apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Love the improvements!
Your living room (and a few others spotted on AT) have given me the inspiration to go grey in my living room as well.

I can't see the other wall from the photos, but a large-ish piece of art opposite the hutch could look really cool and unify what is essentially a piece of furniture floating out there on its own.

Nice improvement! Great way to utilize that cubby shelf.

I do think that little side table is a bit small for your sofa, can you move it and use it in between the orange/red chairs.

There is some nice wall space for art!

I like your furniture -the mirror is gorgeous - but I just feel like the wall color and the industrial storage bins take away from the space. The wall color looks awkward with the dark furniture, however I do like the cushion colors with the wall as a tie-in. The storage bins would look better out of sight. In a basement if you have one. There are lots of things you can fill the space with other then plants; a vase, some sort of art, or to store a hobby collection. If you insist on keeping it as a storage space, fill it with brown woven baskets. Appealing to the eye, and they serve a purpose.

The new wall color and other little additions are a nice improvement on the old arrangement. Can't say I'm thrilled with that row of plastic storage bins. This picture has convinced me that previous suggestions about walling off that area altogether were correct. Putting something up there just draws the eye up, making the room off-kilter.

I can't tell from the 'after' picture, but an area rug for the living room part of the space would define it nicely. I'd try to find something not too busy that incorporates the browns, beiges, blues and rusty red (at least, that's how the side chair appears on my monitor) you're already using.

The paint color really freshened everything up!

With regards to the nook, I think it also helps that the paint color on the wall isn't drastically different from the ceiling color. I personally would've opted for storage containers that blended more into the wall, so the nook would "disappear" a bit more, but I think it's definitely an improvement. LOVE the table!

I don't know, I'm really sorry because the rest of the room looks very nice but I'm not loving it, it might have looked better empty. Now your eye is drawn up to a shelf lined with grey plastic bins more suited to a garage. It might have even looked a little better if the plastic bins matched your peachy/orangey chair.

The storage bin idea works, but the grey plastic bins seem completely wrong for your space. How about a variety of natural fiber bins and baskets from Cost Plus? They would add a lot of texture and warmth and not cost you anywhere near $50 per bin.

You could also check out IKEA for some more colorful bins. Or you could buy some cardboard banker's boxes and cover them in a nice wallpaper or fabric. Anything but those grey/silver plastic bins!

Janel - I like the changes to the wall color and the addition of the throw pillows, mirror and the side table. Nice job!

As for the odd nook - I think you've drawn attention to it in a negative way. The storage containers look too utilitarian and out of place. I don't think storage containers are the best solution but if you really need to storage - try some more decorative boxes. Have you seen these magazine boxes from IKEA? I like them in white and you can two for $11.99.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00115478

You said that you couldn't find drift wood. There are many sources where you can purchase decorative branches that are quite lovely and sculptural. I've seen them in some craft and floral supply stores as well as places like a flower mart or Chinatown. You can also check out these online sources:

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/branches2.html
http://www.decorativebranches.com/
http://www.rolandsofcalifornia.com/catalog/Wood.html

I too love the gray walls - but I have to ask about those chairs. Are from Urban Outfitters?

If they are, I'm curious about their quality - they have the same design in a charcoal color that I'm thinking about buying.

If they aren't UO, can you please share where you got them?

I haven't been able to find anything similar - the closest I've seen are various slipper chairs, but I love the way the back is separate from the seat. (I'm in a studio and I think they would balance well with the futon-as-sofa).

I totally understand why you put bins up there, but it's the first thing I saw, and you should attract our eyes towards your furnitures.

Why not cover that space ? You could install a built-in storage space, and paint the doors the same color as the wall. That way, you could keep the storage space, but hide it. Clear, unadorned sliding doors would do the trick, I think.

Oops - Janel is the editor. Sorry Meredtith.

I agree with the rest - the plastic storage bins don't work there. They draw attention away from your gorgeous china cabinet and other furniture. I think it would be best to leave that area empty or to wall it off. Put the storage bins in the garage.

Also, I think a warmer wall color would work much better. The gray is too light for the dark sofa and china cabinet.

I agree w/ the others - The grey walls are nice...

...and plastic bins can be great for a garage or attic - but they're completely awful for a living room.

You could get a piece of translucent plexi cut to the size of the nook, and light it from the back (if there's electric that you can connect through the wall).

I agree with Loora, and was about to suggest the same thing. I think the thing to do is to cover that space with simple sliding doors that are painted the same color as the wall. I don't know how handy you are, so this is a possible DIY, or I'm pretty sure you could hire a carpenter to do it for fairly cheap. Pretty much all it would take is a long sliding track and two boards cut to size for doors.

