The pillows will help a lot to lighten up and give the room color. Try a couple of throws too. Your rug is too dark - go for something shaggy and very light - a deep cream. Artwork will also bring color.

Bring in COLOR with pillows and big art work.

I would suggest buying big and colorful posters of concerts, bands, products, etc. Or even large panels of Marimekko prints? Which ever suits your style better.

And with big colorful panels or posters you don't really need to paint the walls, or at least not right away, that way you can get a feel of the space and what color it wants to be.

Just a side note: I personally would move the loveseat on the left to a different spot. To me it cuts off the fireplace and moving it allows the conversation area to be directed to the television or the fireplace and would warm up the room.

If you're going to keep the black and chrome everything...

Rip up the carpets and install wooden or bamboo floors and staircase.
Remove the plain black fireplace surround and install a wooden traditional mantle - or cover that entire angled wall with stone veneer (www.eldoradostone.com)
Wallpaper with grasscloth & install real wood crown mouldings.
Replace the purple (?) area rug with a traditional wool oriental or a kilim.
Sheepskin throws on the chairs, a large coffee table that's not chrome & glass (perhaps a large Chow-leg coffee table such as this one? http://www.rosewoodhouse.com/2009/11/teakwood-chow-leg-coffee-table/), ethnic art (tribal masks, rugs, ceramics, etc)
Handmade ceramic objects - such as lamps, vases, sculpture, etc.

Overall, think "Texture, Color, Handmade, Earthy, Ethnic" to balance out the hige amounts of "Shiny, Black & Chrome, Urban, Factory-Made" items you currently have.

It's the speakers. If those are Ohm's, send em to me. That will fix things.

change your dark area rug. A cow hide would probably work with your decor. the asymmetrical shape of the cow hide rug is perfect for your space ( which is too square) it will also add interesting color and texture. Add a few accent throw pillows with cool and fun colors and patterns ( I personally like Jonathan Adler's pillows). Find a very colorful large vintage poster and place it above the fireplace. You can pick up the colors from the vintage poster that you like and take it from there. You can paint just one wall ( the one behind the tv).

Bringing wood floors would be a good start.
Or a warm sisal-type rug replacing the dark carpet you have now. I think you want to keep it masculine but inviting.
Beware of using too bright colors with your pieces (red, orange)...you want to stay modern and not 80's. It can be hard to balance black and chrome and not return to the Nagel paintings of yester-year.
A wall unit (even low laying) for your tv and speakers and any books would tidy up the space and give it some purpose.
Wall color. A soft grey would work very well with the room.
Layer on layer of similar colors help build texture and interest to the space. Don't clutter the space with throws and too many cushions. A cashmere grey pillows/throw would look great because of the tension it would provide.
Don't dis-regard luxury to warm the space.

Great space with lots of potential. Good luck!

pillows are the way to go .. try adding some metallic pillows.. i was at NYIGF lately and saw a nice line .. cant remember the name .. but great shiny metallic pillows ... will keep you posted .if i remember

I think one of the easier ways to bring in a pop of colour would be painting an accent wall... I'm thinking the fireplace wall. I could see a vibrant red complementing the edgy furniture as well as the reddish toned speaker wood (provided my monitor is showing your pic properly).
Red is definitely a warm tone, the only risk is having the place then seem too aggressive overall. I think this can be softened up yet complemented with some throw pillows in the same tone.

As for the space on the TV wall, one single, thick, long and modern/square edged and simple shelf running the length of the wall overhead from speaker to speaker with some small groupings of candles/vases/framed photos could rid you of the starkness that wall currently has.

I'm not sure what colour of shelf i'd suggest... white would recede into the wall and give your displays more prominence, black would stand out more and could complicate that wall unnecessarily, a chrome finish could stand out just enough to tie together with the rest of your pieces while staying fairly unnoticeable at first glance.

The cream carpet is a good idea. And get one that's bigger than the one you have.

Also, a different tv stand, something that looks like real furniture and not another piece of electronic equipment to balance the amount you already have. A new coffee table, wood, or with a stone top will have the same effect.

Black and white photographs, or graphic textiles on the walls will blend with the furniture, but also make it look more sophisticated.

Perhaps you can combine the arched lamp with the chair into a reading area near the fireplace? It's hard to tell the exact layout and size of the room from the photo so maybe this wouldn't work. But if it did, then you would be able to take some of the focus away from the tv, without orienting the room on the angle of the fireplace. Because if you did that it would be too severe.

