A Gorgeous Living Room as Easy as 1-2-3!

We all look through design magazines to pull inspiration for our own homes.  Whether you are looking for an inspirational color palette or a furniture layout, inspirational images are a fabulous way to keep you on track while designing your own spaces.  Living room spaces can be one of the most daunting rooms to design in your home.  The typically large space beckons to be filled with all sorts of elements, but where do you start?  That is where inspirational images will guide you on your design path.  For instance, the image below is an understated, elegant living room.  I took this image, and utilized my easiest resource, The Great House Store website, to pull together furnishings that are not identical to the inspirational image, but will still give the same appearance.  You can take the same idea of pulling an image you want to recreate in your home, and drive to or surf the web for the most convenient home furnishings location.  With your image in hand, you will easily know the shapes, colors, and textures you are looking for.  This process cuts out a lot of wasted time you would be spending mindlessly wandering through a store not knowing what you want.

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I began by selecting the large seating pieces- sofa, occasional chair, wing back chairs.  The next step was selecting the tables- cocktail table, side table. Finally, I chose my accessories- mirror and candelabra.  Easy as 1-2-3.  Always begin with your largest pieces first.  They will be the most visually noticed because they take up the most floor surface area.  Keep this fact in mind if you are selecting large pieces of furniture with patterned upholstery.  Be advised, you may get tired of a large pattern and prefer having large neutral pieces with accents of pattern in the form of pillows and throws.




Step 1...

Click to Enlarge- Genivieve Sofa, LI-S10-21-61

Click to Enlarge- Sutter Salon Chair, CH97

Click to Enlarge- Leon Club Chair, CFH186 E255 A003/JUTE

Step 2...

Click to Enlarge- Silver Leafed Rectangular Coffee Table with Clear Glass Top, PIERRE S

Click to Enlarge- Ashland Metal Accent Table- Removable Tray, 2493

Step 3...

Click to Enlarge- Florentine Mirror, 109013

Click to Enlarge- Laney 3 Lite Candelabra, 6444

Comfortably Cozy

There is always a special feeling that arises in the spaces comforting to us.  Whether time spent in a childhood home, quiet moments on the back porch, or eating one of grandma's cookies, these are the moments we cherish.  With the world constantly pulling us in numerous directions, we must remember to take a few moments for ourselves.  Interior spaces can become your place of refuge by embracing your passions, your favorite colors, and your favorite memories.

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By utilizing a tranquil color scheme inspired by water, this living room provides a cozy atmosphere for any gathering.  No items are too formal for the family pet to lounge upon, yet there is a sense of elegance exuding from the design.  Embracing the natural light pouring through the windows, the inclusion of shimmering fabrics and reflective surfaces keeps the space alive.  

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The upscale country design aesthetic of this space will instantly add coziness to any space.  The rustic wood chest serving as the cocktail table seems to be the anchor in which all other furnishings radiate.  Even the addition of the leather child's chair further emphasizes this space is meant to be lived in.  Windows dripping with floral fabric and unexpected match stick roller shades prove to be practical as well as flow with the other brown tones.  Organic vases with wildflowers add a freshness to this country design.

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Whenever you add nature into your designs, there is an instant relief from the harshness of man made materials.  In this white kitchen, adorn with industrial light fixtures and stools, the addition of flower buckets and fresh produce soften the overall design.

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There is a calm and collected vibe to this living room.  With the inclusion of beach-inspired accessories, woven baskets, and casual greenery, this space would be perfect in a beach retreat (or providing a beach retreat in the middle of the city).  Slip-covered furniture adds instant coziness; your guests will never be fearful of ruining your upholstery.  The final touch to this space is the rough wood beams that seem to ground the space and keep the living room from becoming too large and sterile.

Robert Allen- A New Selection

Robert Allen Fabrics is a fabric powerhouse in the design world.  We at TGHS are ecstatic to now carry this line of fabric, trims, and hardware.  If you visit Robert Allen's website, you will instantly respect the company's use of color, pattern, and texture.  There is a bit of every style just waiting to accent your space!

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The above image from Robert Allen Fabrics, illustrates an unexpected use of color, pattern, and style to create this interesting living room.  Mixing geometric and floral patterns pays homage to both the male and female aesthetics while keeping the space looking clean and eclectic.

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Take a close look at these hardware options for drapery.  Also from Robert Allen's website, these finials and rods look original- unlike so many found in stores today.  The mix of materials, finishes, and aesthetics offer a wide variety to fit your specifications.


Written by Cameron Coxworth

Delicious Day Beds

Be the first one of your friends to put one in your Living Room!  We LOVE it.  In choosing things for one of our favorite new clients, we have re-discovered our love affair with the ever versatile Day Bed.

The Day Bed can play a host of perfect roles in your home.  Yes, people can sleep on it.  Since there is rarely a back, guests can sit two deep while entertaining large crowds.  Even your Dog will love the "no back" versatility for jump on, jump off points!

You can rummage around for one, hitting some of your favorite Antique or Hidden Treasure Haunts.  You can buy a pretty, all buttoned up and new one.  Or, you can even turn a twin bed into a Day Bed!  Huge pillows, throws, unexpected books that excite you and potential guests are all things that come to our minds when thinking "Day Bed!"

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Raindrops on Roses - Our Favorite Things

You will always get a resounding "yes" from us about using a chandelier in an unexpected place such as the end of a living room hanging over a coffee table.  You do not need huge ceiling height to wow yourself and your guests in this way.  Any seating arrangement in any Living Room can have an overhead light hanging 30 to 36 inches over any table or surface.

Additional lighting and shapes filling ceiling volume in a room create immediate charm.   Lanterns and chandeliers have so many uses, recently we saw a room where the designer chose to hang a mini chandelier on either side of the sofa over large round end tables.  The end result was "unexpected" and worked in a way that lamps just would not have.

Have fun experimenting with even inexpensive overhead lighting in your favorite spaces!

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