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Some of you might remember the big wall we had in our living room.... I bought art for it and love it which prompted new drapes and pillows for the room. I am still trying to figure out the pillows though! DH really hates pillows but because we bought khaki couches and our walls are basically khaki we need something for an oomph...
Ok, pictures are below. Opinions needed on the pillows on the couch mainly and the brown throw blanket. The brighter piece of silk was what I was going to do until I found the drapes that I love... so the silk might be out but I'm not sure yet.
So, Pillows: need more or just fine
Brown throw: does it ground the couch like I was going for or should I find something more teal-y blue
Brighter silk swatch : does it go with the rest of the pillows or should it go?
Thanks for any and all opinions.
__________________ Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. ~ Plato Craig and Stacy - Slowly making progress since 2005 Need help posting photos to Ikeafans? Check out the Gallery Tutorial
Oh - and ignore the fireplace. After the kitchen is 100% done we're redoing that! I cannot wait!
__________________ Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. ~ Plato Craig and Stacy - Slowly making progress since 2005 Need help posting photos to Ikeafans? Check out the Gallery Tutorial
I don't think you need more, but you need them arranged differently. You seem to have two striped ones, but the stripes go in different directions? I like the brown throw because it ties in your leather chair. I think on the sofa I would have the darker blue on one end with the lighter blue in front, then on the other end the brown throw with a patterned pillow in the gold tones from the painting. The stripes don't work with the painting at all, and you have nothing else gold in the room to pick up the colors of that fantastic art. I'd keep one striped pillow on the leather chair, whichever one you like. I would lose the brown pillow and the silk totally.
You might want to dress up the two plain blue pillows with a wide band of brown silk tied around the middle.
Brown throw: does it ground the couch like I was going for or should I find something more teal-y blue
Yes, it's great on the couch. But you really need an area carpet! Your furniture is floating around and it needs a carpet to pull it together in a cohesive unit. I'd get something with a subtle and larger pattern, no stripes, like maybe these, depending on whether you want bold or subtle
I love this one but I think it would take away from the art too much
Brighter silk swatch : does it go with the rest of the pillows or should it go?
No and yes
I would also recommend adding a wide border of brown to the bottom edge of the drapes, both to lengthen them so they just graze the carpet and to add interest. Silk would be nice.
And for some metal accents, I'd say shiny chrome rather than the brushed metal you've got in a couple accessories. A shiny pewter bowl on that coffee table, a glass blocky lamp and a silver box on the side table and replace that other lamp with a white or glass blocky one too. Put your plants in important containers (a nice big rectangular box for the smaller ones in the blue pots and maybe a couple of white round ceramic ones for the others) and you're on your way to a nice modern chic look that painting deserves to live in!
I love how Eva always has a totally specific opinion on these things! I think she's brilliant to suggest a rug, and the 2nd one would be amazing with the art. Also agree on lengthening the curtains - we know you can sew Also agree on the silk. The throw is nice, thought I don't think it's essential. The paler blue pillows seem a little too pastel for that environment. If I were starting over with the pillows, I'd probably do more patterns, like the stripes.
Your furniture is so nice!
Kathy
LOL Kathy, opinions have never been in short supply around here...we're native New Yorkers LOL It's just nice to be able to EXPRESS my opinion without preteen eyerolling commencing exactly 3.2 seconds after I begin to opine.
You weren't supposed to notice the drape length! My hubby balked against moving the drape hardware since it will gouge up the walls. I was planning to let out the hem a bit but hadn't done it yet since almost everything is returnable if it didn't work out. If I got the longer drapes a certain puppy lays on them and gets them dirty or worse, pulls the rod off the wall. But I digress
I love the second rug you posted Eva, thank you!
I think the striped pillow that was on the leather chair is going back. The brown/gold pillow was a wedding gift and has our names and date embroidered on it so that stays but will get moved to the leather chair and the other striped pillow will move to the microfiber chair. I'm not sure about the lighter blue pillow still but have arranged the two together with nothing but the throw on the other end to see if I like it and it's better. The rug will probably have to wait until after the kitchen floor and fireplace (and removing the carpet completely from that room if I get my way, there's hardwoods underneath!)
And Kathy, my mom works part time at Macy's so I got a steal on the furniture in there. I think it was already on sale and with her discount was an extra 35% off which can't be beat. She keeps threatening to quit but so far hasn't so I need to get all my stuff updated before she does
Both of you, thank you. It helps to have another's opinion on this and my hubby doesn't care a bit. Kathy, I hope you're surviving this winter. So far so good tonight at our place thankfully!
__________________ Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. ~ Plato Craig and Stacy - Slowly making progress since 2005 Need help posting photos to Ikeafans? Check out the Gallery Tutorial
BTW I found all the rugs at homedecorators.com I ordered my shaggy leather rug from there and was quite pleased with the product and service.
But no Macy's discount makes me cringe. I know they have coupons sometimes, right?
__________________ Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. ~ Plato Craig and Stacy - Slowly making progress since 2005 Need help posting photos to Ikeafans? Check out the Gallery Tutorial
LOL Kathy, opinions have never been in short supply around here...we're native New Yorkers LOL It's just nice to be able to EXPRESS my opinion without preteen eyerolling commencing exactly 3.2 seconds after I begin to opine.
Eva - It's refreshing to hear someone voice an opinion! Here in Seattle, we're all conditioned to always be nice and low key - sort of go along, get along - and it gets boring sometimes. The thing I miss most about my law firm is all the intense New Yorkers I used to work with.
Stacy - the discount! That would offer serious temptation on sale days!
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Also agree on the silk. The throw is nice, thought I don't think it's essential. The paler blue pillows seem a little too pastel for that environment. If I were starting over with the pillows, I'd probably do more patterns, like the stripes. 
