Amanda Burdge from AB Home Interiors threw down the gauntlet and challenged myself, and several other designers and decorators, to come up with a plan for an imaginary family’s living room. The budget is $6,000.00. Here is the lay-out of the room:
We had no restrictions, except that we had to keep in mind that there were children in this family, and stay within budget, of course. Since it is a living room {and I will assume there is a den or family room elsewhere to house a television} I will keep this room fairly formal as far as furniture goes.
Background: It always helps if you have a starting off point. Sometimes a client will already have purchased something to use in the room or has a color they are set on using. In this case “my client” already had the room painted. The following were items the client already had and wanted them to be used in the room. The client is stuck at this point and has called me in to help.
Paint color chosen was Sherwin Williams’ Jubilee.
Window treatments {Roman Shades} made with this fabric called Perch in Dove, with a Greek Key banding in Steel from Smith and Noble.
As Roman Shades for the window. The banding runs along the edge of the shade. The colors here are a gray, brown and cream/white. It is about $555.00 for the roman shade. 
Existing furniture:
Console table from Ballard Design
Tufted ottoman in chocolate brown from Ballard Design
Side tables from Ballard Design
Note: I’ve been trying to copy a design {or vision} board over without any success, but if I do get it I will edit and add it. Because of that I am trying to add all the design board pictures below, but please let me know if I talk about something and missed putting the picture in.
Keeping our scheme in mind, I chose the Graham Desk & Hutch from Pottery Barn {on special at the moment for $1,439.00 down from $1,598} in White. I also liked the black {and that would have worked, too}, but because I tend to fall back on black as a default a lot, I decided to go with the white here.
Hutch and desk chair.
From Ballard Designs – Fabric: Salisbury {a blue/gray}
Sofa, from Ethan Allen.
I generally will suggest a sofa in a solid color and most often neutral, bringing color in with decorative pillows and a throw. I like to save any patterned fabric for side chairs and/or window treatments.
I’d go closer to the brown family with the sofa. This will allow me to keep the coolness of the gray from taking over and bring the brown in the window treatment into the room itself. I have picked a solid and a small print as choices.
Colton Sepia from Ethan Allen
Sanibel Sage from Ethan Allen
Two side chairs. The Colefax Arm Chair from Ballard Designs ranging from $439.00-635.00 {depending on fabric chosen}.
Chair on casters from Ballard Design – Fabric: Arden Blue {easy care}
I recommend chairs 99.9% of the time, in general, over a loveseat, as they are easier to move around a room based on whatever is going on at the time.
Small demilune chest to go on short stand-alone wall pictured in plan.
Brookfield Demilune in Antique Cream from Ballard Design
The large mirror would be placed on the wall opposite the window/doors to the exterior.
In front of this would be the existing console table. The hutch and desk would go into the alcove shown at the bottom part of the diagram {see plan above}, which is across the room from the fireplace. Sofa and two side chairs in the middle of the room, existing ottoman serving as coffee table, existing round side tables, and two styles of new lamps to be used on the side tables and console.
Lamp for side tables:
Lamp for console:
For artwork over the fireplace I went with something totally different for me, a Great Blue Heron print by John James Audobon, 24x32 size, framed in an espresso colored frame. With the frame and an acrylic glass the cost is $204.99 from art.com. I love the blue gray of the heron.
Two ball topiaries on the fireplace mantel and a pyramid topiary on the console table.
A few throw pillows from Kohls for $12.49 each for both styles.
Budget and Resources breakdown:
- Graham desk & hutch, Pottery Barn ~ $1,439.00 {currently on special}
- Hastings sofa, Ethan Allen ~ $1,699.00
- Amiel Arch Leaner Mirror, Ballard Design ~ $699.00
- Trump Home Silver Lake Table Lamp, Bellacor $160.20 each (2 used)
- Sylvester Table Lamp, Bellacor ~ $162.80
- Camille Tufted Chair, Ballard Design ~ $339.00
- Colefax Arm Chair, Ballard Design ~ $439.00
- Brookfield Demilune chest, Ballard Design ~ $499.00
- Artwork {framed} for over fireplace, art.com ~ $204.99
- Topiaries, Ballard Design ~ $29.00 each {3 used}
- Pillows, Kohls ~ $12.49 each {4}
Total spent: $5,939.19; and, as I tell my clients, all prices shown are retail and do not include any trade discount that may apply. With the $60.81 left I would most likely purchase accessories to place on the tables, fireplace mantel, desk or console.
Thanks so much, Amanda! I always think this is the fun part ~ pulling things together so the client can have a visual.
Here are links to the other design challenge participants’ blogs:
Traci Zellar of Traci Zeller Designs
Kelly Berg of Arte Styling
Kelly James of Design Ties
Dayka Robinson of Meditations on Life and style
Amanda Burdge of Abhomeinteriors.com
Susan Snow of Movingdesinz
