I “completed” the lounge over 2 years in the past, and whereas I used to be by no means 100% proud of it, I couldn’t put my finger on what/why, and beloved it sufficient (and we needed to shoot it for {a magazine}, so sure, I may need chosen some issues based mostly on timing). Now I wish to be clear – I do know intellectually that it was tremendous, tremendous fairly and functionally it labored so properly for our household, however all I can say is that I do know once I nail a room and I wasn’t there YET with this one. Immediately, mates, we’re getting a lot nearer, due to my new sofas arriving (and a few shock swivel chairs!). And I really feel like I would even know the three issues that I might change to get it to the 100% true love part (which I really feel for our sunroom, kitchen and household room – good design takes time).
My Alice Sofas!!!
Alice Sofas | Suz Swivel Chairs
I’m in LOVE with these sofas, each visually and functionally. The arms are so fairly, the seat is soft, the again curve is so elegant, and that darker inexperienced pops so properly in right here. I beloved the 2 going through sofas in right here, and our prior sofas from Lulu and Georgia had been so comfy, however the canine mendacity on high of the again cushions made them nearly unsittable except I did the every day Herculean effort of taking off the again cushion and pushing, stomping, or leaping on it to make it a rectangle once more. It was so annoying. I fastened them every day or prevented sitting on them altogether. So each morning since we’ve had these has been such a deal with.
Wait, Do The Canines Not Sit On There?
They positive do, however these sofas had been designed as a good again but deep couch, that means it doesn’t want the 2 again pillows that include it – they’re optionally available. Since they’re deeper, you may want the pillows, however they’re so fairly with out them (with throw pillows). As of now, we’re utilizing the again pillows however setting them flat on the couch seat through the day whereas the canine lie all around the sofas, after which they’re really easy simply to prop again up when prepared to sit down (they’re small, light-weight pillows as an alternative of 1 large again cushion). I could find yourself not utilizing them and simply utilizing throw pillows (which my canine can even sit on), however I really like the streamlined look in right here.
If you’re questioning why the couch isn’t centered on the rug, I’ve a rambling motive for you. At first we shot this room with the Soho residence chair (the blue velvet). The couch and chair clearance was completely different. However Gretch was like, “Shouldn’t we simply attempt the Suz chairs?” and we did, and so they wanted to be off the carpet (or absolutely on) since they’re swivel. So we simply forgot to middle the couch or transfer the rug!! You in all probability wouldn’t have seen! However it’s driving me nuts 🙂
Espresso Desk Vase | Wood Tray
OH MY. How I really like that shot. I joked so much that it’s a really “Go Geese” room (inexperienced and gold), however my staff assured me that ordinary non-Oregon Duck-obsessed folks wouldn’t suppose this. I feel with all of the blues and deep burgundies it doesn’t really feel that manner. I’m LOVING the Suz chairs in right here, principally due to the extra seating, the way it feels extra crammed out, and the swivel is so enjoyable. You may flip and look out into the yard.
Striped Velvet Pillow | Throw Blanket | Striped Desk Lamp
The Alice seems actually agency, nevertheless it’s simply streamlined with lots of give. I do know I’m biased, however I hope you belief me that I wouldn’t say one thing is tremendous comfy except it was (I do know you’d inform me!!). It’s not one thing you flop onto and sink 4″ into (like our Oscar), nevertheless it’s soft and has a pleasant tender give. It’s excellent for our wants in right here, which is generally morning espresso with our laptops and plenty of conversational hangs with our mates or video games with our children. However I guarantee you that if it had been your TV couch, you’d be so blissful as properly. It’s very comfy, simply seems extra streamlined deliberately.
I’m actually loving how they appear in right here. I LOVE this deep darkish inexperienced in a brilliant family-friendly velvet, particularly with the darker espresso desk. It simply feels so wealthy. The canine’s hair sticks to it as a lot as the opposite velvet sofas, which isn’t very a lot (our canine shed twice a yr, however in any other case aren’t large shedders; they’re a huskie-poo combine). You probably have heavy shedding canine, the Alice additionally is available in a pleasant cream linen that has lots of completely different tones to masks hair.
