Welcome back to another installment of everyone’s favorite practical style advice column: Design SOS! If you clicked through, you likely already know what the deal is with this post, but just in case you’re new (everyone is new at some point, right?!?), let me catch you up. Design SOS is where we make somewhat easy, doable, and realistic design and styling advice to real readers who submitted their homes to us along with a short description of an issue they’re stuck on in any given space. As a reminder, this isn’t a huge overhaul; there’s almost no reno involved, just quick and practical advice that works with what they already have (unless they ask to change specific items). I say that because sometimes the comments run away with ideas for what to do, which is fun and helpful, of course, but not really the nature of this specific column.
Got it? Okay, let’s start off with a house that has fantastic bones and some good ideas to start with. It just needed some mascara, so to speak.
From Reader: “Our front door opens into a long living room, which I’ve divided into two areas: One as our more traditional living room space, the other as an entryway/music listening area. I can not seem to make this half of the room feel complete! I know it’s begging for a rug, but is there also something I could do on the long wall where the mirror is hanging? We have two young boys who flip over the couch, hence that soft blue striped ‘bench’, but would love to see what other options you’d put in that place. Since the room is so neutral, I enjoy fun pops of color and pattern to balance it out.” — Sarah F.
Thank you, Sarah! Before I get into what I’d amend, let’s chat about what I think is currently working. First off, the move of splitting this space up into two purposes was smart! I love that they already have this earmarked as a listening space, because honestly, one of the hardest things to do with an empty, kind of random space is to figure out how you want it to function for your home and life. I also love the juxtaposition of some of the more modern elements (that mirror is great!) with the classic architectural details. There are some fantastic bones here, but it just needs some oomph.
Bench | Rug | Sconces | Wallpaper | Side Table | Vinyl Record Frames
Based on some of the more contemporary patterns I’m seeing on the pillows, I wanted to stay in that modern realm with a rug to better define the area. Honestly, I wouldn’t have even thought to put a rug here, as I’m not a big fan of rug-on-carpet. But the reader mentioned it, so I went with it, and it really does make so much more of a statement in this area. She’ll want to be sure to put a rug pad underneath that’s specifically for this layered floor coverings move to prevent bunching and shifting. Emily used this same rug in the River House. It’s a bit groovy, which I liked next to the wide-slung accent chair.
Next up: The walls. When you study the original images, you can see that this reader went with a blushy pink for the walls in the room beyond the arch by the sofa, and an icy blue going up the staircase. Basically, they aren’t afraid of color. To not add in another solid paint that might end up looking like a box of crayons, I opted for a wallpaper. I was very tempted to do a stripe or bold geometric, but instead, I picked this leafy Sandberg paper for more of an organic touch. Soft blue and green felt like a safe choice, not knowing that much about what colors this reader likes. Not to ignore the pink from the other room, I brought in these milky glass sconces in a hushed pink hue.
To round out the area, I’m changing out the blue kid bench for something that’s also soft, but more grown-up and better scaled to the sofa. This is more of an entryway bench, with a shelf for shoe storage underneath. The reader didn’t mention needing anything with that function, but hey, she has two kids…storage is always needed. A side table I found for a super affordable price at At Home’s website makes the chair feel more purposeful in this nook, and cool acrylic-and-brass square frames give them an opportunity to display any cool vinyls they might have.
Next up is a bathroom that I very much understand, because I have some in my home that look just like this (minus the sconces). As soon as I saw it and reviewed the reader’s prompt, I knew I needed to include it today. This super common Tuscan-style renovation plagues many of our homes, but ripping it all out for something fresher and more “now” isn’t always an option. Let me have the reader walk you through her quandary, and then I’ll dig into how I’d fix it up in her target budget.
From Reader: “I live with my husband and three young kids in a lovely home in the suburbs of Chicago. It’s a prairie-style exterior architecture built in the 1980s, and I’d like to think my style is a mix of MCM, modern traditional, a touch of whimsy, but ultimately practical. I lean towards walnut colored furniture, brass and polished nickel, neutral with a hint of color. I’m attaching a photo of the upstairs bathroom we renovated last year that I think captures a bit of the design vibes I like. A previous homeowner renovated the kitchen and downstairs bathroom with heavy Italian villa influence, which is decidedly not my look. There is a LOT of very nice travertine tile between the kitchen and the bathroom that is too nice to rip out, but I’m perplexed about how to work with it. Perhaps I’ll get lucky, and the Tuscany Villa look will make a comeback, but currently I’m not loving the grapevine corbels and the amount of tan/brown I’m left with. I’m willing to paint and spend maybe $1000-2000 if it means new light fixtures, maybe even a new vanity or stone? (Although the vanity is of nice wood and in good shape, so I’d like to try and work with it if possible). This is the only bathroom on the first floor, right off our kitchen and dining room, so all our guests use this bathroom. I love the idea of a jewel-box powder room, but not sure if it would work here.” — Angela P.
