living room Archives - Emily A. Clark

Simplifying the Design: Dark Green Living Room

Jan162019

It’s been a while since I’ve done a “scaling down the design” post. I’m changing the name but the concept is the same. I take a designer room that would probably feel a little beyond most people’s comfort zones and break down how you might simplify the design for your home, taking some of the elements and using them in different ways. This dark green living room designed by Melanie Turner (and featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles) is bold, cozy and has a lot of great elements to play up.

I love the way she covered every surface (walls, trim and fireplace) with the moody green, using high contrast accessories, warm wood tones and modern art. I can envision a scaled down version of this room also being perfect for a small study or home office.

I’d play up the yellow gold in the original design with a pair of small slipper chairs and keep things more casual by foregoing the drapery and using woven shades, also in a gold tone. (These are the same ones I used in my house.)

The original room uses a chocolate velvet sofa. I substituted a dark brown leather one because I’m sure some of you have something similar you’re trying to work with and again, because it gives off a more casual vibe.

The high contrast art is important. I found a couple of examples from Minted that you can order as oversized prints.

There are several touches of brass throughout. I used this pretty (and affordable) pineapple chandelier that looks vintage.

I love the burl wood coffee table, but they’re pricy and hard to find. I substituted trays instead, layered on a clean white coffee table.

With so much going on in the room, I’d duplicate the simple woven rug, using something like my go-to jute.

And a reminder that you can always take inspiration from a space, but put your own twist on it. . . Here are a few other accent colors besides gold that that you might try with this color scheme. (As you can see, I think the tiger print works as a neutral.)

A Plan in Progress: Our Living Room Refresh

Oct122018

Fall is in the air and it has me itching to make some changes to our living room. I’m starting with throwing out my stained white slipcovers and moving out one of the two matching sofas. I’m also moving in more pattern.

(See something you like? All product images are linked.)

I’m also experimenting with different art above our fireplace. I haven’t decided if the black and white is staying yet. I think I’ll wait and see how I feel once the patterned sofa is in place.

And here’s a quick look at the sofa with a $49 (IKEA) beige slipcover. The other sofa won’t be here for another month. Stay tuned. . .

Slipcovered Sofas: Are They Worth It?

Sep262018

After owning (white) slipcovered sofas for a couple of years now, it seems like a good time to give an update on how they’re working for our family and if the “ease” of washable covers is really worth it.

We have a pair of the IKEA Ektorp sofas in our living room, and I’ll stand by my opinion that for the price and the comfort, they’re a great fit for our not-so-gentle family of seven. But the washable slipcovers? Not so washable, after all.

I started out like every other slipcover owner in America who said “I’ll just throw them in the washer.” Truth be told, there’s no such thing as “just throwing them” anywhere. In a perfect world, I guess you would take them off every month or so. My average, I’m ashamed to admit, is more like once a year. We’re not suppose to, but “we” eat snacks (and ice cream and popcorn and salsa) in front of the TV and I just got tired of worrying about it, which leaves us with less then crisp white couches.

Look closely. Someone–who shall remain nameless–decided to eat chocolate ice cream while paying more attention to a ballgame. . .

While I can take the covers off by myself, the pain of getting them back on the frame is more of a two-man job. They say not to bleach them, but I’ve tried it–along with OxiClean and stain sprays and everything else I’ve read online that’s been recommended. The verdict? The white doesn’t come out white. (This could be due to my once-a-year-washing schedule.) And it’s a lot of trouble, I tell you, to go through the process of washing them and get a dingy result.

So, the alternative is to buy new slipcovers–or a new sofa. . . For our IKEA Ektorp, a new cover is $250. I’m sure it varies but a quick Google search says the average cost to have a sofa cleaned is between $100-$150. Although the “new” doesn’t last extremely long around here (for anything), I still feel like new slipcovers are a good investment for a few years, at least. While I’m speaking from the experience of having white sofas, I think you could get away with keeping the covers even longer if it were a darker color. . .

What’s been your experience with slipcovered furniture?

Do you think it’s worth it?