I would not suggest throw pillows. As much as I love them, they just don't go with this type of furniture. How about some felt rocks on the floor instead? They are modern, but also soft and warm.

A shallow shelf above the fireplace would give you a place to display artwork, books and objects in a different way than just hanging things on the wall. It would mimic a traditional fireplace surround, but without detracting from the modern look.

Finally, can you find another lampshade for the floor lamp? There's too much black in the room, and an off white paper shade gives off nicer light. A side table on the other side of the sofa would be nice too.

I like the black, white and pops of red and I think that's a good way to go. I'd just up the reds and get into deep oranges a bit, with a bit of blue. It's also very "solid" in there. The patterns you have are very subtle. I'd go a little more overt in that department.

Here's what I'd do.
1. Paint the walls an earthy pale color. Try a clay or warm light gray. I'd then do the wall behind the TV a deep terra cotta or sienna color. I really love the earthy colors found in the Devine Paints selection.

2. If you don't paint an accent wall reddish - I'd ditch the rug for sure- it's just too much black and white in that room. Add a patterned Kilim rug with reds and oranges, or a Bokkhara with reds, oranges and blues.

3. A mirror above the fireplace, slightly angled will make the room seem less low and boxy.

4. Get some stuff from other eras in there, preferably turn of the century if you can. An old antique dresser or sideboard, some Edison lamps (check out Restoration House Parts for old edison bulbs), things that add a bit of history and wood warmth to the mix.

4. Plants! A nice grouping by the fireplace of larger plants in terra cotta pots or vietnamese glazed pots will makes a huge difference in adding some "organic" elements into your modern Bauhaus mix.

5. I'd def. get some artwork on the walls. And not in black or white - because jeez, your living room is slick and nice but cold - it's like living in the interior of a Porche!

6. A couple of baskets filled with books or wool throw blankets will make things a little less stark and a little more wabi sabi and lived in. Maybe some large floor pillows too...

Anyway, have fun and don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone with decorating! That's the most important thing.

I would paint the walls a sage green and get a sisal or jute rug. I'd consider changing out one of the loveseats to something in fabric. Pillows, throws always soften the look, using a bold print will keep it modern.

if you don't want to paint one wall. you can put a long rectangular shelf above the tv for books. There is nothing better than old books that can add warmth and character to the room if you are not into books and you are into music, you can frame old vinyl records cover of your favorite musicians. If it is possible, take out the sofa that's blocking the fireplace. If you take it out, the fireplace becomes the focal point instead of the tv... that will definitely add warmth to the room. ...and just add a couple of accent colors to keep the look modern and uncluttered. ( yellow and white or yellow and gray or red and yellow or orange and white etc...)

Agree about replacing the black lampshade with an off white (or colored) shade. Restoration Hardware sells nice drum shades that would compliment the lamp nicely, and they are modern but the texture of the silk and the softer/warmer color would help liven things up a bit.

If it were conceivable for your budget, I love the idea of putting in wood floor, and the suggestion of putting in a different mantle. I also agree about changing the rug, and I like bepsf's suggestion of an oriental rug, which add warmth and sophistication and look great in modern spaces.

The easiest, cheapest fix for adding a bit of color & warmth would be adding in some potted plants, perhaps in white ceramic pots to add a bit of lightness to such a dark space.

If you could build or find some sort of big shelf for the TV wall, you could put the speakers & tv on it... I'm thinking of the recent post of a DIY shelf made of pipe and wood (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/painting-fixing-repair/elizabeth-and-mikes-diy-pipe-shelving-107581). Getting the speakers & TV onto shelving like that would do a lot to alleviate the bottom-heavy feel of the room, and adding books & display items to tall shelves like these would help distract from the TV and add color and warmth to that wall in an organized way.

Good luck!

Add some wood to your room to warm it up. I think a big wood coffee table would work well. I like white walls but if you want it warmer you can paint it beige and bring in a couple accent colors with accessories.

I like bepsf's ideas but if you dont have the $ for such drastic changes then perhaps you can bring in color with artwork, a kilim type rug, throws etc

big art with color and lamps not too slick no chrome turn off the ceiling lights..

wood side tables. if not married to the rug then a kelm or persian rug with warm colors and history to take the edge off.

