Design crew

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers! This week Yammie wants your 2 cents worth and yes, even though the obvious answer is clean up your room girls, she promises to mend her messy ways ... or she will once the room is gorgeous.

I share a room with my sister. We have two twin beds .... Sorry the room is so messy and the pictures are so low quality. I just snapped them quick before I left for work this morning. I guess my main issue is that I want it to be bright and unique, but if I get sick of it, I don't want it to be tooo hard to change. I want to have white or other neutral colors for the walls and bedding and then just have bright fun accessories. Also, like I said, I would like to paint the side tables bright colors like turquoise maybe with some green, pink, and or purple. I'm also thinking about lighting. Something unique and fun like low hanging lamps or paper lanterns would be cool. Any ideas? Thanks!

More photos after the jump. It's a lovely bright room and I'm sure Yammie and her sister can create something special ... with your help :)

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Design crew

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers! Kristin needs your help this week. She's a woman with strong ideas on a mission. I know you'll love giving your 2 cents worth :)

I just moved from a small one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan to a 3 bedroom house in Denver.  Luckily, my mom is selling her house and I was also to take some furniture with me.  My design dilemma comes to us in the shape of an awkward living room.  The living room is long and narrow.  The entry from the front door is smack in the middle and located on the walls on either side of the entrance are long radiators (i.e. no furniture along one of the two longest walls in the room.)  The other long wall is closed with the exception of the entryway into the dining room (about 12 ft wide).  The two shorter walls have a fireplace and staircases (one upstairs and one to basement), respectively.  What a challenge! 

I have decided to create two seating areas separated by the entryway.  However, in order to help the room flow, I would like to tie them together (using the existing furniture I have from Manhattan and from my mom - I'm on a budget) by using a navy/lilac color palette.  I have the basics - a neutral/ivory sofa, a navy sofa (a very dark ink color), a brown leather chair, a marble top coffee table with a walnut base and disparate wooden side tables. 

I discovered a local upholsterer who is selling two British cane chairs.  She will reupholster them in any fabric I choose (the frame finish can also be customized).  They will be located next to the navy sofa (the ivory sofa, leather chair and marble top table comprise the other seating area in the room).  As everything in the room is solid, I would like to introduce a lilac print.  I'm looking for a grayish-lilac or khaki-lilac, something neutral to play against the navy.

To tie it all together, I eventually want to buy two matching area rugs and to use throw pillows, throw blankets, curtains etc to help spread the color palette throughout the room.  Does anyone have any navy/lilac inspiration for me?  Also, can anyone recommend an affordable lilac fabric for the chairs?  I've been told that lilac is not a popular color by every single fabric store in Denver (including the Design Center!)

And here is what she has to work with.

  

  

  

   

Reader request - patterned sofas

We received this reader request some time ago from Charly: I am considering a new sofa that is covered with a crazy printed fabric.  It is totally amazing but also quite intimidating for me in my small rental apartment that I am just beginning to decorate. Before I take the plunge, I am trying to find images of printed couches to help me decide if I can make it work.  Do you have any images of sofas and couches with colorful and/or busy prints on them for inspiration? Since it's been so long Charly has likely already chosen her sofa but I was curious to see what photos I could find in my stash of patterned sofas, as they certainly are not everyone's first choice for such a substantial piece of furniture. But why not - you only live once!

Elle Decor
Hus & Hem
Todd Alexander Romano
Hus & Hem
At Home Interior Design
design*sponge

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Reader request - butcher block counters and sinks

Today's reader request is from Nat: I was wondering if you could help me find more inspirational images of kitchens. I want to put butcher block counters throughout my kitchen and don't know what type of sink to choose: (1) undermount; or (2) drop in. I don't like the look of drop-ins, but I'm worried that with an undermount sink I run a chance of ruining my counter edges. I've read around blogs that this should not be a problem if you seal them properly. But I'm looking for images to convince hubby that this will be worth the extra work. I haven't had much experience with butcher block (I do LOVE it) but I would guess with a good initial seal and re-sealing as required, you could go with either. I'd had an aversion towards drop-in sinks for a loooong time now but after taking a close look at the photos I found of sinks used with butcher block, I actually think I prefer drop-ins (and those in white ceramic). Perhaps you'll agree after having a look at the following photos...

design*sponge	Katie Sellers
Julia Wong Designs	Living Etc.
Marie Claire Italia	Apartment Therapy
Hus & Hem	jj Locations
The Yvestown Blog	Apartment Therapy

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Design crew

Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers! You are coming up with some stellar ideas each week so it's time to do it all over again. This week is just a little different. Instead of room photos Brigida has sent us photos of what she has in the room. Can you make help her pull it all together? She is wrestling with a rug dilemma.

First I want to tell you that I love your blog.  I would really appreciate if you could help me with some ideas about how to combine rugs in the dining/living room. I have a rectangular open plan living room/dining room, where I want a more contemporary decoration.  Three of the walls are white and one was painted in a greyish chocolate brown. In the middle, separating the living room from the dining room, there's a rectangular column in a almost black grey.  The furniture is in dark wood (wenge), the dining table is white (lacquered) and the chairs are camel brown, similar to this one.

The sofa (with chaise long) has a sand colour, something like this, but lighter

and in the living room I have something like this

 

and a wenge center low table.  I also have in the living room a Corbusier chaise long brown/white/black pony like this one.

I wanted to bring some colour to the space, so I bought this gabbeh rug - the colours are more vivid than in the picture to put under the white dining room table.

I want to put a rug in the living room, but I don't know what colour will go better. I thought in a dark grey rug but don't know. Can you please give some suggestions?