Darn, I left my fabric at the shop. I will take my iPad to work tomorrow and post my fabrics from there. Thanks so much Annie!

Today's design seed...warm and woodsy.

A more literal translation

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[Traditional Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2107) by Other Metro Furniture and Accessories Moss Envy

But the room can go more light and airy and contemporary

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[Contemporary Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by Atlanta Photographers Erica George Dines Photography

Don't forget that plants and flowers can provide an important color element.

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[Traditional Staircase[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-staircase-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_745~s_2107) by Other Metro Architects & Designers Sarah Susanka, FAIA

Using nature colors to bring warmth and coziness to an adult play space...

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[Contemporary Family Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2103) by Atlanta Architects & Designers William T Baker

Annie, thisisthefabrici am thinking of using. The print onto chairs and the other for an ottoman. I will bemusing a leather tufted sofa most likely Hancock and ore. This probably has enough colors but I am open to suggestions.

Oh good grief, sorry for all the spelling errors. I was in such a hurry to post that I didn't re-read. I wish this darn iPad would stop auto correcting. The print is for two chairs and the yellow for an ottoman. After I decide on the sofa and get that and the two chairs ordered I will be adding a third chair for the other corner of our room. I was thinking about picking one of the lighter brown tones in the fabric for leather but wonder if a dark blue might work? Thanks for your input.

I'm not Annie but lets see how close this one is...

Holly-kay, such lovely fabric. I really like it. I don't think you need a design seed...you already have many lovely colors to choose from in the fabric.

I would probably go with the dark brown for the sofa only because I expect it will last much longer than this room's decor, and a classic dark brown leather sofa will work in many room colors and styles to come.

Have you bought the fabric for the ottoman yet? I hope not, but sorry, I don't think it's a good match for the fabric...at least in the photo it has too much peach undertone and is too bright. Especially since, I'm assuming, it will be parked right next to the chairs, you need for it to be a really close match. The closer the proximity of the items, the more important a color match is. Also, a lighter solid will likely show dirt more than a darker fabric or one with some pattern.

I'm posting fabric suggestions from calico corners only because I find their website easy to search...but these are just to give you ideas of what might work. Instead of just solids, you might consider playing with some geometric prints or stripes or dots. So long as they are not similar in scale, they will work with your print. Also, these are just for color...I didn't look at fabric weight or fiber content to see if it would be good for furnishings.

Note that I'm leaning toward the predominant colors in the fabric....save the lovely pale yellow and the soft flesh colors for accent pieces in the room, and keep the furnishings blending better with the soft blues, grays and sage greens.

Not having seen the room, it's hard to say, but there may be a lot of print if you do 2 chairs in the print. You may want to do one chair in the print, one in the coordinating fabric with a matching ottoman...that way the ottoman will work with both chairs.

Or you may want your furnishings to be more solid and let the print speak through window treatments and throw pillows.

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[Traditional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Tom Stringer Design Partners

This post was edited by AnnieDeighnaugh on Tue, Sep 10, 13 at 9:54

Annie, thank you so much! I love all the fabrics you suggested. Yes the ottoman would be in front of the chairs. The room is over twenty three feet long but a touch under 15 wide. I will be doing another chair in the room also but I have felt so overwhelmed with all the choices. Maybe I should do only the corner chair in the print but I wasn't ready to make that choice yet.

It is difficult to pull the trigger on upholstery because DH is so hard on furniture that is why I am going with a leather sofa. I also considered doing the corner chair in leather but want to add texture to the room.

I'll keep looking!

Annie, I just looked at the photos I posted again. Man the colors on my monitor do no justice to the print fabric. The yellow tone on tone fabric looks very much the same as the monitor shows IRL.

The blues and greens in the print are a bit more vivid IRL but the background reads more cream than the photo shows. The fabric is a Smith Brothers fabric and I found some stripes and solids that would work with the print. I usually go with neutrals and just pops of color in accessories but this fabric just called to me and I love it.

I agree that one chair in this print would give me the pop of color that I need but I am having a tough time finding a solid fabric that I like. The last time I purchased new lr furniture was almost 18 years ago and everything was leather in a creamy beige. My furniture is looking very shabby so I really need to get this done.

I will be 60 this month so I really want something that I love this time around as it may be my last decorating project for a living room. I will post some pics tonight of the room.

Kellie, I love the colors you posted. They look very similar to colors in the fabric. Thank you so much for taking the time to post!!!

23 by 15 is a fairly large living room. I think two chairs in the print would be fine for that sized room. It's about the same size as ours and two print chairs are a pretty small piece of the room.

Some of the photos above have two bright or print chairs in a more neutral background including the first one above which has two in a bright magenta print.