As far as I'm concerned, extra storage is great anywhere you can find it, and your odd nook is a good place to store things, but looking at a row of plastic bins in your main living space is not ideal.

The storage bin idea is a neat one, but I don't think those bins work for your space-- they were the first thing I saw when I saw your (otherwise very pleasant) room, and I thought of garage room storage bins. Why don't you get some nicer looking bins-- the Container Store has really nice, simple canvas bins for $7 or so each. As I think someone else mentioned, Ikea has sturdy colored storage/magazine boxes for a really reasonable price.

You have made some definite improvements, but I have to agree with those who aren't keen on the plastic storage boxes. They really do take away from everything you have accomplished so far. You have some pretty colors in your china cabinet - how about finding things in similar colors for the ledge? Try some antique shops for some unusual pieces.

Please don't be discouraged. It's all about trial and error.

I think I would have went with some woven baskets instead - you can find them with lids. I bought a fairly large one for $10 at my local Hobby Lobby for my sewing supplies. They cost more than the plastic bins - but a little more decorative.

I really like the freshness of your room with the new paint and mirror - it makes your furniture look extra special. I'm always amazed how a new shade on the walls can transform a room from blah to wow!

But, I'm so sorry to say, those bins should be stored in a garage! Please, find something else to put up there, or leave it empty.

It looks like you have an orange wall at the front of your house? I love it! If possible, hang a piece of art (with orange in it) across from the hutch to unify the spaces.

I really appreciate you posting your 'after' picture. Thanks!

I think it's an improvement but agree something more decorative could be used. IF you don't want woven due to the dust, would something from Ikea work, such as kassett?

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50153241

they are as cheap as the target boxes but look nice.

Another option to cover the space would be maybe to hang a blank canvas or canvases from the ceiling to cover the area, painted the same as your wall? This is cheaper than doing a built in.

I don't think the plastic looks *that* bad. It seems to kind of blend in...I dunno. I think it's kind of cool to see something really basic and utilitarian repeated on a larger scale. I dunno...

What about putting a curtain up there? You could just string a wire across the opening (since I'm betting no tension rod could span that distance) and then make a cute little curtain to go across. It could be grey to match the walls or it could be something funky. It would help keep the dust out and might look kind of arty.

The lit-from-behind-plexiglass-door idea is pretty awesome -- I just know that I wouldn't be industrious enough to try it. lol

Love the new wall color. Why would somebody put that goofy nook up there in the first place?

Wonderful wall color and great updates!

...not so crazy about the bins.
As much as I see why you went for that option I think it takes away from the rest of the room.

The simplest fastest solution would be getting nicer looking open top bins/ totes / crates that could house the plastic containers (for the dust reasons).

Or, you could cut a panel or two and fasten with magnetic door openers, paint in the same color as the wall.
But still using the storage.

This might sound odd, but I'm invisioning a ceiling to floor curtain on the entire nook wall. It would hide the bins and that funny box on the wall (unless it's an inportant box like a smoke detector, then end the curtain before that) and give a nice, interesting back drop for the cabinet.

beautiful wall color...yikes with the bins...they do NOT look suitable here at all...they make your room look uncomfortable and not inviting...

At least get fabric colored boxes, or boxes that have those metal edges (from Ikea)..they have little slips on the front that let you title what's in the box. Then you could have the monochromatic color AND storage...and not look like you're in an attic.

Ok. Just changed my mind entirely.
Do not put up panel! It might come crashing down on that great china. Yikes!!

Always love seeing the "afters". The new wall color makes a world of difference. The room seems so much brighter and cheerier- and it esp. looks great with your hutch and chairs. I also like the large mirror over the sofa- the proportion seems much better than the b4.

I disagree with the critics of the storage boxes. The uniformity gives it a crisp and clean look and the color doesn't scream "look up here". It's likely that others think they are the first thing you notice because it is what we were all looking at to see the change, not to mention they are the picture's focus. Walking in the living room, I doubt I'd even notice them.

bad bins. bad bad!

Leaving aside the issue of the storage bins, I love the new wall color and the mirror is great!

I think you need something else on the wall next to the cabinet to keep it from looking bare. Something strongly vertical and with some texture to it like a tall floor lamp, or a hanging mobile, or a few more pictures would be great.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60103854
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20018179
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=60&startValue=61&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=15156755&parentid=A_FURN_WALL&sortProperties= subCategoryPosition,price&navCount=57&navAction=poppushpush&color=&pushId=A_FURN_WALL&popId=APARTMENT_FURNISH&prepushId=

I think it's probably an improvement, in that it's the right *scale* of item to be up there. But yeah, I think the bins look more like something you'd find in a garage.

