Alena’s Design Dilemma
Alena’s living room is ready for a major makeover. Here’s her letter:
This is the perfect 25th birthday present to myself! We recently painted our open living room, dining room and entryway Benjamin Moore’s Hawthorne Yellow. I’d like to replace the carpet with hardwood, bamboo, or tile in all those spaces so any suggestions with that are welcome and I need more help with the living room specifically. I like modern and natural looks. Duce is our huge boxer puppy who is allowed on the furniture so everything needs to be dog-friendly and/or washable. I’m not afraid of color, but also love neutrals. I’m stumped because of our open floor plan. The Van Gogh poster has to stay (it can be moved). The TV has to stay put, obviously. The yellow La-Z-boy chair was very expensive, but now that we’ve painted the walls yellow, it clashes so it can go. I absolutely hate the couch, so it must go. The Ikea wall mirror is new, but can be moved anywhere in the house. The brown tables should stay, but I can refinish or paint them. Everything else can go and I wouldn’t mind more seating, either. – Alena
Here’s the plan:
And now for the mood board breakdown.
1. With that rich Hawthorne Yellow paint on the walls we’ll keep things warm and inviting by layering in chocolates, mochas, and amber tones to work with the deep wood furnishings for a modern and natural-yet-luxe effect. And introducing lots of subtle patterns and textures will really make the open floor plan feel cozy instead of cavernous. Alena also requested a floor suggestion for her entire open plan (including the kitchen and dining room) so because we’ve been so happy with hardwoods in our kitchen, living room and dining area we found this gorgeous mocha option that we know will look amazing throughout her home (and it’s just $3.59/sq foot!).
2. Alena mentioned she’d love extra seating so two of these slipper chairs (to replace her La-Z-boy) can be brought into the space thanks to the addition of an area rug that we’ll use to define the seating area so the chairs can float on the two corners of the rug closest to the TV (angled in towards the coffee table). And the detailed tone-on-tone pattern will add interest and tons of polish to the space- while remaining completely dog friendly- without breaking the bank (they’re just $299 each with free shipping!).
3. We’d love to see the floating TV grounded by a large chest of drawers (in the same rich wood tone as the existing accent tables) which will provide tons of concealed storage space for everything from DVDs to board games. We also appreciate the fact that it’s a bit taller than a traditional media stand (which would look off in a room with such tall ceilings and a floating TV hung where it is on the wall). And speaking of that floating TV, hanging framed photos like this (all with generous mats for a polished effect) around the flat screen will instantly diffuse all the focus on the TV and make the whole wall an interesting arrangement full of memorable moments and prints that Alena loves. Tip: making all the art black & white or keeping it all in a similar color palette will help tie everything together for a cohesive overall effect.
4. We loved this amazing twig floor lamp with a rich mocha shade that will tie in with everything from the wood furnishings to the sofa and add even more subtle interest to the warm and welcoming space. It’s sort of like sculpture thanks to the cool twiggy base (plus Alena can get 20% off by entering M20 at checkout). We’d love to see it in place of the chunkier lamp with shelves seen in the last photo to the right of the mirror. And speaking of the mirror, we like it exactly where it is. Since this room doesn’t have any windows, the mirrored pane creates a “window” of sorts to expand the space and bounce around lots of light. Perfect choice Alena!
5. We’re totally enamored with this gorgeous sofa from Ikea. It’s the perfect color and completely washable so it’s super dog friendly. It’s definitely one of their more high end models and we think it’ll look like a million bucks in Alena’s space (and really last for the long haul). We especially can’t wait to see it paired with the slipper chairs and the rug we hunted down.
6. And here’s that 8 x 10 rug in all its glory. Everything from the modern stripes to the textured tones (it’s practically our entire color palette) makes it meant for Alena’s room. And in open floor plans like hers (especially in rooms with super lofty ceilings) tossing down a large area rug instantly defines a cozy seating area- creating an immediate room within a room. And not only does it add texture and color while defining the seating area, it will allow Alena to place those two slipper chairs that we hunted down on the rug facing the sofa on the opposite corners, angled in towards the coffee table for balance and style to spare. Of course the existing coffee table can be plunked down in front of the sofa to ground things even further, and we’d love to see both of the matching side tables placed on either side of the sofa for even more balance across from those matching chairs.
7. Gleaming amber and honey colored accents will really make this room come alive, so we’d love to see these great glasses with small candles in them placed in a line down the middle of the coffee table to break up all that wood and create a sparkling runner of sorts (that can really set the mood when lit). Plus the price (just $29 for six glasses) is pretty hard to beat.
8. For more of that glittering amber ambiance, we’d love two of these candle holders on one side of the chest of drawers that will be placed under the TV for sophisticated asymmetrical style on the cheap (they’re on clearance for $9.99!).
