For those of you who don’t know, I’m doing a Give Away this week and the fabulous gift is one of the above Made By Girl Posters! Click here for all of the details on how to enter (I need help decorating my family room and I need ideas, suggestions and HELP!)
Here is how it is going to work :
*leave a comment with your suggestions or ideas. The more detail the better. Pictures, links, etc. are the best
*You can leave more than one comment if you have a brilliant idea that wakes you up in the night – ha! However, your name can be selected only one time for the drawing.
*I will choose 3 ideas/suggestions that I like best and then will do a drawing for the winner. The contest will end on Sunday night at Midnight!
*The lucky winner can choose their favorite Made By Girl poster from the above selection (these are both on my wish list) and I will have the poster sent directly to you!
**Good Luck, Can’t wait for more ideas!**
Jennifer Ramos
Commented on October 15th, 2008 at 10:56pm
wow thanks : )
Emily Anne Leyland
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 12:00am
WEll- You could go sooo many ways. Let’s see. You could do a beautiful sea blue/green on the walls. Like a glass blue green. Think Tiffany color but lightened up like 10 times. That and the couch color would go nicely. It is a neutral so the collage you wanted to do above the fireplace could pull in so many other colors. That or I paint ;)and could do something custom for ya…lol.
The collage might look good above the couch though. It sounds crazy but what if you painted the brick a metallic copper color. Candles on the bottom would illuminate it and make it ROCK. I did a really cute thing on my entry table where I got some big branches. Put them in a big vase and got different pics of family and friends and put them on a branch or twig evenly spaced out and it really was a “family tree” I got so many comments and it looked wicked. Or you could use old photographs or postcards for some character. Get some beautiful pillows from the London cushion company and find some antique , and unique furniture, like a good coffee table. I think you need a bigger lamp on the side table next to the couch. Ok- I am done. hehehe good luck!!
belinda graham
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 4:37am
OK here goes – you asked!
I think you should paint the whole wall the same colour as the brick – mantle top included. That’s only because I absolutely love this pic and am trying to live it through other people because I don’t have a fireplace of my own. I think it’s pretty much perfect inspiration for that wall with the fireplace – you could balance out the imbalanced placing of the fireplace with a rustic bucket of chopped firewood on the right in that little corner with a few pics propped up against the brick behind it – you don’t need to buy anything; get your kids to draw something and frame that (and they’ll get a kick out of it too!)
On top of the mantle, why don’t you group a whole heap of samey objects – again like in the picture – on the left-hand side. I love these white things and it could easily be achieved by grabbing a heap of cool-shaped cups, vases, objects from a thrift store (or around your house) and spray painting them the same colour. I’m going to do this in white in my own place for my new recessed shelves. One day… But back to you, you could do any colour you really love – maybe the blue like your door? I’d prop something large – a canvas or big frame just off centre to the right with a few framed pictures in front and to the end. You could also mix up your frames with your “Ms” and add to the collection like in this pic: or grab some cheapie plywood ones and customise them yourself. On the left-hand side a few pics just stuck on the wall casually – maybe a group of three (odd always looks better than even) different sized pictures; they don’t even have to be framed, like this (see week 24).
Or if you’d rather focus on the wall (and I wouldn’t put too many big things on that wall as it’s rather close to the ceiling, best to prop on top of the mantle), I love this pic for inspiration – the variation of frames works perfectly when the palette is so similar and black and white family snaps are a really stylish way of showing off your fave snaps. If you chose not to paint the wall white, the white frames would pop nicely against the coloured wall.
For your open shelves, go nuts mixing books with fave objects. My friend Louise has something similar in her place (scroll down) I’d personally paint them white too because that way the objects would take centre stage, but I realise you’ve just painted them, so maybe incorporate that greeny colour in the room with some cushions on the couch to lighten it up and a nice white throw. Also, if you’d rather not paint your walls, maybe paint the mantle white like in this pic.
One more – another idea (see week 30) for above your couch using your letters and picture frames.
Well that was fun (and a rather good distraction from the work I was meant to be doing. Oops). And very long – sorry. Hope it helped a little.
