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Christy's Foyer

09/28/2012

6 Comments

 
I get to tackle my first entry room on 2nd and Strand today!  Reader Christy has a nice space with parquet floors, molding, lots of glass and light, and space for a great chandelier.  Dreamy really.  
Hello tiny baby feet:)  When I see this space I really want to ground it with a darker paint under the chair rail, and then add wallpaper above the rail.  Christy sent me this picture as well, with a note that read, " I really like the colors on the chair with the blue. I am down for being bold, orange walls?".  Up for being bold, that is something a designer loves to hear.   
I really like Walnut Wallpapers, based in LA, but I am sure you can find a local wallpaper store that would be extremely helpful.  It would be important to make sure your wallpaper is lined because it appears you have some texture to your walls.  I looks as if your level of texture is called, orange peel, which shouldn't be too big of an issue, but lined wallpaper will go along way to achieving a smooth look.  
I like the paper above, I found it at Walnut.  I like the shade of orange it uses and I like all of the movement in the pattern, I think it would look amazing all the way up to the ceiling, really capitalizing on all that height.  I also like that it has enough white backgrounhero keep the space feeling airy and light.  I would take a sample of the paper to a paint store and color match the orange and use that exact color beneath the chair rail.  
I'd like you to look at the above picture, and then look at the molding in the first picture.  The molding around the door frame in the first picture is nice and big.  I think the molding in the door frame in the above picture is too small.  I would paint the area in between white as well.  I think as is, it looks a little busy, and you don't want your eye going to a door frame when you've got amazing windows and floors and wallpaper and all the rest!
Rug - oriented this way it moves the visitor in the door, but doesn't compete with the floor
Chandelier - black to tie in with the rug and to pop off the wallpaper, hang it low so it's visible in teh transom
Console table - I would place this against the larger wall in the first picture
Mirror - above the console table
Art work - opposite console wall, above and slightly off center the chair
Chair - visitors can take shoes on and off, etc, also it ties in color of floor w/ chrome leg
Wall Mounted Coat Rack - takes up no floor space, but a good place to hang items

Christy asked what I would do about privacy.  With all of that glass I am sure it is a real concern at night.  I'm including a link to 3M Window films.  I have seen this product in action and I think it is great.  If Christy were to treat her windows people could not see in her home, but her view out would remain the same.  It's pretty great stuff.  
  
Thanks to Christy for sending in her space.  We love to offer 2nd Opinions.  If you are in need of one click the button below and get started!
-Andrea
6 Comments
 

Console Table Love

12/05/2011

3 Comments

 
I am a relatively new owner of a console table and am in love. Really, how did it take me so long to get one? They are narrow so they don't take up much visual weight in a room, but are a great way to display pretty things, or use as a needed storage unit like I needed (see the picture below? Yep, I had to have a place to put things!). This purchase was sparked because I didn't like the balance of my living room, which is the room you immediately walk into when coming into my apartment. I felt like there were too many kid things randomly about, with bigger items on the floor in the corner, and smaller items taking up needed room on the bottom rows of our one bookshelf. So after doing a little reorganizing, buying the console table below, and rearranging things I am feeling much better about my balance problem!
The table still needs a little tweaking, but I'm happy that things are well organized and seem to be functioning well, which is the most important thing. Now I have space back on my bookshelf so extra books aren't getting randomly thrown around like they were before because of lack of space. And even though pretty much everything on the console table are kid toys, it still looks organized and nice, so I'm fine with having that whole area for kid items. I think as long as kid toys are displayed in a pleasing way in shared rooms and don't look like they are taking over a significant amount of space, they can fit well in any room they are needed to be in. It would be great if these toys could fit in my boys room... but they can't. And it would be fantastic to have a toy room... but I'm living in a small two bedroom apartment... so thats obviously not happening (but I'm dreaming of one though...) so my living room will still have to serve its many purposes, and thats just fine. 

When looking for a console table I knew I wanted one that was long with two shelves (I needed the storage space!), that was a style that could easily be mixed with other design styles. I liked that this is industrial with the metal and roller feet (love that), but has a little rustic feel to it because of the wood, which also helps soften it up a little. I wanted something that was simple yet interesting, with straight, clean lines so this was a good match for me. I bought this at World Market, but Anthropology also has a more expensive option.
If you have a console table, what do you use if for? Is it to display a couple of pretty things or is it packed with things like mine? I'd love to hear what you are using yours for. I'd also love to hear how you balance the adult to kid ratio in your rooms!
3 Comments