Okay. I have a few design dilemmas. I have a raised ranch home. On the sides of the house, there are no windows at all. The dining room & eat in kitchen area have really high ceilings in addition to zero windows. I have a whole lotta wall. The scary off-centered air conditioning unit will be gone this summer.
And yes, the ugly ceiling fan is going in a few weeks…
Design Dilemma #2. My mancave of a den has a massive ledge that spans the entire length of the room (also with no windows on the back wall. I don’t want to clutter it with nick nacks, but I can’t just leave it blank.
Someone help me decorate this boring house (include inspiration pictures!).
Tien says
Big wall mirrors in dining hall for illusion of open space?
Tien says
Here’s a picture 🙂
http://www.home-dzine.co.za/decor/images/use-7.jpg
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
Thanks for the pic! Those lucky people have a door in the center. I have an off centered A/C unit 🙁 Mirrors are a great idea! I appreciate your input Tien.
xo
Mindy
D... says
Oh you have a lovely amount of space. I think before you decide on anything, you need to figure out your theme. It helps you stay focused and sort of organized when you are looking for artwork. I used to work at Ethan Allen when I was a kid, and it seemed one of the first things the designers would sort out is what kind of message do you want the room to send, then pick a focal piece, that serves as inspiration and then work from there. So what are your rooms saying to you?
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
I guess I’d describe our home’s style as modern/eco/smart with a touch of sparkle 🙂 hee hee! We’re pretty laid back people, I want the room to feel inviting, interesting & alive!
D... says
Right now, it looks to me that, you have a pretty open pallet. Mostly neutral with moments of blue. I would bring more colors into the room. You could bring accessories with varying shades of blue (from teal to aqua). The only problem is that can get monotonous, plus feel restrictive. I know we both like the maps idea, so I take a peak at this one Design*Sponge Maps. It could go with decor, and there is a sense of whimsy an character to it. Add pictures of your journeys and you have integrated more of your traveler’s spirit into it. But really you have tons of options.
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
Such a cool idea. We also share the love of Design*Sponge! The photos dwn there are actually all of places we traveled to together, so we are definitely thinking alike 😉 I might incorperate your idea with Michelle’s idea of large framed posters. We’ve been collecting ski resort maps when we visit them. Plus they are mostly different blues & white! Yay!
xo
Mindy
lisa says
your home is very warm, never boring!
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
It’s never boring because of us & Rocco! I know we aren’t even close to finishing the decorating, but it’s pretty bare…. Thanks though 😉
TheSceneFromMe says
Paint that half wall a color you love.
And get plain canvas from the craft store and paint them however you’d like to add decor to that huge plain wall too.
Easy!
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
I don’t think I can commit to a color on the wall downstairs! Hmmm… maybe I can! Downstairs isn’t my main concern though, that monster wall is an issue (and that A/C unit is an even bigger issue). Thanks Amy, your place looks fantastic!
xo
Mindy
michelle says
Hmmmm….that dining room is tricky. I’ve got nothing right now.
As for the man cave, what about some framed vintage posters in different heights…or subway art. I’m too lazy to look up pictures for you but maybe the idea will help. I don’t think you would need to put anything on the wall with the window if you did some kind of window treatment….valence (which I usually don’t love but might actually look good in this room) or roman shades.
Hope this was a little helpful…tricky spaces suck!
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
I hate valences too. I’m ok with the window being blissfully bare, I included that picture to show how frikkin big that ledge is…it wraps around the whole room! I love the idea of large frames on the back ledge!!! Thanks for your ideas!
xo
Mindy
Kelly @ dare to be domestic says
I don’t have any sources but I wanted to say your home looks so open and inviting! I love all the space but I agree with you sometimes it’s hard to find what to do with it.
In the man cave, I feel you on not wanting to fill up the ledge with nicknacks but maybe you could prop up some framed artwork. I think some floor length curtains could help warm up the area around the window. I know they can be expensive but they do add a bit of drama. Otherwise the man cave looks great to me. Less is more and I think you have to looking uncluttered which is a great thing!
For the dining area – those mirrors would look great up on the wall spaced out above the cabinet. I think once the AC is gone you’ll feel like you have a better grasp of what you want to do to that wall.
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
Thanks 🙂 The windows downstairs are above the ledge, so floor length curtains aren’t really an option.
I’ll have some new fun things to share in that room very soon!
Sarah says
I am also currently trying to tackle decorating an entire house and it can be overwhelming! The first advice I have is commit to one room or area at a time, once you complete one room then move on to the next. My guess would be you would want to start with the living room or dining room area. A few ideas, first when you have a lot of wall, always go vertical with the decor. I think a great tall bookshelf painted a color you love and filled with things that showcase your family is always good. In design books and pictures the one thing I’ve noticed is incorporating things that are not “typical” for the room your decorating really adds visual interest and lovely variety to the space. Ex: a bookshelf in the dining room! Also to take up space on the wall in the dining room a cool idea is start thrifting or getting out on Saturday mornings to find yard sales and find some old vintage or interesting serving trays or platters, pick a color scheme and paint them. Hang them on the wall in different directions, some horizontal and some vertical. Also bakers racks are nice to put in a dinning room. Also don’t let trying to pick a wall color overwhelm you… Noting in decor has to be absolutely permanent! If you like a color, put it on the wall, or get some samples and paint blocks on the wall, stand back and then decide what color you love the most. The best way to bring a room to life is wall color. Another thing, because you have no windows, bringing in lamps and mirrors together will create much needed and beautiful sources of light into the room. I know this response was kinda all over the place but I hope something helped!
Mindy@FindingSilverLinings says
Thank for your great input Sarah! Since I posted this, we put in a large window because it was driving me crazy with the large blank wall. There is so much more light throughout the entire house!
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