apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You may want to consider wall mounted lamps. Nothing to knock off the table.

I agree, scones would do well in this room. It also looks like you could fit a brightly colored cloth basket/container for toys under each of your side tables.

We found a great chinese chest (with a side as opposed to top opening) which works as a stylish place to hide toys. To lighten things up, you might also consider getting a twin fitted sheet to cover your sofa seat. While leather is durable, our 4 years with an active boy have proven that it is not durable enough! Good luck!

Change out the throw pillows for patterned ones... I think it would make a big difference.

I don't think the current photo arrangement is doing the room any favors. Perhaps if they were arrayed in one horizontal row?

Don't use anything slik. My pillows have drool marks on them

Your sofa looks black or at least very dark brown, in which case I think the burgundy cushions and curtains are not enough contrast and give a very heavy looking effect. Although I'm not into beige myself, I can see that your beige cushions give a much better contrast to your sofa than the burgundy ones. Could you get new (washable) cushion covers to replace the burgundy ones?

The pictures of the children are great, but clustered together like that in the centre they make the whole room look "hunched". If you're set on the very symmetrical look you might consider putting them in a single, more spaced-out, line which would also unite the end tables with the sofa and would stop the current lamps looking so lost.

If you're willing to let go of the symmetry then you could mix them up a bit more along with some new pictures in different sized frames. And if you're going down the non-symmetrical route you could also get 2 different lamps instead of a matching set.

Also, not sure what kind of light this room gets, but a leafy plant or two would work wonders in terms of both colour and adding a new shape to the mix.

Target has some really nice modern glamor decor right now. Search- Tonal Luxe on target.com to see the collection. The lamp shown above would look great with these things. The pillows, fur throw etc. They have these ottomans in the collection that open for storage for toys etc.. Also, I like the arrangement of the pics above the sofa!

The pictures need to be re-arranged. Try one next to each other, spread out over the length of the room. It will make it appear longer, too.

I'd trade the red for green too, it might lighten the room up a bit :)

-Ruth

I would trade the cranberry items for pale blues/grays/neutrals, maybe with delicate modern patterns.

Agreeing with most all comments above....I don't think you need to get rid of the cranberry color at all, you just need to add a little more pattern and maybe add another color to the mix. Trade the tan throw pillows for pale blue or green. Adding a throw rug in front of the couch would kid-proof your wall-to-wall a bit, saving it from spills and stains and add some pattern and interest during those toddler years. Stains aren't nearly so noticeable on a patterned field!

First off, I think the b&w kid photos are terrific. They're framed nicely and go well with your couch, which I also think has a nice shape.

A couple people have already commented on this, but it was the first thing I thought of to suggest as well---I think hanging all the photos in a straight line would make a world of a difference in terms of proportion and showing off each photo.

I like the Target lamp that AT suggested. Maybe you could check out the DwellStudio for Target decorative pillows when you are there. Any of their colorful graphic pillows (it doesn't have to be matchy matchy) would look nice with your couch.

Good luck!

OMG!!! Please tell me where you got those sofa and chair!!!
You would not belive me but I've been looking for those exact pieces for several months now!!!
PLEASE, you'd save my life, I really want them (in espresso, most likely or brown)!!!!!!!

eddie p -- we have an extremely similar (if not the same) sofa set (sofa, loveseat, chair/ottoman) which we got from raymour and flanigan, the milano collection. we absolutely love them, they have just the right amount of cushiness without sinking in too much when you sit down, and have kept their shape well. highly recommended, and the price is pretty reasonable!

http://www.raymourflanigan.com/catalog/details.asp?ID=13745

Even really young kids can get used to being around nice stuff. We've survived ten years (knock on rickety wooden antique armoire) of active, active kids with little to no damage. The leather will acquire "patina" marks, and that's a good thing. The carpet probably won't make it, even with strategic throw rugs, and will likely need to go right after the youngest is potty trained. Hardwood floors are best for little dancers and train builders. As far as glamour goes, how about some floor cushions either with a Mediterranean or Danish modern flare? Great for kids and grown-ups alike for a very on-the-floor time of life. Usually pretty inexpensive, too. If they have a very firm foam or sea grass core, they can be stacked into impromptu stools and tables for tea parties and board games. As far as other furniture, go antique: An acquired scuff or chip just adds to the, um, character.

