Amy’s Design Dilemma
Amy’s living room is ready for a major makeover. Here’s her letter:
I’m so excited to have you work some magic on my family room! We recently moved in and the items were pretty much just set around the perimeter with no thought. As for my style, HGTV says I’m ‘Old World, New Way’, whatever that means. I feel I like clean (no clutter), comfortable, inviting, nothing stuffy. I really like Pottery Barn, I’d say that is my style. Also, the store Anthropologie appeals to me as soon as I walk in. The items that must stay are the sofas (they’re a dark greenish, distressed leather), the piano, the wood blinds on the one window, and according to my husband, the tv. The items that can go: desk, office chair, the rug (please!), bookcase (but I would need something else), and the glass-topped table. We’d definitely like new paint for the wall. I also convinced my husband that we might just have to paint the brick wall. I really need some sort of functional window coverings. We don’t use the fireplace and won’t anytime soon, so maybe something for in it? I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!! – Amy
This space is full of potential. Here’s the plan:
And now for the mood board breakdown. 
1. Our color palette will include deep espresso wood tones to help tie in the dark piano along with the dark green in the existing sofas which we’ll complement with some warm wheat and tan tones and set off with a dash of ruby red. For the walls (including the brick fireplace wall) we’d love to see a warm golden wheat color (Benjamin Moore’s Sepia Tan 1116) to instantly expand and lighten the space (we painted our den’s brick fireplace wall and the room immediately felt less broken up, bigger, and brighter). And we’d actually like to see a richer and more saturated pop of golden wheat on the small wall where the TV was (last photo) for a bit of interest and fun when you’re walking towards the kitchen (Benjamin Moore’s Guesthouse 1117).
As for the new furniture arrangement, the TV will go where the desk once was, the new bookcase will go where the TV used to be and the sofas will form an L shape in front of the left window and facing the fireplace instead of facing away from it. Floating a new 8 x 10 rug in the center of the space will ground the L-shaped seating arrangement and the existing cream chair can even be placed in front of the built-in fireplace bookcase and angled in towards the new round coffee table in the middle of the rug. Voila: a cozy seating area floating in the center of the room with easy TV viewing and fireplace enjoyment (even if it’s not used often, it’s a great focal point for the space).
2. Here’s the new bookcase that will be placed along our slightly richer golden-wheat accent wall where the TV once lived. The deep tone will tie in with the other furnishings and the existing piano for a crisp and casual look that’s inviting and chic. And we’d love to see the TV (which will move over to where the desk once was) on this complementary dark-toned media stand.
3. Since there’s a built-in bookcase on one side of the fireplace wall (which we’d also love to see painted the same golden wheat tone as the wall itself), the other side of the fireplace could use a bit of height for a more balanced and cohesive look. Adding some tall cream colored willow branches (for just $7.95 a bunch) in a clear cylinder vase will really bring in some dimension and interest to balance the bookcase on the other side.
4. The existing sofas could use some side tables for functionality and to tie the next L-shaped arrangement together. We’d love to see one of these clean-lined beauties (on sale!) between them (in the middle of the L-shape) and another one to the right of the cream chair that will be angled in towards the sofas in front of the built-in bookcase.
5. Because Amy mentioned that she loves walking into Anthropology, we took a bit of an eclectic mismatched approach when it came to the pillows. By mixing a few red and cream coral pillows with a few printed bird pillows, the sofa and the cream chair will really give off that casual Anthropologie vibe.
6. Floating this new 8 x 10 rug in the middle of the room will tie everything together from the golden toned walls to the wheat-colored curtain panels. And the pops of green and red in the casual and cheerful pattern will further hammer home our entire color scheme. Plus the rug can be used for the placement of the sofas and the chair (the front legs of each piece should be on the rug while the back legs remain on the floor).
7. Amy mentioned that they didn’t use the fireplace much and wondered if there was something decorative that she could place inside. We love the idea of adding a few of these candle lanterns (on sale!) for interest and ambiance… and they’re a lot easier to use thank making a full blown fire. They’re a little old world, a little bohemian, and oh so Anthropologie.
8. A new fan with an overhead light will provide a crisp and updated vibe (while keeping things cool and bright).
9. We’d love to see an architectural dark wood shelf hung above the fireplace to create a makeshift mantel, and one of these from Pottery Barn should do the trick. Then Amy can lean or hang this gorgeous round Anthropologie mirror (we like the larger size) above the shelf to truly transform the entire fireplace wall into a breathtaking focal point in the room.
10. This gorgeous sculptural floor lamp will look lovely in the left corner of the room between the wall with the large window and the fireplace wall (and not only will it add height, but it’ll add even more ambient light).
11. Here are our wheat colored curtains (in toffee) to work with the rug, the wall color and even the gorgeous mother of pearl mirror to tie the whole space together. We’d love to see them hung high and wide on each of the windows with matching wood blinds (or faux-wood) blinds on the left window to balance the existing ones on the right (Target and JC Penney both make affordable white wood or faux-wood blinds in many sizes). Since Amy mentioned that she’d like to be able to pull the curtains closed on cold nights, hanging four panels on the larger window (one in front of each of the posts between the windows and one on either side of the entire window) will make it possible to draw them closed whenever the urge strikes.
12. We thought this elegant yet casual round table (on sale!) will really look right at home in the middle of the seating arrangement to ground the rug and provide function to spare. Round tables are especially great with L shaped seating areas since they’re easily accessed from all sides and they bring easy flow and soft lines to a room (and the circular shape will mimic everything from the mirror above the fireplace to the nearby side tables for a cohesive and streamlined look).