If the motivation was to find storage space, this is a good solution. If the motivation is to attractively fill that cubbyhole, I think it needs work.

Personally, what I would have put there, were this my home, is my collection of old fans. I get them for under $10 on eBay and at flea markets. Some of them work, some of them don't, but they look terrific as a collection and I would die to have a little space like this for them!

I'm without words.

A for Effort. I commented on the first thread and usually never leave negative comments...

but please, for the sake of decorating and design remove those garage/basement bins and just leave that area empty.

i also thought of a floor-to-ceiling curtain. something warm, to complement the dark furniture--maybe something closer to the orange in the chairs. the room seems pretty disjointed to me; this might help tie things together a bit. true, it might fall, but i think a sturdy installation could prevent that from happening.

Also, you can probably save the ugly bins by adding some larger-scale stuff to this room. Other than the furniture, the bins are the largest-scale thing in the room!

Like...

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/42/somethinglike.png

(Oh by the way, the Target near me in Boston had these canvas-covered storage bins on sale for $8 or so about a month ago... more expensive than your bins, but quite a bit nicer?)

ah, just realized the crashing scenario was in reference to a panel, not a curtain...

Hmm, it seems to have deleted my last comment.

Anyways, I think you need something to draw the eye to something in the room other than the bins. Think colour and think scale!

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/42/somethinglike.png

Not a huge fan of the storage bins, all it makes me think is "what is stored in them?" and "what is so important it needs to be stored in great quantities in the living room, but in a totally inaccessible way?" Probably because they're plastic... I would have more sympathy for them being used as decoration if they were at least metal. Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe I just think that because they don't really relate to anything else in the room.

I like the new paint colour though.

Overall the things you have done are an improvement but the bins are very distracting and don't add to the space at all. I would return them and get diff rent ones that match your decor better. Do you have a Costco near you? They might have some nice reasonably priced attractive storage bins/containers. They may not be as inexpensive as the ones you have purchased but may be a better fit. Best of luck!

Dear AT readers:

Uncle, uncle! I will move the bins to the garage tonight!

Thanks so much to everyone for taking the time to help me figure out this room. So many of you found something nice to say about the room. It’s appreciated.

Sam, I especially want to thank you for this: “Please don't be discouraged. It's all about trial and error.” What a kind reminder! It’s tempting to call it quits, especially since I’m working on a shoestring budget. For now, I’m going to leave it empty until I have a compelling reason not to do so. I’m feeling a little out of my league, and I hate to throw good money after bad. Those bins and the space are much larger than they appear on screen, I think. The options you all have suggested are great but most aren’t quite big enough to fill out the nook. And the pretty big bins are pricey.

Bork Bork Bork (great name!), your vintage fan collection sounds lovely. I am not a collector at heart (china cabinet excepted). My toddler tends to attack anything left out, so our surfaces are pretty bare. But if I was a collector, I would want a collection like yours. Sounds beautiful. And your illustration is so helpful. I do want to add art there, and you’ve solidified that decision with your GIF. I am keeping an eye out for art and/or considering the Big Dipper arc lamp from CB2. Do you (or Gvinton ) think an arc lamp would compete with the ceiling fan? I can’t uninstall the fan. I live in the south.

llemanie, yes, Urban Outfitters does carry the orange chairs now and for a very good price! They are made by Sitcom furniture. Search “Sitcom Komet” online and you might find a better deal than UO (if you only knew how much research it took to find out those two words--they name and manufacturer aren't on the chairs, I'm guessing, for just this reason). I have two. I especially love the new gray upholstery. Two years ago, they only came in orange. $200 is a great price. I first saw this chair at a boutique for over $340. I paid closer to $240 online with shipping in 2007. They are comfortable and well made for affordable furniture. I think it’s a great alternative to the FRIDENE swivel chair Ikea made in 2005 and has since discontinued.

LSUgrad03 and luscious11, we’re on the same page. There is a large photograph opposite the hutch on that wall that isn’t visible, and it is picking up on the orange in the library. Thanks for the confirmation on that choice.

creativeneurosis, I forgot to add the link for the the Pure Design table: http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/officialgallery/?p=1630. Sorry I forgot to include that in the original email. I know AT readers enjoy these sorts of details. I'm the same way :) I got the gray and yellow one which I love because the attached kitchen is yellow.

