apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love that sofa! I love that dog!


I'd get an upholstered storage ottoman even tho you said you don't want that kind of thing. I have a greyhound and mine sleeps ON ours sometimes (if that's where the light is falling). I think something in the middle of the room is needed.

I'd get heavier drapes.

And is that an example of the print you have? Pretty! Any framer will help you -- I need to see things in combo on a framers table to really know. Or I go to Ikea and use their frames.

Hi Katie. Congrats, new stuff is always fun.

How about changing the neutral three small couch pillows for perhaps two in the greenish brown family, to help pull in your room's other themes?

Also, consider an ottoman or pouf as a coffee table. They're typically smaller than a regular coffee table and your pooch will appreciate the soft edges if he likes to lean up against things while he naps.

Good luck.

Start with some new window treatments. The curtains there now are too whispy and small. You need something substantial. That and a rug can give you the paint-free color boost you're looking for.

Your couch (ultra-comfy looking!) reminds me of a fancy English gentleman's club, so I'd go for that type of color scheme, only updated. Maybe chocolate brown (opaque) drapes and a red rug?

You'll go crazy if you don't have something coffee-table-like. (I once lived with an antiques collector who wouldn't have a coffee table in the house because they were "too 20th century." Guests used to set their drinks down directly on the floor. Ugh.) Is it too gentleman's club themepark-y if I suggest a small rolling trolley?

Unless you never bring drinks and dessert into the living room, you need a coffee table. I speak as someone who doesn't have one and knows this the hard way.

You probably just spent a bundle on those curtains... but they're too light and frothy for the rest of your furniture. I'd go with something weightier in your neutral beige/white.

It looks as if you've started off framing things in very tailored black frames. I'd keep the shape for the rest of your art but consult with your framer on whether to go dark brown or even a dark beige or silver/nickel for the larger pieces so the frame doesn't overpower them.

This room isn't crying out to me for vibrant color. Rental-white walls and carpet tend to fight major color statements, and you've gone with a formal look. I like the idea of whimsical art in a variety of muted tones, so the overall look from a distance is soothing and elegant, but then people look closely and are wowed with something amusing.

Hi, Katie. Great purchases.
A placement thought...the couch looks a little cramped where it is. Have you thought about switching it with the TV stand? That wall looks longer...plus that way, you'll see the couch rather than the TV when you enter the room (I think you enter around that short wall, right?)
Also, agree with everyone else re windows and rug. I think you need something stronger re windows. Maybe grommet-top floor to ceiling? Try your strong green there. And mount from wall to the bookshelf edge--that way, when you push them aside, you get more light. Also think it would look good.
If that lovely print is large, you might try it over the couch, by the way. The rectangle could compliment it quite nicely.
Have fun!

try and go with nice stuff that isn't boring and makes the room welcoming and warm. :)

You are totally on the right track. Lovely sofa, cute print. For the coffee table, why don't you get two little tables that you keep about a foot and 1/2 apart? That way they are easy to walk around, plus if you ever entertain you can move them where ever you like.
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=3842&viewall=1

I definitely agree with the others about weightier drapes.
As well as adding a large rug. Don't worry about putting a rug on carpet, interior designers do it all the time...

Well, sometimes an extra vote helps, so I'll just say I agree about the sofa/tv swap and the drapes. Also, I can understand why you don't want a big coffee table but you need SOMETHING. Two small sturdy tables would work well for you because they can also double as additional seating if you keep that in mind when you're looking. Also, if you end up rearranging for a more formal look somewhere else, they are versatile enough to become end tables or even bedside tables.

swap the tv and sofa as suggested. get a big coffee table, and an interesting unifying piece of sculpture by the window. Clear off most of what is on those shelves. Lamps off the TV stand. They are just too big. A single floor lamp would be be better. Is that a turntable? Do you need it? A comfy chair in a darker fabric, like red. Flowers in a vase on the big coffee table.

where is the awesome couch from?

I agree that putting too many bright colors in will just highlight the fact that you wish you could paint your walls but can't. Some dark brown would be nice, though - maybe in a padded ottoman or poof. And, pick one other color. YOu could even keep the turquise drapes as sheers under a more neutral, heavier curtain.

One more vote for a couch/tv stand switch, new drapes, and using two small tables as a coffee table - you need something.

