Description:
HELP!! Our living room is in need of a facelift and we feel it has potential. It's a large room that opens into our dining room. This is phase I of a project that will eventually include the entire home with an emphasis on our kitchen.
The home was designed by Michael Okada 20 years ago. We have a lot of built in cabinets and niches and a jitsu tea pole that is the focus of the living/dining and can be seen when you enter the home. The window coverings are awful and very plain. At a minimum, I'd like to add character to our home via new window treatments. We have high ceilings and a rice paper wall (green) in the dining room and a woven wallpaper (beige) background in the living room behind the 3 Otsuka prints. The pictures are very small and the rooms are crying for some color.
Images From This Update:
Tell us more about your place:
- My inspiration for this space Asian influence, large open space. Retreat (we purposely had no TV in this room... until the Sugarbowl)
- Biggest challenge These are my BEFORE pictures and I am hoping for help to create a beautiful "AFTER" room. For years I have been searching for the right window treatments to create a certain look. Since it is very costly, I wanted to be sure I tied everything in properly before investing in such a large expense. The biggest challenge is where to begin and with several large expenses (furniture, window coverings) when to "pull the trigger". Which one first?
- My home is ... a place that will finally be free of kids! Now it's time for us to do all the things we've talked about doing for years. Our recent class on 2/23 has given me the inspiration to begin. Our home is 4000 sf living with a majority one story and just 2 people in the home. Great home for entertaining with a covered lanai and facing an open park. The home has function, but is craving a facelift.
9 Comments
1. sunny | February 26, 2008
I agree! your house is BEAUTIFUL Kay, but CRYING,SHOUTING and maybe even pleading for some color! you have the SAFE beige & white theme! Phew! thank goodness for the RSVP Style! Let phase 1 begin....
2. marionheath | March 01, 2008
If this were my space I would have fun choosing something both my husband and I found that we loved like a painting, photograph or even a sculpture for inspiration. I would think how I like to entertain and have large pieces of furniture that were comfortable but had elegance and bright colors that I could live with but showed fun - something from our chosen inspriation. I would have a wood or ceramic floor. The wood will suggest warmth and the cramic or stone will suggest cool. But what is a side benifit is that furniture moves around on it easily to rearrange for larger or more intimate gatherings. I love your lighting and ceilings. Display larger pieces of art work on the walls where your lights will show them best. Explore your options for window coverings. Something that puddles as the floor gives elegance and you have the space for that. Have fun with this.
3. cindi | March 02, 2008
Try call Candance Olsen.....I love Design Design. Go to HGTV and get an inspiration picture. Cindi :)
4. new house | March 03, 2008
Two things I would do : Find a large inspiration picture to replace the small pictures frames and pull out or draw your colors from there. Or, find a nice rug that you really like to base your colors from. You already have green paper wall , if it were my house, I would choose yellow and a splash color of red. Also, nice tall plants will make the room more lively. Go and look at window treatments in different showrooms and you will eventually choose what you really want.
5. slinhong | March 03, 2008
I love your house even if you feel its outdated. I do have a question about your windows. What's on the other side? That kind of would help determine what the coverings should be. Did you want privacy? I think the furniture is fine and can be updated by adding arm chairs (Not stuffed) that complement your beautiful sofas ie. different fabrics/patterns/colors. The two stuffed arm chairs perhaps can be relocated into another area where you can create a nice cozy niche for you and your husband to enjoy. I'd love to see "after" photos.
6. lisa | March 04, 2008
I think you should look into purchasing an amazing area rug. Choose a rug that will add color and texture to your living room. You have a huge, beautiful space and a little color will spice it up and give it an updated look.
7. charlie | March 04, 2008
You can add accent color inexpensively with throw pillows. Good luck.
8. stylish | March 12, 2008
Great house but definitely lacking in color and warmth. I noticed alot of the same color wood. I agree that adding some yellows and red and putting an area rug will bring some life into the room. I have seen bamboo sliding screens that are more interesting than vertical blinds and would tie in with the asian theme. Definitely some green plants to add color and height to the room. The dining room needs an area rug under the table and, if you are thinking of purchasing a new one. I would think about glass top. It adds a different texture and you can get an interesting base to put it on. Reupholstering the chairs in a print that ties in with your living room colors can do alot to bring both rooms together.
9. tammyt | April 09, 2008
So much potential! I love your Asian pieces. The room looks so empty with everything along the walls. I'd like to see more warmth and more color. Also, if the dining and living room connect, I'd like to see Asian influence in the dining room. Dining set is so modern and shiny. Have fun!!!
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