apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

what are the dimensions of your space, how many windows and doorways, and how high are your ceilings? are you permitted to paint the walls?

"garage" is mentioned, so i'm guessing it's a house?

Well it sounds like an obvious place to start is the plant shop!
Pick up a few pieces of varying sizes, and start from there - repot them into some ceramic or other holders that you like. Those are easy things to acquire and move around till you find the right spot in your home....

It sound like you already know what you need, you just need to go out and get it. Maybe the whole thing is a little overwhelming. Perhaps break the list down "this month I will pick a coffee table, Next month a rug" and so on. I would do it in order of the pieces that will have the most impact in the space...

When you pick out a rug, get a cosy throw and some pillows to coordinate, I think you will be off to a great start....

Remember those wonderful rooms you see on AT often represent years of collecting/inheriting/acquiring/rearranging interesting things. As you slowly pick things up that you enjoy and incorporate them, it will build into that nice palate...

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/category.do?method=get&id=16

noticed "house" mentioned after i posted my comment........
above is the room and board page for occasional tables, a good place to start.

It sounds like you still need a game plan. You say that your image of a "modern garden conservatory" idea is still hazy. Go grab a bunch of old design magazines and bookmark the pages you love. It can be whole rooms or elements. When I Googled the phrase, I found this picture: http://www.hanson.co.uk/assets/images/siteImages/Conservatory.jpg Is this what you have in mind, or something with less wicker? I also found hits for a book called Conservatory Style. http://bp1.blogger.com/_dLSVgS5AxBI/R0Z2gUsodKI/AAAAAAAABMw/nQno_gVu6Dw/s1600-h/ConservatoryStylebook.jpg
Maybe you could get your hands on a copy?

Then look through, and decide what elements are common to all the rooms that you like, and make a list. You can then go on a shopping spree and buy a bunch of things at once, but I prefer to do it piece by piece, scouring Craigslist, garage sales, and retail sales: I find something on my list, add it and live with it for a while. Then I decide if I need to adjust the rest of my wishlist. In your situation, I think the coffee table and a lamp are essential for practicality, and then either a rug or curtains will help define the style and drive future additions.

Good luck! Blank slates can be lots of fun!

Primarily: Don't panic, and don't rush it. Your floor will still be there when you find a rug you like.

Aside from that, since it sounds like you're having trouble defining your goals, you'd benefit a lot from putting together a style tray. Scour every source of images you can find - AT house tours, design books, shelter mags - and gather the images that appeal to you all in one place. That should help you flesh out your vision so that you know what pieces need to be put together. Though you're already off to a good start by knowing some of the things you like, and the furniture you already have is great.

This is funny.. I googled your sofa, and I got this website.. They've got your sofa with a chair that's similar to your grandmothers! Granted.. not a very design-y room. But, funny nonetheless!
http://www.doorsixteen.com/2007/10/22/sofaquest-2007-the-winner/

Well, it's hard to give a layout without seeing the space.

I would define your style as best you can with words, paint chips, magazine clippings, *favorites saved from online.

It looks like the two styles you are trying to blend are mid century and transitional. Look up both those styles (on the internet) and get a feel for what they mean. Keep your eyes open while you're out and about for pieces (rugs, tables, lamps) that you like-get tear sheets. Put it all together and see what is working from your finds.

Always start with the fuctional aspects of the room. If the room doesn't function properly for you...it will never seem "just right".

Good luck!

Ruth, you're off to a good start - your sofa and chairs are not only attractive, but offer a good blank canvas to begin with.

I would recommend a couple of things... first meditate a little on what each of the words you use to describe your ideal room means to you: "modern" "garden" and "conservatory" offer so many possibilities, you may equate modern with minimalism, square or curved shapes, and so on. Garden and conservatory could mean many small plants or several large ones, or in a more abstract sense relate to color or even materials like glass or stone or wood.

