But, first let me mention this
This is not for Roberta's room, but, this is something I think would be cute, especially if painted or finished in varying colors and it could be made much, much cheaper than the $106.99 sale price I saw it at. All it is, is pieces of reclaimed wood that are glued together. I can do that! And, yes, I would. Will I? Maybe.
One key thing for Roberta's place is this tv arm, which I believe I will also end up needing, which means also needing a 23" - 40" plasma tv. Won't bother looking for one of those to show you, as most of us have already seen them.
Things to keep in mind:
Roberta is not frou frou, she likes purple, bold statements, her computer desk is silver metal and modern looking, she has a big mirror with a gold frame that needs to be hung somewhere, and, no one is ever likely to have a lot of money, so we need to mainly do things with what she has, paint, things that can be found at thrift stores or for free, etc.
First of all, there is the matter of her love of purple and the color of her walls. Solution? Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and ask for a tintable exterior stain, have it tinted purple, and brush it over the wood in her living room, thereby not covering it up with paint, yet, giving it more of a purple glow. Cost? No clue, but, not as much as wall paper or removing the wood.
Second of all, the fireplace needs to have it's color changed. Here is one possible solution: Brick Anew
I'm a little confused as to which, if any, would be the better color. I think, probably, the Misty Morning Harbor as it has gray tones which would go well with many other things I have already typed up, regarding the room and might just contrast nicely with the mirror.
Thirdly, there is some ghastly white to take out, retexture or otherwise do something with. I speak of the wall with the windows and the crap in between the lovely ceiling beams. Is it also on the other long wall? I cannot remember, just now. Gray is a good color for that, as well, if it is gray with a slight purplish cast.
Why? Because, gray enhances creativity, it would draw in the fire place, and, it goes with black and purple and contrasts with gold. I'm thinking something like this:
I'd like to dream that we could pull up the carpet and find a beautiful wood floor to stain darkly, or at least a beautiful concrete floor that could be painted darkly, but, I don't know that any of those would happen, so let's assume a floor would need to be created.
I've seen some interlocking wood, laminate and ceramic flooring systems, but, so far none with black and I do believe she needs a black floor. So, here we go:
This is Brazilian Black Cleft Slate tile (12" x 12") for $2.95 per piece.
And, guess what? Her "hallway" between the kitchen and living room just became a home office, so we can use the entire living room for living. Yaye!
To make her feel better about it, she can have this lamp:
I'd love to ditch the black couch, but, budget, budget, budget (sigh), so, we put the long black couch in front of the long wood wall in the back of the room, and, viciously, match it with the loveseat and chair for a "sectional". Sorry Roberta! But, now I am couchless,so, I'm sorry to me, too. But, to make them look different:
Belize Eggplant Solid Velvet Upholstery Fabric
That goes on the seat cushions
Fluted Round Bun Foot in knotty pine, for $12.05 each, which is the cheapest listed type to do what I want to do. And, what do I want to do? I want to paint them with black and white stripes, maybe with little lines of purple in between, and, stick them under the couches and chairs and the ottomans she already has, too. Well, one ottoman might not need them. I think 6 for the long couch, and 4 each for the chair, loveseat and one ottoman. A little expensive, but, certainly not as expensive as buying new couches.
Here are some pillows (aside from the ones she may still have) which may work with the room:
Purple Flounce Pillow
Gray & Gold Medallion Pillow, which would bring the mirror in more, as well as reflecting the floor and adding some more pattern. And, now that I've gone back up there and repainted, this pillow ties everything together even better!
Purple Berry Ombre Velvet Pillow
Purple Microsuede Throw Pillows
Purple Velvet Throw Pillows
Sofia 20" Decorative pillows; which I love in both the Aubergine and the Kiwi.
Oh, and, I forgot, Roberta has her slate tables that she really loves and wants to keep. Arghhhhh! Good thing she also wants an outdoor seating area (does she know that?) and the metal can be weather-proofed. Goodbye tables! Why? Too much rust in them, wrong shape legs. Mind you, I think they are lovely, but, just not right for today.
We do need some tables, though. I had thought of some handmade tables that would come up and over the chair arms, to give it more of a sectional feel, but, that could get needlessly complicated and painful. So, for something cute, on either end of the "sectional", and in between the chair and the loveseat, I think this might do:
Then, there needs to be a coffee table with storage.
Well, we also have to consider the ottomans, and the cost, so, suddenly, I just lost my red box, and, we have painted it a glossy black. Admittedly, that's partially because I have looked and looked and found no suitable storage table, not even the expensive ones. There was one cool one that had several storage ottomans in it, but, they were beige. Bleghh!
Anyway, the chest can sit between the two ottomans and a floor cushion can top it for extra seating or to be used as an ottoman, but, where it can be removed if people are eating there. The fun part is converting it into a lift-top table, which could maybe happen and in this scenario does, as soon as I figure out where to get the proper sort of hinges. I mean lift top as in this:
Ah, but, what about the ottomans, besides their newly installed bun feet? Two ottomans, two different shapes, one badly in need of being restuffed, methinks. Well, what can be done about the ottomans?
I believe we will cover one in this:
And, the other in this:
Before you yell "Yaaggh!", keep in mind that the patterns are rather small scale.
For in between the fire place (with television) and the "sectional", a leatherette Wildon Home Conroy Swivel Recliner duo, also in black, to sort of match the couches. Something where they can be turned toward the sofa for when there is company, or turned toward the tv for when she has a guest over.
For above and behind the long couch, and off to the side:, lots and lots of shelving, via using the Platinum Elta Loft Shelving from the Container store
Well, it doesn't have to be in platinum, but, I like the basic configuration of this system, and, with black boxes, it looks rather well with the general scheme of the room, methinks. Only, I think we'd need to put the longer bits on the other side, as she has a niche to worry about.
Underneath the niche, would go this little table, in the same shape, but different colors, than the other end tables in the room.
A perfect little table on which to display a large and purple vase of flowers, perhaps.
For the window:
Lovely, black and white striped curtains. Why? Partly to catch the eye and keep the flow going, because there are already stripes on the ceiling, from the beams.
To define the "sectional" area better:
http://www.rugs-direct.com/ShopDetail/Details/154541/Sphinx/Emerson/2033C/BlackGold
Then, again, when dealing with small doggies, maybe one should just leave the area undefined? Speaking of doggies:
http://www.petedge.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=46133
and:
http://www.fetchdog.com/pet-supplies/dogcouchcovers-blankets/dogblankets-throws/faux-fur-luxury-throw-dog-blanket/H10101
Here's a throw, for humans, that might work with the room, for the colder nights.
http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/chooty-and-co-dq73-pretty-in-purple-full-throw-577906.htm
And, lastly, something to paint and play dress up with.
http://www.mannequinland.com/flexiblemannequin.htm
Using most of the elements above, I made a very horrible "sketch" of the room. Very, very horrible. The point is only to have some idea of if the elements would go together at all. I entitled the image "not so horrible". lol To me, the worst part is the cushions, though, as soon as I added in the purple velvet to cover the couch seats, they improved.
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