Any one like to help/advise/style my (hopefully) new living room?

4 years ago

I am struggling to plan design details for a house we're in the process of buying. We've had offer accepted and legals are underway but when we complete, we'll then need to get some renovation work done quickly. I've done a bit of practical/building work, and "how we live" thinking but I also want to think about design and colour details.

I'm open to the idea of paying for professional help but I'd also appreciate any guidance about how to get started. I'm focusing on my living room right now but will work through the whole house as it's likely to be a forever home.

About me/us: I'm a big fan of industrial/midcentury European styles, but I also like some pared back classical themes. We're middle aged but trying desperately to hang onto "cool" while still being comfortable/cosy! We work full-time and have three lumbering teenage/adult young men at home, with all their tech needs. We have lots of books and we're constantly battling clutter/mess and failing. I need light, warmth and texture in my new house and it needs not to be too full of "knick-knackery" but well chosen, meaningful detail: I'm of the age and salary where I'd rather buy one really good rug, painting or piece of art glass that will last me a lifetime, than refresh with fashionable stuff every 5 years etc. But I'd see myself as closer to urban than, ahem, suburban in outlook. Anyone fancy helps by me get started?

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Comments (19)

Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
I don't know how to share my 'Living room lookbook'/Ideabook link here (still a noob), but maybe you can access it from my profile?
Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Still trying to upload... It asks me to select individual photos I think!

Ah ok. So below are what I have to work with so far. Please excuse grotty carpets/images from current house!
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maria galvano thank you, I love them too and make me smile whenever I look at them, I bought them from a Bedouin woman in Petra (Jordan). They remind me of an amazing trip to Syria and Jordan some years ago, travelling independently using public transport and meeting amazing people along the way, both locals and tourists. Loved Petra so much and the local Bedouin people, went back for a second day to have another look around as well as sit and drink mint tea and listen to amazing stories ... and yes, they make my home feel alive as most things in it have some connection to a life lived. Thank you again.
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Yellow or orange is a great counterpoint for cushions for the sofa and maybe a rug. Curtains are more expensive to replace so it may be best to keep them neutral. There's a cute modern style rug from habitat with a grey & yellow pattern. Take a swatch of your check and see how well it matches.
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Have you thought of rearranging the furniture so the tv isn't the focal point? Furniture against walls can make a room appear smaller. If the budget permits I would add a coffee table to bring furniture into the middle of the room. I would also add a mirror to the dining area to bounce light and maybe install a low hanging pendant light over the table. I would also choose a neutral coloured rug as using a single colour for an item becomes the focal point. Grey is a good modern neutral for walls. If you want to use paper on a smaller wall choose a small pattern that won't date unless you don't mind repapering to keep it up to date. There are some really fantastic papers around at the moment such as chinoiserie, bold contemporary and typography but it depends on your preferred style? Maybe use plain (not patterned as this may date or your taste will change) velvet or silk curtains to soften the room. Use different colours and textures for the accessories to avoid block colours as per comment above. Pattern/interest can also be added in the form of wall art.
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Hi Margaret, do you have any pictures of the carpet and sofas? Pure and Original have some beautiful colours, if you would like a colour chart I can send you one. Sue
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Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
I just wrote a very long list with lots of photos. No idea what happened to it! I cannot make this site work AT ALL. Any one able to help me?
Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
Nope. Still can't seem to add links or photos.
Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
Will try one at a time?
This is my midcentury table. In the style of Hovmand Olsen. Bought from eBay, no · More Info
Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
OK, that worked. Above is my current coffee table. It will come to new living room. Veneer is a bit damaged, but it was bought for peanuts from eBay. In style of Hovmand Olsen - no idea if original. We're big fans of good quality midcentury teak. But need to style new room to be fresh and contemporary too.
Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
My G Plan Fresco Highboard, also an eBay job. The dark leather sofas (X2, a 2 seater and a 3 seater) are dark and old fashioned but a plain enough boxy shape and we can't afford to replace. Would consider revamping in some way (covers? bleach/lighten leather? new legs to raise up a bit?)
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Midcen Tury-Modern
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4 years ago
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><md>Please ignore horrid green carpet. Was in this house when we moved in and just not got round to changing.
Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
So this is the living room we're hopefully moving to...

Will plan to strip paper, remove dado, artex, coving and ceiling rose, and repaint. Planning Karndean LVT light oak parquet to match some already in other bits of house.

Not keen on radiators under windows & sill length curtains. But husband not keen on wet UFH (cost, and wd have to be retrofitted over concrete). so no idea about how to make room work as there's barely a free wall...
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Midcen Tury-Modern
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4 years ago
Estate agent plan.
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Left wall (facing roughly SW) and bottom wall (facing roughly SE) have window and radiators.
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Midcen Tury-Modern
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4 years ago
My lovely little Bramin nest of tables. Current industrial cast iron radiators in current house. Not coming with us, though I like their style.
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4 years ago
I like this styling. A bit too green, and floor is darker here. But it is my kind of feel. I'm not at all confident about mixing and blending colours and textures like this but would like to achieve a "pulled together" look.
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4 years ago
Again I like this mix of midcentury and vaguely industrial style. Still a bit darker than I would like and too much aubergine/green contrast, but along these lines.
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4 years ago
This is a lighter, brighter version of what I like right now. But again the green blind is too contrasty and jarring for my taste. And I also want a warmer, cosier colour scheme while retaining a lightness!
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Midcen Tury-Modern
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4 years ago
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Midcen Tury-Modern
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A wee bit green/beige but need to also think about evening comfort, warmth, lighting, cosiness. This feels "right" but don't exactly know why?;
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Midcen Tury-Modern
Original Author
4 years ago
Hello...?
Sonia
4 years ago
I’m sorry but your post is rather long and rather confusing, I’m sure it is putting people off. A simple text and a few photos will suffice I feel.

Any one like to help/advise/style my (hopefully) new living room?

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Any one like to help/advise/style my (hopefully) new living room?

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Sonia

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BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

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Midcen Tury-Modern
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