Cloud, I love the magenta printed chairs! They are gorgeous.

I know what I like when I see it and this fabric just popped for me. The room is being painted Jersey Cream but if it is too bright or too yellow I will have the painter redo it for me.

So if I did two accent chairs in the fabric and a tufted leather sofa I will do another chair in either leather or fabric. Annie, Kellie, and Cloud any suggestions as to fabric or leather, and if fabric would a stripe be too much or should I stick with a solid?

I worry about using too many patterns as I want a peaceful looking room.

I also need a new coffee/cocktail table and was thinking a leather tufted ottoman would be just the ticket but DH clutters everything to the hilt so I was considering a lift top table that has a lot of space to stow his collection of papers and magazines and also give him a place that he can comfortably use his laptop. I really don't like the look of them at all but found one in a Paula Deen collection that is not too bad.

I'd be careful about too much leather. I would do a fabric that has maybe a small pattern or a texture like 2, 5, or 6 of the swatches I posted above. Especially if you are doing leather ottoman, you want some fabric for softness.

Annie, here is a picture from end to end. The chairs are from my library as we were trying to decide if we were going to use recliners or regular chairs. The room is being painted but the painter isn't finished yet.

Trying again.

Here is a pic from behind the chairs. Our French doors aren't stained yet.

This is a pic taken from the short side looking at my terribly shabby and outdated sofa. I can't believe I actually chose that.

You people are killing me. I am glued to the computer already with the Design Seeds and now you throw in a colorpedia! Too cruel.

Annie, I don't know what you do for a living, but Pantone should be knocking at your door. You have truly graced us all with your talent. I have learned more about color on this particular thread then, well, ever. Thank you for all you are doing.

Lynn, I agree! I want Annie to be my personal designer.

Thank you all for the kind words. I'm retired now, and made my living doing nothing that had anything to do with interior design...

Holly, pretty room. As you're picking out furniture, keep a eye to scale. For example, the side table by the sofa is very high relative to the height of the arm. Also the sofa and leather chair are very modern compared to the more traditional pieces in the room.

Think too about what storage you need to accommodate your husbands needs...to make the room work for him, he may want a "command center" with table surface on either side of his chair.

I'm guessing that traditional is where you'd like to go, given the DR chairs and the case pieces and window treatments. I would definitely do the 3rd chair in fabric for color and comfort....just make sure it's a durable one and you should be ok.

Thanks Annie, and yes you are right, My decorating style definitely is traditional. I actually just moved the chest there. Before I moved the recliners from the library I had a matching leather love seat there and I had the chest beside the love seat with the back of the chest against the side of the love seat. When I put it there I knew it was too high to be comfortably useful. I told the decorator from Ethan Allen that it was too high to be used there and she disagreed with me and said that high chests are being shown as end tables. I didn't argue with her but I knew it wouldn't work long term in that location. I am glad you agree with me.

I am so anxious to get the room done as it has been stressful and not at all fun like I imagined it would be.

The painter has more of the walls to do andi am not overly fond of the Jersey Cream. I should have gone with a darker color to make the room appear more cozy.

What a fascinating thread. I'm now looking at my own rooms and imagining what the color palette would be and wondering how well the colors compliment each other.

For some reason I was born without the gene for color selection and I can't dance either. True confession. However I was gifted with a talent for organization. I can retrieve an owner's manual for any item we own in minutes or tell you how much we paid for my Kitchen Aid mixer we bought in 1976 ($164.69). Whoopee.

Selecting paint stops me cold so if it were up to me everything would be beige or variations of it. Fortunately DH has talent in that area and has the confidence to select stronger colors.

This thread offers inspiration to finish the guest room. DD painted the walls Moonshine (a pale buttery vanilla), the trim is MAB bone white, the furniture is dark mahogany, the bed has a white matelasse coverlet. It's a corner room which is light-filled all day but needs something on the windows, an area rug and the other touches that signify a cohesive design.

Looking at the Design Seeds website is nice but seeing those colors used in real rooms a la Annie is what I needed.

Now that we're empty nesters I have 3 more bedrooms that to be refreshed. What would be the best way to save your examples for future reference?

You have no idea how much this has halped. Thank you.....thank you.

Maire

This post was edited by maire_cate on Wed, Sep 11, 13 at 7:39

Oh don't get me started on EA decorators...GF was working with one (without me) and now we are trying to get them to take a rug back and she's got yards of very expensive fabric that she doesn't like....I'm sure some of them can be very good, but, like anything else, they vary in taste and ability, and then you're stuck.