9. Then for a bit of symmetrical interest in the room, we’d like to see one of these gorgeous table lamps on each of the existing matching side tables (which will be moved to flank the sofa). Plus Alena can get 20% off by entering M20 at checkout. The great thing about switching the floor in the living room from carpet to hardwood means they can add floor outlets under each side table (which is always a selling point not to mention oh so convenient) or they can skip that step and just tuck the cords under the rug they’ll be throwing down so they’re less of a tripping hazard when they’re plugged into the nearest wall outlet.
10. Sometimes it’s the little things that really liven up a space, and the wall of frames around the TV, the gleaming amber accents, and this textured and rich pillow pairing will really make the room feel special. We especially love that the patterned ikat pillow is just $5.68 on clearance so Alena can easily snag two for her sofa, and the honey colored solid pillow is also a steal at $14.95 (so grabbing two of those to pair with the patterned ones on each side of the sofa will be no sweat).
Oh and we can’t forget the Van Gogh painting that must stay in the room. We think keeping it on that wall but centering it and lowering it at least a foot will help it fit right into the rest of the decor. And if Alena settles on warm mocha wood frames around the TV, she might want to get a matching frame (or re-stain her existing Van Gogh one) so it really ties in with the rest of the wall art.
So there you have it. An inviting modern living room full of warm and cozy style. We can’t wait to see what you guys think! And if anyone else out there is in need of a custom makeover of their very own, click here for some decorating advice on the double.
Note: Our mood boards are now posted at least three days after they’re sent to the client (so they have a chance to purchase everything before it sells out).
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Comments
I have a lamp very similar to #9 on your mood board and I bought it here: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14289097&RN=384
It’s clearance, so best to hurry and order soon. It is slightly smaller and the shade is slightly more rustic than the #9 selection, but it could work and it’s only $50!
Happy shopping…
Oooh nice! The suggestions you made give this room a more sophisticated look and warmer feel– another YHL stunner!
The perfect color palette for fall, I love all the warm tones, and especially that beautiful yellow on the walls! I’m also loving the idea of a dresser under the TV, and disguising the TV itself with frames around it. Clever clever!
Random, and maybe accidental – but I just wanted to point out how much I like having the original post and the mood board explanation all on the same page. It makes for easy scrolling :)
I have been oogling over that IKEA sofa for months now. Mmmm delicious. This mood board makes me want to sit and drink hot chocolate with a good book (or movie).
I’ve been eyeing that sofa too, but the description says dry clean only on the covers, so I’ve stayed away. Have you guys heard of someone who washed them without any problems? Or were you thinking of the other Ikea couches, which are washable? I’m not trying to call you out on it, I’m just wondering if you know something extra about them. Thanks!
Hey Rebecca,
Good question! We just meant that since the slipcovers are removable they can be laundered (albeit drycleaned or machine washed if Alena dares) as opposed to an upholstered sofa that doesn’t offer that option. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I like the suggestion of the dresser under the TV – we have been looking for a something to go under our “floating” TV. However, where would you put all of the components – DVD player, cable box, etc?
Hey Tegan and Tage & Melissa,
Good question! One of our favorite dresser “hacks” is to hinge the front top two drawers so the components can be stored in there and they can be hinged closed to hide them among company but left down and open so remotes work easily from that method. Of course they also can be placed on top of the dresser or the top two drawers can just be removed and the components can be stored out in the open in them. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
So, Alena, will you be getting rid of that groovy chair that now clashes? I’m kinda lovin’ it and it wouldn’t clash with MY living room wall color…just sayin’…
The mood board is awesome, by the way! Has a nice warm feel with a good mix of stylish and casual pieces.
Wow! I love love love this mood board! My favs are the lamps, rug, and candleholders. You guys find the most amazing deals without sacrificing an ounce of style. Beautiful work :) We are renting a house right now, but this makes me want a forever home so I can really dive into decorating. In the meantime, I will file this away for inspiration…and maybe snag a few accessories.
Just curious. The metallic of the table lamps and the floor lamp are different. Is it OK to mix things like that in a room or should they all be the same? I’m slowly getting rid of all my shiny brass but do have a couple of ‘tarnished’ looking lamps and wondered if it was OK to mix those with the oil rubbed bronze.
Hey Carol,
Oh yeah, we love mixing and matching and layering materials and textures in a room. Here’s a post all about it: http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/04/email-answer-match-point/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hey guys! I was so nervous that you’d all make fun of my house, lol. I left that artificial tree in there for a better after once I finish the room! I will be sending after pics of the dining room AND the living room, eventually.
I already have the rug down— FABULOUS! I don’t want to get rid of my yellow chair, but yes… it is for sale, lol. All 3 lamps are on the way, as well as candle holders. I decided not to order the candlesticks, as I spent more than enough at ZGallerie. I’m sure I can find something similar at Marshalls, without tacking on extra money for s/h. I’ve lowered the picture, and plan on cropping the text and matting it.
