apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

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I agree about another darkish color. What about a sage green? It would look good with the wall color, and would add some color interest.

Love the subtle accent wall.

How about just a lighter neutral like a tan or an off white? Then you can add color to the room with things like rugs, art, curtains, pillows, etc. that are easier to change when you feel like it.

Good luck!

I think WALNUT velvet would be great for a sofa. But you definitely need a rug. ;)

Sometimes sticking to a limited color palette is a good way to go (requires discipline and a little nerve). But when I look through magazines - sometimes those spaces with limited palettes are my favorites.

blue. Cool blues, not violet blues.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=931&f=14822

The color and stripes on your walls are nauseating. Everything else is nice and a brown velvet sofa will work if you paint the walls a light shade in the blue/green family. Then find a rug that pulls the brown/black/blue/green together with a splash of yellow to compliment the floor and cabinetry.

I think you husband might have been right to veto the red sofa. As beautiful as red sofa might have been, when making a purchase as substantial as a sofa it's better to go with something neutral so you won't get tired of it. you can always bring red in with a rug, pillows, or window treatments.

I am in total agreement on the neutral sofa idea.... however, I'm here to try and dissuade you from the r&b metro sofa.

I purchased one less than a year ago, mostly out of necessity because it is all that would fit through my prewar tiny door frame. It has worn HORRIBLY- the cushions are flattened out even after constant rotation, the fabric looks old, and i just really really hate it. I would hate for someone else to make that mistake.

Off topic, but the rug under your dining room table is too small. The table looks cramped on it.

As for couch color, I'd also recommend a lighter neutral. Light to balance the black a bit, neutral so it wears well. I bought a light cream couch and a red couch once (for different rooms) and the cream couch has stuck with me through the years.

I would say go for something neutral and then bold pillows/rugs/art/throws. That way you can change it around without a huge committment.

I agree with alyrae about sage green. My boyfriend & I had the same problem where we had lots of brown/black furniture, not much color, and I just found a sage sectional as a second couch (first one's black). It adds a bit of color without being dramatic...

I agree with melissagbl on a blue shade. Maybe a pale blue/grey shade? It would still read as somewhat of a neutral, but would add that touch of colour you seem to be wishing for.

Beautiful living space by the way, I love the layout!

I'll put in a good word for the Metro sofa. I bought one about a year ago and I think it's awesome. Ours gets heavy, heavy use from 2 people and a dog and still looks brand new with an occasional simple cushion fluff/rotation.

I would suggest a white or off-white, either that or a dark brown paired with a really light area rug.

Taupe, for the color of a sofa. Style, your choice. Definitely a wonderful rug and throw pillows for color punch.

I'm with those voting for the neutral sofa.

http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=10966

I would steer clear of using your sofa as your color statement piece. It's too big a commitment, and will limit how or how easily you can change your look later.

Get your color from paint, art, accessories, even an upholstered chair or two.

And I loves me some dark brown velvet, but BOY does dark velvet collect dust and lint. I'd vote for a mid-tone. Otherwise, get a GOOD lint brush! :)

But also, keep in mind, that matching your sofa color to the wall also turns your wall color into a neutral of sorts (are you out there, Alana!?) and will diminsh the mass of the largest non-piano piece of furniture in your room (in a good way). So maybe a bright wheat or clean gold is the way to go here.

But I also think you have room for a smoky blue-gray here, too. I'd do a wheat velvet color for the sofa, and smoky blue for side chairs and maybe also window panels, although a tonal stripe like the wall could be gorgeous.

The train ride to Philly is a short one...

PS: Dark or black is what you should be considering for your coffee table, though.

And my new favorite piece is the Crate & Barrel Empire Mirror... http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1430&f=24254&q=mirror&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=3
A suitable companion to any gorgeous piano.

I'd do a sculptural upholstered (maybe slipper) chair as part of your grouping, something with a drop-dead back.

Or Mitchell Gold's oval upholstered Paige ottoman:
http://mitchellgold.com/paige_ott.asp
and pair that with a chair with some wood framing but mostly upholstered.

Hi Patrick (2)! I'm here.

Matching the sofa colour to the wall colour makes the wall colour neutral? How does that work? Is it the sheer mass of the same colour?

Wheat sounds wonderful to me.

I have an olive-green sofa and I find it difficult to work with. (Truth be told I chose the wrong fabric. The colour was fine on a tiny swatch, but magnified on the couch it turned fugly. In velvet it would have been perfect. Fabric on a couch is like paint on the walls. Once it starts reflecting back on itself you have to love what's happening!).

When looking at swatches, please DO look at the largest you can get. And if it isn't at least a foot square, look somewhere else.

I wish it were a short train ride to me, P(2).

I'm with P2, great suggestions. A smoky blue-gray chair and matching curtains would look great. You need a chair, too. Otherwise, that sofa is just going to look like audience seating for the pianist. I'd get a rug too, at least large enough for the front feet of the sofa/chairs to sit on. Looks like you're going to have to float that chair in the middle of the room, though.

I don't think the dining room area rug is too small. I think the problem is the light neutral/black border. The border shrinks the rug, and you have enough dark straight lines going on there with the furniture. I'd choose something slightly darker overall, and with pattern (to hide crumbs/stains).

Neutral is good for the sofa - once you get some lighting and artwork in there, and punch things up a bit with accessories (think not just color but sparkle, with glass/shiny surfaces), you'll be glad you didn't make a bold statment with the sofa.

Green...shades of green. Sofa something soft and subtle the chairs get boulder if you want. But I say GREEN.

If you truly like neutrals as much as your apartment suggests, repeat your wall beige on the sofa,* but choose a sofa style that is friendly to large amounts of tailored accent pillows. You want your accent pillows to incorporate your dark color (black or dark brown -- I can't tell from the photos) plus whatever bold color appeals to you at the moment. Divide your pillows roughly 1/2 patterned this way, 1/8 solid dark, and 3/8 solid bright. Then pick up the bright elsewhere in the room with accessories and art.

*Scrolling up, I see p(too) is on this train, too.

My vote is a crisp white, beige, or rich brown almost chocolate color. Best of luck.

Eight pillows Wende?

Good grief, mine is definitely underpillowed!

I think a sofa in a nice muted green tea or milky pale jade would look lovely. Or even a robin's egg blue. Something vintage modern- either 1930s or mid century style, possibly asian influenced. You also need some more rugs on that floor, especially to help with the acoustics (otherwise the sound of the piano in the room will be much too wet).

I think a palette of pale robin's egg blues, milky jade, green tea and celeries would work well with the woodwork and balance out the antique yellow quite well. You could accent with reds, or magenta or even bright orange or coral.

PS I'm completely in agreement with melissagbl on the shade of robin's egg blue/pale teal and the crate and barrel type sofa. Gorgeous! Very modern, very neo-zen. I've just painted my bedroom a pale celery color with a lot of yellow in it, and purchased a silk robin's egg quilt. So calming and beautiful!