fabric, soft upholstery fabrics and plants.  Wallpaper would also be a terrific addition.

A few more additions:

A bench for under your window.  This gives the room a good rhythm, as well as additional seating.  It can be pulled around to the front of the fireplace for a boxed seating arrangement with a larger gathering.

A blue lamp.  Repeat the blue a couple more times to make it really work great in the room. 

I added the blue lamp on a sofa table behind one of your sofas.  Remember that good lighting also makes a room feel cozy.

(table from Dovetail)

You will need a few more lamps in that large room.  I added some buffet lamps on the console, and a floor lamp.

(lamps are from Uttermost)

Here you go- see it all put together:

Christina's Place

Check out Christina's family room and kitchen.  Here is Christina's Video:

Hi Christina,

You have a beautiful home.  When I look at it, there are three areas where you can improve, that will help you pull it together- we need to add pattern and texture and unifiers.

The striped rug that you like does add pattern, but it feels too stark to me- and doesn't go with the sofa. 

I suggest a softer look- the harsh black contrast with white leaves a disconnect with the relaxed slip cover sofa- the poetry rug below from homedecorator.com builds on the look of your relaxed slip cover look.  There are already harsh lines in your entertainment center- and we need more of a unifier in the room.   

 

I would use your window treatments as a unifier- another place to add a little color.  The fabric is from Lee Jofa:  Add a black tape boarder to more solidify the black in the room.

Your kitchen looks great, but I think we can both agree that it leaves you a little lacking.  For that- I would look to wallpaper. 

A beautiful paper like this on the wall would soften the harshness of the black. 

Now- I am looking around for some art work, and not finding any.  I would repalce the mirror in the dining area with a piece of art.  The room needs more color, pattern and interest, more than it needs a mirror.  You can find other walls for the mirror.  The art below is from Uttermost:

Add more interest by not matching your new table and chairs.  Select a wood table, and then use a chair that brings in some interesting color and texture- like the one below from Wisteria:

I like the idea of a photo gallery on your slanted wall.  I would do all black and white photos, and look for interesting frames like the one below from Wisteria:

 For the light above your table- I seleted a lantern from Dana Creath.  The clear glass lets the light shine.  Your place will look terrific.  You are off to a great start- you don't need to remove anything- just add more.  Don't forget to add plants.  ;)

The Fabulous Dining Room

I got my new Town and Country magazine today- and just loved this beautiful dining room. Take a close look at the gorgeous details. The large mirror is a fantastic example of perfect scale in wall decor. I love the upholstered chairs and bench. The variety this gives the room over wood chairs paired with a wood table is huge to the success overall of the room. Another element that I love is the Roman shades. The sheer fabric and light texture is great- and having them half closed gives the room another important design element- rhythm. What I really wanted to show you- is what a difference the fresh flowers make in the room. Look at the top photo and then the bottom photo- they are both photographs of the same room- but only the lower showing the flowers. They bring the room to life! So- go- get some fresh flowers! bring your dining room to life today.

The Pennsylvania Loft

Hello Christine,
My name is Felicia. I stumbled across your blog while searching for ways of decorating my new rental apartment. I am attaching a couple of pictures, in hope of a little bit of output in return. :) I really want that NYC look, but i also want comfy and old/country style. (I want to re- carpet or add wood treads to the staircase- ask your landlord... If your landlord is interested in funding some upgrades- I would also replace your doors and casings and baseboards) You might be laughing now, but i am a mixture of everything and i love a little bit of every design out there. I am originally from NYC but moved to Pennsylvania and is more country style out here. I found some great loft photos to use as inspiration. Mixing styles is more than a possibility- just keep your country more shaker than French. Oh i almost forgot, i have a 19 months old son, and i been thinking that leaving the walls white might not be a good idea. I would just use a magic eraser- don't select your paint color in an attempt to cover finger prints. You naturally have dark floors and a dark brick wall- don't use dark paint. But with them white i can play with color more throughout the apartment. Over all i want a comfortable apartment where i can come home to and relax.
Thank you in Advance,
Felicia.

Hi Felicia,

Looking at your place- I would start with three key items:

1. Oversized Art
2. Super Soft Rug
3. Seriously Long Drapes
   

#1 Oversized Art - When your ceilings are as high as they are in your place- don't go with your typical sized wall decor. Check out this post- where I felt like that was the issue. Forget small wall decor- go large.

