Can this ugly room be helped?

[bunnymendelbaum]

I think I've mentioned before that my mom is a bit of a hoarder. Well, here is the proof. 
She is repainting and re-carpeting sun/family room and needs color help.

I am aware this room needs SO MUCH MORE HELP than carpet and paint but oh well. 
I was thinking sea salt for the walls, but now I don't think so. She is thinking a light beige for carpet.
She will not paint the trim. She might get a new couch in a couple of years.

Help.
Can you think of colors to help this sad sad room?

(going to add photos in a second post from my phone because I'm too lazy to tinypic them.)

[bunnymendelbaum]

two

[AmyRI]

I'd probably try to pick a lighter blue/gray color. This image has a sort of tan floor, oak trim, and blue walls and I don't think the blue makes the wood trim stand out too much. And then her couch would match since she won't be getting one for a few years.

[mrsemilys]

I was going to say a greyish blue...I like the one PP mentioned!

[Deleted]

That's not bad at all. I bet half the mom's on here have houses with that much stuff. It's what they like/do.

I would do a tan on the walls (something lighter but deep if you know what I mean). It'd help tie in the woodwork and maybe date the furniture a bit less. I like the tan in the rug for a starting point. I'd also paint the door something more fun. Navy might be good.

Will she consider switching out light fixtures? That'd help a lot as well. I'd also take that swag down off the top window. It'd freshen that area up for sure.

[bunnymendelbaum]

ok, here are some options:
picasaweb.google.com/101654627415774439968/Sunroom?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[AmyRI]

I like the 1st and 2nd ones, the blue and brown. I like the blue best. The brown is a little do dark for my taste, but it would be good if she'd agree to long sheer curtains on the windows, maybe. That would also help cover up the trim.

I like the color carpet you chose.

And I like Dairy's idea of a navy door.

[Susie]

That's nowhere near as bad as your build up made me afraid of!

I know people come on here all the time and say oh, I have oak trim, what color should I paint my walls to work with that? But I have really not found the oak trim to be a big factor in picking paint colors. Maybe it's the color families I gravitate toward? Maybe my picks look hideous with the trim and I just don't see it? But I have done fairly neutral blues, greens, creams, tans, and a yellow, and I thought they were all as fine with oak trim as oak trim could be. So I'd pick based on what else is in the room, decor wise.

She's not keeping the too-small area rug when the new carpet comes, right? Getting rid of that and the swag over the windows will help a lot. And the patriotic table cloth

Here's some pics of colors I've done with oak trim: guinsyard.wordpress.com/house-tour/ Unfortunately the rooms with Sea Salt are among the only rooms where I've finished painting the trim white

[bunnymendelbaum]

I guess this is the room that is the least cluttered, or you just can't see it in these two photos.

For me all the windows and trim is just so much visual clutter. That's why I was leaning towards a darker color to make them blend.

Thanks so much!
Susie - those photos help so much!

[clementine]

Are you sure you two are related?! I don't think it's horrible, by any means, but your style is so clean and modern.

[Susie]

No problem.

I forgot that I actually do have a pic of Sea Salt with oak trim, since you mentioned that color in particular.  I always forget that although the rest of the room has white trim, we opted not to paint the bow window in the living room.

[bunnymendelbaum]

I hear you Merida.

I'm thinking I might mention moving the couch downstairs, but it seems wasteful because it isn't that old and it's pretty useful & comfy. I can't get a grasp on how much my mom cares about how "nice" the room looks.

I swear every time I go home they have a new big, dark, ugly piece of furniture in this room.

[downtoearth]

Jun 25, 2013 9:11:44 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

ok, here are some options:
picasaweb.google.com/101654627415774439968/Sunroom?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Maybe I'm crazy, but the paint color hardly matters in most of those pictures b/c I can't see past the oak trim around all the windows.  I think in that case, I would go with a more creamy/yellow warm neutral.  The neutral with warm creamy tones would maybe tone-down the stark difference between the wall and the oak trim, but still be a color-wheel compliment to the blue couches and accents. 

And I have to ask, but what are all the figurines?  Are they the same type like Precious Moments?

[downtoearth]

Jun 25, 2013 10:15:22 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

I guess this is the room that is the least cluttered, or you just can't see it in these two photos.

For me all the windows and trim is just so much visual clutter. That's why I was leaning towards a darker color to make them blend.

Thanks so much!
Susie - those photos help so much!

Oh, I see I felt the same way that the window trim is the highlight of the room, not the color of the walls right now. 

Susie - I think your room works b/c you don't have oak trim everywhere, so that feels like an accent and not the main color when your eye scans the room.

[bunnymendelbaum]

Jun 25, 2013 14:11:41 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

And I have to ask, but what are all the figurines?  Are they the same type like Precious Moments?

Yes, Precious Moments.

/ugh.

[downtoearth]

Jun 25, 2013 14:15:38 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

Jun 25, 2013 14:11:41 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

And I have to ask, but what are all the figurines?  Are they the same type like Precious Moments?

Yes, Precious Moments.

/ugh.

Love it!  Makes me think of childhood.

[auntie]

It was brave of you to share this.

Did someone drop you off as a newborn in a basket on her doorstep? Or is your refined taste a function of rebellion against your mom's decorating?

Maybe you should tie her up with that long strip of fabric she is using as a window treatment and stage a decorating intervention for her addiction to oak.

I must admit I'm drawn to whatever it is with the chunky legs hiding under that festive patriotic tablecloth.

[bunnymendelbaum]

Haaaaaa! Too funny!

I do have anti-hoarding tendencies and tend to like modern, clean styles because of my parent's house.

I think it is both my parents at work in this room. My mom is so unsure and my dad likes the dark masculine furniture. They both love oak because to them, it is quality.

They do have some nice antique pieces, my dad's parents were antique dealers. That table is freaking awesome even if NMS. Those are big spiral legs.

(Funny side note: our Saint Bernard puppy chewed the shit out of the center leg. My dad covertly took it off and had my grandfather make a new one without my mom noticing.)

I still don't know what the heck to tell her for a color.

I'd love to just redo the whole room, but I must confess, I do love how that ugly couch fits about 10 people.

[downtoearth]

Oh, I was just thinking, could you convince her to paint the walls white and the ceiling a blue color? That might be pretty cool and then the oak trim is surrounded by a white and the ceiling is the highlight.

I doubt I would ever convince my mom of that, but I thought I'd suggest it.