Belinda
http://www.renovateanddecorate.blogspot.com
http://www.minimeez.blogspot.com
belinda graham
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 7:01am
I just found this which might be helpful – a piece on styling your mantlepiece from the new Domino book of decorating. x
http://www.renovateanddecorate.blogspot.com
http://www.minimeez.blogspot.com
Girl Japan
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 8:18am
Great post, and fabulous idea! I was looking through your blog a bit, how would you feel about shabby chic? I am not sure if this is in your budget but have you thought about (white) hardwood floors, you could perhaps even bring out the brown with the beams above using a teal color/accent- teal and brown are really hot this season, maybe a teal and brown damask wall paper on one wall.
Monday through Sunday
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 8:44am
I came by from Paula’s blog @ Two Ellie. Lovely blog!
Mango Gal
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 9:19am
You have such an awesome fireplace! I live in S.Fla so that was the first thing I got excited about, we don’t have many of those down here ;-)
When I saw the fireplace I automatically thought of this picture:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2108/2300740946_f3852ac852.jpg?v=0
I love the layering of the mirrors on top of the mantel, however I would go for darker frames combined with some metallic ones like the mirror you have on there. In the picture they also have some other objects on there like what you also have on the mantel.
On the bottom ledge of the fireplace, I would maybe get some alternating sizes of large pillar teraniums with candles or something.
Maybe you can do the photo collage on the wall where your sofa is? And get some cute throw pillows. As for the book case, I think it would look create by filling it up with cool books and other items. For instance, I love the glass jars with the black and white pictures in this bookcase:
http://www.potterybarn.com/pbimgs/rk/images/p2/products/200842/0006/img21m.jpg
Happy decorating girly!
Mango Gal
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 11:22am
Hi there! I had so much fun with this contest that I dedicated a whole blog post to it! Enjoy!
la la Lovely
Commented on October 16th, 2008 at 12:29pm
You guys are all wonderful.. thank you for all of the fabulous ideas.. I can’t wait to really sit down and STUDY all of these wonderful comments!
xxxxx Trina
Donadio Photography
Commented on October 17th, 2008 at 10:20am
such an awesome contest!
As awesome as the fireplace is, I really like the beams on the ceiling. I really think they should be more or a focus. Layering mirrors on the mantel will really help to make the room look bigger, and will also help to show the reflection of the beams.
The walls could go with a slight darker cream color then you have now, and you can paint the fireplace a deep brown color such as the color of the beams or the couch.
I also think that different height candles around the fireplace would look very interesting. And if you dont use your fireplace often you can place the candles inside of a different look.
Thanks for such a fun contest!! Happy decorating!!
Jennifer Ramos
Commented on October 18th, 2008 at 2:31am
Trina, This lady left this comment on my blog:
For decorating of your family room I would suggest getting couches in a durable material and also sectional couches will allow more seating spaces.
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca
P.S. I think she thought it had to be on my blog…anyhow..you can include or email her, its up to you. : )
alexandra-jade
Commented on October 18th, 2008 at 12:47pm
I think the modern/organic look is really in right now… And I would go with soft colors like browns and creams and then maybe like use some white furniture or cream with lots of pretty pillows in a different color. like this room:
http://www.housetohome.co.uk/imageBank/y/yellow-1–web-ready.jpg
Here is one idea I like from pottery barn
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3205/colorwe1.jpg
i also recommend domino magazine. they have really cool ideas.
i would also choose a really pretty rug that has pattern or something…
feltrugs.co.uk have some beautiful rugs…
http://www.housetohome.co.uk/imageBank/b/BH0511-109a.jpg
and using art that you like in some thick white picture frames on the wall would be pretty.
Callie Grayson
Commented on October 18th, 2008 at 6:33pm
Trina, Fun contest!!
Okay, i have a lot of idea’s and i haven’t read any of the comments so I wouldn’t be influenced so i apologize if I repeat any suggestions:
first i have photos, color pallets and sketches on my site here for you to review
http://calliegrayson.blogspot.com/2008/10/lala-lovely-family-room-design-contest.html
I say keep the mirror, move to the sofa area with the “M”‘s see the sketch I did for the layout.
Then paint the wall at the fireplace a warm amber color to make the fireplace a central focal point. Hang a round mirror to break up the straight lines of the elevation. Place the candle sticks to the left and then place photos of your family on the wall to the right with a box or basket on the mantel for matches, kindling and other items needed in that area. I have also included on my post fireplace accessories to work with the color pallet i am suggesting:
Chocolate, Amber and Silver.
1940’s Glam meets Modern.
with this neutral pallet you can change colors for the seasons when you feel like it.
hope you have fun looking at all the suggestions.
callie