Hello, Gentle Readers! It’s taken seven years, but I believe I’ve finally cracked the code on my living room.
I mean, why rush?
Laugh if you must (guffaw, even), but I maintain that it’s infinitely easier to work on other people’s houses than your own. Especially when you’re getting paid to work for others and not for yourself. (Quite the opposite, in fact.)
Anyway, here’s the finished — you heard right, darling husband: I actually said, “finished!” — living room:
I was feeling good about everything, but as the day of the photo shoot grew near, I felt something was missing. Can you guess what the “finishing element” was? The very last thing I did to the room (except the flowers)?
The green Crate & Barrel pillows on the sofa.
Isn’t that crazy? But everything was matching a little too well….it was, Yellow! Pink! Blue! And again! Yellow! Pink! Blue! Which I love, but I needed that kind of unmatched color. I needed some green.
Sound familiar? This is kind of what happened with the powder room. Maybe it was a vitamin deficiency.
And the green does match, of course: it pulls out greens from the artwork. But it doesn’t match any of the furniture.
Here’s where everything is from:
**Paint color** (added 4/25): Benjamin Moore, 343 Sunrays
Rug: Safavieh Soho collection, from some horrible online source
Drapes: custom, yellow faux silk from Stroheim & Roman, blue silk stripe from a discount shop in VA. Drapery hardware is Robert Allen
Sofa: Craig’s list, reupholstered in Robert Allen velvet
Small sofa: Mitchell Gold’s Mona Sofette, reupholstered in Schumacher fabric (Tiraz Ikat, I think?)
Pink chairs: the chairs themselves were to the trade, upholstered in a fabric from an outlet in North Carolina (but I think I tracked down the manufacturer at some point…Brunschwig? Can’t remember)
Round table in corner: Family piece, English
Horse sculpture: it’s leather! Junk shop – sorry, “antique shop” - in Royal Oak, MD
White lamp: thrift shop, St. Michaels, MD (12! The shade was $60, of course)
Sideboard: Family piece, English
Small chair: Family piece – my grandmother did the needlepoint on the back, which you can’t see, and the front is in a python pleather from Kravet
Blue lamp: Home Goods!
Art wall: various artists, but the oil paintings are by Elizabeth Brown via her shop on Etsy (it’s called, “Dragon’s Appetite”), and the two silver-framed etchings/engravings/drypoints (how do I have a master’s degree in art history? I never mastered the difference) are by Christina Dixcy, who now concentrates on large-scale photography. She’s my husband’s cousin, and we have several of her pieces…these were gifts when our twins were born
Coffee table: Room & Board (the Ikea one we spray-painted was ok, but we needed some white, and the glass was bugging me)
Pillows: green from C&B, as I mentioned, zebra from Mi Casa Bella on Etsy, and the blue and yellow ones I had made with fabric I found somewhere. Gee, that’s not very helpful, is it?
What makes the room look the best, of course, is professional photography. All of these pictures were taken by bossy color’s favorite photographer, Michael K. Wilkinson. Frankly, he’s a genius.
So there you have it, Gentle Readers! Bossy color’s living room, finished. For now.
Quoted in publications from The New York Times to The Washington Post to Real Simple magazine, Annie Elliott is considered an expert in color, residential space planning, and telling people what to do in the nicest way possible.
Completely out of the box! Great job
That bright yellow wall is very pretty! You did a great job.
I’m consulting on a new condo at the Embarcadero in SF. it has floor to ceiling windows on 2 walls which looks out to the Bay Bridge. I would really like to spec her the bold yellows, as you have in your living room. I’m wondering how you have settled into this color and what it looks like in the evening. I’m seeing this color a lot and loving the energy of it.
Hi, Lynne! Thanks so much for the comment. About the color, I’ll be honest: I think part of the reason it works is because this is a relatively small room with VERY little natural light. I’d be nervous about putting in a space that’s super bright; retinas burning and all that. That said, though, the color is beautiful at night – at dusk, I often have to check to make sure the lights are off! I hope this is helpful. You’ll make the right decision for that space, I know it!