I recently repainted my bedroom because the original color was too cold. The new color has a warmer undertone so I'm much happier...though it looks like the same color in the sunlight. Someone walking into the room wouldn't notice the difference, but the feel of it is significantly different.

Today's design seed:

Been awhile since I posted a kitchen...

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[Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Mosaic Loft

a very different feel from this kitchen...

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[Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Mill Valley Architects & Designers Mahoney Architects & Interiors

though it certainly can make for a warm living room

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[Transitional Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2112) by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Martha O'Hara Interiors

or a handsome bedroom

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[Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/bedroom-ideas-phbr0-bp~t_715) by Tampa Interior Designers & Decorators Design Bee

throw in a dining room, and you again have a nice theme for coordinating the rooms in your home without resorting to "boring beige."

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[Modern Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2105) by Brooklyn Architects & Designers CWB Architects

Annie, I think it is such a shame that EA has lost their good reputation. I ordered 4 Renee side chairs and I am hoping they arrive in good shape. I also am having them do my kitchen window but holy cow that is one expensive window treatment. I personally like my designer but she wanted 3 different patterns for chairs another pattern for drapes and 2 other pillow fabrics. At least she chose a solid sofa even if it was paprika in color. Honestly I think everything would have been lovely but not at all to my taste.My house would have been so busy that I would have felt stressed just being in a room with all that pattern going on, and bright green walls to top it all off. I decided that I would be better off trying to do this myself as I don't think she had a clue what I wanted. I am just about paralyzed with so many choices and I am totally overwhelmed. I may just order my leather sofa, keep the recliners from the library and call it a day.

Maybe you just need to take smaller steps....you have time. You don't need to decide everything at once...just take steps when you're ready. But when dealing with EA, make sure you retain control....otherwise, you'll end up with stuff you don't like and an empty bank account.

GF bought this fabric to redo an old sofa and she paid EA over $40/yd for it. I took her to a fabric outlet and we found the exact same fabric for $18/yd!

Annie and Cloud, I too just found this board.
Annie, you have an amazing talent! I love what you pull together and how your eye picks out and applies the color schemes.
I wonder if the PTB here might sticky this thread. It's so educational and interesting.

I'm going to go play with the links and try to apply some of my choices now.
Marji

Geesh, that is quite a difference. I decided days ago that I don't want to continue with EA. I like the designer but I could buy a new car for what she was suggesting I do with the room and the price of the drapes was ridiculous. I also don't want to feel like I am living in a pumpkin patch.

Today's design seed

It was hard to find a pic that coordinates well as, as soon as someone does a soft color scheme, they seem to want to "pop" it with bright. Instead, by keeping the accent colors softer, it makes for a more relaxing space, but still interesting.

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[Contemporary Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2103) by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators RLH Studio

Here is a similar color scheme, but note how the bright rug and throw changes the entire energy of the space.

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[Contemporary Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2103) by San Francisco General Contractors Cardea Building Co.

In my book Phoebe Howard is a master of soft colors.

I love Phoebe Howard rooms. I really love her soft, relaxing colors.

Today's design seed:

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[Modern Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2105) by Mill Valley Architects & Designers Sutton Suzuki Architects

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[Traditional Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2107) by Branford Interior Designers & Decorators Grande Interiors

Today's design seed: Don't normally think of gold and silver together or the hardness of metals, but it can create a very soothing color palette.

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[Traditional Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2107) by Austin Architects & Designers Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

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[Contemporary Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2103) by Glasgow Interior Designers & Decorators The Couture Rooms

I am really loving this thread!!

Here's an interesting color combo I've always liked....gray offset with cranberry or burgundy. Something like this:

Well, I found a room, clearly the oval office. Any idea whose?

Eisenhower's?

Close, holly-kay....HST!

To me, it looks like a very modern color palette and yet surprised to find it used back in the late 40s. (I guess the old fashioned TV is a hint...)

Truman..........

I think the use of color combination will look great together or looking at what accent colors may work with a main color or two. I don't think it's necessary to stick to exactly the colors. Usin various home accessories with the color will give best look.

I too love this thread! Thanks Annie for posting the examples.

Today's design seed:

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[Farmhouse Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2114) by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Van Wicklen Design

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[Contemporary Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2103) by Other Metro Architects & Designers NINOS CONSULTANCY CONSTRUCTION

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[Eclectic Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2104) by Natick Interior Designers & Decorators Laurie Gorelick Interiors

Annie, lovely color seed for today. Those are colors I've been working with lately, so immediately went to my idea book and there they were. I'm catching on as to how you "see" this. Now I just wish that I could take these seeds and know exactly where my balance point is, in terms of how much of each color to use. I'm afraid that I have a tendency to balance it all equally, which is Disastrous!