Does the sofa HAVE to be up against one of the walls? What's the view out the window? Is there a deck out there? How about making the window your focal point? Is there room to place the sofa perpendicular to the long wall facing that nice big window?

I agree with previous posts: move the TV stand to the opposite, shorter wall and use another layer of heavier drapes. The lamps on the TV stand can sit on the ends of a console behind the sofa. That way, you get reading light while seated on the sofa and can perch in the corner of the sofa with feet up on the cushions to watch TV. A sofa table also gives you a convenient spot to set a drink/book/flowers/plant on, and helps define this area from the rest of the room.

This not only leaves the center area open for Rover, but the corner near the window is freed up for a stack of floor cushions/dog bed/chair & ottoman at an angle, which you can pull into the center when you need that surface.

Whatever you do, enjoy the process!

Hi Katie,
First of all congratulations to you.............
Well regarding the coffee table you can place a folding coffee table in between the TV chest and the couch.
You can visit the following link to have a look at these coffee table :

http://www.globalartinteriors.com/white_folding_table.htm
http://www.globalartinteriors.com/folding_table_legs.htm
http://www.globalartinteriors.com/folding_tables_for_sale.htm

We will also give you Christmas festival discount on these products and other products too if you order us before 25th of December, 2007

Regards
Iverrson

Hey Katie, like other posters I believe that you space screams for a pouf, ottoman, or coffee table. A pouf or ottoman are easily moved out of the way for the 80lber - he looks like he's comfy by the doors. Framed colourful posters or painting and a few colourful pillows on that divine sofa will remove the sterility of apt white.

That said, I love, love, love your tv stand! where did you get it? do tell...

Wow, thanks for the responses! This is fantastic. To start off, here are all of the prints that i have started to aquire, and have no attachment to putting certain ones in my living room. Even if you have an idea for only one, and think the rest should go somewhere else, that's fine:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mewantelfears/Art4Framing?authkey=Afl-lfD7LlM

Where to begin? That trolley idea is genius!!!!

I also completely agree with the heavy drapes and ottoman/pouf/small coffee table idea. The more i think about it, the more I definitely want something there. I just don't want it to be huge, as much as i want it to look good, i do need to keep the dog in mind. The ottoman sounds more relaxing, but I'll probably end up going with some type of table(s), because not having anything to rest drinks or objects on is DRIVING ME NUTS! I really like the idea of the double smaller tables. That's really neat.

Also, that other wall is longer. It isn't the wall you see when you come in though. Do you think that's a problem? Eventually i'll have a flat screen (one of these days), so seeing a tv stand when walking in at first wouldn't be so bad, would it?

As for the black frames that are already there, those were prints from college dorm days. I don't want them staying there. If you have any suggestions for the book case in general, please suggest away. I don't like the state it is in, currently. Usbek, you say to clear off most of it. Just leave most of it empty? I'll try. I'm so bad at clutter. I would love to clear all of it off and start new...but what to put?

Usbek, i'm not sure what you're mistaking for a turntable. I keep trying to figure it out!

Greenbean: I got the couch at a floor model sale at Robb & Stucky. I believe the model is discontinued, but they've always got fantastic furniture of this ilk. It can be rediculously expensive, so hit them up on their sales and you'll get an extremely well made piece of furniture for a steal.

Bklyn: I would love to get the couch off of the wall, but it is too long for the room. Id have to suck in my stomach and squeeze by it to get to the other side. It is a fantastic idea though, and i think i'd love to go with that when i move to a place with a bigger room.

Coco: Thanks! I got the tv stand at american signature. Theyre still selling it! I tried to find it online, but i don't think it is on there. It is definitely still a brand new piece they are selling at the store.

Thank you all so much for your input! I am soaking it all in, and i think it'll turn out great.

A little late, but...

Have you considered a glass coffee table? We have one and have put it atop an amazing and colourful rug. It basically disappears -- it gives space for stuff (drinks, food, etc.) without detracting from the openness of the room. It's a little less 'welcome to your Delta Airlines flight' than a tray on castors, but it also hides away quite easily. It is basically who L-shaped glass stands and one big glass top. We hide the top behind our piano when we want to open up the living room space a bit or when we have our Dance Dance Revolution mats out :)

or rock band drums!