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Help bringing lounge together

8 years ago

Hi all,

I recently renovated my house ripping walls out and building an extension which has massively improved the usability of the various rooms and spaces. As part of this I completely gutted the lounge and changed it around so I could fit in a decent sized sofa etc. However the room doesn't seem to quite "gel" yet and I can't bring it together. My thoughts:

- I'm thinking of wallpapering the grey wall behind the sofa in something that ties in with the curtains (the current grey doesn't work)

- I think the white on the walls doesn't really go with the rest of the room so considering painting all the walls a darker grey?

- I can't make the shelves work at all! I've painted them white, orange and now grey and can't seem to find the right things to fill them with

Any advice on bringing the room together would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

James

Featured Answer

mrsmcee74

8 years ago

From the photos it looks like the grey works well with the curtains, I think if you repaint the orange chimney breast with the same grey that's behind the sofa, it will bring the room together and make the shelving work. If you want more orange in the room, I'd suggest bringing in a rug.

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Comments (9)

louisep2012
8 years ago
I think the 'problem' may be the orange feature wall. Orange is a highly visible colour so to have a feature wall like that it will always dominate the room, and also draw your attention to the tv. Your orange accessories are enough in my opinion, maybe add a bit of variety in texture though-they are all similar fabrics and all plain. You have some bold geometric art there so maybe look for something in that style?
J Shep thanked louisep2012
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. I think I would keep all of that sofa wall in one colour otherwise the chair etc seems a little cut off. Try grouping the cushions in the 3 corners and add 1/2 patterned ones. I think the shelves work but would paint the cabinet in the same colour. One idea is a light-mid grey on all walls. Paint the chimney breast in a darker shade of grey to disguise the tv. You could add a geo wallpaper behind the shelves and then paint the wood in the paper colour. Hard to tell if it would work (!) but try swapping the chair and console and move the console behind the sofa on the kitchen wall. Try placing the photos at an angle one in front of each other. If you can find one maybe a driftwood sculpture for texture and interest. You could also add a rug and 1/2 smaller plants for greenery or some good faux flowers
J Shep thanked minnie101
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Zach W
8 years ago
Just wanted to add that I think the grey works well and it's the orange thats dominating, as pointed out above
J Shep thanked Zach W
PRO
AlenaCDesign
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hello James! I like your sitting room design and I see you have put a great thought and lot of time to achieve the look as it is now. Well done! Colours are set right and orange feature wall looks fab! Don't change colour scheme and you don't need any wallpaper, leave as it is. I will agree with comment above, on picture grey wall works well with curtains. And I see why room doesn't look 100% finished. You need to change you accessory arrangement. You don't have enough textures around a room.

Let's start from walls: I see the reason why you place mirror in front of window but better move it on central part of grey wall, let it reflect orange feature wall and let it to create first expression of the room. Leave two framed art works on each side of the mirror, place mirror where you have a small frame. Mirror in this position will add volume to the room and will help to spread more colour on grey side. On the wall, where you have mirror right now, place a black metal vintage clock (For example) or metal wall art, better black and matt finish
Metal is a new texture and will add attraction. Make sure to scale the clock size, not to be bigger than size of this mirror.

Now console table in the corner: you are very good to consider colour splash but display doesn't look finished. Add set of small mirror frames on a wall, for example from Ikea (Black frame)
I don't know dimensions of this area), in any case I will suggest to add 2 mirrors and place in diagonal or three (Up side down triangular) or four mirrors (square pattern). You are good scaling, so leave it to you.

In addition, you have two displays: on top of console table and your coffee table. You will need to rearrange objects to make it more interesting and add depth in what you show. Here you will find more details how to set stunning display https://alenacdesign.wordpress.com/2015/11/17/make-stylish-accessory-display-on-a-shelf/

For more ideas, here you will find guidelines and inspiration how to add and spread texture around a room https://alenacdesign.wordpress.com/2016/02/23/textures-as-a-powerful-interior-element/

In general, add glass jars, faux flowers, metal urns. If you don't like flowers, go for green plants. You don't need a lot but one or two small pieces in a jar or glass bottle will add fine organic texture. All these little things will make place cozier and that's exactly what you need!

Hope it will help!

Good luck!
J Shep thanked AlenaCDesign
PRO
Tiago Faria and Jane Considine Architects
8 years ago
That abstract cubist print looks great! Add to the room with more items of its various colours and it will come together better; at the moment there is just too much contrast between the striking white, grey and orange, (all of which are good).

Also, carry the grey paint onto the inner side of the vertical boxing and it will appear as a more intentional element.

Jane
J Shep thanked Tiago Faria and Jane Considine Architects
J Shep
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks everyone, really helpful. Not sure what to do on the orange wall now! I like it but understand what you are all saying.

minnie101 - I like the idea of geo wallpaper behind the shelves and will see what I can find. I'll try swapping the console table and chair too. The console table was a bit of a failure as I bought it from Etsy (custom made) and it looks too small in the room unfortunately.

AlenaCDesign - do you know of any good shops to get metal wall art etc? I have struggled to fun nice pieces. Also the same with glass jars, faux flowers, metal urns etc.? I would like to add more but again have really struggled to find stuff. I like your article on arranging the objects on the shelves and coffee/console table - will have a play. I'll also have a play moving the mirror.

Tiago Faria and Jane Considine Architects - the picture is from Habitat amazingly and I love it too. I wish they had some more similar prints. I completely agree with you that there is too much contrast between the different colours. How would you fix this? Paint the white walls a light grey? What's your view on the orange wall?

Thanks!
minnie101
8 years ago
I like your console, I just wondered if there was a way to have the chair face the sofa. You could also try the console in front of the radiator. Try cox and cox, oka or Abigail ahern for faux flowers. Depending on what you're after for accessories again cox and cox, graham and green and rockett st George have some nice things. It's copper :) but RSG have a beautiful dandelight.
PRO
Tiago Faria and Jane Considine Architects
8 years ago
Contemporary Condo Living Room in Chicago · More Info

This photo shares your grey and orange scheme but the additional
colours, textures and patterns work to soften their impact. Your Habitat
picture does that and the red cushion too but you need more of these
secondary elements and colours, so that the main colours don't dominate
so much.

Surfaces in shadow always look gloomy if they are left white, better to use a little bit if colour. In particular, the window wall which might benefit from colour - possibly a wallpaper that would give more texture?

Firenze Wallpaper colour Zest · More Info

Osborne & Little Charbagh Wallpaper · More Info

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