It was so helpful to have this reader share images of a renovated room in her home. I can see she likes classic tile, warm woods and metals, and clean lines. Beautiful! I also love that she included a budget, which is rare for this type of thing, so I mostly just pull stuff that looks good to my eye without knowing if any of it is feasible to purchase.
Rug | Curtains (Below) | Wood Vanity (Right) | Brass Knobs (Left) | Faucet | Sconces | Mirror | Pink Art Print | Blue Art Print | Paint
And here is what I did! You’ll see two options above: One with the original vanity, and one with a different one. Because the reader gave me a range of $1,000 to $2,000, I wanted her to see what both ends of that price spectrum looked like. I don’t have measurements for this room, so I’m not sure what would really fit in here (the one I pulled is 48 inches, which I believe is likely too wide), but this is meant to act more as inspiration than as design doctrine. Either way, I think the faucet should be changed out (this one is almost $100!), as well as the knobs for the original vanity. She could even go through the process of painting the existing wood.
Speaking of paint, I know the reader mentioned being interested in a “jewel box” vibe, which this isn’t, obviously. A darker paint or wallpaper is usually a fun route to take in a guest bathroom; however, I thought so much contrast would bring more attention to the very thing she mentioned not caring for (the travertine). So instead, I wanted the beige stone to fade into a monochrome scheme between the walls and the floor, hence why I went with this Benjamin Moore taupe.
Not to totally ignore her need for some drama, I picked a pretty, deep navy rug that detracts from the tile floor and speaks to the curtain panels I picked. These are real curtains, not shower curtains, FYI. The split panels look elevated and chic, and hanging them super high hides most of the shower if closed. Don’t be afraid to get creative!
All in all, the total purchase price for the option with the new vanity is about $2,200. She could bring this down with a less expensive (and smaller) vanity, as this one was around $1,000, and of course, cut the budget in half by keeping her existing vanity with some small upgrades. I also picked some more expensive sconces because there are few moments here to really do something cool and special, but those could easily be simplified and cheaper.
Lastly, a Florida dining room I’ve been sitting with for a while. When reader Tiffani sent this in to our team, I was drawn to it. I knew it could be *something*. A blank canvas just screaming out for some impactful design elements. Let’s hear from the reader and then have some fun.
From reader: “Post-divorce, I’ve downsized to a villa for my 10-year-old and me. This means I have fewer windows and less natural light throughout my home. My dining space is windowless; nearly every light in the adjacent spaces was turned on for these pics. I would like help restyling the room. Nearly everything is up for grabs: Lighting, art, chairs. The only thing that’s a keeper is my mango wood dining table (72″x36″). We use the table for dinner with guests, school projects, but mostly it’s the surface for everything that comes into the house. The front & garage doors are to the left. I love color, favorites are green, ochre, blue, and apricot. I want this space to have presence, as it’s the first thing you see and interact with when you come into my home. I want my home to feel welcoming, comfortable, minimal, clean, and intentional. Room dimensions: The wall with the B&W art is 78 inches wide and nearly 10 feet tall. The back wall is 154 inches long and slopes to probably 12 feet. The pony wall has a 20-inch-wide full wall, then goes into a 24-inch-wide pony wall. Across from the dining space is the entryway cabinet. Sharing that too to give you more of an idea about me.” — Tiffani H.
Dining Banquette | Dining Chairs | Ceiling Light | Rug | Wallpaper
Ignore the wall on the left that is incorrect. I messed up the rendering and didn’t want to spin my wheels trying to fix it. SO, here’s where I landed! As soon as I saw this room, I knew it needed something “built-in” like a custom banquette, or even a modular set that she could take wall-to-wall. A soft, slate blue adds personality without taking over, giving the wallpaper more of a voice. Vertical stripes always elongate, which I wanted to do here to really showcase the full 12 feet. Given that the upholstery here is velvet, I wanted to tone down the glam with a natural woven rope and wood dining chair. Plus, it all felt very beachy chic (I edited it out for space in the reader’s submission, but she noted this is a condo in Florida). And since we are stretching up with all those stripes, I wanted to widen with a horizontal chandelier to echo the width of the banquette.
I’m realizing as I write this that she could also add some hard-wired sconces to the wall behind the banquette, left and right of the art, to increase the amount of light in the room given that she noted it was windowless (and dark). A light colored rug underfoot feels welcoming and comfortable, plus it’s washable because, uh, a cream rug where a preteen can drop ketchup all over it isn’t exactly practical. The existing art was so fun and punchy, so I left it but just rearranged it to stretch across the wall. I could even see her adding a thin floating wood shelf and then leaning those along it.
