Sunday, March 30, 2008

Decor Planning: My Living & Dining Rooms

The last couple of weeks I've spent every free hour poring over decorating magazines trying, once and for all, to coordinate a colour scheme for my living and dining room. It isn't an easy process as I have existing furniture and rugs to use, and also some prints and accessories I want to incorporate. I've pulled so many inspiration boards together with different palettes, but think I've finally settled on a colour scheme (which I'll explain later, with photos!).
Fabric and paint colours are taking up so much time! I've brought home countless sample pots from Farrow & Ball and Benjamin Moore and can't count how many big sheets of bristol board I've painted. Evenings and weekends have been spent moving these big chips around the room at various times of the day to catch the light and see how the colours read.

I've also been hunting for fabrics for new drapery panels. I've finally settled on linen as my fabric of choice because there seems to be a solid selection and some very pretty colours at the shop I chose to sew my projects. I will have them make panels and a new valance for my dining room.

I've been meaning to post photos of the room and ask for your help. But instead, I became obsessed with doing it myself. It seemed too hard to try to photograph all the disparate elements of the room and explain everything. Eventually I'll re-upholster a chair, slip-cover another, re-frame some prints, and so on and it seemed too tedious to explain it all to you! In the end, there were the choices my heart wanted and then the sensible choices that worked best for the room. Decorating is a balancing act when you can't do a whole room from scratch!

This week, I'll do some measurements and hopefully have the shop start sewing my items (unless I change my mind). I haven't settled on an exact paint colour yet, but at least I picked a palette and have some front-runners lined up!

Besides that I've been voraciously reading design books and have fallen in love with Michael S. Smith's gorgeous book "Elements of Style" which is just what the doctor ordered this week for some serious aesthetic inspiration!

Hope your week is wonderful! I'll share some photos of my ideas soon.

Photos: House of Linnea

17 comments:

  1. Linen so wonderful! Just don't expect it to be wrinkle free :) I really love the two photos you posted. Roman shades are very classic and the simple valance and sheers are too! Good luck.

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  2. Very soft and gentle pictures. Much light and a beautiful glow! If this is what your home gonna look like, it is going to be fabulous! But it seems to much hard work involved, so I hope that everything will work out well for you.
    xxx Poppins

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  3. hmmm, hmmm, so you are making us wait--building the anticipation levels!

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  4. Good luck with all the decisions you are making. I'm sure whatever you decide, your rooms will be gorgeous! You have exquisite taste!

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  5. Your attention to detail is admirable and I just know that you will be perfectly content with the outcome having given it so much study and consideration. I'll be content to see the photos of the results!

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  6. Hi Terri,
    I have always said that it takes way more talent to pull together a room using bits and bobs of what you already have and/or can afford, as opposed to having a blank canvas, good bones, a big budget, and plenty of access to great decor shops. Basically, it is just HARDER to decorate with real life limitations!

    I know, that with your careful planning and great sense of style, you will pull off a wonderful look!!

    Remember to enjoy the process!
    Linda

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  7. Terri, put the fly swatter away, I've done gone and tagged you. ;> As always, this is purely your choice, but there was one question where I would love to hear your answer. Hugs...lots of them!

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  8. Hi Terri! I know exactly how you feel! It is difficult to pull together the elements of what we already have, what we can find, what is in our budget and what we like! Never as easy as it should be. I'm sure you will do a wonderful job of finding just the right way to express your style.

    Happy spring!
    Melissa

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