- paint the walls a warm soft unexpected color - maybe a rich butter yellow, maybe a sunny ocher. If those won't work with the carpet, maybe a greige or taupe.
- replace the rug with something that looks more handmade and picks up the wall color - a modern kilmn would be my preference because it is "hard" like leather yet handmade.
- pick pillows and throws that work off the walls and the rugs. Texture is VERY important. Don't overdo.
- get rid of the black lamp shade
- it looks like the base of the speakers is cherry - if it is, consider keying off that color for anything wood you add and for colors in general.
- I can't tell what your coffee table is - that small round glass and chrome piece? - if so, consider moving that elsewhere (it is too small AND more chrome) and adding a table in cherry.
- let the furniture arrangement breathe more - everything is too tight around the rug.
- replace the b&w photo over the fireplace with something colorful.
- If you can afford it, vintage posters (or copies thereof) could add color and you could pick the style you prefer.
http://www.postermuseum.com/.

You've got some great stuff - I think the problem is too much of a good thing / single theme.

I definitely echo the comment about bringing in more wood to warm up the room. You'd be surprise at how much that simple change can do. Regardless of how you end up painting (even a grey or a really muted color), I think if you incorporate more personal things into the space, you'll notice that it feels much homier. It's kind of sterile as it is (although, you have some amazing pieces!). Things like books, artwork (although, you don't need to put stuff up just to put stuff up), and things that you care about will really turn your space into a warm room. So, wood and . . . stuff!

Stick to what you like best...black leather and silver!

The area rug is beautiful very organic. I would warm the room up with a gray similar to the light gray in the area rug. Limit any throw pillows (or leave them out all together) and instead use Mongolian Sheep skin throws.

If you can invest in the place do get hard wood but stay in the lighter tones...limed oak or black stained then limed oak.

Your feature wall is the fireplace so you need help with getting the right pieces as it's a large room. Perhaps you can put the TV/sound system on the wall with the stairs so it is not visible unless you are in the room...then get a long long long credenza for the TV.

Now...find a large piece of black & white art (like the wild horses...can't think of the photogs name) for the wall with the TV...or do a tryptic of largish prints.

Think minimal, monocromatic (shades of gray/black), art gallery. Then get the best bottle of champers and invite some friends over...black tie.

Let us know what you'll do!

Hmmm. I would paint the ceiling in a near black too.

Dane

I've seen on AT where a TV had been disguised by being placed on a buffet, or on shelving, can't remember where though. The screen was fixed to the wall with a painting on either side. Change the top of your coffee table to clear glass. Table lamps provide light at a lower level than overhead lighting and create more intimate light. The rug is too dark with all the black. Throws, colours, prints, texture will warm up the space.

I do agree with some ideas:
1. Warm grey on the walls

2. Plants-perhaps one of each on top of the speakers or 1 tall plant on the floor next to the speakers. In a dark reddish toned pot.

3. Nobody mentioned the coffee table! I would replace yours with something a bit smaller and ROUND. There's waaay too many square corners in the room. Get clear glass (not smoky black) with chrome.

4. I agree that throw pillows do not go well with most of your furniture. How about 2 large FLOOR pillows in a soft Flokati type material or even a Kilim pattern with plenty of dark reds.

5. Hardwood floors and new lighter colored rug with more softness and texture.

6. Do you have any musical instruments you like? You could find one for a good price and display it on the wall for a major piece of cool artwork and eye-popping depth.

thanks for all the suggestions! i've actually been trying to do some of the things you have mentioned already.

i actually have a gigantic bright pink/silver poster that i just got framed. (http://www.japanesemoviepostercompany.com/jpegs/Survive%20Style%205.jpg). i have these pillows on the way, which are made from kilim rugs (http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh175/breezeofanatolia/minder4/B038.jpg). i have been toying with the idea of putting up a high shelf above the tv and put up 12" or just have a row of framed 12" records above the tv (the red rectangle next to the tv is a turntable) - i like my music!

i am planning on selling off some of the furniture, i'd like to have some things that are a little less "mid century design classics". i will most likely keep the corbusier and lamp and try to sell the barcelona chairs and the love seat.

the coffee table is clear glass (barcelona table) and there is a eileen gray side table there (which i use all the time). all my pieces are from criagslist, i have been trying to get more wood, but i haven't seen anything noteworthy pop up yet.

i do not have a large budget, so i cannot redo the floors - even though i would love to. the speakers are far to heavy to put on a shelf (100lbs each), also there are large tweeters that sit above them that aren't in the picture which make the towers even taller.

i have some gainey ceramic pots that i just need to find some appropriate plants for!

i'll try to make a quick sketch of the area to give you guys a better idea of the space. the tv really can't be placed anywhere else due to the setup of the room.

