Q. My new Miami home has only one living area, so it needs to be functional and pretty. I recently gotten the sectional, and still need a rug and a coffee table. I find the dark grey sectional, pewter walls and white, tiled floor tough to work with!
— A.W. by means of email (To submit your own question, see our Ask A Designer™ page.)
A. You’re on the ideal track with the charcoal sectional, softer grey walls and window treatments. and I like the floor tiles — they’re a great change from hardwood and are best in a beachy climate. A amazing palette that pairs a lot more grey with green and blue, as in our inspiration room, will give the space an airy, contemporary look.
Adding a soft rug over the tile floor is a good idea; an 8′ x 10′ one must be large enough to define the seating area. look for one with a fluid yet graphic pattern, like the 25701 rug from W Studio. Its painterly green tones will work well with your grey envelope.
A pair of armchairs will offer a lot more seating. I like the vintage style of the Louisa chair by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and the grey upholstery will suit the space. place them side by side where your woven chair is currently to create a conversation area. (Or, you could keep the woven chair, and find a second one that matches.)
At 40″ square, Bernhardt’s Sydney cocktail table is a nice, big size for your room, and its open metal base keeps it visually light. The mindiwood-veneer top in sandblasted Driftwood is constructed of four removable trays, making it über practical.
Consider replacing your single floor lamp with a pair of Ikea’s Kulla lamps, and placing one at either end of your sectional. The glossy black shades will be punctuation marks in the space, strengthening the modern aesthetic.
A large sectional like yours is a terrific backdrop for lots of colourful, patterned pillows. keep your houndstooth pillows, then introduce a few new ones in colourful prints. Tonic Living has a large selection that works with your overall palette and will pop against your charcoal sofa.
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1. Kulla lamp, Ikea. 2. Louisa chair, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. 3. Pillows, from left: happiness in Pearl, Gazebo in Cloud, Tonic Living. 4. 25701 rug, W Studio. 5. Sydney cocktail table, Bernhardt.