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.