apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

You've got a good start on the room. Go with slippers chairs! Any fabric would work. Try velvet. It is rich and lush and comfortable.

Can't really think of chairs at the moment, but I would change the pillows on the couch, something with a bit of texture perhaps, and lighter. Also is the paint pale yellow? It really does not go with that dark couch and dark rug. I think a pale grey would look nice in there, or else if you added lighter accessories (like pillows, throws, etc) it would look better. Some chairs to tie it all together would be ideal...

It looks like the wood on the chairs matches the coffee table. Why not have the padding re-upholstered to match the couch? that would be a cheaper solution to replacing but i don't know if the chairs are comfy.

Things are really looking nice, but you need to do something about your tv stand. It's an eyesore when combined with the other objects in your apt. Good luck with your chairs! :)

I like what you've done so far, but I would definitely replace those chairs. They look way too formal for lounging. If you like the armless look, consider the Duncan chairs at room and board.
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product.do?method=get&id=985274&coll=92329665&cat=91552823

Pick a bolder color since the room looks fairly neutral.

http://www.bebitalia.it/collezioni/scheda_prodotto.asp?ID_Prodotto=83&lingua=en

The one on the right. There are knockoffs on this chair, too.

Or if you go more traditional, I like the Loring from Room/Board. Or one of their compact recliners for a clubby look.

Do not match the chairs to the sofa unless you want your room to look like a cheap hotel lobby.

Since you have a squarish black leather sofa with little metal legs, look for fabric covered chairs in a curvey shape and wooden legs. A pair of low lounge chairs or tall wing chairs would be good.

I agree w/ the others here - Some pillows with greater contrast would be better than those browns that get lost in the about a long, low, sleek console with the TV on top.

Take those great existing wooden chairs and place them on either side of the "fireplace" - use them as extra seating that you can pull into the center of the room when you have company over. And do something with those pictures on the floor - hang them, spread them out on the mantle, etc.

I agree with the prior comments about avoiding black chairs and about doing something about the entertainment center. Room and Board has great products and while not cheap, are worth the price.

I'd also consider moving that rug to another room and replacing it with something with a lot more color, like a Persian or Turkish rug. I like black, but I think you have too much of it in your room.

Good pick on the coffee table and I see what you're doing with the rug - now you need to think about the room as a whole and then you might better "see" the chairs.

Everything in your room is hard-edged, square and in one of three colors (plus the wood). While the rug gives you great texture, the fact that it is dark means that you need to diversify things with the chairs. I could see something rounded and maybe in a tweed that picks up all the colors and adds a few. Then replace existing pillows with pillows where each is one of the solid colors in the tweed. (Tweed just popped into my mind - it could be anything multi-colored and textured. I could see pillows made from flat woven Turkish rugs on the sofa).

The entertainment center per se is fine - the problem is that it doesn't work in this room. Maybe put it into the kitchen, where such racks are often used? And re-work that wall.

personally i would do two non matching upholstered chairs... different styles and colors on both... maybe a complementary color (blue) and a harmonious color (something gold maybe, darker than the yellows in the room... be careful with this)... room needs to be broken up visually this would do that...

i also like the rug change idea... but that's probably for another time

I agree. 2 different chairs with some punch of color!! Perhaps red!

The armchairs offer the possibility of bringing the whole room into focus, and elevating the design. Since you have done really well budget-wise, let yourself really splurge on the armchairs; get something special, instead of something ho-hum, run-of-the-mill or from a catalogue.

As others have said, you need to break-up the rectangularity of the furniture with something some organic, a bright colour, and of a different design and period.

I'd also agree with the posters about getting rid of the stainless shelving for the tv -- it is time to get a flatscreen.

Here are some possibilities for you:

these are probably the best (they are affordable because they are a "re-edition") although in your case, grey is not an ideal colour -- red or green would be better

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=221516

to give you an idea of a better (and original) colour:
http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=196007
http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=220994

STUNNING!:
http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=205032

These are amazing -- very simple and refine; very graceful, and very uncommon (maybe these are my pick):

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=97355

And yet more:

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=214055

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=212666

or these (I'd reupholster them to an appropriate fabric)
http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=212827

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=166493

I like the idea of either a love seat or a chaise, but then I do kind of agree with the hotel lobby comment...I think a warm velvet would be a nice contrast to the dark leather. Then you can put the brown cushions on the new thing, and get new cushions for the leather sofa. A plant or some greenery could also soften all the angles in the room.

I have my tv on a metro stand too, and I wouldnt change it for the the world, because its on wheels, and I can role it round to face my bedroom if I fancy movies in bed :-)
Its the best rainy day indulgence ever!

Something with subtle curves to balance out the squareness of the rest of the room would be nice. I wouldn't match them to the couch - contrast them.

I also have to comment on the tv stand... while it may be functional there are so many other things you could use for a stand that wouldn't look reminiscent of a college dorm room.

If you like the open metal look of your entertainment center, but want something more sophisticated, take a look at this one: http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=378391&cat=55

on a recent trip to houston, I was at this wonderful store High Fashion Home and I saw the same table.

http://www.highfashionhome.com/ats.asp?id=3500

I was thinking of getting the same rug. Could you tell me if it wears well?

It's a great space.

The wood chairs --- just too matchy, matchy. This is my suggestion:

1) Two fabric small scale chairs. I would do something in textured fabric with some color. Possibly a colored striped fabric as I think it would be nice and masculine. Yes maybe some blues with whites and brown/tans.

2) Take one of the striped colors in the chair (lighter color) and make accent pillows for the sofa in the same textured fabric.

3) I'd love to see a new rug. Kids? Pets? If not, I'd love to see white shag. But that can come later.

And yes, I agree with some of the other posts, start thinking about switching out the TV cart. I think something in wood or another material will make the space look much richer.