Long Rambling Thoughts About the Family Room



palette for the family room

So last week, I forged ahead with my plan and had all the furniture from my office moved to its new home in the basement. (Yipee!) But as you can see from the title, this post is not about the office (that’s coming) but rather, the family room.  It’s kind of related. Sort of. Let me try to explain.

Until last week, this gray couch – pictured here in our old living room – was in the family room.

But I decided it would make the perfect couch for the sitting area in the new office. So downstairs it went, which meant the couch that was down there had to come up. That couch looks like this (only not as red):

I’m going to have a new slipcover made for it and at first I thought I would do something neutral like this:

or this:

But I just bought this chair for the room:

(It has taken the place of the toile chair that used to be there) and I don’t want the couch to be the same color so I’m leaning toward plain ol’ white:

Part of me thinks a white slipcovered sofa is too predictable but here are the arguments in favor of it: 1. It would go well with all the white I have going on in the kitchen which is connected to the family room:

2. White slipcovers don’t necessarily have to be shabby chic. With the built-in bookshelves which are in progress in the family room, I hope the end result will be something like this:

So, did you follow all that? (Is anyone even still reading this post?)

(Photos: 1,5,&7.From the Right Bank 2.Unknown 3.James Merrell 4.House Beautiful 6.Martha Stewart 8.Nueva Estilo)

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47 comments

  1. Jane

    Yes yes I managed to trawl my way to the end..! Ha ha. I can see what you mean and I think with lots of structure the white slipcovers will look great and not sloppy or cliched or too shabby chic. Am still loving that little dining area you have there. xoxo
    Jane’s last post…Delft Blue from the PastMy Profile

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  9. Jessie

    I think I followed all that!? lol ;) I take it you are going to let your books and items in the built in bookcases be the “color” in the family room. Sounds great. The light in your home from all your windows is so nice!! You have to be tired from moving all this furniture around! I have been there, many, many times….
    Jessie’s last post…TODAYS COLOR- ORANGEMy Profile

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  13. mb

    I have two structured white slipcovered couches in my house. One in the living room, Belgium linen, another one is in our “game” room in white cotton duck. Love the look. Each room has it’s own personality. Think of it as a blank canvas in which to decorate.

    mb from Dallas

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  16. Monika Jansen

    I am all about white, too! Even though we live outside of DC in northern Virginia, our traditional colonial is decorated like a beach house. Lots of white! And light wood mixed with dark wood, black and white prints thrown in, and splashes of blue everywhere….

    Reply
  20. tanis

    Who do you go to for upholstery work in Atlanta? I have a few pieces that need it and have no idea where to start. Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Katy

    Still here & can’t wait to see the finished product. I love white couches. I’m always very envious of people who can have them because it would be a mess in my house. The couch and chair will go so well with the bookshelves!

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  25. Ally

    I love all this feedback! Thanks, everybody!

    Appletree: Yup, that’s my kitchen eat-in. Thanks! :)

    tanis: I’m using a woman who makes slipcovers (but she doesn’t do upholstery). If you’d like her number, email me.

    Reply
  28. Olivia

    love the white look,do it. have you thought about stripe gray/white upholstery for the armchair you bought as an accent piece perhaps to break up the all white look if you’re worried? otherwise go all white..

    ps..please let me know what shade of blue/gray and white you have shown please??

    pss. talking on whites.. what’s a good white paint colour for dark black/brown wood floors that has a lot of sunlight??

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  30. Ally

    Olivia: Sorry but I didn’t note the exact colors of those swatches. They’re all from the House Beautiful site so you should be able to find them there. As for white wall paint, I’ve used Benjamin Moore White 01 in both of my houses and I LOVE it. I highly, highly recommend it!

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  32. Amy

    Ok, I think I do have ADD or ADHD…whatever it is called. I did read and am still not sure what you are doing but I am pretty sure you have great style it will be fabulous. I look forward to the reveal of what you just said you are doing:)

    Amy R.
    Amy’s last post…Pretty PillowsMy Profile

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  34. tiina

    yes, still reading, but what about the color samples? where do they go? i love the idea of all white couches but i think it couldn’t really workin my home… i’ve got long haired cat, i’m a messy on-the-couch-eater and chocolate-lover (red wine too, you know it!) and i’ve some kids on my wish list for next year… so, i think only white couch should have to be leather

    xo, tiina
    tiina’s last post…newsMy Profile

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  35. CoffeewithZooly

    phew! got to the end of the post & comments. i think white will work. But being different.. what about a dark gray I think that links to the kitchen. willn that not go close to the theme in the picture of the bookshelf in the Balmain house (part 1 post)

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  36. a perfect gray

    Ally, I love seeing your process. I have pretty much all white in our ‘livingroom’ and love it. I did the four chairs, (no sofa) in a white cotton duck for a more casual look and did upholstery rather than slipcover for a more taylored look.

    The last image is SO cozy looking. Despite my being a neat-nick I think I would like that feel of books everywhere…

    Loving your color scheme, of course!
    a perfect gray’s last post…Fall FindsMy Profile

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  39. Splendid Willow

    Ally, you have my vote! And that wingback chair is lovely too! (Identical to my consignment store find that I still have to get upholstered).

    And that last image is my all time favorite!
    That room has it all!

    I love your style, Ally. And I aways feel at home here.

    ox, Mon
    Splendid Willow’s last post…Creating My Own ArtMy Profile

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  43. Ally

    tiina: The taupe is in the new chair, cream is in the rug that is there and I’m thinking of doing gray drapes.

    Zooley: Great minds think alike – that is why I had our gray couch in there to begin with. :) But since I already have one gray couch, I want to do something different.

    Olivia: You’re so welcome!

    Splendid Willow: I know! I thought of you when I wrote this post. :)

    Reply
  44. Claire

    who cares if a white slip is predictable, it works. did you see lindsey bond’s house in house beautiful? she had white slips and they looked very modern. sent me pining!

    eagerly awaiting the unveiling of your new wallpaper, Ally!
    Claire’s last post…Guess Who Has 5 DOZEN ROSES!My Profile

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