[For those of you who don’t read on the weekends, you are in for a treat.� I didn’t want to bother the very busy Nicole with my design dilemmas, so I started trying to figure something out on my own, as the following convoluted post details.� She read it and lost consciousness.� When she came to, she started emailing me frantically to save my from myself. I’ll update with her plans as they solidify, but until then, can we talk about T.V. usage?� A few of you have already mentioned in the comments that you gave the box the heave-ho a while ago.� How do you feel about T.V.?� Honestly, so long as I have books and blogs in my life, I can take it or leave it.]
Gross.� The living room looked beautiful with all the greenery from Christmas.� Now it looks like a barren sea of knit-knot beige.� Time to remedy this nonsense.� I think it was last spring, maybe summer, when The Mister and I first noticed how our T.V. sat on an alter in the center of our home.� Because of the� mid-century floor plan (which we LOVE), you can see this T.V. from every entrance point in our home.
Front door?� Check.
Kitchen and side door?� Check.
Den/Toyroom?� Check.
Backyard?� Check.
Bedrooms? Check.
FRONT PORCH?� Check, for Pete’s sake!� Check.
What is sad about this is that we don’t really watch T.V.� Occasionally there will be a game on The Mister feels obligated to watch (he’s grumbling things don’t look good for Dallas as I type this), but that is only very occasionally.� I can safely say I watch about 3-4 hours of T.V. per week, usually less.� There are some late night crime shows we TiVo and MadMen.� The crime shows we don’t even enjoy much anymore; they are something to do together in those quiet hours after the boys are in bed.� I would be content reading, and usually I get bored midway through the program and crack open a book.
This brought us to the crazy decision to cancel our T.V.� For some people this is insanity, but I don’t think it will impact us much.� As far as shows we love, like MadMen, I hear there are ways to see these shows online and then through the magic of cables, cords, and something else, watch them on your T.V. at home.� Plus, the money we save on cable could go to much better use on projects around the home or family activities on the weekend.� We looked into it over the summer, and the right time to cancel our cable is end of January.� The end of January is right on top of us, so a decision is imminent.� One point that has been decided: any T.V. watching (via internet or cable package) will happen in the toyroom/den on a 26″ flat screen currently sitting unused in the office out back.� The huge one we have in the living room we will either sell or store.
The furniture in the living room I can then move to the toyroom-turned-den.� This is a little mockup of what I have planned for the toyroom-turned-den if I can convince The Mister to paint it Polo Green.� I admit it’s woefully incomplete.� The barnwood frames will hold three poster sized, color pictures of the boys and should eliminate the drab look (I hope).� Everything hinges on what color I paint the room.� I want to paint it Polo Green, which The Mister is convinced will look horrible.� I say the white furniture will keep it from looking like a cave, but he is not buying it.� (I’m still looking for the perfect way to house toys and a T.V., and the sofa pictured just one similar to my actual sofa.� Macy*s wasn’t letting me grab the image via polyvore.)� I showed him these fun pictures of a dark room and white furniture and thought the fact I would be keeping in place silk curtains we already have in the room would please his budget conscious/waste hating heart. My mistake was showing him pictures that are feminine and artfully cluttered.� I think his sperm count dropped two thousand points when he saw the dress form in a ruffled apron.� Not my most tactical move, that’s for sure.� (I wonder what it is like to live in a home with feminine touches?� Magical, I imagine.)
But let’s not focus on the den for right now. First thing’s first: the living room pictured at the top of this post.
The color is horrible.� I know a few of you like it and have emailed me for the brand and name (Ralph Lauren Devonshire) but I can’t stand it, mainly because I made the mistake of painting the ceiling the same color thinking I would later install crown moulding.� I contacted Maria from Colour Me Happy (she is ridiculously nice!), and she suggested Ralph Lauren Sisal.� She picked this color with my hulking butterscotch-rock fireplace in mind, which brings me to my main question before I embark on any redecorating.� Imagine this room devoid of furniture and freshly painted.
Would a wall of bookcases (with room to display objets de’art) look odd next to such a huge fireplace?� I don’t want to point to a source and say I want something like this, but not really.� But, well, I want something like this, but not really.� Wrong color (or maybe not?), not enough room for books, and wrong size, but it at least gives you the idea of what I am talking about for the living room wall.
Does that create a competing focal point?
Will it establish a 90� angle of TOO MUCH?