Back to the drawing board.

Best,
Meredith

Meredith, so glad you found the comments here helpful. My house is and always will be a house in progress. It's more fun that way because then you don't ever have to feel like you are making permanent choices (which can be overwhelming and frustrating).

I just noticed the open shelf on the wall next to cubby shelf. Not sure if this was mentioned before, but I would try putting the same thing on that shelf that you put on the cubby shelf. I think it will bring continuity to that corner. In fact, try thinking of the problem wall as a corner area instead. That may change your perspective.

tarsengreen, to answer your question: I am the opposite of a pack rat. I like to throw things out, recycle them, give them away. We are so rare we don't even have a name. My beloved husband really does go with the flow on this. He doesn't hang onto much. That said, I can't make the poor man throw out all of his stuff.

So what was (they're in the garage already) up there? Holiday crap, cords for every electronic device known to man or beast, old journals and papers my husband doesn't wish to part with for sentimental reasons, outdated laptops, baby clothes for my sister when she's ready. Nothing I couldn't live without. But I couldn't live without him, so it goes in the garage :)

Do y'all hate these too? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70104155

They are expensive so I probably couldn't afford a ton of them.

I agree with everyone who is saying those bins have got to go. The other improvements to the room are looking good. I think it would be better off empty than with the plastic bins.

If it were my house, I would probably turn it into a shelf for some of my old books along with antiques and a plant or two (does that area get any light?). I might even add some moulding to make it look more like an intentional built-in shelf. Otherwise I'd make a cupboard door to hide it if it is just going to be for storage.

Totally agree with HeyNowTex, thought I was the only one who liked the bins. I'm all about blending old and new though. I guess that's not for everyone. Meredith--if you're happy with how they look then you should keep them. It's your house, not ours.

Thanks, Mattster (and HeyNowTex and FrontPorchPirate). If I was 100% on the bins, I would leave them no matter what. But I'm not. Not everyone loved the wall color, and I don't intend to change that. Of course AT and I don't always agree. I hate those awful, expensive, puffy, squarish couches that so many AT folks dig. Heck, I'd rather sit on my totes :).

I really do appreciate the vote of confidence, though. It's hard to hear that someone out there thinks my living room is a joke or leaves another person speechless. This is my *home*. I'm not one to share much of anything on the Internet. To the folks who offered their criticisms kindly, thanks again.

I had a talk with my husband to make sure I wasn't bending to peer pressure, and I'm okay with them in the garage. But thanks. Really.

Meredith, the Ikea boxes are nice. But you're right, awful expensive. Is there a reason to rush to fill the space? Does it drive you crazy looking at it empty? If there is no rush, then consider taking your time to find something(s) you love for the area.

Also, have you scavenged your home for things to try up there? You don't have to leave them there, if they already have a good spot in the house, but it could help you figure out what you like and don't like up there. And maybe you know people (parents, siblings, friends) who have things you could use up there. Lots of parents have boxes of stuff sitting in storage just begging to be displayed in someone's home.

Have you ever thought about collecting something? Personally, I have always had the urge to collect old cookie jars - but have never had the room or a good excuse to do so. If there is something you have considered collecting, now might be the time to start. But remember, take your time. It's better to buy things you love and find space for them than to buy things you don't love just to fill a space.

And, my final comment (I swear) do know that this decorating challenge really is a doozy - the people on this site are brilliant, and your shelf has stumped even the best of them.

I have a question. Can you knock out the back of the cubby to have it open to the next room, just as you have to the right over the entry to the hall? If you could, then just leaving it open and empty would be enough, with maybe a couple of wall sconces on either side of your china cabinet.

Big no to the bins. No to the rest of it.

Yes, I'm not loving the storage bin look either. I think that if you measured the area you could find an inexpensive shelf at Ikea that would fit the space. It would you give you a built in feature instead of what you have going. If you need storage, a closed cabinet would look much better.

I agree that the bins need to go.

I wonder if you could disguise the bins by attaching a panel to the visible end of each one. Then you'd see 9 aligned panels that you could decorate any way you choose--stained wood, paint, or fabric could all work. It'd be easier than sliding doors as a diy and look similar to dressier storage bins.

Just a thought to play around with.

I like the room - but agree with removing the plastic bins.

Though they could be replaced with just a few of these:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70105975

They have some design to them and are covered.

Perhaps group a few of them and break them with some other objects in between - books, driftwood, small paintings, etc. I think a solid row of anything in that space would be too much.

Oooh. I like those boxes, evets66!