The couch is simply so fairly and streamlined, however with that arm and leg that claims, “I’m not boring, I’m particular.” The roll on the arm offers it a barely conventional look, however clearly not hyper conventional (not a tuft or carved wooden).
Relating to the fireside – I’m nonetheless not proud of how chilly it seems, however you guys, I can NOT determine on what shade to color it!! My newest concept is to simply wallpaper above the paneling and go away the fireside white. My MIL obtained in my ear that portray it’d really feel too daring, like a giant darkish block in the midst of the room that might cease your eye in a nasty manner (I assumed it will simply appear to be a correct point of interest). However I actually do see her level and I worry she is correct (additionally paint is simply paint- like, Emily, JUST PAINT IT AND SEE, it will seemingly take at some point!! ). However maybe a tender wallpaper on the partitions would assist give it depth, texture and definition? I’ve ordered samples, and I can’t wait to belabor this for one more 3 years.
Our Suz Chairs!!
Spherical Burgundy Pillows | Throw Blanket | Suz Swivel Chairs
Y’all. These chairs are so good. There are million swivel chairs in the marketplace however these are particular. Mal (on my staff) designed them for Room Service, and so they def have extra of a regency vibe, which we love. They’re deep and the seat is so comfy. I put these spherical Schoolhouse darkish burgundy pillows on them, which look fairly nice, IMHO. And in case you are questioning in case you can have an excessive amount of velvet in a single room, we determined, collectively years in the past, that “no, no you may’t.” It’s simply so fairly and tender and due to this fact wins each time.
Which Chair Do You Like Extra???? Two Choices…
Okay, so once we began capturing that day, we had the Soho residence chair in right here (above), and it seems actually good (she’s a giant girl). As you already know, I really like a very tight shade palette (principally so I can go nuts with my equipment), so this blue/inexperienced world works for me! Additionally, what you don’t see right here is that I introduced again the floral chaise within the nook (it seems manner too darkish/crowded on this angle, so we eliminated it for the sake of a greater shot). I haven’t shot it but (simply ordered a rug for beneath it. However ANYWAY, that’s the blue chair model, and now take a look at the Ochre Suz swivel chairs choice:
Ochre Swivel Suz Chairs
GAH! After we appeared on the laptop computer display, after clicking the photograph had been like, “Whoa, this seems so a lot better”. Which we completely didn’t predict!! It’s simply fuller, extra balanced, seems like a greater design.
Wait, What Are The Different Modifications You Made??
Effectively, for you eagle-eyed readers (thanks!), you’ll discover that I swapped the midcentury cupboard and the French farmhouse cupboard, and my goodness, it’s so a lot better. The blue cupboard appeared unhappy and gray over there and it will get far more mild the place it’s now. And the richness of the midcentury teak piece is a a lot better backdrop to the inexperienced sofas and balances out the Suz chairs.
I DIY’d pleated lampshades!! Have a look at me! In fact, I did it on the weekend and didn’t shoot the method, however actually, I simply copied how Lone Fox did his and didn’t wish to steal credit score, so please watch his tutorial. It’s SO EASY. I used a stamped skinny batik from Etsy that’s so forgiving, that means that these are usually not completely completed in any respect, however you may’t inform. They don’t give as a lot mild because the white shade, which we hope is ok within the winter, however in the meantime, I LOVE the extra conventional sample popping off the wall (however will make deciding on a wallpaper barely tougher).
So, What Modifications Do You Nonetheless Need To Make??
