Chicago Apartment: Living Room Inspiration

Now that we've got the layout sort of figured out, it's time to start pulling together inspiration.  

These images came straight from Kira's Pinterest board, and it's pretty clear to see the common themes in what she likes:

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Clean lines.

Traditional core pieces.

A little preppy.

A little nautical.

Light colors.

Gold accents.

Soft upholstered furniture.

Warm wood tones.

A few rustic pieces.

Based on things she has, and things she plans to buy along with her Pinterest pages, I pulled in a few benches, a coffee table, and a few table lamps that go with the look and feel of what she likes.

Roll Arm Sofa, Console Table, Navy Bench, Gold Bar Cart, Tufted Bench, Coffee Table, Gold Side Table, Gold Table Lamp, Wooden Table Lamp

She already has the white console table, gold bar cart, and gold side table, (numbers 2, 4, and 7) and plans to buy this sofa from Pottery Barn (number 1).

What I like (and what I think she will like) about the other things I've pulled in (the coffee table, the lamps, and the benches), is that they are all within the neutral palate that she likes, and will serve as a canvas to bring in more color through additional accessories (pillows, curtains, art, table accessories, books, and perhaps the rug).

A few things to be very careful of based on the above pieces...

1. Too much gold.
Yes, there is such a thing.  With the gold side table, the gold bar cart, and a series of gold leaf abstract paintings she has, she already has quite a bit of gold going on.  The gold lamp will only work if she doesn't do the gold ottoman, and if it's placed on the console table at the far end away from the gold side table.  If she does the gold ottoman, it cannot be placed next to the gold side table, and the room will feel more balanced with the wooden table lamp on the console table behind the sofa.

2. Needs color
As I said, these pieces serve as a neutral canvas for color (and the ability to switch accessories out with the seasons for a different look and feel between warmer and cooler months).  If the curtains are neutral, the walls are neutral, the rug is neutral, and the pillows are neutral with all this neutral furniture already going on, this is going to look BORING.  At least two of the three (rug, curtains, pillows) need to have color and pattern going on to bring in interest - my recommendation would be either the rug and pillows, or the pillows and curtains, if she doesn't want to do all three.

So this is the jumping off point... time to source a few more pieces to choose from (coffee table, lamps, and chair / bench options) and then the fun stuff... the accessories and color that will bring life to the living space.