I need display area.� I really need bookshelves.� I thought this large expanse of wall would be the perfect place to solve both issues, and I’d rather be greeted with books and my ceramic collection than a flat screen panel when I enter the room.� Still, a piece like that will have to be custom made (unless anyone knows of something online) and most likely expensive (I thought about Billy’s from IKEA but won’t that look cheap?).� I don’t want to have anything made or buy anything prohibitively expensive and find out months later that it really doesn’t work.� Back in our dual-income days we did that far more often than I care to admit.
Along with the wall of books plus I’m imagining a sectional and gushy ottoman/coffee table to create a library-like atmosphere.
If the bookcase doesn’t work, then we will have to find a way to make it work in the den, which is exactly why I can’t focus on that room just yet.� What I will do in that room hinges on what I can do in the living room.
Okay, that’s it.� Any thoughts?� Cheers to me for achieving step one on my new New Year’s resolution.
Where is that sofa from in you inspiration picture? Love that! What if you painted the room a warm, medium gray? It might transition nicely from your black drapes.
That sofa, I believe, is from Room and Board. It’s the closest thing I could find online to my actual sofa, which will go in the den. Macy*s, where I bought my sofa, doesn’t allow polyvore to capture some of their furniture images. (Hence, the stand-in.)
Paint the den a medium gray? That’s sisal, which will be in the dining/living room. Do you mean to carry that color in the den as well? I’ve thought about it. I’m just terrible about wanting to paint every room a different color!
Yep, Room and Board.
I’ll bet you won’t even miss the TV when you cancel it. We did the same when we moved 6 months ago & have barely even noticed it’s gone. Kids get their cartoons from PBS, we watch most network shows off Hulu, and I bought the 3rd season of MadMen from iTunes. Hub catches a lot of football online.
LOVE the sisal color. RL makes the best paint colors. Totally worth the $. I like the idea of a wall of books, but it might be overwhelming next to the fireplace. What about a couple of the $99 Expedit units in white? They could be placed both upright and on their sides to break up the space a bit. (And I do think the Billy bookcases would look a bit too downscale for such a lovely space). Your home is lovely. Have fun!
Can you start with just a wall of green to make sure you like it? I say go for it if you love the color. With white furniture I don’t think it will look too dark, you seem to have a lot of natural light.
We don’t have cable hooked up but we do use an antenna and get the basics (abc, nbc, cbs, fox, pbs). We haven’t missed it and like you, don’t watch a ton either.
I think cabinets built around the fireplace would look really nice and make the whole wall a focal point.
Okay, this is completely my fault. I wrote this post surrounded by husband and children so I think I just confused everyone. I’m going to rework it, but the main points are:
Polo Green is for the den ONLY, and I will do a test run first. The picture you see above is the living room, and we actually have very poor natural light. :)
White furniture would be only in the toy room/den, which is where the Polo Green would be.
Dining/Living will be Sisal, also Ralph Lauren, a warm gray.
Like Ms. Amy, I’m thinking a wall of books might be too busy next to such an enormous fireplace.
And Hulu is the other thing I was talking about to watch shows on the internet via your t.v. that I couldn’t remember!
I must have misread then! Can I blame it on how tired I am? I thought you would be using the shelves around the fireplace for displaying things, not books. I can’t wait to see more pictures as you go!!
No, I think I just wasn’t clear enough. I reworked the post and added some more pictures for the living room. Does it make more sense? I haven’t been harassing Nicole, Tristan, and The Mister for months about this, so I just assume the entire world knows what I am thinking. ;)
Yes, it did seem that you wanted books flanking the fireplace but I love the idea of this bookshelf being in your den especially if you paint the walls it will feel very cozy, the boys can watch video’s etc. You can read or write posts and it will be in a cozy environment. Again, I am for the chalkboard paint, you cna get it in the color you want mixed at the store, and one wall can be relegated for the boys to draw on which might look like modern art, but maybe that could get messy. I am for the bookshelves going in the den. may you fireplace the focal point and put the sofa facing it can you do that? I am not sure if that’s doable but that’s what all the interior designer’s I work with do put the sofa facing the fireplace and you have a HUGE gorgeous one with a beautiful thick natural wood coffee table (very Estancia), make the living room the place for you to have your guests over because you are going to stick to your new year’s resolution about having more guests over and enjoying your house right?
Also for the den and toys etc. I had an old wood trunk as my coffee table (before I made my own) and it house the girls extra toys, it’s just a way of getting rid of clutter without taking up too much space. BTW, I love the sisal…
Okay, maybe I should take this post down. Then again, everyone with readers will already have it, and when they come to the site to read the comments and try to make heads or tails of what I am trying to say they’re going to find a big fat goose-egg if I delete it.
