apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love your coffee table! I agree that a rug would do wonders. Also wondering if you are allowed to paint? A pale blue would be really pretty. Can't see the rest of the space, but what if you pulled the sofa away from the window wall and moved the chair to face the sofa (where the tall plant is now)? If you went with the blue walls, some icy sheers would be really pretty. For an accent color I think a bright green would work great and play off the plants/natural thing you already have. Good luck!

A large piece of artwork above the couch would be a good start. Also, part of what makes a space 'alive' to me are its personal touches - this feels like a showroom in that there aren't any books or knick knacks, or pictures or things like that...

If you can't hang anything major, try leaning a large mirror where it might reflect some of the natural light. I agree with Andrea about the blue as it might lend itself to a more open feeling. If no painting is possible, just a colorful rug would be great...be bold! I have seen a 'rug' made of carpet samples here on AT...that might be nice, too.

The room seems to be very focused on the TV -- maybe move that arm chair to the right side of the room to give yourself a more conversation-friendly arrangement?

There's a little too much of the same tones, I think. Once you decide on a color scheme, perhaps switch out the lamp shade and accent pillows for something more interesting and colorful, something that coordinates with your rug, art, etc.

I agree with Khakigrl that the room is very TV focused. Is there a way to rearrange the furniture so that it doesn't look like seating vs. the TV and instead has a conversation area?

What about some new lighting -- interesting hanging lamps of some sort?

I guess my instinct here is that once you decide on the colors you'd like to use, it won't be too hard to work on finding a rug, artwork, and accent pieces to match.

But you do have some great things going for you -- good basic furniture, great plants, a lovely coffee table. Good luck, Eric!

Eric you need the first Apartment Therapy book (or if you have it, do the "find my style" section. It really is excellent and I am not working for AT!

Add some yellow; looks great with grey. May a splash of green or orange too. Orange lamp? Yellow chair?

Thanks for the great comments guys, does anybody have any specific recommendations for artwork behind the couch or for a specific rug?

AndreaU- do you think i should paint one wall or all of them/ what color blue? Also, what are icy sheers?

Im thinking about putting an arco lamp in the corner where the couch meets the window, any comments regarding that?

I think Icy Bay and Rain Drop from Behr are really pretty...or something in that general family. You would want to see how it all works with the lighting and all that. And when I said icy sheers I just meant like a SUPER pale blue (icy blue) or white sheers to accentuate the light coming in the windows like these from Pottery Barn:

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p10011/index.cfm?pkey=cprwwinshr

http://www.behr.com/behrx/workbook/index.jsp

I want to see pics of this when you are done! I agree with everyone that you have a good thing going so far :-)

You have some great pieces! I think decorating with neutral colors is more challenging than picking an accent color. Since you're already on that path, I would only add color through artwork- something big and bold- maybe digital since you have the tv on the opposite wall- http://www.modernmural.com/ has some nice stuff. That coffee table is way too nice to compete (visually) with a busy rug, so I'd go with something light and plain- maybe flor carpet tiles.

Did you see the maxwell rug when you picked up those pillows at C&B? Maybe that would have been to matchy? And too much with the coffee table....that I'm still drooling over:)

I think an arc lamp will be good in that corner and I'd go with crisp tailored linen drapes- pinch pleat or on rings.

I don't find the room drab so much as oppressive. The TV looms over the whole space -- the sofa is crouched in submission before it. That vibe needs to change. Adding color is a start, but I think you really need some furniture rearranging, too.

I'd move the sofa away from the window wall to get some energy circulating back there-- and easier access to look outside! Sheer white linen floor length curtains would add some brightness and some movement, too. (also makes more room for an arco lamp.

Then I'd put down a big cowhide rug to soften all the hard rectilinear lines. And I'd move that fancy DWR recliner to the opposite corner and have it face the center of the room (and thus the sofa) on an angle so you encourage someone to sit there and have a conversation with another someone on the sofa. The room would be much better balanced.

Then toss down some throw pillows in a bold curvy graphic pattern on both sofa and recliner.

Ideally, I'd knock that TV down a few feet. It strains your eyes and your neck to gaze up at a TV. Ask anyone who works at a physical therapists office.

