Everyone can see in our house!

[Deleted]

We moved here in November. It's a new construction and well we hated blinds so I said I will get drapes and we spent the money on a fence instead. Well I can't make up my mind on what I like and then I got busy planning the baby's room. So through the huge windows in the dining room and the front door, everyone can see in the house (yay open floor plan!). Well I am taking a break stenciling the babies room (I hurt my back! stenciling an entire wall with an intricate pattern is tough-and I refuse to let DH help me for the fear that it will take 10x more work to fix what he "creates"), I have decided that it is now or never. 

I need drapes, area rugs, an entry way table, something to put over that table. A few more things but this are the most urgent. The walls are tan, dark hardwood floors (light tan tile in the kitchen), light brown cabinets, dark brown/black granite and all furniture is dark wood/couch is espresso. Most of the pictures I have to put on the wall are black and white, a few colored with black edge frames. So basically the whole living are is BROWN! I need COLOR and I think I will focus on the drapes/curtains and are rugs to get the color. Any suggestions. Right now I am drawn to opposite extremes: a) red/orange/purple or b) blue/greens and maybe alittle yellow. Right now I don't have any throw pillows on the couch because my first dog loved chewing on them but I might slowly reintroduce them since it has been half a year since I put them away. I want to get new ones. 

Anyone want to throw any color ideas and rugs/drape combinations at me? I am the worst decorator in the world. I want something nice and contemporary but it takes me forever to make up my mind. I cannot seem to make up a complete picture in my head by combing things I see separately. I'm like the type of person who has to see the whole package and say "yes! that's it! I want exactly that!". Help me ladies!!!

[tarheels]

Are you on Pinterest? My advice when someone's stuck decorating is to always collect images and see what patterns emerge from your favorites. I bet your likes are more cohesive than you think they are.

It's totally ok for decorating to be about copying. Once you ID your favorite photos, what features do they all have? Khaki walls? Blue curtains? So take the inspiration photo and look at your own room, and make a list of what it has that your room doesn't. Then make it happen.

If you're already on Pinterest and have some fave images, post them and a pic of your space and we can put it together for you.

[emoflamingo]

I agree with Tarheels. Definitely collect a lot of pictures and then see what you find as the one thing.

[Deleted]

Heading over to pinterest now Thanks ladies!

Also, any suggestions where to look for curtains/drapes? I have looked at Macy's, BBB, CB, PB, Urbanoutfitters and found one that I like and available in the length that I need.

[pamela]

JCP is another good option.

[Deleted]

I agree with JCP. I would also check Overstock and we got these www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80173916/ from IKEA. I don't love a lot of their patterned curtains but they have great prices on plain colored panels and they are extra long which is nice.

[nessness]

I would go shopping and pick out one thing that you love, then go from there. Picking out everything at once can be overwhelming because there are so many choices, but if you can find a throw pillow or rug or curtains that you really love, it's easier to then look for things that coordinate with that.

[Deleted]

Went to pinterest and did not see anything I love and I feel can cohesively go together (or maybe because it is all new to me I wasn't searching correctly. I tried to focus on one item (area rug or curtains) and find one I am in love with but still cannot make up my mind :(wth is wrong with me!!! I go between modern and contemporary and I worry I will make a mistake and hate it. Maybe it is time to actually get professional help!

[tarheels]

Look at Houzz.com. It's sorted by rough style. Pin the rooms you like.

Did you pin anything at all? May we see?

And having used designers in my younger days, I can assure you you don't want to pay an hourly professional when you have no idea what appeals to you. Individual rugs and curtains (the small picture) aren't where you want to be focused now - you need a big picture concept.

