apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My suggestions are pretty much the same. The throw pillows aren't working. I'm not big on bright solid throw pillows on brown couches, but the right ones could work.

I'd definitely replace the artwork and add some more pieces with some pop. Maybe drapes and something sculptural?

I'd probably pull out the green and orange, maybe with some red to try to bridge between the cool/bright colors and your warmer neutrals. The pink and turquoise are harder, so I'd just let the chair have them.

I agree with the above don't introduce much colour, just change the cushions and maybe a colourful object like a vase... or even a beautiful plant..
You don't need to change much, it is beautiful like this...

-Paint the walls the green color in the chair.

-Brighter more colorful throw pillows.

-A more graphic (not necessarily colorful) rug under the coffee table. Maybe Flor tiles in orange and green or something like this: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=5363

or this: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=5361

or this: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=170&f=5396

Coordinate drapery panels with the right rug and you're done. Pink goes very well with chocolate brown but could your man live with it? If so, Farrow and Ball has some really terrific pinks.

I agree, replace the pillows. I would suggest one of the colors from the chair. And I think painting the room with a soft creamy yellow color would bring everything together without being overbearing.

I agree with what has been said. I think changing the cushions will do, I will go for green colours. You can also add a vase or a beautiful plant.
But keep it simple, the space is beautiful as it is.

'Sasha' also has brass tacks and sexy curvy legs. The rest of your room seems to be full of straight lines with brushed steel metal accents. Aside from adding color, you could also bring more unity in the room by adding more curvy and warm metal accents.

What is your favorite color you could pull out of the chair? If you had to see one all by itself, which would it be?

Pick any of the colors you like most of the chair and paint the opposite wall.... the green or the orange (i would choose too).

Some more action with the pillows as Asinner mentioned would be awesome... maybe printed instead of plain. If you can get the same print or one similiar would be nice.

Get plants (and/or flowers)... get more life and green and you'll see a huge difference...maybe this simple thing may help balance the chair's festive feel without having to change anything of your original set up...

If i may say something more..... the alligator "fur" rug does look weird....

My humble suggestions: switch the pillows on the couch for some in the same color palate as the awesome chair. Get rid of the rug, which looks to natural to mesh with the look of the chair. Also, replace the black/white photography with a colorful piece of artwork that you love. Viola. :)

Invest in some really colorful, fun artwork to hang on the walls-just sprinkle a small amount. It will pull in the funky style of this chair. I'm a firm believer in contrast. I love that this is the attention seeking piece in a very neutral (beautiful) setting. The style of what you have existing doesn't seem foreign at all and won't make this chair look out of place, it just needs some nesting with like things. The more you try to match color all over, the less special this piece will feel. Very very cool chair, kudos.

First of all, that's an AWESOME chair! But, yeah... it's currently looking a little disconnected.

I also agree about starting with new throw pillows. The currently ones are too earthy and too linear for the bright, organic patterns in the chair.

As far as wall color goes... maybe consider an accent wall? I think a bold color throughout the space would be too overpowering. If you're really set on completely repainting though, maybe a light yellowish-green? I'd focus more on pillows, art, and perhaps a different rug.

You've already gotten so many good suggestions, I have nothing more to add. But that is one gorgeous chair!

Basically, you need to balance the color out in the room. You can do this by adding more color to the room in locations further away from the chair to draw the eye through out the room.
Do you have a console table behind the couch? Maybe some colored pottery in turquoise or yellow?
Also, I know its a cliche, but what about a coffee table book with a complimentary color?

For the walls, I like the "soft yellow" idea better than taking a wild color from the chair. It seems to me that adding any radical color to the room might just make the neutral elements and the wild-color elements get into a big brawl.

Would the chair possibly work better in another room? What is the bedroom like?

I LOVE the idea of the flor "rug" - that's the missing piece I was struggling to identify. I think it would be perfect in this room to add some color/flavor/pattern without competing too much with the chair.

All great suggestions, but I think I'd change out the one picture first. I can't see the content of the image, but maybe even changing the mat or frame to green would add a little surprise on that side of the room. I love this chair.

What a great post!
I think you did a great job of choosing something with the same dark wood finish (right?) as the rest of your existing furniture in the room, but I agree- start small; and I mean small. I don't agree with painting your walls the lime green or something!! That would make it look like a fun house!

