Scheming: Family Room Makeover

Earlier this month Paintzen (the Uber of home painting) sent over a totally adorable husband and wife team to paint our family room in Boston. Ever since our renovations a few years ago, the walls back there have been this taupe-y shade that I really didn’t like. When a press release for Paintzen popped into my overstuffed inbox I took notice.

Paintzen is a digital paint company that handles all aspects of a paint project,  big or small. The simple site walks you through the process and provides a quote. If you decide to move forward they handle everything, from getting the paint (all Benjamin Moore, and they’ll even do a color consultation), to scheduling and managing the job. The money goes through them too.  The painters show up, do their thing, no fuss, no muss. I was thrilled with the entire experience.

Now that the family room is grey, Benjamin Moore Steel Wool to be exact, I feel like I can motivate on sprucing up the other elements. The enormous grey velvet sofa will remain (all four of us fit to watch TV), but we desperately need a new rug, ottomans, a chair, and perhaps additional lighting. We have plenty of art, and worked on a new gallery wall arrangement last weekend (photo below).

So when Wayfair offered me the opportunity to participate in its #NewYearNewRoom campaign, obviously I opted in. The directive was to choose 20 pieces from Wayfair and its other brands, which include AllModern and DwellStudio, that would breathe new life into an old space. I’m so inspired by this scheme I worked up that I think I will use my $100 gift card to start on a refresh right away.

F A M I L Y  R O O M 
MA K E O V E R  S C H E ME 

Family Room Makeover Ideas Grey Living Room With Gold Accents

Sconces / Clock / Portrait / Photo 1 / Photo 2 / Diptych

 Sofa / Pillow / Pillows / Drawing / Glass / End Table

Rug / Chair / Ottoman / Coffee Table

Vase / Tray / Candlesticks / Floor Pillow

I N   P R O G R E S S 

Grey Family Room Makeover Ideas Gallery Wall

Here’s the family-size grey velvet sofa, a glimpse of the new grey walls, compliments of Paintzen, and a few of the artworks we considered hanging.

•            •           • 

NewYearNewRoomBanner

 

Get the Look: 42 Modern Desks For Your Home Office

I’ve been so focused on Florida (though not nearly enough, as I’ve yet to order rugs, shades, or decide on the pink problem in the bathroom), that I’ve neglected organizing and upgrading in Boston. Coming back in the fall from the Cape, I’m always bothered by the amount of stuff we have. Too. Much. Stuff. It’s particularly striking because not only is the place on the Cape a lot bigger, being a house instead of an apartment, it’s white and virtually empty.

Here, in addition to crown moldings and bookshelves lined with coffee table books (one of the best perks of being a blogger), there’s , well, everything. The piles of dishes still not put away from the bar mitzvah in February (because, after all, we’re having another one this coming February), our bicycles in the living room until it gets too cold to ride and we store them, etc.

I’ve been promising my younger son that I would work on his bedroom. Meaning, I would clear out all the outgrown clothing and extra bedding I’ve been keeping in there. Done! He has the upholstered armchair that I used to nurse them on when they were babies. It’s taking up a ton of space that would be better used for a desk. He’s starting to get a fair amount of homework, plus, like me, he’s very organized, so I think he’d love to have drawers where he can store supplies.

Our other son has a little desk from IKEA, which when it’s cleared, he actually likes to use (not for homework, though). When he was away at a boarding school program this summer he lived in student housing, with a room furnished in typical dorm style (by a company like Peelmount) that outfits dorm rooms with sturdy wood beds, desks, and dressers. It’s kind of incredible that those designs haven’t changed, in like, ever. Blocky oak stands the test of time, I suppose. In any case, I’m not looking for anything as practical as all that. A small, affordable, modern desk is all we need.

Here are 42 modern desks, almost all of them well-priced (and one very extravagant example) from StyleCarrot partner sites and other great resources.

modern-desks-1

modern-desks-2

modern-desks-3

modern-desks-4

modern-desks-5

modern-desks-6

S H O P P I N G 

1 Soft Modern Writing Desk by Sauder, $210 at All Modern.

2 MICKE desk, $49.99 at IKEA

3 at All Modern.