[Deleted]

I think part of the problem is I really like the more modern look (stripes, chevron) but the fixtures in the house are sort of traditional (in a very nice elegant way) the builder did not cheap out on us. We bought the house when it was almost done and while I don't hate the fixtures (lamps, wall paint color, mantel on the fireplace, kitchen cabinets) they just don't go well with the things I have in my head. The area is very hsitorical and I feel like the builders (or their designers) here try have good taste but just not my taste, kwim. If budget s. as not an issue and this was going to be a forever house, I would do more changes but I just want it to look nice and presentable for when we have people over the next 5 years I guess.Ok I will look some more and be back with some ideas, when I got frustrated I ended looking into nurseries and then shopped for the baby instead

[Deleted]

Also, I now HATE the curtains we have in the master bedroom because we rushed to get the windows covered over there. Even DH who usually doesn't care about these things pointed out how much they don't really go with the room! I don't want to spend money on 6 panels and regret it again Off find some inspirational photos online

[Deleted]

I was trying to find a living room with the same wall color and floor as ours: I this is this the closest: the floors I think are exactly this dark but the walls are a tad darker than this. The ceiling however is the just the regular trey ceiling with double crown molding. We have 2 expresso/brown couches (although one ends with a chaise). The one with a chaise is across the fireplace, where the TV is on


link

Our mantel looks like this: link


I will be back to post pics of living rooms I like. 

[niknik]

I got my drapes at Ikea, they had a great selection and they are very long so I can modify to whatever length I need. The prices were right too.

[Deleted]

I think I am now leaning more towards the clean lines, no bold colors right now. Maybe I am playing it safe and the fact that I can't decide on the colors (but then do I really want colors?). I think I am looking for a more homey feel in the room than colors.

Here's a living area I like. I like how clean, simple and calming these rooms feel. I guess the lack of "stuff" in my living room is partly what is making it feel dry and stiff. link and this link

I also like this link    And this: link

Though I feel like these areas are more modern looking that the feel of our fireplace/light fixtures combined right now. Maybe one day when we can prioritize we can update the fireplace mantel and tile.

I had a hard time considering images that had carpet or light floors or that did not have curtains at all

[tarheels]

First, get blinds. Really. Ideally, a well dressed window has blinds AND curtains. Apparently there are lots of people out there who don't know this, but blinds first for privacy, then curtains for decoration. I've put these blinds in a couple different houses and been pleased with them. They come in a million sizes, so you don't have to order custom or get them cut to fit. www.walmart.com/ip/Canopy-2-Faux-Wood-Blinds-White/15435508 Other girls here have used them to good effect as well.

My point is, if you just get blinds, you won't have to run around looking for curtains right.this.minute and stress yourself out.

Next, what you like is on the border between contemporary and transitional. You don't have a "modern" style, judging by these photos. That might help in your search some.

If you don't like the mantel, you can simply have it clad over with something more your style. No need to completely deconstruct it - just hire someone to cover over it.

Lastly, you're flipping out about nothing Those rooms are practically carbon copies of each other. You have a very tight, defined style. Even better, those rooms are SUPER simple to achieve! Greige paint, greige upholstery, "nude" drapes (greige, white, etc), a couple colored accents, and voila, you're done. The rooms are essentially monochromatic except for an accent or two. Do you see that?

Post a pic of your LR when you can. This is probably SO much easier than you think it is.

PS - I think all the rooms you shared have blinds up

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2013 15:29:46 GMT -5 tarheels said:

First, get blinds. Really. Ideally, a well dressed window has blinds AND curtains. Apparently there are lots of people out there who don't know this, but blinds first for privacy, then curtains for decoration. I've put these blinds in a couple different houses and been pleased with them. They come in a million sizes, so you don't have to order custom or get them cut to fit. www.walmart.com/ip/Canopy-2-Faux-Wood-Blinds-White/15435508 Other girls here have used them to good effect as well.

My point is, if you just get blinds, you won't have to run around looking for curtains right.this.minute and stress yourself out.

Next, what you like is on the border between contemporary and transitional. You don't have a "modern" style, judging by these photos. That might help in your search some.

If you don't like the mantel, you can simply have it clad over with something more your style. No need to completely deconstruct it - just hire someone to cover over it.

Lastly, you're flipping out about nothing Those rooms are practically carbon copies of each other. You have a very tight, defined style. Even better, those rooms are SUPER simple to achieve! Greige paint, greige upholstery, "nude" drapes (greige, white, etc), a couple colored accents, and voila, you're done. The rooms are essentially monochromatic except for an accent or two. Do you see that?

Post a pic of your LR when you can. This is probably SO much easier than you think it is.

PS - I think all the rooms you shared have blinds up

Thanks tarheels I see now what you mean about the blinds. The only reason I hate them is that I do not want to clean them and maybe also because in places we were renting before, it always has the cheap plastic ones and I hated those! haha!