—
This is where I leave you today. As always, my suggestions are to be taken as a jumping-off point for the readers who submitted. It’s hard to make a true design mock-up that I expect them to follow to a T without really knowing all that much about their own personal styles, needs, and preferences. But sometimes, all you need to do is see what is possible to get those creative gears churning. If I included your home here, thank you so much for opening up your home to us. It’s not an easy thing to do! Let me know what you think, too! And if other readers have more suggestions, go for it in the comments!
Until next time, friends…
Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and ARCIFORM | Photos by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Custom Farmhouse Dining Nook Reveal (And What Makes It So Incredibly Durable…And Pretty:))
I love these posts; it’s always fun to see readers’ dilemmas! Living room/entry – I wish we could see more of the space! I kind of wonder if the better option might not be to try to reimagine the whole room instead of just this part? You couldn’t listen to records here while anyone was using the living room area to watch TV, and does only one person listen at a time, and wouldn’t they rather sit on the sofa? So your options are to make this more like a social space for a few people to sit in, which has its back to the actual living room and feels all squashed in, or to reimagine how you’re using the living area so they’re not so divided. That said, a tall double-sided 1970s-inspired shelving unit/room divider behind the sofa would zone the room, prevent the kids rolling over the back of the sofa, and you could keep the record player on it with shelves below for the records (where are they?), get rid of the chest of drawers and change the armchair for a colourful chaise longue (think Emily’s vintage floral one, though I’d go with a retro 70s… Read more »
Totally agree! Especially about the bathroom and the dining nook! I imidiatly thought of a light pink for the bathroom, and for the nook I think it would be lovely to pick up a bolder tone from one of the vase paintings. I think a deep rust orange/ red would be lovely and inviting with the blues in the paintings. Also like the suggestion of a bench towards the room so it doesn’t feel closed in 🙂
Love the paint suggestion! Frequent EHD contributor Orlando has always done amazing things with just paint. I’ve definitely tried to imagine what he might do with the sloped ceiling in my open concept home. I like a banquet, but a bench is a no-go for me. Plus, I the table and chairs don’t encroach the walkway since I had the light fixture moved 18” closer to the back awhile ago.
I love these posts! One other option for the bathroom: you could just replace the granite vanity top with a lighter stone one. I did this with one of my bathrooms and also painted the cabinet, which turned out beautifully (my painter used an oil-based paint).
Yes! There’s a good chance any new vanity you purchase will be made of much cheaper materials than your existing vanity (even the expensive ones!). Use your money for paint and to replace the granite.
Agree with option of painting the cabinet and getting new countertop along with new mirror, faucet and lights. Thumbs up to frameless glass.
Travertine usually has a hint of light green to it. BM China White goes well with Travertine if you are interested in going lighter on the walls. I would steer clear of the beige suggested by EHD because it still gives off Tuscan vibes.
Also, add new knobs to vanity. Agree with other comments here about the countertop. Travertine has a lot of movement in it. A quartz or quartzite that is a warm cream will go well.
These are so fun to read! I’m happy the travertine tile is staying in the bathroom. We purchased a place with travertine tile and I wasn’t so sure about it, but that stuff is a workhorse that hides everything! Our bathroom is in a lake home that gets lots of use and feet that track stuff in as people are coming in and out from a day on the lake and it never looks dirty and it hides everything (don’t worry, I clean it often anyway). If I ever need to design a bathroom it’s getting travertine tiles floors.
+ 1 on travertine 🙂 A lot of 90s era hawaii hotels have it, and tbh it’s forgiving and practical. I realized that they would use clean warm neutrals on the walls to update the look. ALSO, that lowes vanity! I bought the same one (30″) for one of our bathrooms a couple of years ago. it is really, really nice for the price. better in person for sure. highly recommend.
Like everybody else, I love these posts! For the Entryway/Music Lounge: I love how the owner has given this space an identity. I agree that a rug will further define this space, but I think it should be larger than in the rendering, properly defining the area. To define it as a music area, I think a wallpaper mural in a musical theme, surrounded by a frame made of moulding sized for just the music area, would give it that punch. Not sure what the homeowner’s musical taste is, but this is an option I found online (no affiliation). I also think albums on display would help with this. I think the longer bench is a big improvement, but even so there is really only space for one person to listen to music as there is only one chair. If the console was replaced with something smaller (that also has room for open record storage), the lovely chair could be moved elsewhere and a larger piece or a chaise longue (as Elle mentioned) would be a great place for multiple people to snuggle up for listening. For the Bathroom: I agree with all the advice re the shower screen, mirror,… Read more »
WOW! that wall mural is fantastic…and would really make the Music Lounge it’s own space!