#2- Super Soft Rug- I love the variety in the hard surfaces- the brick, the ceiling, the wood floors. To add to that- we need as many great soft surfaces. I would look for some great depth in the rug.

#3- Seriously Long Drapes- Increase the textural variety and softness again with some long drapery panels on the windows. Perhaps a linen- something with an interesting texture.

Don't line the walls with furniture- keep it out in the room. I love the whole idea of a loft- have fun!

Nichole's Pallet of Pattern

Dear Christine,

I am a 34 year old single mother of a 6 year old little girl. I have been in my small Georgian home which is located right outside of Chicago for 12 years now. Since my divorce I have pulled up carpet, remodeled the kitchen and bath, painted all 3 bedrooms and had crown molding installed throughout the house. You see, I am trying to make this house a home to me and my little one. My dilemma now is with my living room and small dining room window treatments. There were vertical blinds hanging from them since the day I bought the house, but I had them pulled down and replaced with horizontal blinds this past June. I thought about having JC Penny or Eddie Z's install cornices with side panels, but i couldn't swallow the $3500.00 pill.

It's a new year, and every year for the past 5 years I have taken on different projects within the house. I always do a little at a time. This year, I want to do something beautiful with these windows and save for a new roof if needed. What do you suggest? Should I whip out my grandmother's sewing machine and try to sew cushions for window seats (I'm not very handy), should i bite the $3500.00 bullet and get custom made cornices (I believe I'll only be living here another 3 years or less). Do you think I should get rid of the small table in the living room area and replace it will something else? I've had the tables for years and I'm open. I don't even know what I should have on the tables.

I do plan on going to home depot today to by accent lights to go under my new wall unit that i love. I think that would be nice. I'm also having issues with what to put on my wall in front of my dining room table. There was once a huge picture of fruit that my mother gave me. It was more her taste than mine. I'm leaving the wall blank until i figure out what to do with it.

Any advice you would offer would be GREATLY appreciated. I need some help big time.

Sincerely,
Hopeful for the New Year - Nichole

Dear Nichole,

I want to go over three things with you today- to make part of your long term plan.

1. window treatments


2. area rug


3. wall decor

First of all- let's tackle your window treatments. You have a traditional home, and yet very little pattern. Increase your pattern. Start with your drapes. Style-wise- put two floor to ceiling panels in the dining room, and faux relaxed Roman shade valances or stagecoach valances in the living room. These styles shouldn't be too hard to sew- or too expensive to have made. I selected a couple of fabrics for you from Beacon Hill. Because you don't have any pattern in your leather- I would use both fabrics in the drapes- one as a four inch trim. This adds some interest in a room that is nice, but a little dull. These fabrics would also act as a unifier in your room. You have black, brown, beige, but nothing pulling it all together.

Your plan also needs to include a rug, which will help by adding textural variety as well as more pattern to the room. I selected a giraffe rug for you from homedecorator.com. You also could use more softness in the room, which will make it more inviting.

Your dining area needs a chandelier as well as wall decor. The drum shade at the top of the post is from Room and Board. It also helps to increase the pattern and softness.

The wall decor is from Uttermost. You have a mirror in the room- add a piece of art, as well as other alternative wall decor. Don't' have, one, one, and one. Especially in the dining area where the walls are adjacent to one another. Notice how the metal wall art is a set of four, and the painting is one. You need variety in numbers, especially when your walls are right by one another like they are here.

Odds and Ends:

The two pieces of wall decor to the right of the door to the kitchen should be directly on top of one another- not staggered, and they should be hung about six to eight inches lower.

Try switching locations of the sofa and chaise, and then lowering your mirror a bit. Put the chaise in the corner rather than across from the sofa. Put a large plant behind it. You shouldn't have it floating out there in the middle of the room on an angle like that. Eventually you will need an additional chair to fully balance your arrangement.

Replace your coffee table- (the style is too similar to the dining table)- with a tufted upholstered ottoman.

I want to come over and rearrange your wall unit a bit. Maybe next time I am in Chicago. :) I love the merchandise mart there. :) For now- read the advice I gave in this post. I'm sure you'll do great!