Rodney’s Design Dilemma

When Rodney and his wife contacted us for help with their living room, we searched high and low for simple design switcheroos that’ll transform their space in a snap. Here’s their letter:

We’re looking for more of a modern/rustic style for our living room. We’d like to remedy the dated aspects of the room and make it look like an updated lodge. We like shopping at Crate & Barrel, Ruth & Ollie (my wife loves this store), TheseFourWalls, and Pottery Barn, and would like a warm look for the space (we love warm colors and use them throughout the rest of the house). Although we’d definitely like to paint the walls and the wood paneling (possibly white or cream?), we prefer to maintain the wooden beams for that rustic look. We also want to get rid of the dated gold trim around the fireplace. Here’s our big dilemma: I, the husband, like the natural brick fireplace, but the wife is interested in possibly painting. Help! Our budget doesn’t allow us to replace furniture such as the couch, but we want to replace the carpet with wood flooring (we think wood floors exist below the nasty carpet). Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon.  -Rodney

Their spacious living room is full of architecture and materials that definitely lend themselves to a warm lodge look, so we’re confident with a little updating and accessorizing this room will be current and cozy in no time. Here’s our inviting and updated lodge inspired mood board:

Here’s the mood board breakdown.

1. Our color palette brings in some rustic metal tones, some cheerful amber and tawny brown accents, and some warm creamy wall colors for a room that’s soft, natural, and inviting.

We actually think it should be a super easy (and dramatic) transformation in Rodney’s living room when it comes to painting all that wood and lightening up all that maroon paint. A coat of oil based primer on that paneling (and oil or water based primer over that deep red paint) is all it takes to create a perfect base for some lighter and cozier colors. For that modern lodge look with a bit of warmth, some buttery cream on the paneling (Wishes by Glidden, the same exact color we painted our paneling in the den) will really create that cozy yet open feeling. Painting those red walls a warm tawny tan tone with yellow undertones will work with the butter-cream paneling and really keep the room looking welcoming (try Glidden’s Ivory Sampler for the walls).

As for the brick, we’re on the fence too (just like Rodney and his wife) so we thought it would be a good idea for them to first paint the paneling and the walls and then decide if the brick is too loud/dark for their new updated room. If the brick does appear to be a big dark hole, sucking all the light out of the space and detracting from the furnishings, a glossy coat of New Suede by Glidden (a warm tawny brown hue) will still keep things looking rustic and lodge-like while adding a more uniform appearance to the fireplace (which will no longer compete when it’s one glossy brown tone). On the other hand, if the fireplace works perfectly with the rest of the room au naturale, maybe Rodney’s wife will agree that the big change that was achieved by painting the paneling and the walls was enough for her to fall in love with that brick all over again. We’ll just have to wait and see what they decide…

2. This three piece accent table set is almost too good to be true. Ringing in at a mere $204 for all three pieces, these modern (thanks to the glass) yet natural (thanks to the sculpted steel frames) occasional tables will immediately update the entire room on a serious budget.

3. And although Rodney and his wife can’t replace the couches, we think they can easily update the seating area by replacing their mauve and tan patterned arm chair with this crisp and comfy microfiber chair in camel. Deeply discounted from its original $899 asking price, this $349 piece will immediately add style to the entire space.

4. Another way to inject that natural, lodge-like atmosphere into the room is with art. And this gorgeous black and white pebble print will add the beauty of the outdoors without breaking the bank (it’s just $6.99!). Simply framed between the two windows  (above the new armchair) it’ll look serene and add to the easy ambiance.

5. Perhaps our favorite find of all, this wall-mountable wooden deer head also costs next to nothing (it’s just $29.95) and we think it’ll look amazing hung on the brick fireplace centered above the mantel. It’ll add another natural element to the room, and the smooth modern finish will really create a current conversation piece that everyone will admire and adore. And we’ll add a few more sparkling accessories to the mantel in a little bit, so stay tuned…

6. This copper garden stool is yet another serious steal, and we think it’ll look great to the right of the new arm chair between those two widows. A great place for resting a good book or a cup of hot cocoa, this $49 side table is a definite statement maker (which works perfectly with our warm golden and amber palette).

7. And speaking of working perfectly, replacing that brass fireplace surround (there are screws that Rodney can loosen from the back to free it from the fireplace) with a black and brushed nickel screen will bring the entire fireplace wall up to date in a flash. The fact that it coordinates seamlessly with our new steel coffee table and side tables is another reason to snatch it right up.

8. These cushions from Crate & Barrel work with Rodney’s existing couches and also inject some warm tawny tan and cream tones to the space in a snap. And we love the mixture of textures (one’s velvet while the other’s silk) to add even more natural & inviting elements to the room.

9. These simple and understated floor length curtain panels in a warm off-white tone (for just ten bucks a pop) will look sophisticated and warm flanking each of the windows in the space. Hung on modern black or brushed nickel rods and freely draping (trying them back tends to look dated), these affordable and elegant curtains will add even more cozy-factor to Rodney’s living room in an instant.

10. We’re back with a little sparkle for the fireplace mantel as promised. Two of these pretty amber candle holders will draw attention to that amazing wooden deer head and really complement the brick and the wooden beams thanks to their smooth and glam finish.

11. One last thing that’ll help Rodney update his living room in an instant is switching out those heavy iron table lamps on either side of the couch for some lighter ceramic based ones from Urban Outfitters. For just $24 a pop, it doesn’t get much more “modern lodge” than two ceramic based lamps cast to look just like knotty, gnarled wood (click here for the close up, since the mood board does them no justice).

And when it comes to the floor, we’re super excited to hear if tearing up the carpet reveals some gorgeous hardwood flooring. Should Rodney and his wife end up having to refinish it, we think going with a nice medium mocha tone will keep things feeling current without ever looking dated down the line. And if they find plywood or a concrete subfloor, there’s always affordable hardwood flooring at Lumber Liquidators (where we got our very own kitchen and den hardwood for a fraction of the retail price).

So there you have it. A fresh and cozy living room with lodge inspired detailing that’s crisp and clean and oh so current. We can’t wait to hear what you guys think- especially you Rodney! And if anyone else out there would like a custom mood board makeover of their very own, just click here to get started.

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