Bepsf really hit the nail on the head here. Your budget concerns are understandable, but if this is more of a long-term project I think it could still be done. Do keep us posted with a final product, please... (If there is such a thing with home decor!)

I think you need to temper the black and chrome with some natural/earthier elements. Ditch the rug and sub for something like this maybe http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80104862
It is graphic but handwoven. It will soften the room. Think about adding natural textures to soften.

Oh yeah, I would hang the tv over the fireplace and orient the furniture to open up to the fireplace. I agree to add some wood (haha). Lose about 30% of your glass. You have all black on the floor and all white above the floor. Mix it up. Bring some darker up above the couch line and some lighter tones down towards the floor. Add a simple element that is both black and creme. THis will create a more balance feeling in the room. Replace the item where the TV currently is with something like this http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/fuo/1608848223.html (needs work but you get the idea) Bring the teak! Other ideas in wood/black
tp://www.midcenturymodernist.com/furniture_lounge_chairs/

Keep the chairs, sell the loveseat. Put up the records, see what colors you pick up there and go with them for the accents. No throw pillows on the furniture and no potted plants unless it/they are at least six feet tall. All of the accessories/artwork should be things you love, not things you bought just to decorate. If you bring enough color in, the rug should work. If not, bring more color in with a different rug.

looking at the photo, and then hearing your responses above re: pillows & budget, i have a handful of ideas:

1) get a big open weave throw or textile art to hang behind the tv--it will soften the edges of the room and make it feel a bit cozier.

2) paint the walls a deep teal--it will make that cherry wood pop and bring the edges of the room closer.

3) try a very large rug in wine tones. if you get one that is big enough to set all the furniture in, it will make the area feel intimate and warm things up.

4) swap the black lampshade for one in a deep red and try some soft light bulbs--it's amazing what down-aimed lighting and some yellow or pink bulbs can do to soften hard edges.

can't wait to see what you end up with--you've got a great start!

I think this rug from west elm would warm, liven, etc, almost without you having to do anything else.

http://www.westelm.com/shop/rugs-windows/rugs-flooring/?page=viewall

But I'd also lose the red touches- red black white is very dramatic/vampire movie, not warm & welcoming.

Good luck!

oops- to clarify- the andalusia rug, in the soft yellow, found here: http://www.westelm.com/products/r653/?pkey=crugs-flooring

I'd suggest veering away from the overall "Black, White, and Red all over" color scheme. You've got a lot of masculine pieces, so now it's time to make it feel a little more organic. If you can do wood floors, great. Paint an accent wall in either a pale green or deep purple-y fuschsia, and then use that color for your area rug. Bring in some exotic looking plants. I'd be careful about pillows, because you want to find ones that will complement your furniture while being comfortable. Photographs and art will liven the place up, too!

I would say a new rug with warm colors and a pattern (could be an oriental, but not necessarily) plus some plants would make a huge difference. Art should be added as you find pieces you love, not because of pressure to put up art.

The textures are all smooth. Even if you want to keep it sleek and modern a shag rug or a fake fur throw and some natural fibers and plants(cut, dried, fake or real) will warm op the space. Black and chrome can go with ANYTHING so pick colors you love. Maybe from a favorite painting or house tour. And remember to keep things fun, a little humor will go a long way.

Two things -- bring in some wood, and then add some paint.

Specifically -- I'd recommend a mid-century walnut console (or similar) to replace the tv stand and then carry that wood throughout the room more in frames when you add artwork the walls.

Then, I think a pumpkin/ochre/burnt orange colored walls or accent wall would add warmth and some earthiness

Hi, Derrick - I'd say, get rid of the speakers! (I know you don't want to, but I do think it'd help.) The art above the fireplace could be a great color and bigger. Paint the walls. Plants make such a difference because they bring life to a room. I'd change the lamp - or at least the black lampshade - by the couch to add another feel/style to the room to make it more interesting. Maybe same thing with the rug - a Persian or kilim rug? Good luck with your home!

Love where this is going. Why stop at one row of records? A statement wall with the framed poster and a tiling of your favorite records would look great, and the strong furniture can pull if off.

