I like the painting of the little white pony in the first photo.

i don't know about other things but yes, i do too like the first picture arrangement.

ooh! loved the before, but think the 'after' is even better, plus it's more functional. win!

After. Although I did like the circular op art piece above the music chest!

Love the change, but I think the first photo was a little more "spring!". Probably from the dash of aqua.

I don't really like the desk chair, it's drawing my eye over when I would prefer to look at the art or the more interesting counter height chair. But overall it is better.

after

I like the "before" visually but it seems the changes you have made have added more functionality to the space.

I didn't think the before art wall was childish, I liked it. There was a bit more color.

In the before picture, I like the sheepskin draped over the chair. I have a white mass market modern wood chair with castors with an older black desk with a hollywood regency feeling, been looking for something to put on the chair to make it tie in with the desk better. Thanks for the great idea.

I like the look of both arrangements, but the second seems much more practical for closet access, yeah.

"ethnic?"

The first is a far better design solution. It's more elegant as well.

The second one sticks a bad chair choice compared to the first, and the desk instead of the side piece makes it look like it's a cheap apartment close to campus, as in way to cluttered...I shouldn't give away this desk granny gave me. Cmon.

And I think a large poster, properly framed, would look one heck of a lot better than badly matched undersized pieces of art. Are you going for cool or drool?

Play nice people.

Your "after" chair is much more original. How many people have a white Eames rocker with a skinskin rug on it? One person less! Good for you!

Really dig the new layout.

Definitely like the after... and I really like that writing desk!

I have the very same office chair but in its original bright orange glory. Thanks for giving me a push to reupholster. :)

I like them both, but I don't like the pattern of the desk chair. I agree with realknitfreak, that it's drawing my eye to it when I should be looking at the art. Other than that, I say well done!

I really love that print/fabric over the desk, anyone know where it's from?

The second picture because the accessible door and the desk seem more practical. Where is the white pony? You can send that to me.

love both the new chairs.

for sure the after. this space looks so much more functional that before. i also love the mix of the patterns (chair and rug)

I like before and after.

Did you reupholster the office chair by the desk? I'm thinking about doing this, but not sure how it would look. I like yours a lot.

I agree that they are both nice but I prefer the after - I like all the tones of gray that have been introduced (art on both walls, rug, desk chair). It feels more sophisticated. The barstool and the desk are super cool.

I love the stool (where did it come from?), but it doesn't seem like it would be comfortable there. The chair in front of the door in the first arrangment is weird. It's a tie.

After. I like the darker colors (and love the desk).

Both are nice, but I prefer the before. It feels a bit more “quiet” and unified.

The after feels a tad busy and the objects don’t mesh as well. Clearing the doorway is an improvement.

---Is that an Umanoff counter stool? It seems odd to have a counter stool without a counter.
---The amate painting over the desk is fighting with the desk chair upholstery. With the desk contents exposed, it feels like too much stuff (it really isn’t too much stuff, but relative to the ‘before’ it feels like it).

I like the after picture and arrangement. As you said, "in a year..." :) In a corner like this, you have the ability to change things up as you change. Do what makes you feel your most best comfortable self :D

first!

the after is so much better. more functional, refined. nice job!

I like both! I think that the after is certainly more functional and probably serves your family needs better. Love the desk.

I think the stool is a fun bonus chair idea and takes up a smaller footprint. I like having a perch because I am tall - so it is not out of place in my mind at all. Very functional and still fun.

I disagree about childish colors - but I have love affairs with various palates. Both before and after seem interesting to me and show a lot of personality. I also just moved in to a home and am trying to pull together a few eclectic fun things for a larger wallspace - you have given me good ideas!

I like the second! Where did you get that cabinet for your record player? I have been looking for something like that.

After, minus the barstool; I don't care if everyone has the Eames chair. They have it for a reason, bring it back.

i like the before...but whatever works best for your space. they're both cute!

after

Much better! It's never good feng shui to put anything in front of a doorway...and now you have a place to write a note or pay bills.

The second art wall seems more balanced. in both color and shape. ( I'm surethe pretty pony was moved to a place of honor.) The rug looks good but I would always get it bunched up when I rolled the chair back. Is this not a problem for you?

Nice!
The first thing I noticed about the Before was the chair in front of the door. I think it looks awkward and unlivable to have furniture impeding doors, so the little chair to the left in the After feels much more usable and effective to me. How handy to have it there for shoe on/offing!

Also like the swap of the desk for the music cabinet for much the same reason. Practical and pretty, like the space is fully usable rather than staged with placeholder/oddment furniture.

The rug adds a cozy element to relieve the bareness, and brings the flow of art down to floor level.