Okay right here me out. Once more, I acknowledge this can be a nice room however no, I’ve nonetheless not nailed it. Right here is on my listing to slowly tweak:
A Larger Rug
This room all the time wished a 12×15 rug. My RugsUSA assortment didn’t come that massive (I begged and begged and begged) and albeit only a few rugs do. And I really like a giant Persian rug, however the colorway I need is so laborious to search out, and so they aren’t practically as cozy (and simply so costly). I offered my brother my OG 12×15 rug, which didn’t pop in right here practically as a lot as I wished it to, and appears so a lot better in his home. A 12×15 rug would permit the total swivel chairs to be on it (we predict). Nonetheless, this present rug is probably the most soft, comfy, and forgiving rug on the planet (for being so mild). I can’t hyperlink it as a result of it was a one-off from the now-gone H.D. Buttercup, for $2k, which isn’t dangerous for a ten×14, but when I might hyperlink it, I’d promote all of it day, day-after-day, as a result of it’s famously the very best rug I’ve ever had. I attempted to recreate it with RugsUSA however they couldn’t determine how you can make it so soft, to have so many various yarn colours, and keep inside their commonplace value level. It’s like sitting on a cloud, and but it doesn’t appear to be a shag (I even have a reminiscence foam carpet pad beneath), and you may’t see any canine hair and barely even stains. So I’m hesitant to downgrade our consolation within the identify of upgrading the design. However I’m so in love with this rug from Lulu and Georgia that does are available in a 12×15, and I feel might actually punch up the room, so I would do it. We used it in my good friend’s eating room, and it’s simply an unimaginable colorway and sample. It’s nonetheless forgiving however not as soft (as a result of no rug is, Brian and the children are going to be so bummed if I modify it). However then a part of me is afraid of it being too daring. So Gretch mocked it up for you…
I additionally ordered a pattern (3×5) of this rug (Arvin’s denim rug from his previous assortment) to see if it will do the trick and never add the busyness of the above sample. It’s such a fairly shade in individual, nevertheless it’s a magnet for our canine fur, so I don’t suppose we are able to do it (however I used to be impressed with the colour/texture). I purchased the spherical model in camel for beneath the chaise since our canine don’t actually lay there (I’ll present you quickly).
Including Wallpaper Above The Paneling
If I might return in time I’d put the white/cream rafael wallpaper in right here as an alternative of the entry. Brian gave it a tough no on the time, which I didn’t perceive then, however I kinda want I had simply steamrolled it. I do know that it’s a preferred paper, nevertheless it’s PERFECT for what I need (which is to nonetheless preserve it mild and ethereal, however give the partitions some form of definition). Keep in mind that the room as a complete has so many openings/doorways/panelings that going excessive distinction can be SO BUSY, you need to belief me. A part of me says simply put it up in right here and re-paper the entry with one thing extra daring since that tiny room can deal with it. However I’ve ordered some extra samples of delicate patterns that might work. Keep tuned.
Different Choices: Darker Curtains Or Paint The Fire
Hear, I went protected with the curtains however they’re customized and I actually don’t wish to exchange them. They’re actually fairly, prime quality, and nothing is mistaken with them. However I wasn’t as in love with florals and tapestries as a lot as I’m now, so if I might snap my fingers and have a patterned curtain/shade scenario, I’d, however for now I’m actually making an attempt to make the room work with out altering them. For the fireside, I actually do wish to do one thing to it, even when we redo the mantel. After we tiled Kaitlin’s fire, and it grew to become such an unimaginable point of interest, I obtained actually jealous. I need this fire to be prettier, full cease. Oh, and I wish to body that portray on the mantel to be greater and in a greater body, and cling it as an alternative of leaning it.
Furnishings To Add/Swap
I introduced again within the chaise lounge the place the blue demilune desk is in these images, and LOVE IT. Will shoot/present you quickly. I desire a prettier cupboard the place the midcentury one is (I like that piece, however discovered it on FBMP the weekend earlier than the shoot). And I wish to add a footstool for the swivel chairs (considering of this one) in addition to a prettier fire display (our opening is big, so it’s laborious to search out one that matches).
OMG. This has been fairly the ramble. This room has been laborious! It’s a pass-through room, open to 3 different rooms with a number of focal factors, and must be extremely purposeful (eating nook and plenty of seating), so it’s simply laborious to nail. Its so pretty to be in proper now, thus the dearth of urgency however each weekend I spend hours fascinated about it whereas I drink my espresso 🙂
*Photographs by Kaitlin Inexperienced