Maybe more texture would help. I made a lamp like this one ( http://stylenorth.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/feather1.jpg ) for about 10 dollars in feathers, and I plan to make one like this too. ( http://www.dwr.com/product/lighting/ceiling/pendants/random-light-small.do?sortby=ourPicks )

I agree with people suggesting walnut. But I'd be careful with going too "earthy." Once there is more on that wall it will feel better.

i think more than one row might make the walll too busy or too distracting when watching a movie? i also have some skateboard decks that i will be using for art once i get them back in my possesion.

well, i took out some of my furniture, pushed the couch back, and took a quick picture along with some of the prints i just got back from the framing shop. (i'm on another stairway that's behind the couch to give you a better idea of the space)

http://tinypic.com/r/300860i/6

i definitely cannot mount the tv above the fireplace as the screen is too wide and would take up the entire width of the wall which would look pretty terrible. I cannot put the tv elsewhere because the dining area is behind and to the left.

http://i47.tinypic.com/ndr979.jpg
this picture shows it a little taken from the kitchen area (this also shows the full tower of speakers! yes, i know they are gigantic and dominates the room but there is nothing like vintage sound! also excuse the large amount of furniture - i had to keep some things i was selling temporarily out of the garage)

i think a larger rug would also be difficult due to the angle of the fireplace - a larger rug would probably end up against the corner of the fireplace.

thanks for the rug recommendation missgvs, but i'm not a fan of damask-type patterns!

the rug is actually black and gray, and the speakers are walnut not cherry. i made sure to white balance in my new picture.

also if this helps any, the tv console is actually two ikea tobo's without legs. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40117673 replacing this console with something a little more colorful may also work well - but i haven't been able to find anything affordable/functional that fits the bill either. although this might work out: http://images.craigslist.org/3k83m83o85O45T45S2a2j6bf3e43b6e2d106d.jpg

It's hard for me to comment because this is like the opposite of my style, but my suggestion is more about the layout. I think the tight configuration of the seating seems very uncomfortable. If it were my space, I would get rid of 1 of the three seats. I don't like having that chair blocking the fireplace. I also feel like having the tv be the centerpiece of the room is very unfriendly. So I guess I'd eliminate one seat, and arrange the remaining seating at an angle, facing more toward the cozy fireplace. Speakers are important for enjoying music and other entertainment, so you can't get rid of them. I would cover the faceplates in a bold ethnic fabric to turn them into to "paintings". Most faceplates pop off and you can wrap the fabric around the back and pop them back on. And maybe put some objet d'art on the top of each speaker. I think plants on the speakers would look too 80's.

I think you can get a larger rug. It looks like your current rug is actually 2 (5x7) rugs put together. If you got an 8x10 and turned it the other way, would that work?

I like the artwork. I can see the "Survive" poster above the FP, but where will you put the Japan poster?

Please consider a round glass coffee table. Please!

Can you install 2 of your speakers closer to the kitchen to achieve a nice surround sound (instead of stacking them into a tower) ?

Do you have a console table you could place behind your couch? I'm not loving the couch at all, mostly because of the chrome bars you can see from the rear. I'm wondering if a table there would soften it a bit.

It's looking better already! I like the big speakers. Go big or go home I say, sound wise that is. I find once you kind of get started with a good layout it is easier to see what you need to bring it together. Then just wait for things you love to fill in the missing pieces.

Had a great post at least 20 posts ago, but... lost the internet connection... *sigh*

This place is classic bachelor pad... black leather, chrome, electronics... My dad did exactly the same thing in his apartment after he got divorced...

Texture, texture, texture. As you are aware, everything right now is slick, so you need some rough and hand-made mixed in. A large oriental rug would do wonders for your space... I would tend to go gold tones. Here is an example:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dP68QycoTy8/S0GuOYsMdiI/AAAAAAAAB0I/3wGvNkun8p4/s1600-h/maison-amtrrak-ellsworth-maine-living-room-window-seat-cohen-peter-portrait.jpg

I think the Impala cabinet would be perfect for your electronic equipment, and as a stand for your tv. If your speakers don't fit inside there... please, oh please, get something smaller!

As for artwork... posters, especially framed Japanese ones are also "slick" texture-wise, so although your poster will bring in colour, it will still be flat. Try instead to find a painting, a real painting with a textured, painted surface, as well as pencil drawings. Check galleries, sprint to your local art college or university with a fine arts program when they have their graduating class exhibition.

Glad you are getting rid of the loveseat and floor light. (the only time I have seen a sofa block off a fireplace like that is on a tv set -- it just feels totally wrong...) I think the glass coffee table is too much, although I am partial to the Eileen Gray table. And although I like Barcelona chairs, they are just too much with the Corbusier sofa. You could get the matching LC2 armchairs though. If you introduce enough texture, they won't be too much, even with your lamp.