I like the idea of some brightly colored knick knacks somewhere, as well as replacing the black and white photo with something more kitchsy to tie back to that corner of the room. Also, you may want to consider rearranging your furniture to give this baby a better view.

Love the chair but prefer the couch! Where did you get it?

Complementary-colored pillows for the couch. Solids rather than prints.

Replace or augment the white shades with bold drapes in teal or coral (I'm also envisioning a window scarf, which would add some drama to that now blank part of the room and help frame the chair).

Some kind of huge, green leafy plant in the corner behind the couch, to help add a more tropical vibe.

And replace the art with something more graphic and bold (it doesn't have to be colorful also, but something with more impact would balance out the chair). Put it in a more ornate frame that goes along with the more traditional lines of the chair.

I would replace the coffee table with a round one. Get rid of both rugs. Possibly replace them with something that fits the whole room, but I think I'd do something simple, like sisal.

Add bright pillows to the couch - a mix of patterns and solids. Add a solid lumbar pillow to the chair, possibly in the navy/cobalt blue that's in the pattern.

Buy two large vases to flank the TV in green or blue. I would add some colorful art to the walls, but only as you see something that you like. Don't buy just to fill up the space.

I don't know about the walls. Part of me thinks you should leave them white and add some billowy white curtains and crown molding (if you don't have it already). All your color would then come from your other textiles.

wait - I just read slowdown's suggestion of teal panels and I LOVE that idea!

I agree with the others about the pillows. Pick up a couple in colors that pull from the chair. I'd do one large scale painting/print in some bold colors. I like the walls white, almost more of a gallery feeling. For accents, maybe a lacquer tray, a vase and a coffee table book that also features some color.

Gorgeous chair!

I'd start with adding sheer draperies to the windows in a shade or two lighter than the orange in the chair.

Later, work on repeating the blue in Sasha in throw pillows on the couch. Then replace the coffee table with something smaller and glass, along with a larger white rug underneath.

What a great chair! IMO, I would keep the walls neutral as the chair really makes a statement with the neutral surroundings, but, there should be more color in the form of pillows that would complement the chair, so I would change those and colorful accessories. A more colorful, perhaps larger piece of artwork is a must. I'm also observing the glaring light and wondering if it's just the photo, or a normal condition, in which case, I would prefer those shades in a very soft color, to shed a pinkish or golden light.

Although the rest of your room seems very sober by comparison, you clearly do like colour or you wouldn't have bought that magnificent chair. And in fact I think the dark leather couch and white walls are the perfect neutrals for this situation.

I agree with others that accessories, particularly throw cushions on the sofa, are the way to connect the rest of the room with the chair. I think you should go for a few cushions in solid colours that are as vivid as the multiple colours in the chair. Satin is a great fabric for jewel-colours, and because of the sheen it looks good in solid colours without a pattern.

I also think ceramics are a great way of bringing in strong (again solid) colours. And yes, a colour picture in place of the black and white would be good too.

Bringing colour into the rest of the room this way will put the fabulous chair in a colour context but still leave it room to be the star. Which it so clearly is ;)

Tiffany or turquoise blue or green on the walls (a shade or two lighter than what's on the chairs). Get rid of the throw pillows. Add plants. I think you should stop there-- a good mid point between the sophisticated neutral theme you have and the colorful chair.

Looks like Carrie Bradshaw walked into a G8 summit looking for cab fare.

Cohesive, yeah, hmmm...to get to cohesive, I think you may have to throw all notions of cohesive out and ride the eclectic wave. Bring on the baroque with curvy Italian inlaid side tables. Also, snatch up some Gio Ponti whenever no one else is looking on Ebay.

You've got great taste. Have fun!

Beautiful chair, indeed. I think you can integrate Sasha into the room while still letting her shine. What a fun starting point you have in that chair.

The light, neutral walls are great. I wouldn't change the wall color.

A large canvas or framed art that's tall and narrow and primarily one vibrant color (the cyan, perhaps with touches of orange ... a vivid seascape would rock) could anchor the end of the sofa.

A floor lamp with a good full spectrum light bulb should bounce some light onto the art.

A contrasting colorblocked throw in two bright Sasha colors (80% bright pink and 20% bold gold) would sexy up the couch. Maybe a modern pickstitched quilt with contrasting binding, yum! Something youthful yet luxe.