4 Phillip Desk by Arteriors Home, $2,520 at All Modern.

5 Finch Desk by Gus Modern, $1,044.75 at Burke Decor.

6 Half Pipe Writing Desk by Offi, $899 at All Modern. 

7 Ayers Writing Desk by Reual James, $1,338 at All Modern.

8 Jacques Desk, $3,495 at Jonathan Adler

9 Homework Desk by Niels Bendtsen, $1,595 at DWR.

10 Reef Writing Desk by Tema, $720 at All Modern

11 Paul McCobb Style Birch Desk, $2700 at Chairish. 

12 Pilson Paprika Desk, $199 at Crate & Barrel.

13 Eames Desk Unit (EDU) by Herman Miller, $1,419 at Room & Board.

14 Rustic Storage Oak Desk, $499 at West Elm.

15 Radford Adjustable Desk in White design by Safavieh, $495 at Burke Decor.

16 Offi Wave Writing Desk, $999 at All Modern.

17 Royal Blue Vintage Campaign Desk, $795 at Chairish.

18 Executive Desk with Cabinet by Jesper Office, $2,374 at Bluefly.

19 Shutter Hall Desk, $1,350 at Furniturea.

20 Marco Desk, $799 at Crate & Barrel.

21 Delphine Desk, $1,950 at Jonathan Adler

22 Hanh Left Desk by Euro Style, $552 at Burke Decor.  

23 Eames Desk Unit (EDU) by Herman Miller, $1,419 at DWR.

24 Contrast Drawer Desk by Assembly Home, $369 at Urban Outfitters.

25 Slim Desk in Orange, $449 at Room & Board.

26 Nelson Swag Leg Desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller, $2,149 at DWR.

27 Mid-Century Desk in Thai Blue, $399 at West Elm.

28 Cant Writing Desk by Blu Dot, $599 at All Modern.

29 Poltrona Frau Fred Desk, $ stat Switch Modern.

30 Format Desk by BDI USA, $1,299 at All Modern.

31 Green Josephine Desk by Cost Plus, $199 at World Market.

32 Reclaimed Pine Cross Base Desk, $499 at West Elm.

33 Manon Desk by Italian Modern, $539.99 at All Modern.

34 Reale Desk by Moe’s Home Collection, $781.76 at Bellacor

35 Junction Desk by Gus Modern, $1,255 at Burke Decor.

36 Emmerson Reclaimed Wood Storage Desk, $1,299 at West Elm.

 37 Scrub Desk by Autobahn for De La Espada, $5,185 at Matter.

38 Fairfax Desk, $495 at Serena & Lily.

39 Companions Writing Desk by StudioIlse, $3,145 at The Future Perfect.

40 Lark Desk, $695 at Serena & Lily.

41 Pontus Desk by Pinch, $11,257 at The Future Perfect.

42 Remix Desk by Gesa Hansen , $3,065 at Matter.

Get the Look: 20 Modern Outdoor Planters

We have two bluestone patios right outside our house on the Cape; one in the front, and a smaller one in the back. The back one faces a little rose garden, meant to echo the larger rose garden “up the hill,” as we say, at my in laws house. Theirs was planted in honor of my husband’s grandmother, Florine. Unlike the front garden, in which I only allow white and blue/purple flowers (yes, the guy who plants the flowers and helps weed thinks I’m crazy), the back garden has yellow roses, coral roses, and violet roses. (I had the pink ones replanted at my in laws because the color was annoying me.)

I had always planned to do low, long modern planters on the perimeter of the bluestone patio in the back, which is outside the guest rooms. Instead, that patio is sad and deserted (except for the roses, of course). My brother-in-law is getting married in Provincetown this summer (to a woman, just in case you’re wondering, given the locale), and much of the bride’s family will be staying at the house. This has motivated me to once again start thinking about enhancing the patios with modern planters.

While the funky, colorful ones are fun, they’re not really right. We’ll need minimalist planters with clean lines, planted with architectural forms, I think. No floppy pink pansies in terracotta troughs allowed. I’m thinking succulents and spiky grasses. I already grow some herbs in a vegetable garden (with our lone vegetable—or fruit rather—cherry tomatoes).

As for the front patio, given the lounge chairs and the view, we’re all set. Maybe the entry porch could use a pair of medium-sized planters as a welcome. Maybe brightly colored, planters could work there. Of course I’ll have to order all of this online; local garden shops only carry the usual traditional style planters. Yawn.

