Decorating my home - step 1 the living/dining room

[halfpint2412]

you should purchase one of those High table with the chairs I just purchased one myself it looks very nice and I am sure it would look nice there in that spot. and you should add some blinds to your windows you know those thicker ones not the small ones. the sun will fade your curtains

[coolluga]

hey! i know i'm a bit late, but i'm curious to see how it looks now cause i'm in the same boat. the walls in my living room are light blue, brown leather couches, white tile floor, i have crown molding already (white), but i don't know what the accent color should be. I'm thinking of a bit (not too much) of orange. I've seen green, but *shrug* i don't know. so yeah, I'm curious to see how it turned out! :)

[kabej79]

Add in some feminine touches, round lines, texture, texture, texture, and select larger pieces for art and accessories that you LOVE. LESS IS MORE. Don't get cluttered; hang pictures at eye level, and have fun. :) OH, also, I forgot to mention...over the sofa....either do a grouping of pictures or one large statement piece. If it were me, I would use this piece as my anchor and build everything around it. Hope this helps! Happy Decorating!

[kabej79]

Maybe you could even put in a rolling island. You could use it for storage and prep and your kitchen has great space so you could wheel it to where you needed it when in use. When not, you could just leave it floating or place it against the wall on the backside of the closet, hang 3 black and whites, matted in white or cream in black frames over it, and WHA-LA! Beautiful, simple kitchen. REMEMBER: UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE. You have a mid century home, play it up with that type of furniture.

[kabej79]

For the kitchen, again, I think that a white paper lantern would look great. In the kitchen, I would pull a green from your art/inspiration (nothing to bright or neon....think fresh, springtime, celery..) maybe paint the cabinets cream or white and then use long cylindrical, flat, or square silver handles for the hardware. They are about $10 each, but it will instantly add so much to your kitchen and bring it up to date and make it feel modern and chic.

[kabej79]

On the other wall in the DR that you want to place a picture, go big and go bold. I would leave the wall (the closet wall in the DR) alone (as art goes) and maybe even place your wine rack there. Place a piece that you love on the long wall in the DR. Maybe even find some beautiful fabric that you love, use batting and staple gun it, creating fabric panels and then hang the panels on the wall as art. Easy, chic, and creative. Again, it is about putting YOU in the style.

[kabej79]

Maybe even clear lucite chairs would be fun, or you can purchase simple white acrylic chairs that have a contemporary look to them. Mix that with a sophisticated and simple chandelier, maybe in brushed nickel or black (no shades) or even a simple white Japanese paper lantern globe (cheap and CHIC!). I would leave the little wall (where you wanted to put a picture) bare and instead place a tall yucca plant (again, easy hearty, and little care is needed).

[kabej79]

You get good light in the house so plants are good! Try mother-in-law tongues (or snake tongues...same thing); they are hearty, grow well, and require almost no maintenance.For the Dining Room....may I suggest (an please keep in mind......in small spaces, less is more) a round glass top table (the glass top will help to make the room appear much longer because you can see through it) and simple chairs.

[kabej79]

I think a low rectangular coffee table, again in glass, would help to open the space and a small circular glass side table would be a nice finish by the chair. You could place a floor lamp just behind the chair (again, playing a double role for entry and LR) or a smaller lamp on the table. You could finish off the look with a nice big cream shag or plush pile area rug to ground the space and pull it together. I love the idea of plants.

[kabej79]

Beside that, you could place a pretty mirror for a last glimpse of yourself before you are out the door and maybe an interesting shelf under it with hooks for your keys, purse, scarf, etc when you come in the door. For placing the chair, may I also suggest that you place it on an angle, almost creating an entry way to compliment the bench area and defining the entryway behind it.. Angle it in towards the living space almost in front of the window.

[kabej79]

You could the place your flat panel tv on a wall mounting on the wall that looks into the dining room (the wall that runs the length of the LR to the hallway just inside the front door). Maybe you could place a low, long bench under it to add visual interest and assist in serving as an entry way/place to put on shoes... Next to the bench (closer to the door) I would place a plant (probably tall and potted, yuccas are good) and use it to visually create a separate space for an entry.

[kabej79]

If not, try to decide how valuable the closet is to you. Do you REALLY need to get in a lot? If the answer is no, maybe you can conceal it by hanging another rod with curtains there and create a faux window. Place a paper floor lamp in white nearby with a floor plant and you have created a vignette. You could quite possibly still utilize the closet when needed but it won't be an eyesore.

[kabej79]

Now I know you are probably thinking, I can't put my sofa there, I have a closet there. I won't be able to get in the closet.....well, (now this may be down the road a bit) but I know you mentioned moving the closet wall. Maybe you can see if you can remove it all together and open up into the kitchen. You may even be able to make a column out of the awkward piece inside the closet...maybe you can have it removed, depending on if it serves a purpose and functions as such.

[kabej79]

Doing so only causes a break in the cohesion of your design. You want a polished look that oozes with your personality.

Another tip: I noticed your furniture was almost in the doorway and your television and stand was the very first thing that is seen upon entering your space. May I suggest that you place your sofa on the long wall facing the window. This way, you can enjoy the outside view and your gorgeous picture window and drapes. (Nice job hanging the rods by the way.)

[kabej79]

You may even try to choose a nice piece of artwork or 3 pictures that have brown, blue, green, cream/white, black, and maybe even a golden rod for an extra splash to hang in your space as your "anchor". The great thing about the anchor is that you build your room colors from that. A tip: You can take colors from the anchor piece (be it art, a pillow, fabric.....whatever your inspiration piece is) but try to not add colors that are not present in the inspiration/anchor piece.

[kabej79]

Think cream or white table accessories, vases, matting for pictures, etc......add fresh flowers in cream or white. The natural green stem (you know, the nice vibrant limey-jungle green of natural flower stems) will also bring freshness and serenity to the space without being an overwhelming element.

[kabej79]

Hey K! I know you posted this a while ago but I know that it takes time to get settled, so I hope this helps. You said you wanted brown and blue with pops of.......I think cream or white (depending on trim, what you like, what goes with what you have already, etc) is really sophisticated and simple. By doing this, it keeps the color scheme serene and simple and allows you to incorporate other neutral tones such as black and brown, and nothing competes.

[Csmart01]

OMG! I have that same light fixture in my diningroom. check out johnpetersik on youtube. Great advice and cool website.

[Notthecoolmom]

I'm in the same boat, my colors are brown, blue and green. I am going to paint the walls a light blue because I don't want it to look small, but cozy. I would add a bright color as an accent, but I LOVE color. Also make sure you don't add too much furniture and make it look even smaller,

[kjestice]

Thanks for the input. I'm only going to add a dining room table, small ottoman, with a few of my plants.  Green is a nice accent color. Good luck with yours.

[Haha146]

i think a lite blue would be nice and maybe have an accent wall dark brown. the dark brown wall can be where u are going to have the TV. I think that would be nice:-)

[Haha146]

good job so far:-) i love the colors :-) these are only suggestions:-) bring the sheers down to touch the floor but not lay on the floor. add some crown molding. r u going to paint? if so what color? not to many end tables. personally i think one table would be sufficent. dont want to crowd. these r just my views. good job and congrats on the new house

[kjestice]

Thanks for taking the time out to respond. Part of the plan is within the next month or so to add crown molding and I am going to paint. I just can't decide on the right paint color. I may have to buy some samples and put them on the walls. Thanks for the ideas!!!