So there you have it. A family room full of warm, casual and inviting style. We can’t wait to see what you guys think!
Update: Amy sent us her after pictures and they’re nothing short of amazing! Check them out right here.
Update #2: 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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The minute I saw the brick wall in the before photo I knew you would recommend to paint it. This is a great space with a lot of potential. Your ideas are fabulous and I can’t wait to see their after pictures…they WILL send after pictures right?
Tricia – Avolli
Love this board!!
Do you think that particular rug would complement a light gray/blue wall color (BM Quiet Moments, in particular)? Just thinking about for my own little abode…
Hey Rebekah,
We definitely think that rug would look lovely with a light gray-blue wall. It’s nice and neutral with some textural interest so it should fit right in. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Those are some fantastic ideas for that room. Though, I have to say I like that brick wall. I’m curious how the room would turn out with all the other changes except painting the brick wall. Can’t wait to see the after shots!
I’m impressed – after Amy noted that the (not my preference) green leather sofas had to stay, I wasn’t anticipating such a promising mood board. But wow – I think you’ve found some great colors and textures to make it all work. I love the pops of rusty red and that glam mirror – it definitely moves the room toward that chic/rustic Anthropologie feel.
You’ve done it again, Youngsters! What a great re-do – can’t wait to see the after pics!
And I especially love the side table and the Anthro mirror (which I’ve seen in person and is gorgeous)!
I was fearful of what the mood board would look like given the green leather sofas too, but have to say that they’ll look fantastic with the new plan. Can’t wait to see the results!
I love the pillows and the mirror you’ve chosen for the mood board; can’t wait to see them in action!
I, too, love the brick wall as it’s something unique to the house. Unfortunately though, sometimes painting over it is the only real way to brighten a room. Good luck, Amy!
WOW, I love it!
I agree with Christin – I like the brick wall, at least from a distance. Maybe I’d feel differently if it was in my living room, but I especially like the heavy round clock against the blocky bricks.
KUDOS!!!!!! I was also “not sure” when I saw those green leather sofas, but you’ve outdone yourself with this board. The pieces you’ve suggested will really help breath new life into the room, especially painting the brick wall.
I can’t wait to see the final room!
Oh, I love this! You have just given me so many ideas for my living room… we too have the dark wood/green thing going on, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to liven it up a bit. Ya’ll are awesome, as usual!
I love the green leather sofa and I agree with Christin M that I like the brick wall. The only aspect of the brick that I don’t love is the whitish bricks mixed in, which could easily be remedied with a brick paint to blend it in more with the others. Because the space is so nice and big and open to begin with, the brick would simply enhance it!
In fact, tons of people try to replicate the exposed brick look. There was a girl I met who created this with her husband for their sons room:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8Ny7xl4V9M/Scus_6vs2LI/AAAAAAAAAcI/ajaD5gmNLms/s1600-h/DSCF0107.jpg
and here:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8Ny7xl4V9M/ScussJJyRFI/AAAAAAAAAcA/XXbuqIBjTWY/s1600-h/DSCF0091.jpg
from this blog here: http://nickandabbywestbrook.blogspot.com/2009/03/long-post.html
Either way Amy goes, I think the mood board you’ve created for her looks fabulous and will turn out smashingly.
i like the brick wall also, i wouldnt paint it!
and the mood board is decent, not my taste but whatever works!
I think this is my favorite board you have ever done! I like the idea of painting the brick and the bookcase the same color.
Hey everyone, I’m Amy’s daughter and I’m just here to say that the couches aren’t as horrible as you all think. They came out really light in the pictures. They are actually a deep olive color.
Thanks for the lovely mood board guys! We love it and bought almost everything from it. :D
-Allyson
Hey Allyson (& Amy),
Good luck with all the redecorating! We can’t wait to see how it all comes out. We’re on the edge of our seats…
xo,
s
How fun to see my mood board featured! I’ve already purchased my items, have paint samples on the walls and am doing prep work on the brick.
Big breakthrough…my husband has agreed to get rid of the huge (62″) tv and replace it with one that is just over 50″.
I promise to photograph and submit “after” shots. My goal is to get it done within the next two weeks. I’m a slow painter, but my older daughter wants to help so that should speed things up. I’m also waiting for Directv to come out to move the connection to the new wall.
Thanks so much for all of your fabulous ideas, I’m really excited to see everything come together!
Wahoo!
xo,
s
Gosh Amy, that would be great. The youngsters mood boards are awesome, but it’s so much more awesome when we see them put into practice!! IMO there are way too many mood boards out there with no “after” pictures to go with them. Git ‘er done! :-) heh heh
Amy, this is just great and I have green leather sofa and chair and I am doing a similar design in my room as well. I am going to B M on Monday to buy paint samples. I have Yosemite Sand in my kitchen so I am hoping the Septia tan will work for me too. I’ll try a few different paints, my dining room is behind the living room so I wonder if I should paint the DR a darker color ???? Any suggestions?
I am looking forward to your After Pictures.
Have fun and Enjoy, it will be gorgeous !
Congratulations, Designers, not only a gorgeous board but at unbelievably low prices !!!!! You ARE Amazing !!!!!!
Thank you because I’m using your board for my green leather sofa and chair which we cannot part with but want some changes.