A sinuous vessel on the coffee table in place of the footed bowl would relate to the shapes in the chairs. (The feather featured on Sasha could be a reference point for shape.)

If you want one, a black and white rug with a graphic tile print or overscale feather/swirl/acanthus would work. No lines, no dots. Contrast is good.

Good luck. Please post an "after."

colourful artwork cushions ceramics=perfect
i would not repaint.
i absolutely love that chair. it goes perfectly with my mad coloured mismatched cushions.

Wow! Great chair. My suggestions are similar to the others:

1. Swap the neutral pillows for brightly colored ones; maybe add a richly colored throw to the couch (fawn/camel maybe)

2. Change the dark pic on the wall for a larger vibrant painting/pic

3. Add some colorful coffee table books to the coffee table

You don't need to paint the walls. Just need to add color to draw the eye away from the chair.

I love it the way it is. I think I'd try to take away all other colour from the room to make it look even more monochromatic, so that the chair would explode* even more.

(*explode = bigger than "pop"...)

She is a sexy chair alright.....I LOVE HER! You appear to be making a similar shift in your decorating style as I am right now. My current furniture/style is straight edged with neutral colors and I would like to add a new dimension with color and curves like your chair has.

I am not an expert but this is what I would (and am) doing to integrate some new curvy colorful style to our apartment. Some suggestions IMHO on where to start....

-go slow and in small increments so you can "feel out" what compliments the chair, the room and the rest of your furniture. It is a lovely peaceful room and does not need an overhaul to incorporate your new chair....I would consider painting walls to be too much of an "overhaul" right now.

-I would start with a few plants...as emal mentioned above "keep it simple." There is green in the chair and plants will compliment it. Choose your plants and planters with care though...your room is so neutral even a small addition like plants will impact the feel of your room. Plants are not neutral...a fern adds a different texture/feeling than a spiky plant such as a cactus...personally I think sexy curves in a new plant (like a fern or curly bamboo) would work best because of all the curves in both the fabric and chair shape. Also chose a planter that not only compliments the plant but the style you are headed for in your living room. Colored pots (I'm inclined to say stick with solid colors) could also add a punch of color.

-The pillows on the couch are not working in that room now...need to change 'em up so they can hold their own with the chair but avoid the feeling that someone just threw up color all over your beautiful brown couch. I would also suggest a pillow for your chair. A white/cream lumbar pillow in a similar texture and color as the rug at the foot of your couch. The benefit of this would be to add a neutral space to the chair and carry that fuzzy texture to the other side of the sitting area. BTW I love that little carpet...sheepskin? Flotilla?

-I would suggest you start looking for new artwork that has some color in it. I don't think the black and white photography is going to work in this room (have another room to put it in?) Black and white drawings would probably work though...color could be added through matting and/or frame color.

-another way to add color would be to hang floor to ceiling sheer colored curtains. It would be like giving your entire room a light colorwash...again I would stay with a solid color.

I wish I could see what colors you may or may not have in the rest of your place...while you are incorporating the chair into your livingroom remember that you are also integrating it into your HOME. I would pull colors out of that fabric that compliment and/or coordinate with the colors of your home.

Thanks if you took the time to wade through this post...didn't realize how long it was until I previewed it.

Good Luck and have fun with your new chair...that chair screams fun:)

While I love how the chair pops against the blank white walls and window corner but in this case, it seems to be popping a little too much against all that neutral that has almost a sedate feel to the space which is counter intuitive of the chair's personality (of which it has in spades), while not a bad thing per se, the disconnect between the two is.

I'm in agreement, spread some of that color around, I'd pick up perhaps the aqua as it goes fabulous with both black and brown or one of the other colors as they all work great w/ your otherwise neutral room.

But to help ease the disconnect, I'd almost suggest toning down the wall behind the chair a tad by going w/ say a very light gray or off white (antique white or linen say), just to take the edge off the white walls to help tone down the popping that's going on now.

I'd replace both rugs with something much larger that defines the ENTIRE seatting area and it can have some color to it to bring the color down to the floor but would also add some pillows and color pottery to help ease some of the color into the rest of the space but is in relation to what's in the chair's fabric.

I'd also either replace the b&w photo's frame with something in a color from the chair or simply go for a piece of art that picks up a color or two within and move that lovely photo to another area where it won't compete against the chair.

