Eryn’s Design Dilemma
When Eryn asked for our help with her big red living room, we grabbed our laptop and our paint decks and got right down to business. Here’s her letter:
Help! I’m looking for design advice on my blood red living room (I hate the wall color and would love a new one). I really like glamorous with some traditional items, but with a twist. I like things modern, yet elegant. I really love the way you did your house and I love chandeliers and mirrors, and love your framed monograms. I really like a lot of the luxe, modern rooms they feature in Domino. We are starting from scratch (the furniture shown below is the seller’s) so the only thing that we have for the room is my Pottery Barn coffee table. I also have some black and white art that I’ve collected over the years that I could put in the room. We are on a budget for this room, but are willing to splurge (a little- for example we love Pottery Barn) if we find items we really like. I really like neutral, muted colors. I like creme, LOVE the new grey wall colors, very light green, light greyish-blue, etc. I don’t like bright colors and hate purple, and I usually stay away from stripes, paisley, plaid, circles, etc. Thank you so much for your help. I’m really looking forward to moving into our first home and having a new fresh, fun living room! – Eryn
Those windows! That airy glass door! Those floors! This room is primed for a major makeover. Here’s the plan:
And now for the mood board breakdown.
1. Our color scheme will be filled with the neutrals and muted gray tones that Eryn loves. A pale gray-green on the walls will add serene style in a flash (after a good coat of primer of course) and we think Glidden’s Enchanting Land is the perfect soft and soothing greeny-gray tone. Then we’ll add some handsome dark wood furnishings and some soft cream accents for a room that’s traditional, glam and so much more.
2. Eryn requested a twist when it came to the space, and we think this faux-bois pendant (on sale for $49!) will immediately add elegant style and serious drama to the space (in place of the fan). Of course if the fan must stay for cooling reasons we’re all for it. Just thought we’d toss out a stunning little ceiling option should the fan be on its way out. Oversized pendants are the new black these days – especially in living areas.
3. Forgive us for getting ahead of ourselves. We noticed there was a little entry area and we’d love to add something that says “fabulous” from the moment Eryn walks through the door. We’d love to see this chic little umbrella stand near the entryway along with a few more hearstopping pieces…
4. Like this fabulous and glammy capiz mirror from West Elm to be hung centered on the wall to the right of the door. It’ll reflect light all around the room and a mirror near the door is always a good idea (for one last spinach-in-the-teeth-check before you’re out the door).
5. Then under the mirror we thought this fabulous demilune table (for just $109.99) would be a great place to drop keys and mail when Eryn steps inside. We have our doubts as to whether this piece will fit here or not. But fret not if it doesn’t, we have an alternate place for it up our sleeves.
6. Now when it comes to the furniture arrangement, we’ll need a few side tables, and atop those tables we’d love to see these traditional yet oh-so-glamorous lamps (on sale for over $100 off each!). The metallic shine will bounce around a lot more light and really set the stage for a welcoming and open space to relax. And they’re definite statement makers… just wait for those complements to come a-rollin’ in.
7. And speaking of side tables, here they are. We can personally attest to the fabulosity of these as we currently have one in our guest bedroom and love it to death. As you all may know, we have an inexplicable attraction to all things with an x-detail (it’s so timeless and chic) so we love repeating the x-accent from the demilune table in the entryway with the side tables as well. And although the website shows these tables as a lighter oak color, they’re really a rich chocolate tone just like the demilune table, so all the dark wood in the space will match (and really pop off the lighter wood flooring).
8. And now for something timeless and traditional to balance out all the glam. This inviting slipcovered (read: disaster proof) sofa is the perfect longterm investment for a super surprising price. All the customer comments that accompany this piece reflect extreme delight due to the surprising quality and craftsmanship, which certainly isn’t always the case with a $479 price tag!!! And for this space we think that either two sofas (one placed under the window and one on the wall to the left) or a sofa and a chair and a half will complete the seating area in a flash, so Eryn can take her pick.
9. Erin mentioned that she had some great black and white art work for the space, so we used that starting point to come up with another “twist.” You’ll see three frames above that have been painted, and although we don’t agree with using the tan color shown above in Eryn’s living room, we love the idea of painting the frames that will house her black and white art THE SAME COLOR AS THE WALL (a soft gray-green). This will add an interesting Domino-esque effect and really allow the shapes of the frames to stand out along with the black and white art inside. And bit of gentle sanding along with some extra wall paint should yield some inexpensive yet oh-so-custom looking frames for above the sofa on the left wall of the room.
10. We know Eryn’s pretty shy when it comes to pattern, but these soft gray-green, neutral, and pale blue toned curtains will really add just the right amount of movement and interest to keep all the neutral tones in the couches and the rug from feeling ho-hum. Hung high and wide around each window in the room, they’ll soften all the harsh rectangular lines and add cozy atmosphere and style to spare. And you just can’t argue with the $15 price tag per panel.