I think a nice table lamp, a ceramic one, would be a great addition to your room. I'd suggest putting it on the wood cabinet housing the electronics that I suggested above. The lamps by Clate Grunden would be gorgeous -- check out 21, 24, 30 and 32:

http://www.clategrunden.com/

A nice collection of handmade and glazed ceramics in the room would be lovely.

http://www.jemerickartpottery.com/portal.html

Here is a suggestion for something you could use on your dining table or coffee table... check out the curca 1800 New England trencher:

http://www.14feet.net/new_additions

Here is a walnut bookcase that would be perfect in your room if you have the wallspace (scroll all the way down)

http://www.14feet.net/storage

Now, there is another reason besides the overwhelming chrome & black that this place needs some warming-up: the builder's beige walls. Paint your walls a beautiful full-spectrum white from the Donald Kaufman Color collection, and then think about adding bright accent walls from kt color. They make the Corbusier colours, and so will work with your furniture. They also make Yves Klein blue (but only consider it if you have added lots of texture!).

http://ktcolorusa.com/_pdfs/ktcolorusa0307.pdf

Good luck and let us know how thing turn out!

Oh! and when you do eventually install wood floors, go with something that is hard waxed, but not urethaned. The matte texture is much more beautiful and powerful than the more common finishes.

Oops... here is the Impala cabinet:

http://www.livingartsdesign.com/html/furniture/13bcasegoods.html

i think that you should get a differently colored lampshade. for the lamp on the far right. a lighter color will bring some pop into the room.

also, i agree with many other people, the throw rug should definitely not be black, try some other color...not beige because your room's carpet is already beige.

the artwork would definitely help, and have you thought of maybe painting an accent wall or doing some wallpaper? even painting with an off-white will give the room some more "flavor."

as for the blank space above the tv, try some old signage (look at some old blog posts on this site for inspiration)...try some with funky type. good luck!

the rug is actually one piece in 5x7'6 size. the colors are just reversed on the respective sides so it looks like they're separate rugs. i got it very cheap so that's what i'm working with - but i can always sell it and replace it if i can find a better one at a reasonable price. the rug:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hand-tufted-Contemporary-Abella-Area-Rug-5-x-76/3351780/product.html

mschatelaine: i love all of your suggestions. thanks for the post and taking the time to write it out twice. the impala cabinet is great! now to see if i can actually afford it (doubtful!), but it's a great point of reference. also love the gold oriental rug, it looks great with that lc2. i'm not sure if it would just blend in with the khaki colored wall-to-wall carpet since the floor in the picture provides a nice contrast to the gold.

regarding the speakers - no they can't be separated, they are tweeters that go on top of the bases - separating them would ruin the imaging. newer, smaller speakers don't sound nearly as good as the huge vintage ones. i listen to music all the time, which is why i'm pretty unwilling to give them up.

if i end up staying here for a few years, i will contemplate installing wood floors. right now i'm on a student budget (everything is a craigslist/estate sale buy), then in a year i'll be on a resident's budget so major overhauls aren't really anywhere in the near future unfortunately.

i have been thinking about installing a mantel though, maybe some sort of reclaimed wood, but i can't seem to find any good sources.

I love good looking rooms, but don't budge on sound! I think the speakers look great.

Am I correct that they are Ohms?

Love the idea of the reclaimed mantel, that would be great! Also love the gold oriental rug that someone suggested. And please get the cool Danish-looking media cabinet that you posted a craigslist link to, it would be perfect!

get some natural textures like a jute rug, natural fiber baskets in there...maybe a wood end table and some plants!

sciteach: they're actually RTR 280DR's with the ESR-15 electrostatic tweeter panels. the bases have four 10" woofers per cab, one downward firing, one forward, and one on either side. Also, five dome tweeters and one piezo super tweeter for a total of six per cab. the additional box that sits on top have 15 electrostatic panels. provides a huge soundstage with great imaging! glad to see someone else that appreciates speakers on here!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/mhk87/IMG_1271.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/mhk87/IMG_1199.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/mhk87/IMG_1245.jpg

Hi Derrick,

Y'know, the more I look at your room, the more convinced I am you should embrace all the black you have going on and find a way to make it an intentional statement. I tried to imagine a bunch of earthy elements, sisal rugs and grasscloth and the like, and thought it might look awkward and haphazard with the black and chrome pieces you already have and love. You like sleek- embrace it.