Sherry, when I do the wall frames around the TV- should I do white frames or dark brown?
Also, I found a really awesome dresser with even more storage, but it’s 42 inches tall. I have exactly 43 inches below the tv, so I had to let it go. I’d like to avoid putting anything together from Ikea, if possible!
I can’t wait to finish and send pics!
OH yeah– once I have the dresser- should I not put anything in place of the current media tower? (pictured on the right of my tv).
Hey Alena,
Glad to hear you already got the rug and it’s fabulous! Wahoo. And it sounds like you have a lot of other items on the way so you’re definitely making progress. As for the frames on the TV wall, we definitely picture them in dark wood tones and as for the dresser that you found with more storage, since it’s 42″ tall and the TV is 43″ from the floor wouldn’t it tuck right under? If so we think it’ll look great! Perhaps you’re planning to put the TV components on top of the dresser though, which would mean you’ll need a bit more wiggle room? If so I would suggest overstock.com, target.com, and jcpenney.com to score something affordable but avoid Ikea. Here’s one from Target that looks sleek and stately (and still easily fits) and here’s another great option that would also work in the place of the Ikea one that we found. And as for the current media tower, since you’ll have so much added storage in the dresser we definitely think leaving that space bare is the way to go. It’ll feel balanced and serene. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry (& John)
xo,
s
Love the mood board. And I didn’t realize I would like so much yellow, but I really dig it and can see how easy it will be to work with. Love the whole warm and cozy compilation.
thanks for more recs Sherry! (I’m so happy to hear about your baby!)
Target has a great set of frames that I might buy. I think It would look like the tv was basically sitting on the dresser. I assumed you meant something just an inch or two below the tv. (No, I would NOT put the stuff on top. I plan to use the hinged idea).
We have the same dresser in the baby’s room (we uses it as a changing table and baby cloths and general storage) and it’s fabulous, sturdy, and not that hard to put together – but you do need an extra set of hands. Plus, it has a cute yellow striped drawer lining.
Never thought of putting it in the living-room, but it’s great to know it’s an option when we finally get a flat screen!
Hey Alena,
It’s great if it looks like the TV is practically resting on the top of the dresser- it’ll be nice and proportional instead of it floating a foot above everything (plus you’ll get all that storage right underneath it). So glad to hear you’ll be trying the hinged idea, my mom did it in an armoire that she converted to a little mini-office about ten years ago (the drawer folds down to reveal the keyboard). It’s an awesome solution that never fails to impress everyone she shows (including me). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Love this mood board and can’t wait to see the finished results!! Sounds like Alena’s on her way to getting it done…. and I must say I ADORE the dresser from Ikea, I’ve been in there and looked at it at couple of times. Be sure to send those after pic’s!
Wow, I really love this one. I’m a fan of yellows, and love the butterscotch chairs. I’m going to be looking for a new home in about February, so I could see some of my existing pieces mixing in a gorgeous way with pieces in this room. My old couch and stuffed chair could easily be moved into a den or office for seating. Thanks for bringing these super ideas together :)
Such a pretty room to work with – love that yellow!
I love using non-traditional, out-of-the-box pieces in decor and if Alena gets stuck or goes over budget, craigslist, yard sales, Habitat for Humanity’s RE Stores and local auctions are great resources for good finds on the cheap (if you can deal with primer and paint).
Good luck and I can’t wait to see the finished room!
I just love “watching” the fun this site generates – we “60-somethings” would have loved a “Young House Love” 30-40 years ago! (of course it is never too late to accept help!)
my husband snagged the smaller version of that ikea dresser off of craigslist (for nearly nothing) way back in his singleton days and i have to comment that it’s my one of my favoritist pieces of furniture. weird, i know — i’m not generally a huge fan of ikea.
the thing is, it’s got nice, large drawers and great lines that go with EVERYTHING (especially since we’ve changed the knobs a couple of times with new ones from home depot and anthropologie), and it’s survived a few BRUTAL moves fairly well.
in fact, i’m thinking of putting it in our new office too, http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com/2009/11/before-progress-historic-house-by-water.html
it is a bit taller, like sherry mentioned, which makes is a flexible, transitional dresser. it’s a bargain piece that has lasted us forever. anyway, just my 2 cents!
kelly
Sherry, sometime can you show us about hinge-ing the drawers to hide wires? I can’t really picture it.
Oops, sorry, realized you weren’t talking about wires. Well, I’d like to see it anyway.