Here are 20 modern outdoor planters, most of which will work indoors too.

modern-outdoor-planters-1

modern-outdoor-planters-2

S H O P P I N G

Shop modern planters from StyleCarrot partner sites.

1. Greenbo Fiorina Planter Case

2. Arteriors Home Huntley Round Cachepot Planter

3. Barnacle Cube Pot

4. Case Study Cylinder Planter with Stand

5. Boskke Cube Planter

6. Capital Garden Products Geo Cube Planter

7. Raised Teak Trough Planter

8. Bloem Modica Planter

9. Pad Outdoor POD Aluminum Planter Ver 1.0

10. Planterworx Home Element Planter

11. Modernica Case Study 3 Bowl Plant Stand

12. Greenbo XL Designer Rail Planter

13. Wooly Pocket Planter

14. Hip Haven Retro Bullet Planter

15. Round Brushed Stainless Steel Burgdorf Planter

16. Cyan Design Box Woody Planter

17. Sunscape Cedar Square Planter

18. Steel Life Matchstick Planter Stand

19. Planterworx Home Element Rectangular Planter

20. Wallter Wall Planter

•            •            •

Modern accessories for indoors & out >

Get the Look: 20 Modern Sleeper Sofas

I’ve done a number of sofa roundups of a variety of sofas from gray sofas to blue velvet sofas—but I have yet to pull together a collection of sleeper sofas for you. With summer guests on the horizon, I think it’s a good idea to examine some sofa bed options.

Choosing sofa beds can be tricky, since the sofas need to be deep enough to accommodate some type of mattress wide enough to pose as a bed. This means they can be bulky; hardly the contemporary look I favour. There are a number of options that go beyond the futon, but stay simple and sleek. Even the more comfortable upholstered sofa beds for sale these days have a streamlined silhouette.

I wrote a post on daybeds a while back, so I haven’t included any here save for one sectional piece that’s admittedly more of a daybed than traditional sleeper. On the Cape I have DWR’s Twilight in green which I love, but as for my old sleeper-sofa with the thin mattress and metal bar that pops out of the sofa – not so much.

Sleeper sofa design has improved, but still, if you’re shopping for a traditional sleeper, look for constructions that solve that issue. Mitchell Gold sofas tend to be great compromises for a plush upholstered sofa with a bed inside. [Availability of items checked and updated on 1-18-17]

Modern Sleeper Sofas With Beds

Modern Sleeper Sofas With Beds

Modern Sleeper Sofas With Beds

S H O P P I N G

1 Elliot Sofa Bed, $169 at Target. (unavailable)

2 SOLSTA Sofa Bed, $179 at IKEA.

3 Bay Sleeper by Busk&Hertzog, $2,200 at DWR. (unavailable)

4 Elke Convertible Sofa, $999.99 at Room & Board.

5 Henry Sleeper, $1,299–$1,699 at West Elm.

6 Twilight Sleeper Sofa by Flemming Busk, $2,100 at DWR.

7 Gus*Modern James Sleeper Lounge, $1,850 at Lumens.

8 Mexico Futon Sofa Bed, £189.99 at Argos.

9 Blu Dot Paramount Daybed, $1,804 at YLiving.

10 Twin Sleeper Chair, $1,795 at JC Penney.

11 Alex III Sleeper at Mitchell Gold Bob Williams.

12 Chevron Futon, $199.99 at Target.

13 Sliding Sleeper Sofa by Pietro Arosio, $3,875 at DWR.

14 LifeStyle Solutions Convertible Sofa, $560 at Hayneedle.

15 KIVIK Sofa Bed with Footstool, $958 at IKEA.

16 Eden Convertible Sofa, $999 at Room & Board.

17 Blu Dot One Night Stand Sleeper Sofa, $1,999 at Lumens.

18 Patti Foam Sofa Bed at Homebase. (unavailable)

19 Artek Sofa-Bed 550.

20 Niels Bendtsen sleeper sofa, $2,540 at Hive.

•             •            •

Get the Look: 46 Modern Dining Tables

Now that Meredith & Daniel’s dining room schemes are complete, I’ve put together my favorites from  my exhaustive search for dining tables. I’ve included a bit of everything here—round, elliptical, and rectangular—including tables that expand and fold up. Most are modern in style, some are vintage, materials run the gamut from scrap wood to marble, and prices range from $179 (IKEA!) to a piece by Autoban for De La Espada for $12,595.

