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Design DilemmaLiving Rooms
keira_malkowska

Duck egg living room help

K Malcolm
5 years ago
I have just wallpapered my living room in a lovely duck egg patterned paper. I love it, but am struggling with what else to do with it. We are about to buy a cream sofa and have polished chrome and crystal lamps/curtain pole etc.

I'm looking to buy a tv unit and matching bookcases for one wall and a coffee table for the middle of the room. I'm stuck on which way to go though.

I had thought I'd go for dark wood for the tv unit and bookcases and then a glass and polished chrome coffee table, but I'm now wondering if the dark wood would be a mistake and perhaps it would look more elegant if i stuck with paler wood?

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Thanks :)
Featured Answer
  • Carolina
    5 years ago

    And finally she's got the dimensions right (she thinks :-) )





    I still don't really like it. It's a bit cramped. When you walk into the room, you walk straight into the sofa. Anyway, I'll try out some other options for you tomorrow.


    I couldn't find a larger size media unit from that Laura Ashley range. I think it's too small. I do like that style of furniture though. And I like the coffee table too. But not sure whether it's a practical/safe option with a little person around.

    • Comments (37)

    • Fakhteh Sharifi
      5 years ago
      hello k.malcom
      i think your wood's colour depend on your room.if your room is small,dark wood will make it smaller and instead of dark wood you can use white wood with some coloured materials.
    • PRO
      User
      5 years ago

      Hi if room is cosy, petite in size would go for reflective surfaces i.e glass, mirror or possibly cream painted furniture. A duck egg rug would be great too a block colour of the blue would brighten your space.


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    • Ribena Drinker
      5 years ago

      Would it be worth considering buying a painted wood tv unit and bookcase?


      If you can't find one in a complimentary/matching colour to your lovely wall paper, is it worth you painting it yourself?


      A world of possibilities would open up then and you could chose any colour that takes your fancy!






    • Sonia
      5 years ago
      Beautiful wallpaper. It gives your room a lovely country feel and I think painted furniture as suggested would be perfect. I’ve recently painted some of my wood furniture and it is amazing how much it has lightened and improved the room. If painting is not for you The Cotswold Company specialise in country style painted furniture in various whites, greys, dark blue and greens. I’ve got their furniture in my bedroom and it is lovely and not flat pack or too pricey. They deliver to the room of your choice and remove all the packaging.
    • Carolina
      5 years ago
      last modified: 5 years ago

      It would be good to see more of the room. I think dark wood will be elegant and go well with your crystal/chrome accents.

      I hope I'm not offending you, but I don't like the curtains together with the wallpaper. They are kind of fighting with each other.


      Plain duck egg floor to ceiling curtains or roman blinds would be lovely and will work better with your wallpaper, I think.

    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      Thanks so much for all the comments...and not offended at all! Happy with any ideas :) Here are a few more pics. It's quite a large room, and we moved from a small cottage so the furniture isn't quite right at the moment. Just looking for ideas before we buy anything!
    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      Also, in case it makes a difference this is the sofa we're looking at :)
    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Good tip is to make a paper version of the sofa, by cutting/taping (news)paper in the shape and measurements of it and lay it on the floor. You can move it around, see where you could place the actual sofa. You will get a better idea about whether the size and shape of it will work for your room or not.


      Are you thinking of getting that exact version of it? Or in a different colour/fabric? You might find that it will work best in its mirror image, so the corner on the left side, with the short side in front of the bay.


      Perhaps two sofas and a chair are a better choice for this room though.


      The room is large enough to pull the seating away from the walls. That will make it feel more cosy.


      Considering the tiny person(s), a glass/chrome coffee table might not be the most practical/safe choice.


      Do you have approx. dimensions of the room? And where's the sofa from, if you don't mind me asking? If I have the measurements, I could try and make a 3D layout so you can get a visual of how the room could look.



