Working with what ya got...

A reader shot me an e-mail awhile back regarding their living room. She has a problem, I think a lot of people do. She had the boring beige couch we all buy for our first home (much like the one that still adorns my living room) matching side tables, and the two fun green chairs, but didn't know where to go from there. She wanted something to bring the pieces together, a place to sit a drink when watching television, more lighting, and basically some cohesion in the space. 

The gold garden stools are a perfect place to kick up your feet or sit your popcorn and wine while watching watching a movie with the family, and are more interesting then a plain coffee table. The green zebra rug is again my go to from Zgallerie, but after seeing it all together, we both agreed it was too much, so we later decided to go with the brown version of the same rug...although I'm now dying to use this green one in another space. Any takers? .... These brass pendants are to die for and are way more of a conversation starter than boring table lamps. The sofa sits against a wall, so the lights can easily hang from the ceiling on either side. The art and throw pillows add cohesion, bringing the green chairs and beige sofa together, and add in a much needed third color, teal in this case.

Trend Lighting ceiling light
insideavenue.com

Zebra rug
zgallerie.com

Gold coffee table
kathykuohome.com

Wall art
kohls.com

World Market throw pillow
worldmarket.com

So what do you think? How many of you have a few basic pieces, but no cohesion in your space? Talk to me.

A Functional Guest Room for Leesa...

Happy Monday all! First of all thanks for all your kind words about my last E-design. I'm always a little nervous sharing my work with the world. I'm not a big fan of being judged, and I think one of the reasons it's taken me so long to start this little business, is because of fear...Fear of other's not liking my work, so I appreciate your kindness.....Now onto today's business:
When my good friend, Leesa decided to turn her mostly-used-as-storage spare room into a functioning guest room, she asked for my help to make the best use of the small space. All she had was a gorgeous vintage oak dresser. This is what we came up with:

The gorgeous upholstered gray bed was the splurge for this room, and adds so much sophistication to the space. I chose white bedding. I love white bedding, but in a space that is used daily, it's just not practical, because you'd probably have to wash it daily. In a space that is only used occasionally, however, it's a nice luxury. She wanted a spot for her guests to sit (just enough room to sit comfortably while putting on their shoes) but there is no room in this small space for a large chair, so we added the two tufted, green ottomans at the end of the bed. She also wanted a place for a small desk, but this 12 x 12 room wasn't really having it.  Instead of two nightstands, I added a small white writing desk with brass hardware on one side of the bed (it can be used both as a nightstand and a writing space...holla) and a gorgeous gold side table to the other. The rest was just making the space comfortable, with a lot of gorgeous $10 pillows from World Market, and a cozy teal throw, along with my favorite Z Gallerie rug to soften the hard wooden floors. The desk chair reflects her gorgeous oak dresser perfectly, adding the weight and cohesion the room desperately needed.

Teal table lamp
lampsplus.com

Chocolate brown rug
zgallerie.com

Teal throw

Wall art
zgallerie.com

West Elm gold throw pillow
westelm.com

World Market throw pillow
worldmarket.com

World Market teal home decor
worldmarket.com

Bought at Nebraska Furniture Mart for about a third of this price, but if you aren't local and like it you can also find it here:
Upholstered bed frame
roomandboard.com

Redford House midcentury furniture
mytwodesigners.com

OKA wooden kitchen chair
okadirect.com

Ottoman
lampsplus.com

So what do you think? Are you over my green and teal obsession? Do tell...