Sure, I’ll try to remember to take a photo of my mom’s setup the next time we’re there. For more of a description, basically you’re removing the front of the drawer and using hinges on the bottom of the drawer front to attach the front to the dresser so it can be tipped down to reveal the components (but tipped back up to hide them). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hey this is sort of random but I’ve been looking at all the mood boards you guys have made on Design Dilemma Mood Boards and I’m looking at all the letters people have sent and the mood boards and suggestions you have sent back and it always says I can’t wait to see the after photos but where are those? Are they posted somewhere else and not with the original letter and mood board? I’d love to see some or actually ALL of these after all your suggestions.
Hey Paige,
We actually do get after photos (although sometimes it takes people a while to get their rooms repainted and arranged) and whenever we receive them we share ‘em on the blog (for example, we just posted this one earlier this week). We also have a collection of our favorite mood board makeovers on our Portfolio page (just click the tab under the header at any time to peruse them). Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
Congrats on being pregnant! I didn’t realize we had lead in our house until I was pregnant and we had several house projects in our 1940’s house. Don’t mean to be a “Debbie Downer” but a lot of people don’t realize the danger for fetuses and little people. Its almost impossible to remodel safely if you have lead in your home but here is a link just in case:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/rrpamph.pdf
Thanks Cricket,
We actually tested for lead and took care of it when we moved in three years ago before we undertook any major renovations (we also tested for radon and it’s a good thing we did because we had a serious radon issue and had to hire someone to professionally mitigate it for us). Great reminder for all homeowners though! Everyone should be careful about lead and radon and all the other silent safety hazards that can lurk in older homes (like asbestos)!
xo,
s
Methinks this homeowner doesn’t know color theory. A yellow room of this shade especially in research tests made babies cry and adults erupt in arguments. Tense. The explanation is that the similarity to the sun is too overstimulating for the eyes and is not restful.
Nice mood board to compensate the color though if one must endure it.
Hey Hopia,
Interesting point. Personally we believe that people are happiest in rooms that they love (and since Alena and her husband have such a connection with that cheerful yellow hue it probably makes them feel happy) but we do understand that there are studies that show certain colors appear to make people feel a certain way. We actually have a post in the hopper all about color theory so stay tuned for that…
xo,
Sherry
We understand color theory, but we happen to love the yellow. Like Sherry said, it does indeed, make us very happy. We haven’t had any sudden arguements and have no screamin’ babies. We’re happy with the shade of yellow, and actually found it here on YHL. If we decide to change it later, it’s just paint!
I chose a lovely pale yellow for the vaulted family room in our first home. My husband and I really liked it and my sons both grew to be happy well adjusted adolescents – so far so good. The first time my Dad came for a visit after the paint job, however, he said “Yellow!?! It makes me feel so hot” [not in the good way]. I could actually see him breaking out in a sweat. Bizarre!
If you find a great piece of furniture that is an inch or two too short, you could always add casters to the feet.
This was great for me to see. We have an open floor plan in our ranch with most of the walls painted Olympic’s Earthy Cane (a rich tan) and white wainscoting. Much of our furniture in the living room is espresso color – we didn’t really plan it, we were just drawn to those pieces I guess. I have been struggling with decor options in the room since it is narrow and dark and have also resisted embracing the tans and yellows (we have a similar slipper chair with an awesome pattern and sleek arms) and browns. So I guess I’m seeing that maybe if I add some appropriate dog- and toddler-friendly accessories, I can be ok with the color palette in there. :) I always felt like it needed an accent color. We have patterned pillows on the couch and a neutral, light-colored area rug over hardwoods. And we have a large mirror in our extra room that is dying for a re-paint on the frame – maybe we can use that on the wall to bounce light around! Thanks for helping me with some ideas! (Sorry for the novel!)
Not that i’m surprised but you guys really knocked this one out of the park. I can’t wait to see her finished room. Gosh…this is just so much fun! :)
Happy Thanksgiving!
i agree about the yellow. color theory shows that it is a stressful color and this space has so much of it!
Love the mood board (as usual)! Any suggestions for a taller/longer media stand for those of us who can’t “hack” it?
Hey Rebecca,
Our favorite places to look for media cabinets are ikea.com, overstock.com, jcpenney.com, westelm.com, and target.com so those are great places to search for something taller and longer to suit your space. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I’m seeing a lot of houses being painted yellow, both in my locale and the blogosphere. Is it the new color for 2010 or was it because of the season?
Good question! There’s definitely a love of yellow surging through the design world as of late. I’m no color trending forecaster but perhaps people just want to move away from the more safe tans and creams for something a bit brighter that they perceive to be “happeier”- especially in this economy?
xo,
s
I really like this mood board. It always amazes me the different styles you can create. We are planning on buying that chest of drawers for our bedroom. I never would have thought to use it under a TV…but it seems perfect!! The colors are great and I think I am going to try and incorporate some yellow into our living room in the spring (right now I am working with some reds for the holidays). Hopfully Alena sends some after pictures too!
Keep up the great work!!