Brilliant! I absolutely love the yellow walls, fun, contemporary, fresh, lively. Youve created a very happy and stylish room.
Thanks so much for the kind words!
Wow! It looks great. And I thought I could stew over a project. Mercy! What happened to those wild chairs? In another room? How many years has it been? I still love that sofa too. Good job!
Thanks, Rick! Those crazy chairs are now in my daughters’ room, where we sit in them every single night to read. So they’re loved now
And very glad you still like the sofa…you do understand that it doesn’t take me this long to do clients’ homes, right? Just my own? 
Wow!! It was worth the 7 year marination
Perfection.
Delighted my eyes this morning,
Jessamy
I think it’s way cool that you talk the talk and also walk the walk RE: being bossy with color. Thanks for keeping it real too.
Congrats, Annie! What a cheerful space.
Thanks, Kelly!! xo
Yup, you nailed it. This room is fantastic. I love love LOVE pink and blue together. Heck, it was my wedding colors. Paired with the bright yellow and pops of green, it’s just perfect. I love the view into the hall too.
Wedding colors?! Sounds fabulous! Thanks for the comment, Sarah.
Thank you again, everyone! I feel the love! Will think about that pillow comment -
Really fabulous! I love, love, love the color combination.
Yay for Annie! Looks awesome. I want to pet your velvet sofa…
The room is absolutely gorgeous! I love all the colors, and in my opinion, you can’t have too much color! I would one tiny change but to my eye would balance things out more. I love the green pillows, but not on the blue sofa. I’d move them to the pink sofa, and put the zebra on the blue.
Fantastic job!
Brava! Congrats on a job very well done. I must admit, I miss those other chairs (not the bird uphostery, though) just a wee bit. The room looks fantastic.. I love the bright yellow chosen for the walls. Thanks for making this project last for 7 years. It makes me feel better about the 3 year delay finishing our LR. Ha! Maybe next year.
Annie,
Everything looks absolutely fabulous!!!! Gorgeous, amazing, complete. Bravo, Annie
Thanks so much, Kristie
Oh, Annie, you so completely nailed it, plus your audacity and tenaciousness is more than admirable. I just love looking at this truly authentic space you’ve created, pulled together by sheer verve, intrepidation and an honest fondness for color. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be in the mix.! Congratulations!
Wow! Looks just great. A room decorated with “bravado”! Love the yellow walls– yes, these things just take
time and must evolve. Don’t you love the pillow offerings on Etsy? Have found pillows there in the EXACT fabric I was planning to order (at +$$$$ the cost) after custom finishing. Yeah…love to pass that tip on to my clients. Agree the green adds the “off” touch. A green cat could have done the trick ; ) Enjoy!
Annie, so glad you have gotten it done — I left off on the rug stuff! It’s spectacular with the yellow and the white! And the pink! Great balance!
It looks wonderful. I love your bold colors, and I think it’s a hoot that it took you so long to call it complete. It was time well spent!
Thank you so much, Sara! I’m going to hop over to Russet Street to see what you’ve been up to
Annie! It’s done!?!?! So happy for you. The room’s vibrancy is enchanting. I have one of Elizabeth’s paintings too. Love how her pieces look on the yellow walls. The wallpaper is to die for. Wonderful job, wonderful look, wonderful home you’ve created for your family.
Thank you, Lori! I love that you have some of Elizabeth’s work – isn’t it great? Thanks again for the kind words.
Aniie, this is just lovely! I especially like the way you mixed treasured family heirlooms with found items. Your color is bold, but sophisticated. Kudos
Teresa, thank you so much!
Looks great! Bet John’s glad it’s done…
Boy, you aren’t kidding! He definitely wins some sort of patience award. I hope all is well w/ you, Roon!