Any interior designers about?

[purpleviolet1]

Just bought a small-ish 4 bedroom new build. DH, myself and 11 week old DS. Given the size we don't want dark colours and really would like to create the illusion of space.

I'm really excited but not great with interior design.

We are thinking of having grey carpet throughout except hallway, kitchen and bathrooms were we will have flooring.

Living room - We prefer fabric sofas but want a leather sofa for practically reasons. Have really struggled to find one we like - this is the only couple really.

www.sofology.co.uk/sofas/CARMELO?category=Leather&code=343-65097

www.sofology.co.uk/sofas/HARRIS?category=Leather&code=630-17755

Not sure about colour yet - what would go with grey carpet?

Grey is meant to be pretty neutral but for some reason whenever I think of it, I can't think of anything that does except white and other tones of grey. Same issue with our bedroom and dining room - what colour scheme would we have?

[purpleviolet1]

we have the following furniture for DS room so think that should be fine....

Not thinking about the other two bedrooms yet!

I've tried looking on Pinterest for ideas but not finding much.

[Ketzele]

I'm not an interior designer, but suggest that you make sure your grey carpet isn't too cold/silvery grey. I would keep it to the taupey end, and that will make it more neutral and easier to decorate around. And you absolutely don't have to stick with white - how about pale sage green, a creamy taupe, duck egg blue? All of those would work with grey carpet and feel light and spacious.

[Lottie991]

Agree with ketzele also yellows/mustardy tones work really well and can be included in cushions and decorative pieces to incorporate colour, I have used a lot of white in my home as it is small and then used a wall of colour or wall paper as well as decorative pieces to bring in colour.
Also a very light grey on the walls works really well in a small home I also have this running through my hallway, I always get comments on how lovely it looks.

[purpleviolet1]

Thank you! I really like this kind of colour.

What do we think about the sofa colour? Does it have to be brown, black or cream?

[Lottie991]

I would go with a cream one, and that carpet colour looks fine not too silvery.

[Lottie991]

Or a very light grey sofa would look nice,

[purpleviolet1]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[MaudGonneMad]

I like your furniture; where's it from?

[purpleviolet1]

Mamas and papas. Got it in march. It was on sale recently for £550 so not sure if it's being discontinued now. It's called 'Sienna'

[CoconutAmericano]

I think a greige carpet rather than pure grey would be easier to work with.

[purpleviolet1]

What's grieve??

[purpleviolet1]

Greige?

[Ketzele]

It's a warmer grey, OP. Kind of where grey meets beige (hence...)

[purpleviolet1]

Lol 😆 thanks, I think I know what you mean but isn't it that mucky looking colour which looks like carpet has got dirty

[Trollspoopglitter]

Made.com have some nice leather sofas that don't look quite as bulky and chunky as the ones you've posted. I'd go for something sleeker, or it will overwhelm your living space.
www.made.com/sofas-and-armchairs/leather-sofas

Storage space/cabinets - you will need once the toy pile starts growing - paint them same colour as your walls to visually hide them. Will make your room feel bigger. Put a couple of high shelves in for breakable knick knacks or that glass of wine you need to put out of reach :-)

[7to25]

Came on to say the same re avoiding a blue grey carpet. It can look very officey.
Pink, especially the blush tones, goes beautifully with grey.

[purpleviolet1]

Ooo thanks for the suggestions! Keep em coming. DH is on the bigger side and wants a sofa he can lounge about on....

[Trollspoopglitter]

In that case, I'd go for a long sofa along the whole length of a wall but low back (unless you need the back support). like these from dwell?
I know you think you need a leather sofa, but we stuck with fabric despite kids and just covered it in throws/blankets. Primark do super soft blankets that wash amazingly for £5. Helen Moore do great faux fur throws that are washable too. We have a couple from them and one of them is over a decade old (and still looking good). Just go for short fur, nothing fluffy. I tend to get lots of brightly coloured cushions from Homesense and TK Maxx and change the look/mix them up. Red or blue/silver colour accents for Christmas season. Orange and lime green in summer, etc. Between the throws and the pillows, you can cheaply change the living room feel.

To get some ideas on wall colour, look at Little Greene I personally think it's better than Farrow & Ball in terms of quality, clean-up-ability, and range of colours. stick with light greens and warm grey carpet for a warm tone or powder blue shades and a beige carpet for cooler tones. Beige and grey can work well if you just accent colours on cushions and patterns. Just google "beige grey sofa carpet" and you'll get loads of ideas like these.

Disclaimer: not an interior designer. :-)

[purpleviolet1]

Ooo really liking the sound of that thanks! This is exactly what I wanted. Someone to help open up my mind!

[RichardSimmons]

Also there are lots of very hardwearing sofa fabrics these days. I used to hate the look of microfibre but it has come such a long way in terms of texture and style options. We now have a microfibre sofa and it is amazing! The fabric feels and looks like velvet but it literally wipes clean with a damp cloth. We've had countless spills, wee, and DS has vomited on it twice, and you would NEVER know.

[purpleviolet1]

Really wow will have a look...

[Fatbergs]

We've got a 5 bedroom house, 3 bathrooms, 10 metre kitchen diner and 8m lounge, etc etc.

Yes, its lovely, theres space for all, we have had 10 people in the house before, everybody had a bed and we didnt feel crowded out.

HOWEVER....
Its a fucking nightmare to clean and takes me forever, in fact nearly all my available time. I getting hacked off with it. Monday and Tuesdays, my days off, easily all eaten up on house related stuff.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Don’t get a grey carpet. It will date really quickly. After years of neutral beige/taupe/dark cream/sand carpets which still look ok as they are so neutral, our carpet company told us that grey was the next big thing but wouldn’t last.

Personally I find them a bit “footballers wives”, especially the deep pile ones.

Greige would be good.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

RichardSimmons, I’m intrigued about your micro fibre sofa . Where is it from?