I like the idea of evolving art displays. I seldom find likeable large pieces of art (though I like both your above-cabinet and above-desk choices), instead finding lots of little bits that call to me.

I like office chairs with their own look. Your pattern is fun. Though I admit when allysonrae mentioned hers in its original orange glory, I thought how great that would look with your art!

i'm with apartmentzombie. "ethnic" is a meaningless term at best. i really wish design communities would lay it to rest.

In many ways I preferred "before," but I was unnerved by the possible danger of using your stereo and taking things out of the closet at the same time. So I'm glad you moved it, and hope you've put it somewhere that attracts less traffic. (How great to see a stereo at all, though!)

after! the before picture is almost textbook "hip" which is pretty close to being boring. much more interesting now.

I like the second. Try taking the chair away and take another photo. You might find you like it better without the chair and the whole focus would be on you fabulous art.

I like the after, in large part because I like how the dark wood furniture contrasts with the white walls. Love the counter height chair by the way.

I like the after. The darker wood tones in the furniture really pops against the floor which is better than the bland looking cabinet under the turntable. The reduction in quantity of art looks better, in the before it went too low and there was a bit too much. (That said, did you mean to leave that little picture next to the stool's back? It's so low and lonely, looks like it got overlooked rather than left apurpose. Maybe you could move it up if you want to keep it over there?) And I'm SO GLAD you moved the chair from in front of the door. It is annoying to move something each time you do it, even if you're only annoying yourself a few times a year why do it even that much? But, do you really want the stool? Seems like everyone who has one of those rockers would like to make-out with it. How come you can't put the rocker back, where the stool is, but scooch it out a bit for proper rocking?

Lastly, I echo Apartmentzombie: "ethnic?" That's a fleur de lis print on that rug, isn't it?

After! :) Very cute!

The after is better, more functional and thought-out. The office chair and desk are cute. The art arrangement looks better and I liked the wood and grey tones.

I liked the mix of modern and vintage of the BEFORE and the colours. The AFTER is 100% vintage and gray, the chair would benefit from reupholstering and you could bring back some of that colourful art.

The artwork arrangement was much stronger "Before", especially the horse painting. In the "After", there is only one piece which draws your eye in, and nothing to keep it moving around.

Otherwise, the "After" is better. (Although I think that the rug, seat upholstery and artwork above are a bit too "matchy")

Both of them are really nice, so if the After is more functional, then AFTER. (I hate having to move furniture around to get to stuff, even it I only have to do it sometimes).

One thing though, I like the BEFORE picture arrangement much better. I guess you had to move things around to accommodate the height of the AFTER stool, but the horse picture w the aqua background gave a real vibrancy to the arrangement. Maybe you can bring it back. Actually after looking at it again, I think you should bring the entire BEFORE picture arrangement back -- it's fuller and more lively. Maybe you could just remove the one mirror that is hanging low on the left that would be blocked by the stool, but I think the rest can still work. But it's a really nice and cozy corner.

Okay, home owner here! :) (Well, apartment renter) I'm not 100% satisfied with the art arrangement, and as someone mentinoed, I personally believe a large piece would work better in this corner. But I've yet to find something that fits the bill as well as our own personal taste.

As far as the sources for everything, everything is all thrifted except for the "ethnic" (sorry guys, anyone have a better description?) rug which was purchased at UO a couple of years ago.

I do have a little problem every once in a while with the rug rippling when I roll the chair, but the rug is pretty sturdy and stuff, so it doesn't happen too often. Plus I have a backer on it that keeps it snug against the wood floor.

All of the art from the "before" image is still in my home, I just put them in more prominent places. This corner is so rarely used, that it seemed too bright to have all of that art in the corner, distracting from more important areas of the great room. I'm panning on doing a house tour soon, so you all can see what it looks like with everything all coming together! :)

If you have no further use for the (drop dead gorgeous) white rocking (yeah, it sure is rocking! :)) chair in the "before" picture ....

Both nice, but I pick "after"! Love the desk, and the new art over the desk. Both chairs are nice, and I like the new art arrangement (though the old one was fine too). The rocker wasn't doing much for me in that spot (like it better when it can contrast against a darker wall color, or otherwise is more integrated into a room), and I prefer not to see furniture in front of doors in general.

First, I'll say that both arrangements are well balanced, undeserving of criticism. So my reply is solely a matter of personal preference: before, because it is more colourful, uses fewer, larger pieces, and because I love the circles print above the turntable. Also, the barstool in the "after" looks excruciatingly uncomfortable.

Both arrangements are nice. You make a good point. You have to live in a space for a while to really figure out what your needs are. You obviously have a good eye. I miss the op art picture.