Time to listen in on our next reader’s makeover as guest blogger and interior designer Jason Martin helps Rali take her home to the next level. I love this insight into their design consultation, the to and fro by email. Remember Rali does the “DIY” and Jason adds the “+”.

Rali’s house

We just moved into our new home and I started decorating from scratch (we didn’t have any decent furniture at all before) but I am struggling with finishing up the living room. The whole first floor is one open space and includes the kitchen, the dining area (it is not a formal dining room but a very casual eat-in space that we love) and the living room. So far in the living room we got this modular sectional (which to be honest I didn’t like so much in the beginning but is very comfy and the kids love it), we got the area rug, some side tables and the media stand. I like modern clean lines mixed with some antique unique pieces for a more eclectic look overall. The space has to be practical and kid friendly too as we have a toddler and a baby. The house is near the ocean so I want to turn this space into a modern beach house living room.

Top three things that I would like addressed:

1) Adding accessories and art work in the living area. I need some elements that will bring the Wow factor.

2) TV Wall – I am not sure what to do with the space around the media stand.

3) I want to add some low lighting. At least I think so.

Jason’s notes

Living Room-

1.I think you could pull the sofa away from the wall a little more to create some visual space. Is there a piece of furniture behind the sofa? I can’t tell.

2. You need some kind of coffee table to anchor the sofa. A small table or stool would work since it is a tight space. Even if it was tucked into one of the interior corners of the sofa – just for a place to rest a book or a glass.

3. You might consider draperies around the windows. Something that would not block the view but give a softer look and a sense of enclosure.

4. I would flip the nesting table you have now to the other side of the sofa and put a more substantial side table there.

5. The rug is great (I have it in my house as well) but there are two things about it that we should address.
—The first is that it is almost too small for the space. I would suggest finding an inexpensive sisal style rug that you could layer under it so that there is about an 8 to 14” border all the way around the existing rug. That will increase the usable sitting area and give a softer look to the space.
—Second, I wish there was some white in the rug to make all the beige and golds pop more. But there isn’t so we need to add white into the room make that happen.

6. I think there is room between the TV and sofa for one or two occasional chairs that could easily be turned around to face the sofa or watch TV

7. You definitely need some lamps or eye level lighting

Side table and small coffee table ideas

Accessories

Pillows, soft accessories for sofa

Lighting ideas

Ideas for art – Sitting area

Ideas for art – TV area

Extra Seating – Occasional chairs

Rali’s response

This is great. Your advice and ideas are brilliant.

I have a question regarding the side table – you said that I should move it to the other end of the sofa and get a more substantial one for this side, but all of your suggestions are for side tables of about the same size as my current ones. The West Elm white nesting tables would be probably even a few inches shorter than what I currently have. You are saying that I should get a small coffee table since the space is small but I am not sure if I mentioned the sofa is a modular one and that ottoman on the right side, we move it quite often. So, can I use that ottoman as a coffee table with a tray on top of it or maybe get the lucite coffee table from CB2. I have been looking at that table for a while and I would love to get something lucite for my house.

As far as the curtains – do you recommend that I put them on all 4 large windows ( living and dining area)? I think that would be the most appropriate for a seamless look.

You have given me some suggestions for art in the TV area. Can you please advise me how to organize it, so that it doesn’t look weird. Shall I put it all above the TV in a row symmetrical or try for some asymmetrical arrangement of different pieces. I would appreciate your opinion on this. I love the rustic shelves from velocity. Can I put those above the TV, maybe 3 of them at different height?

Thank you very much for your time and all your great advice.

…And what Jason suggested (I feel like a fly on the wall. All this back and forth.)

Gallery

So what do you think? Rali will you send photos as it progresses? We’d love to see how you pull it off!

Kyle Timothy Blood is the design force behind Kyle Timothy Home – obviously. But what is also obvious is his understanding of casual elegance and family friendly spaces. These are bright airy and light rooms that are just so appealing that you want to snuggle in that chair or whip up a cake in that kitchen. Custom doesn’t mean design for the sake of design but truly understanding a client’s needs.