I would also suggest that you pick an item that you respond to and build from there, even if it's something that you don't own - a photograph or painting that you love, a vase, a piece of fabric (even if you don't intend to actually use it in the room it can inspire) anything that sums up the vibe you're going for can lead you in the right direction.

A rug is a big but critcal step; if you can find one early on, that can establish your color palette and determine later choices. Good luck with your home and have fun with it!

places like apartment therapy and magazines are a good place to start. look at a lot of pictures, rip out pages, bookmark, build some files of things that you like. when you look at the pictures, try to imagine yourself in them, sitting, moving through them. think about what particularly pleases you.

then go buy one thing you love and put it in your room. move things around and see how they look in different configurations.
pay attention to shape, size, height, open spaces, closed spaces, how the same piece can look different depending on where it is and what is near it.

get a few pillows to add some color. just grab the first things that appeals to you. they don't have to be perfect. you will most likely get rid of them as your room develops, but it will help it feel warmer and more yours right now.

go slow. look at expensive stuff even if you can't afford it. often you can find similar items for much less. look at really cheap stuff (garage sales, craigslist, ebay). you can find wonderful, unique things that way. just be careful to only buy things that you really like.

lighting is so important to the look of a room. beautiful lamps, soft light filtering through plants, lights on special architectural features. try to have several sources of light, and several different "settings" (romantic, reading, guests, etc.)

sorry, this has gotten much longer than i intended, but one last thing. it is your place, you only have to please yourself (and any other folks that live there). trust your taste.

Hi everyone! This is so exciting that my question got posted. I'm now a pround homeowner. My living room has fireplace with windows on either side and is roughly a 19ft square with lots of doorways into the other rooms. After living in tiny rooms in tiny apartments the open rooms seem so extravagant but in reality this is a small house for the Portland area (about 1,000 square feet). I'm looking for opinions from your point of view, what sort of lamp would you put in the room? what sort of rug? I am hoping that once I see everybody else's opinion I'll figure out what I want!! Ruth

Everyone's advice about inspiration is really good. Once you have any idea what you want to do I would scour Thrift stores, Craigslist, Ebay etc. You would be amazed at what you can find and it will give you a nice eclectic feel. At the same time you will be able to save furniture from a landfill which is good for the environment. Since you like the natural look make sure to get plants. They will add color, visual interest, and help improve your indoor air quality. Depending on your level of interest herbs are fairly easy to grow and serve multiple purpose. Also artwork can make a huge difference find something you love and make it the centerpiece. By sticking to neutral colors with the major furniture you will leave yourself flexibility to change the look later on.

N.

http://badhuman.wordpress.com

Sounds like a project that is just in time for the spring cure. Pick up the at book and follow the one room cure.

As for the your reference to the modern garden conservatory-esque room and the fact that you like bamboo; this picture was the first thing that came to mind: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=996&f=26308 (click on room views)
Perhaps that will provide some inspiration

I totally agree with the "start with some plants" angle. If you have an Ikea nearby, they have great (and of course reasonably-priced) ceramic pots and planters, and all manner of vaguely-tropical plants to fill them with. All of the real furniture and design/palette stuff will take time, but filling up a space with plants that you like is always a good idea.

You can't really have too many houseplants (especially if you like a conservatory feel) -- the worst thing that could happen is that you'll have to give a few away to friends!

With all that space what about a large palm or Monstera plant?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstera_deliciosa
I think the leaves look particularly "modern" and yes i know how dumb THAT sounds.

I don't know portland resources, but i saw a 3gal monstera @ Whole Foods yesterday for $50, i'm sure you could find better prices. A nice smooth white planter would be gorgeous.

Also i think the bradshaw table from room and board would look great with your sofa and chair.

Hi Ruth! How about browsing these images of Eichler home interiors:
http://morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com/2007/09/mark-your-calendar-eichler-o-rama.html

There are books and many websites on Eichler homes. That's just one I found with a nice array of interiors.

Anything in there catch your eye? Colors? What is your current floor made of, what color?