I feel like the fireplace should be the focal point, too, and that set up you describe (Miss B) is the one I had envisioned in the Modern Estancia mood board. But what do I put on that big expanse of wall?
p.s. I love that 99.951% of the comments on this post so far are my own. Charming.
My husband and I decided to give away our t.v. before we moved to Tucson, AZ almost 21 months ago, not only do we not miss it, but we can now have our furniture arranged however we want and it doesn’t revolve around a t.v.! This has been a wonderful thing for us, the check out girl at the library recently asked me if I actually read all of the books I actually check out? I just laughed and said that we didn’t have a t.v. to which her jaw dropped.
Happy rearranging and painting! I’m sure it will look wonderful!
We’re blissfully cable free… I think it’s been 7 or 8 years now? People think we’re monks. Or Amish. Or just weirdos. We still have local/network stations & PBS. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you’re not sitting in front of the tv.
“p.s. I love that 99.951% of the comments on this post so far are my own. Charming.”
that’s my favorite.
Can’t stop me now! I’m on a roll!
I love that Nicole took one look at this post and started emailing me frantically before I committed more design crimes. That’s what friends are for, folks.
Therefore, let’s talk T.V., shall we? Who has it, who loves it, and who could live without it?
Re: Billy looking cheap
check this out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theproletariatdesigner/4252434146/
I’m a librarian, so I always love bookcases! And the Billys from IKEA look awesome in a room. My dad has turned my old bedroom into his den and we helped him install the Billys. Now when I go over, all I can see is gentlemanly cave and not teen girl bedroom at all! And they look remarkably sophisticated, though it did help that he purchased a darkish color.
Jules, ok you got me looking, imagining and thinking. I think that placing a bookshelf loaded with books on the wall next to the massive fireplace wall is not a good idea. I do understand what you are trying to do do but I think that it is gonna look waaay to busy. Your fireplace is very massive and busy so I think the wall where your tv is ought to be less crowded more open . I am just being super transparent with you here, I would start by doing something with your fireplace, unless you absolutely love it. Please don’t take this the wrong way not intended to be mean and ugly it is just my opinion.
hugs ~
I love my books more than life itself and I can understand wanting them to be near you and a focal point, but I think I’m with Miss B on this one and that the fireplace needs to be the focal point of the living room. Maybe you could put some low shelves along that wall with some artwork above it to fill the wall. Redecorating has to be the most exciting and horrific thing to do to your house.
I really want you to paint the den the dark color. I love you for inspiring me to go dark in my house. It was the best decorating idea ever to happen to my house. I think the Mister will love it once he sees it.
And as far as TV goes, I have a very unhealthy addiction to TV. If I had to give up my TV I would end up in the fetal position under my bed, rocking back and forth and mumbling to myself. Dr. Drew wouldn’t even know what to do with me! I admire people who can give it up. I think that’s amazing. I’m getting hives just thinking about. I’m a very weak person!
Ha, I love your update to this post!
Yes, I was worried about the bookcase and fireplace being too busy. I figured it would be, and you all confirmed my fears.
Just a quick note–maybe I shouldn’t have said Billys look cheap. I have them in the office and they look great. Nicole has them in her library and they look great. But, I do think that next to my hulking fireplace only solid wood with a heavy frame would look right–and even then we all agree it’s too much–anything else would look flimsy and, well, cheap.
How about Liatorp from Ikea for the cases? The shape is very like the bookcase / units you’ve shown. They only come in white, and attach to each other to give a fitted look.
I do think it would create competing focal points. What about really low to the ground bookcases?
Something like this: http://www.hickorychair.com/product_detail.aspx?i=4783
Be sure to look at the additional pics, because the big one is two stacked on top of each other.
Jules, I was at Costco today & saw a large, decent looking wood bookcase for around $250. Might not be the wall of books you’re looking for, but at that price it could create a starting point for the (current) TV wall. I picture it as replacing the TV, then maybe being flanked by accent chairs…. or push it closer to the doorway & have the accent chair(s) play off the remaining wallspace closer to the fireplace. You might also get some additional ideas from Young House Love.
It makes more sense now! And you will be fine without cable – what’s the worst that will happen? You can get it back later. I wish we had a different room to put our television in but we don’t so it stays. It’s just not on all the time. Okay, way too much during football season. But other then that we turn it off.
Nichole–those are GORGEOUS. They are very similar to barrister bookcases, which I have always loved. And it’s funny you should post this because it’s very similar to what Nicole and I were brainstorming last night for that long expanse of wall.
