Great comments, all of them. Now look at this pic and tell me what you think. Say I paint the shelves and the hutch white (or cream, or maybe even a very pale pink), the walls a light sage green, get a larger table, make cushions for the chairs, fill shelves and hutch with books and pretty collectibles. What say you?
And maybe a circular rub under the table and chairs.
If you haven't commented on the first idea (below) I want all the comments I can get about either arrangement. I'm not really good with home dec. I need all the help I can get.
And Alison, I love your idea about a hanging the door of the little cedar armoire. Even if I put it somewhere else, I'm going to do that.
Or even NO table and chairs?
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On 02/27/2010, Alathia Carroll said ...
Love the blue desk! Can't tell from the photo if it "clashes" with the walls, but again I love the color of the desk/hutch. Since it looks like a desk, the table & 2 chairs seem a bit out of place in front of a desk. If you made a pretty skirt for the desk, the table and chairs wouldn't look so out of place. And you could hide all kinds of goodies (organized in rolling carts) under the desk!!!
Yes, to a bigger table, if you go that route. Check out TJMaxx and Home Goods, I saw some tables there that would be the right size/scale.
Yep, the bookshelves need to be painted white or cream. Then you can line the back with a coordinating fabric/scrapbook paper/wallpaper. Then if you needed to move them to another area of the house, you won't have to repaint.
I like where you're headed with this room.
Alathia
On 02/27/2010, Jan said ...
Oh what fun! I haven't had a chance to stop by in a few days, but it looks like you're in decorating mode. I'm partial to the first picture in this post w/the blue desk, which I think will look awesome painted white w/the green walls. I also think a bigger table w/the chairs and cushions will look awesome and I like Alathia's idea of making a little skirt for the desk :) I like the looks of the desk better than the armoire below :) I also love those boxes you got at Joanne's! I've had my eye on some for quite a while now ... had no idea they were on sale! Tks for that tip and good luck w/the room :)
On 02/27/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
I like this corner piece more as it's size helps it hold it's own with the bookcases that flank it.
The table and chairs seem to crowd the area, but perhaps that's because the various shelves aren't yet filled as they are in the inspiration picture. I think I'd wait for the final decision about this until you have the shelves as you decide to have them and filled. Goodwill has furniture, too, if you choose to get another table.
Could Sophie have a little bed under the corner desk?
Can we see a wing chair, footstool, lamp, and throw?! With and without the little table? That says cozy reading spot to me.
Moving furniture is just what you had in mind for this afternoon, isn't it?! No???????!
Hugs!
On 02/27/2010, Jane McCarthy said ...
Love the blue desk option (1st picture). Also like the idea of the green walls and white or cream woodwork (to match the chairs) on all 3 pieces of furniture. Still would line the backs of the shelves with color. Agree with all that say the table isn't to scale. Darling table, just needs to be a tad bigger. Also would make sure to put knick knacks (old bird cage, bird houses, balls of yarn in glass vase, plants,etc.) on top of middle hutch to make it slightly taller than the bookcases on either side. You could display a few vintage cameras from Vann's camera collection on some of the shelves (mixed with other things). You will have so much fun with this! You're definitely headed in the right direction.
On 02/27/2010, Debi said ...
Paint those bookshelves white, get a bigger table, use your ideas for color and it will look cozy and warm.
On 02/27/2010, Joanne said ...
I'm too tired to type, but I've got to say how much I like your decorating ideas. One thing I noticed in your inspiration picture is that the table and chairs, with their deep colors, make a nice focal point. I agree you need a larger table, and I would make the table and chairs match colorwise, and be very bright.
I saw those gorgeous boxes when I was at your house today, and meant to ask where you got 'em, but I forgot.
Thanks again for the books. - Una
On 02/27/2010, Rae Ann said ...
I think you are well on your way and it seems you have the right idea to accomplish what you want. Have fun with your decorating and I hope you get on top of your sinus infection.
On 02/27/2010, Lisa A said ...
You're definitely on the right track. Like the blue corner unit. Put some cushions on the chairs that have a little blue in them. Larger table. I like painted shelves. Mine are white like the trim in my room.
On 02/27/2010, Pat said ...
I like the idea of white or cream for the shelves and hutch. And maybe one comfy upholstered chair and small table, with rug, as a reading nook in front of all those wonderful books. Your boxes would look great with the color scheme you've chosen and I think maybe on top of the hutch. Somehow it seems dwarfed and the middle piece needs some height. You always inspire me!!
