Sorry, I'm on his team.

Compromise: It's not that difficult.
Rather that concentrate on your differences, learn to appreciate what you have in common:

How many times have you seen grey sofas, white walls and black tables in WestElm catalog photos? Isn't nearly all WestElm furniture boxy and black or white?

Bring in the rugs, lamps, draperies, pillows and artwork to make the space "homey".

I feel like West Elm & Bo Concept already go really well together. Wish the picture was larger, because I can't see what your rug,etc look like. I would try adding something like a textured but solid colored jute rug, colorful (maybe yellow) throw pillows.

How about his style for major pieces and your style for accessories?

I actually think your styles are more similar than you realize.
You can add in pops of color through accessories: a very clean, streamlined vase, in a red, yellow or apple green.
One bold graphic print on a pillow.
Or, think about bold artwork to add color.

One or two items will go a long way toward adding that homey feel you like w/o cluttering the space.

Omg! Is n't it the wonderful Ruscoe village house on one of the recent house tours?
Lucky you. :-)

I totally agree with bepsf. What strikes me is even the art is in neutral colours! Some plants would also help. I think you could bring in some girly bling. Try gold/silver in pillows along with Indian prints/weaves. That goes well with all your clean lines. Don't be afraid...your man's a designer..he'll appreciate the differences.

Good Luck!

To appeal to his more minimalist dynamic, I'd make sure that whatever you choose you go with a look that polished.

Add some color, some texture, whatever, but keep it consistent throughout. Minimalist design doesn't have to be uncomfortable - just understated and clean.

I actually really like the couch (though I think I'm more on your side generally). You could add some brighter pillows or a throw to the couch, and liven it up with some colorful artwork. I'm not so much a fan of the royal blue wall to the right - another color would warm it up. Just pick one or two warm accent colors and have fun! It can still be minimal (which I appreciate for the sense of space and cleanness it provides) while becoming a home that the two of you share.

I am in your very place at the moment. I have also just moved in with my boyfriend, who has lived in his apartment in Berkeley for 20 years. He wants to keep all the walls white because it's a smaller apt. However I love color and thing at least some accent walls would be nice. I have Scandinavian design furniture, and he has a couch he made! I think his hands on creativeness is great , but I can tell you it's not the most comfortable couch. We've only just begun to clean out closets, and let me tell you he has a hard time throwing things out. He doesn't mind my organizing his place as he says "It's time". Pictures soon to come.

I'm with your boyfriend I am afraid. If you need to assert yourself then try doing it through texture rather than colour - some kuba cushions perhaps.

AT - please figure out a better way to handle pictures. I can never see the pics for Good Questions, isn't there a way to link to a bigger picture? I also don't like the way the pics are handled in the rest of the site as well, but that's for another time.

To answer the question, firstly....is the picture just to show what the couch looks like? That's not an actual picture of your place is it, because that's a Chicago house tour from last month and it didn't seem THAT awful to me as far as minimalism.

In any case, generally I think the answer is to bring in other pieces with more color and texture and shapes - curtains with a pattern you like, shapely lamps, cozy pillows that are in a style you like. And then maybe some smaller pieces of furniture that are a little more "you" like a sofa table or a tv console or x benches or a small accent chair, etc. I wouldn't try to do large pieces because I think they'll compete with the sofa too much and look too random. If you accept the couch but pepper it in with smaller pieces that you like AND some smaller things he likes, I think it will blend. I think since you like WE and C&B, it shouldn't be too hard...they're not THAT far off from his style. In fact, you might want to look at room setups in their catalog when they use similar sleek sofas to see how they make it warmer and homey with accessories and jump off of that, because they tend to rarely be minimalist even with that style sofa.

Find your middle ground:

Getcatalogs from various furniture retailers and then get some small post-it tabs in a few different colors. Go through the catalogs and mark what you love, like, and hate in their staged rooms. Find where your likes crossover and start from there.

My husband and I have a similar issue - he likes lots of neutral colors (boring!!) and I love lots of bright, bold colors.

So...we stick with a fairly neutral color palette on large things (like the walls, furniture, etc.) and I add smaller punches of color in items like side chairs, cushions, pillows, rugs, etc.

That way we're both happy!

Books and plants will do wonders for any room.

This should have been discussed and retrified prior to you moving in.

There's no middle ground. If you want your style get your own place. Period.

AT, what's up with recycling that photo from the Chicago house tour.

West Elm and Bo Concept have fairly similar styles and I can see mixing them up. Just keep the colors fairly neutral. What makes a place feel homey is a few things that you absolutely love and someone to share it with.