Instead, I would do something on that long tv wall to reduce the "black island' effect. Would you ever consider a feature wall with cool dark graphic wallpaper, as featured in these AT posts?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/inspiration/flatscreens-on-wallpaper-092515

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/inspiration/clever-color-camouflage-for-your-tvstyle-at-home-108079

That first post especially got me thinking it could work in your pad, as the featured furniture and accessories are similar to yours (there's even a black/gray rug!). And if you are indeed a bachelor, there's some serious sexiness goin' on in that room to boot. ;)

Good luck- I can't wait to see after pictures!

Derrick,

your wall-to-wall is a neutral, and one way to make it disappear without actually removing it is to cover it with rugs. You don't need to cover every square inch -- by placing area rugs on it, you are delegating it to the status of a backdrop.

Have to smile about the speakers... My husband was the same about his...

Here's a better blurb about the kt color paint. I know people may think that it's better to just knock off an expensive paint colour at the hardware store, but as expensive as a paint like kt color is, it is still vastly cheaper than any other major change with similar impact -- for example, flooring, art work or furniture. What you are paying for in the expensive paints is the quality and quantity of pigment; when you then compare the colours to cheap paints, you really see it.

Here's a better blurb on kt color (they also have some good whites; I recommend Donald Kaufman because they are the best ones I am familiar with and use myself).

http://www.ktcolor.com/TM/Catalog_2006_ENG.pdf

Sounds like you are going to need a warm and supportive home environment in the next few years -- good luck with your studies and good in making a great home!

I think you need to pick two colors that you like & make one the primary accent & the other a more minimal accent. Add a lot of red & a little bit of turquoise, for instance.

Also, you could put bookshelves or an entertainment system around the TV & speakers, so that you could add books & other ornament to the room. Books are a good way to bring life to a room. Another way to add life would be a big (tree-sized) plant, but this may not work if this is a basement room or other room without windows.

The other suggestion I have is that you move the Eileen Gray table away from the center of the room. It could be used as a side table, but it doesn't look right, right next to the other glass table. (I tend to think that Eileen Gray doesn't go with the other Bauhaus-y stuff, but that could just be me...)

Derrick,
Thanks for the info on the speakers. They look amazing.

Are the Advent's in the pic yours also?

What do you drive the RTR's with?

Thanks from a lover of vintage and modern audio and design.

I think buying pillows for color are going to look like, well, you bought pillows for color.

Embrace the existing color scheme but consider texture as your ally for warmth.

Were it me, and budget not an issue, I'd reface the entire chimney breast with slate, cold-rolled steel or metallic-look porcelain tile. On it, above the firebox, something dimensional, organic, non-modern and relating (in some way) to your cherry wood speakers (if possible)

Normally a fan of black lampshades but don't think that's working for you.

Then, it's just details... and try to resist the temptation to raid Craigslist for any more Van der Rohe/Eileen Gray era pieces. You're at max capacity now.

I second the idea to move the Eileen Gray table away from the coffee table.

If you want to do something totally unexpected, replace your clear glass coffee table top with a piece of laminated colored or back-painted glass. Sacreligious to some, but it could totally work for you. Then relate that color to a piece of art somewhere else in the open plan.
But plants... ohmygod no. MAYBE a single orchid.

Derrick,

Love the furniture... your room has so much potential. If it were mine, I'd:

* Move the chair/loveseat that is blocking the fireplace.

* Ditch the rug... it's visually uninteresting and so dark that it blurs the elegant lines of the furniture. It's a metaphorical black hole that's swallowing the furniture (and the energy of your room...). Since the carpet is creamy white, anything dark will create that same vortex effect, so like a lot of other people have already suggested, I'm thinking that a sheepskin/flokati type rug (in creamy white) will avoid the vortex effect while adding some interesting texture that contrasts with the furniture without clashing.

* I love vintage audio equipment so perhaps I'm biased, but the speakers don't bother me. Making the ginormous television the focal point of the living room does, however. Perhaps you can achieve some balance by building or adding a modern wall unit (or partial wall unit), around and above the television/speakers which could double as storage for your records/place to put your turntable, etc?

* Paint!! ASAP! :) With your furniture, I'm feeling partial to silvery/faintly purplish-undertoned greys. Red, turquoise, etc. would be so 80s and overwhelming, I think, with the black furniture. Sticking to warm-hued greyish or even pale blue-hued shades would be visually appealing, warm up the space and provide an understated, neutral background for art with punch.