On 02/27/2010, Debra Spincic said ...
I may be the only one here who says to leave the bookcases alone. I have a mainly pastel colored house (blues and greens and peach) and I found that I need some heavier, darker colors to tame all that sweetnes or else you begin feeling like you live in an Easter basket. At least from the pictures it looks like the wood has some nice patina and I would hate to cover that with paint (and I love painted wood). Besides, they will be covered with books and stuff so why bother?
I also like the hutch the way it is and I don't think it looks like a desk--again, it is going to take you maybe 2 weeks max & it will be covered with stuff too (am I right?)
I think I would prefer an upholstered chair and the small table rather than the 2 "kitchen" chairs. I might leave one of them in the room as an accent piece (or to collect more junk, whichever comes first). Of the pieces, I would paint the chair some wild and crazy color -- maybe hot pink and add a fun cushion. One chair is much quicker to paint than 2 bookcases and a hutch. Let's be realistic. You could also use the fabric from the cushion as fabric for the top of the table and either decoupage it down to the table or have glass cut (although those scallops look intimidating for cut glass).
I like the wall color the shade it is--goes nicely with the hutch color. I would probably bring in some more natural colors like the wood tone; maybe some wicker. I would even consider some kind of a wicker chair as your "upholstered chair" and then you could have cushions in a fun print -- or wrap them in old quilts.
You could also hang a small quilt for the window topper.
On 02/28/2010, Carol said ...
I like the idea of an upholstered chair and small table with a lamp too, rather than the table and chairs. Make it look more like a cozy reading area. It's going to be wonderful!
On 02/28/2010, Sharon said ...
I would paint the bookcases, probably an off-white. One thing I did with a painted bookcase was paint the inside back surface a color, maybe a shade darker than the walls. I love color, and a little bit of color then peeks out over the top of the books, and behind the little pretty knick-knacks you would put there. I also like the idea of a comfy chair, not a huge one, but one that you want to settle into for a time, and a bigger table, - and good lighting somewhere, maybe on the desk top. I'd have a colorful pillow or two in the chair, and a rug underneath the table and chair - maybe round, maybe square, but with some color in it, probably subdued a little. The books in the shelves are a form of design and art. I don't think I'd skirt the desk, as it would look too fussy and overdone. I like the color of the desk the way it is.
I too have tons of books, am slowly weeding out the ones I know I won't read again.
I also love those storage boxes. I did find one at JoAnn's, and another one or two at Hobby Lobby. I wanted something that looked nice to put different categories of mementos in, and I keep checking those stores to find another one or two - sometimes they're hard to find. Mine don't match like yours do, though, but that's ok.
On 02/28/2010, Alison said ...
I'm so glad you liked my suggestion on the door hanging :o). It must be the feeling that spring is on the way, I'm having a good clearout here as well, ebay is a wonderful invention!
And since you asked, I'll make a couple more comments on your layout {grin}. We quilters do like to give our opinions LOL! I love green, so your idea of sage walls sounds wonderful, and the dark wood of the bookcases would look great against it (you won't see as much of the wood once you have all your lovely goodies on the shelves). I'm not a fan of distressed paint effects, so I would paint the blue unit cream, possibly with the back of the shelves pink for a bit of variation, or the table top could be stripped and waxed and the rest painted (depending on the quality of the wood underneath). A comfy chair and the cute side table with a pretty rug to break up the cream of the carpet would also be great, I think.
PS - I agree that Plum Silly would be a great title for Plum Spooky, but it still made me laugh. I don't know how Janet Evanovich does it, but every book makes me laugh out loud at some point! You've got some interesting looking books on your list, I must see what my local library has.
On 02/28/2010, CarlaH said ...
Hi Susan, I am somewhat of a minimalist and find that the two bookcases, the hutch/or desk plus two chairs and another table would make the room look way too crowded.I would go with the bookcases, a wing chair and the little table for a cup of coffee and a place to put down a book - of course you'll also need a lamp. But all in all, it all depends on what you are planning to do in that corner - are you likely to meet with someone there thus requiring two chairs. I would also leave the bookcases the colour they are - they would look lovely in a green and pink room. I'm in the middle of some redecorating/minimalizing as well so can well relate to your dilemmas. Be assured that it will all come together in the end whatever you decide to do - it has to work for you.
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