Clean lines, monochromatic, dramatic in its restraint and simply beautiful. The latest private residence by Albano Daminato. Design classics by Hans Wegner, Warren Platner, Eero Saarinen and Arne Jacobsen are combined with custom pieces and layered with the textures of oak, hand woven rugs and travertine stone adding depth to the monochromatic palette. Sometimes colour is just not necessary to make a statement.

Here’s the first of interior designer Jason Martin’s DIY+ makeovers of readers’ homes. Let’s start with Adrena’s notes.

This is the space we need help with, our living room/dining room area. My dilemma is that the whole room feels so cold and unwelcoming. It is the first room you see when you walk into our home and the only place we have to gather as a family and entertain (we have a three year old daughter). We’ve already collected a few Danish Modern pieces (credenza and dining set), and hope to add more. We love this style and feel it works well with our home, which was built in 1954. The room is 27 feet long and 15 feet wide, (the dining room is slightly less wide). A few things to note are that there are seven windows in the room, and deciding on window treatments has been a big issue! Also some type of concealed toy/book storage would be great. Overall we’d love a warm, welcoming room furnished in Midcentury modern style. We need it all – paint colors, rug, new seating and window treatments and accessories. One sofa I love is the ‘Petrie’ model from Crate & Barrel. I should add that I’m a photographer and we love displaying family photos! Help! I have always wanted to walk into this room and say, “WOW!”

On a personal note, this home is very special because it is the home where my husband grew up.

And here’s what Jason came up with for Adrena. Let’s drop in on their consultation.

Floor Plan-
I think the room is basically laid out the best way possible. There is not enough room to float the sofa but have you tried chairs in the middle of the space to delineate the living and dining rooms?

“No we haven’t – are willing to try – possibly two smallish chairs?”

Chairs-See below for single chair opt and for a pair of chairs.

Sofa – If you can only fit one chair on the opposite wall, I might suggest a sectional where your sofa is now. If you have space for two chairs, you could go with one of the two traditional sofa options.

For the sofa and chairs-if you are looking for other options look for pieces that have high legs and thin arms. It gives more of a mid-century look and keeps the upholstery from making the room too heavy.

Coffee table – There is an opt for a traditional style coffee table but if you like you might try a set of ottomans, these rattan stools small or tables/stools like the Eames style pieces. This option would allow for extra seating and mobility in the space.

Upholstery

New storage under TV

Windows and walls

Note on rugs-

Since this is one open space used for two functions the best way to break it up is with rugs. My suggestion is to use a rug for each space but buy the same pattern for both. It with delineate the living room from the dining room without adding too much visual noise. You want the rug to be big enough for the front 3rd of the sofa to sit on it as well as the chairs-smaller will not anchor the room enough.

For accessories

I have made four different color stories here. You can keep thinks pared down and monochromatic buy sticking to just one color group or mix and match from each.

Accessories Options

Dining Room

I like the table and chairs and think they work great for the overall feel you want. If you want to change the hanging fixture here are a few options as well as some thoughts on upholstery fabric for the seats.

Dining Room Layout

Is the table/buffet group of center because off the door way or can it be centered in the space?*

“It can be moved over just a bit, but it does block the doorway to the kitchen somewhat”

Dining Room

I would go monochromatic with the major pieces of the room (rug, sofa, chairs and wall color). When trying to make one space function in two ways (living/dining) don’t think of monochromatic as matchy-matchy think of it as paring down the visual noise in such and open space. Focus on similar colors but vary the textures and patterns. In this space I think a cool grey is the best option to make the mid-century colors pop. Since Adrena needs a rug in the living area and one in the dining area my suggestion is to use two of the same design to stick with the monochromatic idea. I promise it won’t look bland.

Bright, happy, snappy and modern. These rooms styled by Rachel Vigor are wow and now. If you’re young or young at heart these spaces will brighten your day. Like so many great Aussie stylists Rachel is right on the money with her looks.