First off, this should have been discussed before you moved in - that's the only way to bargain for what you want - also, I would put my name on everything that I bring or buy b/c if you're not married or engaged and you're moving in - watch out. Ditto for your books.

agree with akay...or stroll around stores and try to find things you love and he can live with...pillows, accessories etc

@ihdun421, "put her name on everything" that's way too funny! But you may be on to something.

Also if they buy something for the flat and go into together that's when things get very tricky if it's splitsville.

Word to the wise, if you're going to shack, then let him move into YOUR place or find a place to move into together. Otherwise, the person who you move in with can be very territorial. Who needs that, it's a relationship breaker.

A few of you guy's are the voices of doom.
Yes, the advice is practical...and realistic...but the poor thing came here for design advice and y'all are talking splitsville and dividing up the stuff. Cut her some slack. :)

All of the splitsville advice is reminding me of the quote from When Harry Met Sally about the wagon wheel coffee table.

Hopefully Maribel won't have to worry about any of that for a long, long time though.

This learning experience can bring you closer. Sort, weed, and arrange what you already have, postponing shopping. Fun, relaxed discussion of catalogs photos is a good idea. As others wrote, creative compromises on color and texture can make you feel at home.

If you're both bringing furniture to your home, pick out your two favorite pieces straddling the divide: the ones you love the most and find most attractive. Then find a colorboard that ties the two together. 100layercake --though a wedding blog --has some incredibly beautiful and helpful colorboards...

I'm in your boat right now as well. My boyfriend would live in a box of stainless steel if it was up to him. I think in common areas using color in accent pieces is a good idea. Then maybe he gets the office all his style and you can do the bedroom all your style.

I agree with those who mentioned that your styles are not that different. Why not scour their respective websites to get ideas on how to merge the differences?

But also, getting a compromise between you, creates a more original style - who wants to look like a particular shop style?
Once suggestion I read once was each make a list of say three things of your own you MUST have, three less so, and negotiate. Or pick three of eachothers' things that you like, and work out why...

I could've written this post! Too funny -- my bf used to work in art galleries and lovvvves white walls. Barf.

Our solution(s) so far:

-A really simple, but colorful rug. I'd love a Madeline Weinrib, but for now we've going for a yellow flat weave cotton rag rug

-I found some fun fabric and made throw pillows for our modern grey sectional when we first moved in. I'm already sick of them and am making some colorful crocheted pillow colors and a throw to match..

-I'm planning to paint one accent wall and hang a bunch of our colorful art, gallery style

I actually like focusing on the soft goods for color, because it's a LOT less cost/effort to make changes when I inevitably tire of them! Good luck!!

Here are some ideas for accent pieces you could incorporate into your space to merge your 2 styles...

Add color with these. I actually just purchased the 23"x11" to accent my IKEA Isunda gray Karlstad sectional and it looks fantastic!

Add a little drama with any of these, this one in particular.

For added color and fun try here.

Good luck to you and your boyfriend!

I wish I could give you specific advice but I can't see the photo (hint, hint to AT!).

It takes two to compromise. My husband and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum, also. When we married, I moved in with him. That territorial comment is Right On.

PaolaH, the handmade couch made me laugh. :) You should see my husband's "art". Puzzles he's glued onto a backboard and flee market, cigarette smoke stained, cardboard paintings straight from a 1975 Hardee's. I swear, it is WWIII to change it. Good thing life is about more than decor. :)

So true. Decor's not even in the top 5. Their conflict can be resolved by being friends, assertiveness, fair fighting, and the other usual social skills. I was dismayed by the commenters who jumped straight to the final option of splitting; maybe they were joking.

My boyfriend & I just moved in together 7 months ago and we have different design tastes too. He likes plain & functional, I like more artsy stuff. We picked out living room furniture together that we both liked and he's let me decorate a few walls. Some areas he's designated for things he likes (our family pictures, etc.) and I respect that. I've brought in lots of houseplants from my old place too, which he had none of. I think things you love on the walls plus things like plants really help offset the "cold" feeling that being purely functional has. Always talk it over with your honey though before making any major changes to the place, that'll help keep the lines of communication open & everyone's happy! :)

I think you can warm up some cold pieces with texture and interesting accessories - something like this: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y938XNhAGxI/TVC9jN0VYkI/AAAAAAAABGs/GJFrUlSlVZc/s1600/4965921970_4c02c697b1_o.jpg

Get married & then you get to do everything and anything you want to the place! LOL.

Traditional strongly-coloured tribal rugs and Persian rugs would warm it up, and partner naturally with his aesthetic. As well, you could try adding primitive antique wooden pieces -- stools, tables, etc. They look good with furniture with good bones and clean lines. Large plants would look good too.