Kelly–glad I was able to get my point across a little better. :)
I vote to get rid of the cable too! We haven’t had it in years and have rarely missed it. You can get DVD seasons of your favorite shows from the library, netflix etc. We also watch movies and tv shows streaming from netflix which is just an added feature of their regular subscription service. The cable company tried to lure us back in a few months ago (we have cable internet service) by giving us free access to 10 million cable channels… aside from the occasional cooking show, we couldn’t find anything we wanted to watch!
I’d also like to second the lower bookcase idea. If they’re relatively low, they might also double as extra seating.
Jules, now that I see your living room from this angle, how about the green that matches your sofas (that still wouldn’t fight with your fireplace).
I don’t remember seeing your room at this angle!
It’s looking good though!
Maria
To address your TV question in the comments, Jules, I think I could live without TV. But the offspring? Sheesh. Where would my sanity be without little Curious George breaks on Tivo…
I digress.
Your living room! The fireplace is big and has lots of texture. Plus, it’s eating up an entire corner. On the fp mantle, do a collection of big, fat candles in different heights. I suggest facing the sofa opposite the fp, then anchor the sofa with a sofa table behind it. Stack books and interesting objects there. Then get [prepare to cringe] that big IKEA shelf that has lots of squares…you know the one – I think you have it specked out in the playroom? Put that shelf unit on the blank wall where the TV was. Fill with books and cool pieces like white mod vases here and there. One piece on a stack of books. Some books going vertical, some stacked horizontal. To the right of the shelf, do a small set of pictures – maybe 3. Anchor it with a flea market find side chair that has a charming graphic pillow on it. To the right of the sofa float a cozy [small scale] club chair with a small table and/or lamp next to it. Put two chairs on the opposite side of the sofa. Throw in a floor lamp.
Creating a cozy grouping could really cause some distractions to the fp dilemma. Also, try looking at the color Moselle by Duron. Very sophisticated. Looks great with chocolate, yellow and graphite to name a few.
I cannot write anything with anyone around me because my family has no manners when it comes to people on the computer, so I get what you are saying.
I want to cancel our TV every day. However, my husband put the hammer down on that. TV stays. I have a media cabinet from Pier One (I want a new one; mine has seen better days) that has doors on it so you can shut them and not see all the STUFF. But we never shut the doors and I think that’s worse than having it all hang out.
Also, how do the boys not knock those plants off your sofa table? My kids have broken 23 items on ours.
I say paint the living room, move the TV, love the rock fireplace and definitely get those bookcases. You can put out books and whatever else for pops of color. I love your current rug, but maybe you could get something with a bit more color as well.
P.S. I love those barn wood frames.
I’m not even going to talk about decor, because you’re in a tangle and there’s no way I can lead you out. I don’t have the vision or the skillz.
I will say this: We’re about to cancel TV. We pay an embarrassing amount of money for high def because they won’t let you get high def without getting a Big Package (that’s what she said) but we don’t watch nearly enough to justify the cost and holy Lord I wouldn’t want to.
Instead we’ll enjoy movies on BluRay (Christmas indulgence) and stream Netflix to our TV if we want to watch shows. These days it seems like almost everything we watch is already a complete, off-the-air series. Except The Office, and Lost. But! Online they are. (Note my Yoda-ish syntax, which demonstrates wisdom.)
First off, your commenters are all as witty as you are – fun!
Second, we have been w/o cable for about 4 years now and have never missed it! Okay, sometimes, like during the Olympics, but my couple of can’t miss TV shows I watch on my lovely PC and my children have a great DVD collection including lots of wonderful docus (we heart David Attenborough). We even canceled Netflix last year because it was filling up time & budget that could be better used.
Third, I guess I’m the only one but I think a wall of bookcases would be just fine there… though I have no suggestion as to which ones. And so then I think if you’re going to consider custom, might as well consider redoing the whole fireplace wall, creating built-in cases there instead of the stones.
I have 4 dudes in the house (one an adult, most of the time) and I haven’t seen anyone address sports and TV yet. That is the only and I mean ONLY reason we are still have cable. And I would love to get that chunk o change back into my budget.
My two decorating cents: you can never have too many bookshelves.
Eager to see what unfolds. :)
I didn’t have a tv for five years and just got one and cable a few weeks ago. It is not nearly as enjoyable as reading, crafting, etc. My guess is that you will not miss having the tv as a focal point as books are so much more pleasing eye candy.
As for the wall color, I think a soft gray would look marvelous. Good luck and looking forward to the after shots!
Your “before” looks great, actually, compared to what I’m used to, so I can’t wait to see your after!