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Home decoration

Livingroom overhall

9 replies

fl0b0t · 14/01/2015 16:49

Hi all
We are considering a livingroom overhaul (first quote coming in tonight!).

Currently: large 4.5m x 5.5m living room with deep red walls, bronze ugly light fittings and a pale wood effect laminate floor. Furniture is mostly darkish oak and sofa is dark brown leather.

Thinking of a big change: "Blue babe" Endurance + Dulux paint (toddler) which is a warmish light blue, keeping coving, ceiling woodwork white. Silverish grey textured curtains, silver light fittings (or poss a gorg blue shade we've seen in John Lewis) and maybe a dark wood floor.

Had anyone done such a dramatic makeover of a room?
Has anyone got a room in similar colours that we're thinking of that you could show me a picture of?
Anyone had this kind of work done and have an idea of what it might cost (labour- in terms of item cost I've got it covered).
Never had decorators in before but want a professional job that I don't have to try to do myself whilst chasing a toddler!

Very nervous about it all!

Cheers

Livingroom overhall
OP posts:
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wowfudge · 14/01/2015 21:43

The paint colour is a strong one - how about breaking it up with a toning paler shade or a pale stone colour? A lighter coloured floor will make the room look bigger.

I think if you have that shade of blue and a darker floor it may close the room in and make it feel smaller.

If you mix the blue with a paler colour then accessories - curtains, light shade, cushions, rug, etc in a stronger blue can look really effective.

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MuddhaOfSuburbia · 14/01/2015 21:50

I used blue babe in the dds room in old house (so no pics-sorry!)-it is pretty

It comes out quite dark-darker than I expected, at any rate. Mind you that was a back room so bit gloomy. I'd maybe consider slightly lighter shade unless you have lots of natural light-specially with dark wood floor?

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AddToBasket · 14/01/2015 21:52

From what I can see of that room, I think the following might help:

  1. larger floor rug. Your floors look OK (from what I can see) and they'd be the most expensive thing to change. A bigger floor rug would 'hold' the end with the sofa and make it seem friendlier.
  2. lamps. the wall light isn't ideal but from the picture it looks as though sidetable with lamp (or standard lamp) between end of sofa and the chair would help soften the space.
  3. Colour. Change the wall colour and paint the radiator the same colour as the wall (also the shelf if you are keeping it) to avoid it looking too bitty.

    Personally, I'd get rid of the shelf and find a bookcase to go at the end of the sofa beside/behind the chair and radiator, and I'd put a chic lamp on to of that.

    It sounds like a fun project whatever you decide. I love your blue colour.
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NathalieM · 16/01/2015 16:38

Wow this sounds exciting! I absolutely love dark wooden floors but they are unbelievably expensive, unless you would be willing to have laminate? Sometimes you can get very authentic looking laminate floorboards which may be a more affordable option.

I agree with the darkness of the blue paint, although I haven't used this one in particular I have made the mistake of using one too dark and it was just too gloomy! Though if you get some good decorators in they will be able to advise.

Decorators I have worked with have varied in price from around £80+ for different jobs, but I have never done such an overhaul at once.

Good luck!

Nat

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PrimalLass · 16/01/2015 16:46

I'm not keen on the blue paint.

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MuddhaOfSuburbia · 17/01/2015 12:47

If you're still about OP I can recommend a little green paint (exp but hard wearing) I used in dds' current room-is lighter but still nice and bluey

Let me know if you're still about and ill go and dig the tin out and find name. Something sky. Gentle??

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fl0b0t · 19/01/2015 08:11

Thanks all, sorry for the radio silence, I'm may getting back in to mumsnet!
Thanks for the suggestions and advice. I did suggest to dh that we get rid of the shelves so that's good. Looking at silvery colour next curtains. Still not sure on the floor. The room is pretty big so I'm not too worried about it looking smaller (esp add the walls will be so much lighter than they were). My friends have a gorgeous dark laminate down in their hallway which I thought was wood so might look into that.
We have a biggish fluffy pale textured rug down the sofa end already and the other end is for buggy etc.

OP posts:
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fiorentina · 19/01/2015 20:37

What about a bluey grey like Farrow and Ball blackened or another brand of paint equivalent? Maybe different and would go really well with silver highlights in my experience.

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Flomple · 19/01/2015 21:27

love the sound of the curtains, but I think dark wood floors and dark brown sofas with Blue Babe might be a bit dark. Not sure I'd do blue with that much dark brown, but personally I much prefer Mineral Mist to Blue Babe, and I think it would go better with the brown.

have you considered dulux dusted fondant instead of the blue? It's a dusky, but not too dark, purple.

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