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[Traditional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Tom Stringer Design Partners

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[Contemporary Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by Marshfield Interior Designers & Decorators Stacy Curran

I would think it would be very hard to balance color equally in a room. Just naturally each room has different areas of different sizes that will break up a color scheme into component parts. A pillow is smaller than a sofa which is smaller than a wall. Each item also has a different visual plane...we see the tops of tables, but the sides of chairs.

Purposely select a main color, a secondary color and then an accent color to use in the room. Main color can be floors or walls, secondary can be furnishings and drapes, accent can be lamps, art, pillows. This is not strict, but as a first step to help you think purposely about where and how to use color in a room.

You can practice yourself by, for example, looking at the design seeds up thread where I posted the kitchen that could use more color...what color would you add, and where would you put it?

Or up thread is a gray and pink color scheme where I posted the walls only. Think about how you would finish that room...how and where would you use more color and in what shades? Would you add an accent color? If so, what color and on what items.

Another exercise would be to look at a room where you like the main color but dislike the accent color. What color would you select, then look at all the things you'd have to change in the room to eliminate the bad and replace it with the good. That will give you a sense of how that decorator used the color.

Also, a lot of the rooms that I coordinate with the design seeds don't have all the colors or aren't in exactly the right shades. Think about swapping out some colors in the room with others in the seed palette...what would you have to change in the room to accomplish that?

It's really just a matter of turning your attention to the issue and training your eye to see the detail.

Also Stacy & Clinton's outfit advice applies to a room as well. You need color, pattern, texture and shine.

Today's design seed it tomato based

Not my favorite color and one I'd never think of decorating with...and yet when you play with how to apply it and blend it with other colors, you can get some very interesting results across a wide variety of styles.

Using it as an accent against a more neutral background

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[Traditional Spaces[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-home-design-ideas-phbr1-bp~s_2107) by Kensington Interior Designers & Decorators Rhonald Angelo Interiors

Embracing brick

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[Traditional Entry[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-entryway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_741~s_2107) by Cedarburg Landscape Architects & Designers Ginkgo Leaf Studio

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[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Marietta Interior Designers & Decorators MC Designs

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[Eclectic Bedroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-bedroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_715~s_2104) by Buford Architects & Designers Design Zeal

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[Modern Bathroom[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2105) by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Rachel Reider Interiors

Today's design seed goes victorian...

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[Traditional Exterior[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2107) by Ridgefield Architects & Designers Doyle Coffin Architecture LLC

GREAT THREAD, what a good read! I find it hard to find the color first, so I browse a lot of Pinterest photos. Then when I find the one with the right 'feel' I can look up the paint colors with this easy tool!

You can click on 'CHIP IT' once it is in your toolbox to find the colors of any photo online! It is addicting, as I spent a lot of time just seeing different color schemes and what the colors would be in SW paint...! Have FUN!

I use this FREE CHIP IT tool from Sherwin Williams and I can upload a photo I have uploaded or my own and it finds me the actual paint colors fast.
When you go to link, sign up (very quick to do) and then they have the App right there you simply drag to your toolbar, and then it is done! Asks you if you want to upload, and then also you can save your gallery right there.

Other paint stores can coordinate the name of the SW paint color if you do not have one near you. (photo attached is my trial, I found a photo on Pinterest, saved it (have a cutting tool) and then uploaded to SW site... then when the colors are found, gives you an option to edit, and that second layer pops up so you can switch out a few of the colors and put them in different order. Then you see the names of the actual paint colors on the swatches! FUN to use!

Here is a link that might be useful: FREE online color finding tool

I had to come back and post another photo when I got the idea, can I 'Chip' a 'Seeds' color sample? YES I did!
So, if you find a seeds color sample, you can then Chip it and get the SW color paint names, now how COOL is that?

I subscribe to Seeds and get emails with new color schemes and there are plenty on Pinterest (link below) you can click on any of them to go to the Seeds site to browse more colors, the small samples of color to the right (on the seed site) can lead you to other combinations using that one color you pick... have FUN!

Here is a link that might be useful: Seeds pallets on Pinterest

So now that this thread has reached over 100 posts, would it be acceptable to ask that a Design Seeds Palette Part 2 thread be started? It's just taking a long time to load.
I love checking in every day to see if there is a new design seed palette posted.
And thanks to Annie and all who keep it going.

Normally, we wait until 150 for the thread to close, but this one is very pic heavy, so I guess I can start a new one.

Love this thread!!

Link to Design Seeds part 2

Link to Design Seeds part 3

explaining design seeds

This post was edited by AnnieDeighnaugh on Wed, Oct 15, 14 at 8:19