Careful on the choice of plants, however, as some common houseplants are toxic to little ones. Glass-top coffee tables: Forgetaboutit.

One small personal opinion: I like portraits of children in frames on tables or shelves, not presented so "permanently" hung on walls. Children change and grow so fast. So a big investment in photography and framing already looks very dated in just a couple of years. When I go into a house with all these lovely large toddler photos from years ago, it makes me think the people liked their kids better when they were little. So perhaps a narrow, long, floating shelf of changing items and leaning photos above the couch?

Have fun!

i agree with everyone else about hanging the pictures in one a row.

i actually have those lamps with cream linen shades flanking my chocolate brown sofa. light bounces off them which is nice in contrast to dark furnishings.

do you have a coffee table? i dont know how young your kids are but we opted for a storage ottoman when our baby started getting around to avoid him hurting his head... and we use it to his toys and blankets... it also wipes up easily.

Thanks so much, kellf! :D

I love that you want kid-friendly ideas and AT suggests crystal lamps...! I think hanging the pictures in a row and getting throw pillows (to break up the monochrome of carpet, curtains and lovely leather) with patterns will go a long way. I think the lamps themselves are fine but if you're looking for something new, maybe just try some new shades that are a little more vertical along the sides.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm thinking about these lamps:

http://www.lampsgalore.com/table-lamps/table-lamp-sets/m16022savannahlampssetof2.cfm

They're about eight inches taller than the current ones, and much more in keeping with my current style. I agree with the picture arranging comments. The only problem is that they would extend about 8 inches past the couch on either end, and the room is pretty narrow the other way. I don't really want to make it longer. What do you think about taller lamps and curtains hung a little higher on the wall? The ceilings are only 8 ft, so I was trying to give the room a bit of height.

Also color - thanks for the suggestions. I really like the grays/neutrals on the pillows and curtains with a modern pattern. And the couch? It's Klaussner's Benson couch:

http://www.klaussner.com/default.aspx?klaussnercorp=98&objId=5778&obj2Id=148&obj3Id=4&obj4Id=1

I don't have the chair, though. Didn't really like it.

No coffee table. When the kids are little it makes for fewer accidents :)
Can't change the wall color or the crap carpet per landlord.
And the pictures? I change them out ever so often for about $25.

Thanks again for all the help!

I'll dissent in that I really, really like the burgundy pops on the couch and curtains... maybe a plushy rug in front of the couch in the same shade would be a nice touch?

I'm torn on the portraits- I could totally see myself putting them 4-across, and then switching them back like they are LOL... I think maybe the current grouping would look more balanced if you had those taller lamps?

Design is HARD when you have kids! So many things on AT I see, make me think, "ah, beautiful... but my kids wouldn't be able to resist messing with it!" At 3 and 5, I have to plan around them still... if we had a coffee table they would both be missing their front teeth!

The pictures should have a little more spacing. Since there were many comments, not sure if anyone mentioned about the color of Orange and Yellow, to bring in the lighter colors. Currently, the cranberry color is too heavy in the room if you say the room is small and the ceiling weren't high. The material on the curtain looks heavy, you need something lighter feeling type of fabric.

You can add in some colored boxes or baskets underneath the end tables. You can select some Storage ottoman to be the coffee table, pick something with pattern or add in the accent color more the bright tone. Besides yellow and orange, green is another great color go with brown. So, you create the sun, tree outdoor feeling, then you won't feel to close in.

As for the lamp, pick something in lighter color in wood or ceramic in different color - orange. The metal lamp looks skinny but heavy feeling.

Have you to decorate :)