I’ve been a huge fan of #3 for weeks, and it was just in a kitchen I wrote about for the Boston Globe Magazine. I can’t help but love the Saarinen (I have the side tables and they’re just so satisfying). I really love the mix of marble & rough wood, not to mention the price, of #1. #16 is pretty, and #44 and #46 are great reflections of current trends—dipped and geo. Any favorites here, or that I may have left out?

S H O P P I N G

1 Rock Dining Table, $599 at CB2.

2 Alvar Aalto Dining Table for Artek, $1,905 at FinnStyle.

3 Fritz Hansen Super-Elliptical Table, $2,460 at Danish Design Store.

4 Adaptable Table by TAF Architects for Muuto, £1,395 at Haus.

5 Parson Dining Table by Milo Baughman, $6,800 at Galerie Sommerlath.

6 Nelson Swag Leg for Herman Miller, $1,699 at DWR.

7 Blu Dot Strut Table, $699 at Smart Furniture.

8 Drave Table by Samare, $1,830 at Matter.

9 Adams Solid Maple Extension Table, $1,499 at Room & Board.

10 Brewer Table, $1,199 at Thrive.

11 Saarinen Oval by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, $4,743 at DWR.

12 Welland Table by Ineke Hans, $1,492 at The Future Perfect.

13 PS 2012 Bamboo Dining Table, $179 at IKEA.

14 Shanghai Dining Table, $699 at CB2.

15 Eames Round Table with Veneer Top, $1,099 at Addo Novo.

16 Oly Studio Frank Dining Table, $4,050 at Zinc Door.

17 Breeze Table by Monica Forster for Swedese, £495 at Haus.

18 Flip n Dine Extension Table by Jonas Wahlstrom, $499 at CB2.

19 Simplon Table, by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini $4,131 at Unica.

20 T-Leg Table in Scrapwood by Piet Hein Eek, $4,254 at The Future Perfect.

21 M5 Short Frank Table by Established & Sons,  $2,170 at Matter.

22 Cyclone Dining Table by Isamu Noguchi, $1,898 at Addo Novo.

23 Benson Marble Top Table, $1,549 at Room & Board.

24 231 Scrub Table by Autoban for De La Espada, $4,555 at Addo Novo.

25 Dovetail Remy Table, $862.50 at Candelabra.

26 Gio Ponti Dining Table, Casati Gallery, 1st Dibs.

27 Bond Dining Table, $2,950 at Jonathan Adler.

28 Spoon Folding Table by Antonio Citterio for Kartell, $1,999 at Smart Furniture.

29 Bungalow 5 Fairfax Gray Cerused Oak Table, $2,015 at Zinc Door.

30 Peggy Dining Table by Pearson Lloyd for SCP, $2,400 at Woonwinkel.

31 Blu Dot Sprout Dining Table, $999 at Smart Furniture.

32 Woody Dining Table, $399 at CB2.

33 Teak Slice Expandable Table by Ethnicraft, $3,100 at Lekker.

34 Sputnik Round Table by Paul Delaisse, $1,520 at Lekker.

35 Pocket Extension Table by Slate Design, $499 at CB2.

36 PK 54 Table by Poul Kjaerholm, $10,600 at Almond Hartzog.

37 Astro Dining Table by Calligaris, $1,156.20 at AllModern.

38 Bungalow 5 Porto Dining Table, $2,535 at Candelabra.

39 230 Pebble Table by Autoban for De La Espada, $12,595 at Addo Novo.

40 Oly Studio Maisy Table, $3,37.50 at Candelabra.

41 Opus Oak Hideaway Dining Table, £150 at Next.

42 Kitchenette Light Oak Table, $189 at Crate & Barrel.

43 Extendable Table by Karim Rashid, $2,495 at BoConcept.

44 1/2 Nelson Cafe Table by Misewell, $1,580 at Horne.

45 Compass Trestle Legs Matthew Hilton for SCP, $750 at Horne.

46 Strala Table by Tom Strala, $7,900 at Horne.

carrot-currency-graphic

If you are looking for sturdy dining tables then Top Furniture Ltd are worth a look. They offer round, rectangular, and square oak dining tables at great prices from their website.