    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      the room dimensions are: 4660mm wide and 5060mm long, but with an extra bit in the window that is 960 by 2400.

      The sofa is from Sofology and is called Emperor. I was initially planning on buying a pair of arm chairs, but fell in love with the idea of the huge sofa.

      I was going to have the L so the long length (4520) came along length of back wall with the shorter length on the wall opposite the window wall. That's hard to describe lol :)
    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      I also wanted to ask opinions on furniture...I'd like to avoid a matching furniture set and love the idea of different styles.

      I'm looking at the Laura Ashley Balmoral chestnut range and wondered if I can get away with the following glass and chrome coffee table (using the cross design on the end of each to tie them together?) What are people's thoughts on this?

      If this did work what style of lamp table would you go for? The chrome or wood style?

      Thanks again :D
    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      So, if I'm correct, your room would look something like this. Now, it is your home, so you have to like it.


      I would rather go for something different. I'll see if I can find a couple of different options. Not sure if I'll manage that tonight though.







      Oh, duh, just realised you're planning to have the short side of the sofa along the back wall. Okay... you'll have to use your imagination for that now ;-)


      I think you'll have a problem to get the room feel cosy and comfortable. It's a bit like that very long dining table with husband and wife each sitting at one short end of the table. If you see what I mean?

    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      You can click on the pics to enlarge them

    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Oh, think I mixed up some dimension numbers (I'm really hopeless with numbers). Hold on...

    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Think this is better.



    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Wow, it's 132 cm deep!!! That's deeper than in my layouts. The sofa in there is 100 deep. I'll change it. Have you actually sat in it? Is it comfortable to get in and out of?

    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago

      Thank you so much for this! It makes such a difference seeing it. I have actually sent you the wrong dimensions...I am only looking at the 263cm wide version actually, so would leave a bit more room by the door. I have to say, I'm still not sure now anyway though, as I see what you mean about the long dining table thing. I did see it and sit in it...its so comfy! That's why I fell in love with it lol. My only concern is the fact that as it is so deep, it will sit further forward than the bit of wall by the window - thought that might look a little odd.


      What if I went back to my original idea of getting a pair of accent chairs to go with the current sofas? I wanted to replace the arm chair we have just now as there are too many patterns going on! How would you suggest laying the room out then? Or, out of interest, if you were starting from scratch what would you do? Its quite a big room to fill and just such a plain rectangle I really don't know where to start!


      On the furniture issue, I was planning on making an "entertainment unit" of sorts, by having bookcase - tv unit - bookcase combo on that wall...so it would almost fill the wall.


      I also see what you mean about the coffee table, but we have a family room in the kitchen and also a playroom, so the idea is this will become the adults room (maybe wishful thinking!!) :D Do you think the wood and chrome would work ok together?


      Sorry for the essay, but its so nice to have people to talk ideas through with!


      Thanks again :)

    • minnie101
      5 years ago

      Hi. I agree with Carolina re the sofa shape and if you don't mind me saying it's not as elegant as your existing sofas. I don't know what you think of this re layout (excuse crude mock up and I don't have Carolina's photoshop skills so just put any old sofa in front as I couldn't move yours :) Could the cabinet go in the bay? Bookcases where cabinet is currently with smaller sofa in front (plus side table), larger one stays roughly where it is but pulled away from the wall. Tv unit again stays where is but an armchair in the corner by the bay with floor lamp. Perhaps a plant where the children's table and chairs are currently? I might go for full length curtains in the bay in a plain fabric. I think the coffee table would work too




    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      ooh, this is an interesting idea...totally didn't consider that!

      I've made my mind up that the sofa isn't right after all. it was just so blinking comfortable lol.

      Thanks so much. will have a proper read and think later on :)
    • minnie101
      5 years ago

      I've just managed to like my own comment when coming back to say I've just seen sofa.com have 20% off armchairs...

      lol, are your existing ones not comfy? I just thought if you were going for dark furniture, which I like and I think some lighter woods may clash with the carpet, that it was best to break it up a bit otherwise you'd have the one dark wall then light sofa walls?

