*sigh* inspiration please Damsels....

[frog]

We're about to do our sitting room (finally finally finally :ellie: ) but I've decided that I've gone off the ideas I had before :doh:

It needs to be a 'cosy' style rather than anything too modern as the room screams 'cottage' but I don't want flowery curtains either! :happyno:

The bits of furniture we have that we would be keeping are quite solid looking waxed pine (very country cottage I know!). The fireplace is diagonal across one corner and is a chunky looking brick thing with an oak lintel.

The walls will be a light cream (quite low ceilings so not the lightest room in the house) with a beige wool carpet and maybe a big rug.

We've found a leather sofa that's quite nice and comfy for DH with his knackered back but I'm not sure whether to go for a tan colour (more classic I suppose) or the darker brown that's trendy atm (but maybe not for much longer and will then look dated?). I was thinking big squidgy sofa with some nice heavy cushions, maybe deep reds/golds embroidered type things or would that look :sick:

I haven't a clue what I want anymore and I've been round that many shops i'm boggled! :lol: Someone design my sitting room for me please! :lol:

eta: with the ceiling not being the highest there's no ceiling rose, we have wall lights atm but I hate them and just want lamps round the room, maybe hardwired in so they come on from the wall switch? What do you ladies think to that idea?

[Swingo]

I am a bit of a clumpf when trying to put things together, I sort of try to but then end up doing mish mashs of things that I like to call 'interesting' :teehee:

I've seen some of Fantasee's cushions on here and I think they are ace..she certainly seems to know what to do on the fabric front :nod:

What style is the sofa you are looking at?

[Skibunny]

My mum and dad have always had dark brown leather sofas and I have to say I will be doing the same - I don't think they look fashionable so much as classic anyway. I always think some tans look like dog poo anyway! Red and gold with a chocolate leather would look lovely as well.

Could you get hold of some furniture catalogues - I've chosen my living room design from a picture I saw in the Cotswold company catalogue. Laura Ashley is also good - they're not totally flowery and sometimes they've got some gorgeous looking stuff in. Next and John Lewis room designs often look nice too.

When we finally get around to decorating ours I'm going to do a mood board and get everything in one place so I can be sure it works - what about giving that a go?

Skibunny
xx

[frog]

The mood board sounds good... :scratchchin: Might have to give that one a go :smile:

Sofa style (but not decided on colour)...

this one...
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/froggypops/DSCN0962.jpg

or this one...(the favourite, looks 100 tmes better irl)
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/froggypops/DSCN0963.jpg

eta sorry for crappy pics, had to photo the brochure as the scanner's not all plugged in :lol:

eta (again!) looking at the sofas again I'm not sure they'd look 'right' with squidgy cushions on them. Oh I frigging well give up! :lol:

[minigirl]

If you have a darkish room, I would suggest opting for lighter colours, like creams and whites to brighten everything. You can still keep this cozy and not too modern by buying softer textured materials like wools and furs and go for fabrics that are the same colour but have a pattern made out of the texture.

I think neutrals would work really well with your wood and you can always add a bit more colour with a few accessories if you want, then you have the option of using different ones in summer and winter to change the mood.

[frog]

Thanks Minigirl :smile:

We are going to do the walls cream and the carpet will be a light beige but with 2 hairy hounds who like to bring the outdoors indoors there's no way a light coloured sofa is an option! :lol: Big dog seems to like to get grass stains up his sides and then rub them off on the sofa :zombie:

[Mrs Cheeso]

I'f you want cosy but not old fashioned I'd go for something like this http://www.curtainshack.co.uk/moodboards.php?m=25- nice light curtains (or roman blinds might look better if it's a small room with low ceilings:scratchchin:) and get some big cushions in a coordinating fabic like the red check in the piccie or they do a lovely pin stripe) and a big rug - cream would look fab it it's a darker room but with a couple of:dog: it's not really practical so I'd go for a reddy colour something like this http://www.lauraashley.com/invt/3166454&bklist=

Anyway, I've obviously no idea whether this is your sort of thing but I thought it looked lovely"
MrsCx
PS Just done my own living room & helping my mum design hers so a fave topic of mine right now :grin:

[frog]

Ooh, Mrs Cheeso, you're good! That rug is niiice! :nod: The only other one I've seen so far that I liked was in the posh shop in town and at £8k :shock: my DH's words were 'not bloody likely' :lol:

I like the stripey fabrics, too :smile: Not decided on the windows yet, they're quite shallow height-wise so I don't think Romans would be a good idea even though I love them :-( Though I suppose we could have them done in a v light and sheer fabric :scratchchin:

Going to go back for another squizz at the sofa and if we still love it then I'll get it ordered as the lady told us it would be about 12 weeks for delivery so that'll get the countdown going and make me get my bum into gear! :lol:

eta totally o/t but how gorgeous is this! http://www.curtainshack.co.uk/moodboards.php?m=20 would be lovely for my little man when he's a bit older! :lol:

another eta! I like the one with the cream background here, might be nice at the windows http://www.curtainshack.co.uk/moodboards.php?m=27 Your site is fab Mrs C! :smile:

[Mrs Cheeso]

Glad you like & it is a fab site plus the service is excellent as I ordered my living room & bedroom curtains through them & they're so helpful. Loving the little boys room!