11. Here’s Eryn’s only existing item of furniture: her gorge glass coffee table from Pottery Barn (which actually looks just like the thrift store find in our living room). We love that the glass will keep things feeling open while the metal legs will ensure that we avoid wood overload in the space.
12. Never ones to miss the opportunity to accessorize, we think this brilliant metallic bowl from zgallerie will look amazing on her glass coffee table (and mimic the metallic tones in those breathtaking lamps that will flank the sofa(s).
13. And why shy away from the glammy metallic thing when these gorgeous subtly metallic linen pillows are on sale at Pottery Barn? A few on each sofa (or sofa and chair and a half) will create that soothing low contrast look that sparkles ever-so-slightly without overwhelming the seating area.
14. Last but not least we dug up this warm, cozy and glamorous rug to add texture to the entire room while grounding the seating area with ease. Gotta love one item that effortlessly ties everything else together.
Oh and you may remember that we said we had another spot for the demilune table if it didn’t fit in the entry nook. Since Eryn will be mounting a flat screen to the wall to the left of the door in the second picture, the demilune table would also look great under the flatscreen to hold remotes in decorative boxes and store some other pretty objects like hardcover books and collectibles.
So there you have it. Eryn’s traditional yet glam living room with a few fabulous twists thrown in there for good measure. We can’t wait to see what you guys think!
Update: We sadly can no longer find the time to take on client commissioned mood boards (we now whip up general inspiration boards instead) but if we ever reinstate them we’ll make a big announcement!
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I love it. This room is one of my favorites that you’ve done in awhile. Looks great!
I like all the metallics. Very nice. I would love to see a mood board with some serious color in it! I bet you guys would have a great fresh take on that!
Well Jenny, you’re in luck. We have a punchy room full of bright red accents coming your way in just a few days. So glad you guys are diggin’ the latest mood board! We can’t wait to see what Eryn thinks!
xoxo,
Sherry
Can’t wait to see the end results. Just a tip, no one can beat your coffee table find at the thrift sale… but I just bought an (almost) identical coffee table from a store in my area called Bellfort Furniture. They have tons of “Pottery Barn” look-a-likes. Our’s ended up being around $200 which is a savings from the PB version!
Love the moodboard. Wish I had a way to work in that pendant somewhere in my house! Unfortunately, I hate to burst your bubble…those curtains look WAY different in person. If they are the same ones I saw (I am 99% sure they are…leaving 1% since my last IKEA trip was in Sept.) then they are very green. Not at all calm and relaxing like the online picture. Be sure to check em out in person. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
I love it and cannot wait for the after shots. That red is hurting my eyes! Oh, and I was just at Urban Outfitters at lunch and they have a beautiful metallic pillow on sale for even less at $20.00. (I almost picked one up!)
I LOVE it!! I am so glad I found you Sherry! I can’t wait to move into our new house. You did such a good job. I love everything you recommended and the paint is exactly what I imagined!
this is reeeeally nice…i just received my home beautiful magazine last night and im reeeally thinking of doing a really nice cream and white and brown living room! (of course with my favorite color! a splash of green!)..
sherry reeeeally nice!!! im loving it! (kinda like mcdonalds!)
Looks gorgeous! Can’t wait for the afters! Love the mercury glass bowls. Also, Target has some mercury glass items in their Seasonal decor, I don’t remember if they had any bowls but they definitely have candle sticks.
Love it! But what paint colors do the other swatches in #1 represent? i only see giddens enchanting land listed. Thanks!
It’s beautiful and so much more relaxing than that red! Can’t wait to see the afters.
Erica- Thanks so much for the Belifort Furniture tip. We’ll definitely have to check it out!
Sara- Thanks for the curtain warning. We think we remember seeing them in person and they appeared to be soft and muted. Is there any way you were confusing them with these:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10117486
or these:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10112016
Those are two of their brighter (and less green versions) with similar patterns so I wonder if they threw you off? Either way if Eryn snags ‘em and they look too bright, she can always go with a solid soft green that matches the wall color or even a pale cream or white for an equally tranquil feeling in the space. Hope it helps!
Katie- The other colors in the palette represent other tones that we’ll be bringing in through wood furniture (the deep brown), and a few other pieces (the creams and neutrals represent everything from the rug and the couch to the pillows and the pendant light). And our pale gray-green on the walls (represented by the second swatch) will really tie everything together and enliven all the neutrals. Can’t wait to see those afters!
Jbhat & Blayne- Thanks for the shopping tips! We’re all about taking the theme and running with it so it’s great that Eryn knows where to dig up other options on a dime!
xoxo,
Sherry