Rearranging the furniture like this means that you can't use your recliner as a TV watching spot. But with a giant sofa like that, maybe you won't miss it.

So here is a question regarding the sheers which everybody(myself included) thinks i should get- do i frame each window with 2 sets of drapes or do i do one big rod that extends over both windows?

212gretchen- the tv is a little high but its actually angled downward so its not so bad. Also i know moving the recliner to the corner will look better visually but then what will I sit on to relax and watch tv!!?

Ken- thanks for that site they have some really cool stuff; does anybody else have any ideas of where i can some large size art?

What you need more than anything else is to have a seating arrangement where people can sit and look across at each other. I'd think about buying a pair of chairs. Right now, the furniture placement is antisocial; that's why it feels wrong.

For big art, the best place to look is Jen Bekman's 20x200:
http://www.20x200.com/

Oh. Or move the chair you have to the other side of the room. Unless you really need that many seats facing the TV.

I've probably recommended this before on another post but have a look at Coupralux Fine Art Services in Dallas. They can size it to whatever dimensions you specify.

http://www.coupralux.com/

I usually order things from them printed on watercolor paper because I like the texture and how it renders both artwork and photography. They'll also send you a disc or you can use a ftp site then get it printed locally if you prefer.

Also, if you're in New York, the photo festival is this weekend in DUMBO; there will be a lot of cool photography there!

http://www.nyphotofestival.com/

And you definitely need a rug! Browse overstock.com; they seem to have pretty good prices & you can refine your search with "blue" or whatever color you're into.

I have a feeling those two things will go a long way in balancing the room.

FWIW I'm not opposed to keeping your window treatments simple, I kinda like them as-is but if you're looking to add something, I've think these would be great with what you've got going on there (in natural):

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODr379&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1RUGWIN&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1RUGWIN

Install the rod near the ceiling & let them fall all the way to the floor. Good luck - you've done very well so far!

Anything is better than nothing. If you've lived there over a year, think of how much you would have enjoyed ANY curtains better than none....

I've done this too many times in the past ("Well, it's only a rental, so why make improvements?") and it's always been a big mistake. Learned from those experiences and now think it's better to just spend a bit of money on feeling good about where I live than to wait until the ideal or cheapest whatever comes along.

That said, buy some trendy interiors magazines (I like Domino and Dwell) and see what others are doing. You'll be inspired.

Jeez, im embarrassed to say that its a condo and its mine now!

For the curtains, how close tot he ceiling should they go, right above the windows or almost at the ceiling? Should i install one bar that goes across both or 2, one over each window?

I tend to place my curtain rails/rodds almost at ceiling level (provided the windows are the 'right' kind, this tends to make spaces feel taller). And get curtains that don't hang above the floor. At a minimum, it must touch, if not pool a little bit at floor level.

As to 1 continuous pole vs. 2 separate ones - comes down to personal preference maybe? Tempting for me to use a single rod here too as this (like the height illusions) can help make the room look wider. If you go with 2 sets of rods instead of one, then possibly, you have the freedom to make those 2 curtains into a focal point for the room (since you were looking to introduce some colour and texture to the room).

You have some really great pieces but I think what you are lacking is texture. There are several elements where this can be achieved-the rug, a throw and pillows and the walls. If you don't want to paint wall decals are always in interesting option. (see links)

http://shop.feelmorehuman.com/p-759-braille-wallflats.aspx

http://www.fermlivingshop.us/stickers/powerpole.html

Rust and deep orange would look great with this color scheme and would really show off that amazing table...a vintage coffee table book perhaps?

i think everyone has made some great suggestions, so i just have to ask... eric, where did you get that coffee table? love it!

the table is from environment furniture (www.environment-furniture.com) they have a store n union square, all eh products are reclaimed so that makes them even cooler.

James, i like the braille, i actually have a Parisian lamp decal on another wall.

I'm planning on painting the wall behind the couch a blue/gray. I'm also going to install sheers over the windows. I'm still looking for a rug and painting but im leaning toward a moroccan themed rung, i like on i saw at Jonathan Adler. Please keep the comments coming, its giving me a lot of good ideas.

sweet , how do i order from coupralux?