apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Hmm...

One thing I would do is get some super bright, very "punchy" pillows for that rocker. You want to keep it, and it's a great, neutral color to work with. Since you like the orange, you could go with that for the pillows - one, maybe two of them but no more than that.

Actually, for a side table I was going to suggest something "un" matching. ;) How about a gold-toned table? You could easily pick up a cheap table at Goodwill or such in a shape that you like, and paint it in a greenish/gold shade or similar. Not only would it offset the wood on the rocker, but it would match with a coffee/mocha scheme if you're painting the walls. And about those walls...

Instead of painting one of them, maybe you could consider a very large painting in the shades you want. You'll kill two birds with one stone: one, you don't have to paint the wall back when you move out, and two, adding a large wall painting will give some added depth not only to the wall, but to the corner itself.

In fact, just this weekend I saw a budget conscious decorator on HGTV take a blank canvas and paint it himself. Nothing fancy, either - just some paint in the shades he wanted, darker paint on the bottom blending into lighter on the top. Very simple, very cheap, yet very effective.

Another thing you could do (sorry, not meaning to make this so long...) is keep a small table (I'm thinking round?) with one lamp on top, and then on the wall behind the chair (the right wall if you're facing the photo), add a very small bookshelf.

The possibilities are endless, and I hope you'll come back with a finished photo!

Edit: Whoops, meant to add this to the prior post after looking at the photo one more time...

I would actually stay away from a coffee/milk wall color, if only because it may end up sucking in the color of the chair. Think bright and punch again - use the wall to put things on it that reflect the accent color - orange in your case, or similar. An orange painting. Some colorful plates hung with orange ribbon. A couple of floating shelves with maybe a small vase holding orange flowers. Since your walls are white and the rocker is neutral, the accent color is where you really get to shine!

A couple of suggestions;

A foot rest - you can always find great ones at tag sales and thrift shops.

A choice of a book case or bigger artwork on the walls. The two pictures on the wall seem puny and high. Something with more substance will draw you into the space. Adding more books to the space is also a natural addition.

Happy reading!!

what about a little rug or as was mentioned above, a footstool. I would get rid of that lamp, or at the very least, the shade, and again, agreeinh with the above, get rid of those little poster thingies. I would put a nice family (?) photo in a heavy frame there.

and hang said framed photo *much* lower.

I agree with the footstool idea and the round table with lamp idea. What if you moved the print that is over the lamp to the other wall. Also would like to see both prints in matted frames for an extra kick. Then on the lamp wall add a bookshelf with some favorites. I also keep a small basket next to my reading chair with a notebook and paper for jotting things down.

I'd consider a folding screen of some sort (perhaps the Pier 1 dark brown one that looks like plantation shutters) up against the wall in the corner to kind of define that without having to paint.

Also, I'd consider finding sort of a pie-slice-shaped quarte circle rug for that corner to define it a little, but probably only if you're going to do something with circles or such elsewhere in the room.

I agree with the above. If you like those pics, maybe frame and mat them... so they just take a little more space. Hang the middle of the pic so it sits at around 57 inches. (It will feel low as you are putting in the hooks, but it will look so much more modern!). A foot stool is nice and a throw blanket is great for lounging around. Maybe a small shelf (like west elm's chunky wall shelf) on both walls... will unite the corner, it's a place to put a drink and your pics.

wow! THANK YOU everybody for great suggestions! Keep them coming!
I just read it and went to re-arrange things - just put what I had in hand at the moment :)
I do have a footrest - just added it. I didn't do it before as I felt it would be on a way pretty much all the time. Maybe I should use it as a table and just add little all-wood foot rest?

Those "posters" are not posters, those are books :) I kind of like the idea, so I just re-hanged them. What do you guys think?

Here is a more broad picture of that part of the room in the morning light.

oops, here are links!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k197/Masik_Kolbasik/IMG_1940.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k197/Masik_Kolbasik/IMG_1945.jpg

much better :-)