Ask a Designer Series- Rugs, Kitchen Cabinets and Furniture Placement

Hello! Today I am helping my Email Subscribers with their one FREE Design Question for my “Ask a Designer Series”! I offer this service to my email subscribers as a thank you for following my blog and supporting me. It sure is fun to see what my readers are needing advice on! I am answering 6 of your design questions today!  All about rugs, kitchen design and furniture placement. I also replied to about 10 others via email- some design questions are harder to find inspiration pics for or the design question doesn’t require it. Let’s get peeping into your homes! You can find how to ask a question at the end of this post.

#1 Design Question-

“This room no longer brings me joy. My biggest issue is decorating my living room, which is more of a great room attached to my kitchen and dining room. Some of my kitchen cabinets are painted a turquoise color so I’ve tried to incorporate that into my living room so that everything doesn’t clash. When we moved into this house, I just tried to use the decor we already had but I’m getting so sick of it all. I don’t have a huge budget (like under $500 ideally) but I definitely want to get some new decor, and a new rug. I know the rug I have now is too small. I don’t know what to put on my walls or how to coordinate (or if I should coordinate) with my kitchen cabinets.”

Thanks, Emily

 Rug #1-  HERE // Rug #2- HERE // Rug #3- HERE // Rug #4- HERE 

Nesting with Grace Suggestion-

I would focus on the rug first of all. That would make the biggest impact. You already know your rug is too small for the space. You want the rug to be under the feet of the main piece and extend to the rest of the room. (I wrote a blog post all about the right size rug HERE.) I suggest several rugs under $500 in an 8×10. No you don’t have to pull in the cabinet color to this room. I would make sure nothing clashes but not be matchy with the colors. A couple other suggestions- #1- I would take all the accessories off of the window. That molding is gorgeous and does not need it. #2- Put the white gaffer bookcase flat no the wall (bonus it will cover the speaker). #3- Your clock is hung too high and is too small. I would do a grouping above the sofa or do one larger piece of art there- but hung eye level and filling up the majority of the space.

#2 Design Question-

“We recently moved into a (1960’s) home and currently my focus is the small room in the front of the house.  The room is visible from the living room. My vision is to create a sitting/guest room that doesn’t totally look like a bedroom. This room is connected to the other guest bedroom through a bathroom.” 

Thanks for the guidance, Terry

I would suggest doing four chairs as a sitting room in this space. Since it is a smaller scale room you could easily walk around it for all entrances. I would keep the chairs lighter and add a rug just like the inspiration picture. Without knowing the measurements, full layout that is what I would personally do! Hope that gives you a start. 

#4 Design Question-

“This kitchen feels so sterile/hard with all the stainless steel, tile on floor, granite, and I’d like to soften it. As you see, I’ve covered the backsplash (slab of granite like what’s on counters) with a blackboard bc that piece just jumps out and is so busy. Ideas I’ve had but I don’t know which direction to turn. I realize the counters are too cluttered (?) but bc it’s a small kitchen I need the space. So basically, how to soften kitchen.” Thank you SO MUCH, Wright

 

Nesting with Grace Suggestion-

I know that you are not wanting to spend a lot of money in here and you suggested doing some quick fixes in your email. But honestly those will get old in a couple of months. If I were you I would wait and invest in things that really would make the biggest impact and soften the room. One thing that would is hanging pendant lights above your island. You could do something with a rope to really add another soft texture. You have done a great job with a window treatment above your window. I found the Kitchen Inspiration above and I like how she did the brick as a backsplash to warm up the space. That is something you could do yourself if you are handy! Also not sure of the exact space you have- but a larger island could be on the wish list with the microwave put in the island and do a white hood for some pop and color. And would allow more storage for the pieces on your counter. 

#5 Design Question- 

“We painted the island a light gray and love it 2 years ago, but we just don’t know what to do with the rest of the cabinets. There is a whole row of them that you cannot really see in these pics! I would say I like a more modern look! Also, what flooring should I do? Do we change the color of the island again?”

Thanks, Caroline 

Nesting with Grace Suggestion-

What a nice big kitchen! I would suggest painting your cabinets white and doing a dark kitchen island. You could even have the corbels changed to something more modern. I would do a subway tile with a beveled edge just like the inspiration pic. I would also add a fabric roman shade above your kitchen window, it would stack up high so you would get in a lot of light. I would love to see that in a dark fabric to match your island. Hope that helps! (You can see how I added a roman shade above our window HERE. 

#6 Design Question-

“My main living space needs more seating.  I’m thinking of moving the leather sofa where the two chairs are and getting a long upholstered sofa to sit opposite since this room is a walk through.  Just not sure of what style sofa would look good. I love the look of something light, but have four young kids (oldest 6) and I just don’t want to deal with cleaning it all the time so I’m thinking something dark grey or even navy. Side note: we bought this house as a furnished model home so some of the stuff here I have never loved. Planning to get rid of the rug and coffee table because they’re both thrashed. Also, I know the baby swing is an eye sore but it’s only temporary.” Thanks, Elleny

 Nesting with Grace Suggestion-

I would actually suggest doing a sectional to maximize the space and to separate the kitchen to your family room. I noticed that your kitchen cabinets are close to this room. I would have recommended having the sofa face the fireplace, but you don’t want to block that space. I would have the sectional come out just like the inspiration pic to about the middle of the fireplace. Then you could flank one chair by the railing. I love Pottery Barns Slipcover Sofa. That way you can do white and just easily wash it! You can find it HERE. 

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Today I also shared some EARLY Black Friday deals from three of my favorite store!! Find that post HERE

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