Hello!

I hope you’re having a great weekend! Today I’m excited to be showing you a side project of mine!

Back in February I mentioned that I was working on selections for a small living room. Recently, a teacher at my sister’s school asked for some design help. She had a great living room space with a lot of the basic furnishings. Although she had made some great furnishing choices, almost all of the pieces she had were a deep chocolate brown. Chocolate leather sofas, chocolate stained wood coffee table and entertainment center, and to top it all off she also had dark chocolate wood floors.

As I said before, all of her choices were stylish, quality items, but she had fallen into a neutral rut.

(All I have are cell phone shots of the space at this time)

After discussing things with her further, she told me about some of the items she had recently purchased: a mustard rug, coral wrought iron wall art, and a hand full of solid mustard and turquoise pillows. All of these items would work fabulously in the space with a few edits.

The more we spoke about the space the clearer my design vision became. This client wanted a space with fresh colors, inviting textures, and a feminine vibe with a country twist. The phrase that came to mind for this design was Feminine Fresh.

Drapery Panels, Pillows (no longer available), Lamp, Lamp Shade, Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Mirror 3, Mirror 4, Mirror 5, Wicker Arm Chair, Pillow, Throw, Candle Holder, Hobnail Hurricanes, Chevron Frame, Lacquer Trays, Lanterns, Frame, Hobnail Vases & Seagrass Basket

To begin breaking up the sea of chocolate in the space, I suggested laying down her mustard rug beneath the coffee table. Next, by adding patterned pillows to coordinate with the solid pillows we could soften the look of the leather seating. New lamps with a classic silhouette could be added to either side of the sofa and a pair of drapery panels could be hung above the window to draw the eye upwards. By adding a wicker armchair in the corner of the room, we could maximize seating and add texture. An accent pillow and throw make this a cozy spot to relax and read.

The client’s coral wrought iron wall art could be hung above the TV with a few small mirrors. Then, wicker baskets below the TV could maximize storage for movies, etc. A lacquer tray on the coffee table would be a great place for housing magazines and remotes while also including a few accessories like a frame or candleholders. Last, decorative accessories such as frames, vases and lanterns can be used on side tables and in the open areas of the entertainment center.

All of the items shown are from affordable retailers. I love when a space can be done on a budget! The client loved these ideas and is currently working on incorporating them into her space. Hopefully, I can help her with the install and snap some “after” shots sometime soon!

As I look over this design board, I think my favorite element is the cozy wicker chair with a pillow and throw.

What is your favorite item or element?