* I agree with the poster above... plants in this space = blech, with the exception of a stunning orchid or two or a funky succulent arrangement, like the ones seen hanging in a glass bowl or something like the one in the link below. Anything else seems out of place with the overall look you're trying to achieve.

http://www.thegardenerseden.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Succulent-Bowl.jpg

* Finally, in lieu of throw pillows add neutral floor pillows (in soft creamy shades to match your new rug :) !) and switch out the blankets for beautifully textured (aran or funky handknit lace) throw blankets in beautiful and elegant cashmere or mohair blends (or even acrylic, but make sure it is soft and textured and beautiful. Again, think contrast, not clash.

For what it's worth, that's my $0.07. ;)

want this lamp.

I'd like to see a Persian rugs with some warm colors in place of the one your furniture now sits upon. Try this as a source

http://shop.ebay.com/ecgliquidation/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

some very good suggestions; here's mine, footstools and ottomans, putting up your feet/legs will make the Corbie so much more comfortable and inviting.

Painting the walls would make a huge difference...

you should check out work by this artist, http://jonathanpeyser.com/homepage.html

Going to go a different way than most of the advice here. Paint the walls DARK. The black leather furniture is looming against the beige, and it doesn't work. Dark gray walls would not have the furniture be so jarring. I'd even consider black, but only if you have a plan for big art to set it off, and lighting to carry it off so its warm, not oppressive.

Do consider a large-scale plant.

Do swap out the coffee table for a rich wooden piece or a strongly colored leather pouf. I think a round or free form table could help a lot.

I would like to see one strongly colored not-black leather piece replace one of the pieces you are selling. Maybe a slipper chair.

I think you need a few extra tall and skinny green plants - like skinny palms, orchids or bamboo stalks between the TV and speakers which are taller than the tv/speaker combo to break up that sea of hard edges. Added bonus is plants supposedly thrive near sound.

I would put your pink poster above the fireplace to draw the eye over there and add more large scale plants near the hearth. Add color and/or pattern with floor length curtains to coordinate with whatever rug you decide on.

I think funky end tables in a bright color or natural wood are the quick fix route to break up the glass & chrome:
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/ceramic-garden-stool/?catalogId=57&bnrid=3380801&cm_ven=Google%20Base&cm_cat=Shopping&cm_pla=Feed&cm_ite=Google%20Base

Here are some more exotic end table ideas:
http://www.shopinspiredliving.com/home-furniture.html?catid=37&ps=40&sort=itemname&pi=1&

Good bones, just mix it up a little bit with the rug and accessories...

Hi Derrick,

Came across something I thought would be fantastic in your living room...

When you remove the love seat, you'll be opening up the area in front of the fireplace. Instead of adding kilim pillows on the sofa, I think you should have vintage kilim floor pillows in front of the fireplace. They'll work as casual seating and add needed colour and texture. Here are a perfect pair:

http://uniquefinds.weisshouse.com/products/list/accessories?page=2

Doing that will really make the coffee table stick out; I think you should just get rid of the coffee table, and stick with side tables, like your Eileen Gray table. In fact, that's how this furniture was often presented in it's period. Here is a suggestion for another side table (the bud stool):

http://www.livingartsdesign.com/html/furniture/01chairs.html

Other options:

http://jed.1stdibs.com/itemdetails.php?id=259652
Here's that table in use (on a great rug for you):
http://studioannetta.blogspot.com/2009/02/french-moderne.html

http://www.peterpetrou.com/an-ivory-inlaid-table/

http://www.rassif.com/moroccan_furniture_lantern/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=10

You are so close from having a truly great place!

"Get rid of the Barcelona coffee table" is never good advice. ;)

I didn't bother to read through all the other suggestions first, so appologies if I'm repeating anything. Also, I didn't see any budget restrictions, so I'm not sure about your financial situation. Any, a couple of thoughts. Since you say you're already on top of the pillows and art, I won't go there. However, a bigger, more colorful rug (something lighter maybe, and big enough for the furniture to all be on it). Second, perhaps you might consider trading in one of those black leather couches for a couple of colorful chairs instead? This might also help open up the room a little, so you don't get that boxed-in feeling.

Otherwise, looks like things are coming right along. Good luck with settling in and making the place your own. Like the black leather!

Theres nothing wrong with that room, except maybe you need brighter lighting...

That room just screams Bachelor pad!

Seperate those speakers more it will look better sound batter too!