    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Minnie and I are on the same page, so to speak :-)


      Here's what I was thinking, should you want to start from scratch. Of course I don't know whether you feel this particular sofa is as comfortable, but they are just ideas. I went for a Loaf sofa, Sofa.com chairs and Lombok bookcase and media unit.







    • Carolina
      5 years ago
      last modified: 5 years ago

      Or, with the supercomfy Sofology Emperor, but in 3-seater sofa form:







      I mean, why not? You've got the space and you love its comfyness. I would get fabric samples, to see what colour works best with the carpet and wallpaper though.

    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      And if you've got guests who aren't young and agile, they can get in and out of the chairs without help. It's a win win situation ;-)

    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      Thanks again for everyone's help!

      I've had a think, and am planning the following:

      1. keep existing 3 and 2 seater sofa
      2. buy Laura Ashley Balmoral Chestnut double bookcase and tv unit
      3. buy chrome and glass coffee table
      4. buy 1.6 x 2.3 area rug
      5. keep current curtains (cost a fortune in our old house and have had tailored to fit new house...might change in future though)

      I'm planning to leave the 3 seater where it is, swap the 2 seater and the current unit but pull 2 seater forward and have book case behind.

      what do you all think?

      What colour rug would you go for too? I was going to stick with cream/neutral? I was also going to update throw cushions to all be cream/neutral i.e. lose the blue on the sofas?

      I'm hoping to get furniture ordered asap :)

      Thanks so much xx
    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      do you think something like this would be too much with all I have going on? would I be better sticking with something plain?
    • Sonia
      5 years ago
      That rug is gorgeous. I love that faded look. Rugs really do finish a room off. I say buy, buy, buy, but see what others think first.......
    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Sounds like a good plan to me. The rug is beautiful. And the cushions you have look pretty good to me too. The only thing I'm doubtful of is the media unit. I think it probably is too small. It should really be wider than the TV.

    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      oh no...the media unit is really narrow isn't it! I just assumed it was a standard widescreen size :( Might need to go back to the drawing board on that! liked the one you posted, but was more expensive lol xx
    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Here's a visual (guestimated the size of your current sofas)



    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      Carolina, thanks so much! It's so good seeing it. I tried a floor plan thing online and failed miserably :D

      I forgot to say I was planning on putting my current armchair in the suggested corner by the tv unit.

      I have been looking online and see some people use the coffee table from the range as a tv unit. it's only 10cm deeper, 10cm lower but is 110cm wide. Think that would work?xx
    • Carolina
      5 years ago

      Our TV is on an 80 cm high sideboard. That's actually a pretty good height for watching. Even though it should really be lower. The Laura Ashley Balmoral sideboard is 85 cm high. You might consider that?

    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      That sounds pretty good, although what do you do with your tv box etc?xx
    • Carolina
      5 years ago
      Yeah... the box is on the sideboard too. It's not aesthetically perfect, but it works for us.
    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      Aww, thanks again for all the help. will def consider that. I've actually emailed Laura Ashley to ask if there's any chance they're planning to introduce a widescreen tv version to the range anytime soon lol...wishful thinking
    • minnie101
      5 years ago

      I've got my tv in a tall oriental cabinet and got the company to cut a hole in the back for cables which might be worth considering for the sky box. I really like the rug and the pattern goes well but is it too much of a block colour and tonally similar? I'm struggling to find a rug ATM and was just playing around with cushions etc in the 2nd pic but I wonder if something in a teal would work better (just personal opinion though)



    • K Malcolm
      Original Author
      5 years ago
      Thanks so much for all your help.

      I'm going to get the furniture ordered and then look again at rugs etc once everything is in place.

      Thanks everyone :)
    • Carolina
      5 years ago
      Please post updates :-)
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