Since you have a wild, organic patern on the chair, I'd go with solids or something that is mostly solid, nubly and perhaps has specles within its primary color for texture on the couch in the form of pillows so the couch has something other than smooth and shiny for texture.

Otherwise, what a fantastic chair!

Do a pink beige on the wall to set it back and agree with above about changing your sofa pillows to pick up on colors of your chair. I think the BW art is fine. Maybe another color in the room to balance it out in a throw or a trio of vases.

I like it the way it is. The chair is the star. A brighter piece of art on the wall is probably all you need otherwise you could end up with a room that looks too contrived.

this summer i purchased the orange version of this tray:

http://www.westelm.com/products/e297/?pkey=x%7C4%7C1%7C%7C6%7Ctray%7C%7C0&cm_src=SCH

our tray sits on our coffee table and it would look nice on yours as well. the orange tray would relate to the orange elements in the tray. the large scale format of the tray is great for holding your books, bowls, remotes, etc. this color is no longer available online but i know that my local west elm still has it in stock.

lose the current pillows and have some new ones custom made for you. it's pricier but you'll get a better result.

My favorite all time AT comment had to do with using pops of color to move your eye around the room. Right now, your eye just gets stuck on the chair, but just a few well placed accessories would help move your eye around the room. I second the idea for just some pillows on the couch, a vase or bowl, and maybe some art, but not too much. You want just enough to give your eyes a path to wander around the room.

I definitely wouldn't paint the walls.

If you are not keen on painting the wall I'd suggest that you replace the rugs and use a new rug in a bold colour as your accent (replace both rugs with a single rug to take in whole seating area)

This together with colourful cushions would be fab . I'd suggest a single blocks of coulour to keep it all simple and maintain the air of sophistication.

You can pick rug and cushion colours from the chair.

PS even if yu decide not to change the rugs ...do get rid fo teh little one . I dont think I like the rug on rug look.

If you have more b/w photographs, put them in different colored frames - pink, blue, yellow like in the chair. Some pillows for the couch, a bright green or yellow bowl on the table and maybe a white or pink something (book? sculpture? plant pot?) near the tv will do. I agree with those who say don't paint the walls.

LOVE the chair, I mean: Sasha.

Fantastic chair! These pillows have a similar energetic vibe to your lovely Sasha.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25655989

Emal and pollymagoo have the right idea. You don't need a lot of colour to balance out the chair, just enough to draw the eye away. A single red vase, a teal and red couch cushion, a red candle on the coffee table... all will diffuse the colour impact around the room and make the chair less overwhelming. I use red as an example but you could choose any colour from the chair and run with it.

Leave the rugs, the walls and the curtains alone.

Agree with a lot of the above mentioned; start small. See where it leads you, also, it is the fastest cheapest route.

Personally I have a thing for aquas/teals and oranges, so I'd take the blue tones out of the chair and get solid color pillows and, like some have suggested, re-frame the b/w in a color frame. Then finish off with a larger rug in one of the accent colors.

These are fairly easy things to try out, you could get pieces of materials and papers to look how the colors feel in the space.

Personally, I'd definitely stay away from painting anything or even getting new curtains. To me, that is too much competition for the gorgeous Sasha. I suspect Sasha wants to keep her status as queen of color in the room.

I only like EC's post and comments to get rid of current throw pillows.

My suggestion: get two or three leather pillows in a silver leaf finish for the couch. then you are adding some balance - and the silver finish would a) go with the legs of your tables and b) be totally fun and not clash with the intensity of Sasha-

don't add matching color all over the room- that is what the older generation did- have everything match- the silves pillows however, would add a little edge without competing

What a coincidence.....I also have sexy, curvy legs.

I have wanted a similar chair for a couple of years now but since I am wholeheartedly against declawing my cats, it is just not meant to be.

The silver pillows could look great if mixed in with some that pick up the colors in the chair. I have a black couch with hot pink paisley, raspberry, black and white, and silver lame pillows with one teal one thrown in. It looks awesome and gets me a lot of compliments.

Love that chair! Regarding color, I must agree with those who stated that the eye needs to move around the room. You look at the chair, and gorgeous though she is, your eye is stuck there.
This is probably a dead thread, but does anyone know anything about the sofa in the picture? What is it? Where is it from?