If she liked the wallpaper I would paint the dining room the green from the wallpaper to pull your eye forward.
I love that these posts-and normalizing keeping things in great condition that aren’t to our taste!!
I’m floored my submission was chosen! Thank you!!😊 Love the off the shelf banquet selection. Its deep dimensions 31” and color are gorgeous. I considered built in bench seating/ banquet before, but with the table legs it doesn’t seem practical. Tables with center legs seem to work better when people have to scoot in to sit and I typically scoot my chair in once I’m seated, so with this kind of table you’d either have to lean forward or move the table constantly and that would make the light fixture off center. If anyone has a banquet and a parsons style table, I’d love to hear from you! Nearly everything was up for grabs and yet my art remained! I love the idea of a horizontal placement. While the ceiling height is considered a house feature, it’s actually something I rather de-emphasize. So treating the art as if it’s in a room with 9’ or 10’ high is perfect. The side chairs are a nice complement to my kitchen barstools that are black wood & rattan from Article. What I really like about the light fixture is that it’s simple and linear. The way the room is situated with views… Read more »
Hi! We have a built in bench with a parsons style table, and it’s not that big of a deal. We are a family of 4, so for our daily meals we don’t generally use the bench seating. When we have guests, we do have to move the table out away from the bench so people can sit there, but its temporary and doesn’t happen daily. We also usually try to put kids on the bench since they’re not as bothered by the “sit and scoot” as adults might be. Bonus is that we seem to be able to fit more people on that side of the table thanks to the bench (ex: 2 kids and 1 adult, instead of 2 people sitting in chairs). For us, the design and practical appeal of the bench outweighs the occasional inconvenience of moving the table.
I agree about the banquette being impractical for everyday dining. Try a bench long enough to seat two, but will still tuck under the table. As for the light fixture, maybe there’s a way for you to contact the lighting company to request a longer hang.
Love these posts! They make designed living seem achievable to us mere mortals.
What are the sconces in the bathroom? All of the links take me to the curtains.
Oh shoot. Fixed that. Thanks for the heads up!
I love these posts so much!!
As someone with a Tuscan bathroom and travertine I’m glad to see you tackle this problem. I can say I have spent a long time looking at vanities that come with stone. Unfortunately they are almost all too white, and include gray veining. Caution: the travertine surrounding the new vanity will look muddy and old unless the new stone top is very creamy and without a touch of gray.
Just search the phrase “travertine is back” and you get so many hits I couldn’t even pick one to link here.
And great point about the stone tops that comes with new vanities – replacing the counter alone would allow for choosing a really great stone that fits the room.
It is back but not in a 90’s-mid 2000’s way!!
You’re right, and I dislike my travertine less now!! During the gray trend it was nearly unbearable. 😆 However, the stuff being installed now is much more like what Australian design has espoused for decades – it’s lighter and with less pink overtones than the Tuscan 2000s travertine. You’re correct that just replacing the stone top gives you a lot of freedom, unfortunately a custom stone top with an undermount sink is now $2k+ in SoCal, whereas you can buy a decent looking vanity with a generic top for half that (quality not being part of convo)…
This week’s rooms are so much like my own, and give so many ideas. I love the entryway because it’s so big. Much bigger than mine, but very similar in terms of layout. The owner doesn’t say it, but it seems kids might live there, or they need more storage solutions. That means more space in an entryway to hide accessories, hats, and gloves, and backpacks would be needed. I also don’t think that entryway and music-listening vibe together. Perhaps a long console with drawers behind the sofa could solve the storage needs closer to the entry door and would allow to face speakers toward the living room instead of the entryway. I’d add plants and tall table lamps too to add a bit of mystery, separation and character. Alternatively a round table with a lamp, chair and a tree could also add something positive and break up the two spaces. The opposite wall could then have a taller bookcase, buffet+hatch or some other storage. The suggestion was great, and I’m definitely projecting my own needs for storage and separation of rooms. If the owners really want a music area in their entryway, then maybe redefine the space and make… Read more »
I know keeping the table makes it harder to have a better looking dining room. An oval or round table would break up the hard angles in the space. But, the table is a keeper as it holds sentimental value.
If I go the banquet route, especially the C+B suggestion, I’d figure out a way to make wall to wall even if that means adding skinny storage cabinets on either end so you don’t see any floor.
tuscan bathroom. I would paint the walls a creamy white, and change out the sconces for sure. I don’t like the blue/gray with the beige tile–it is “fighting” with the tile. Instead lean into the creamy colors with paint and the shower curtain. If budget allows, purchase a new vanity (but as someone else mentioned) keep the stone creamy with no gray.
The Tuscan bathroom spoke to me most! The wall color is too yellow for the stone undertone whihc you have to lean into. You have a lot of pinky-beigey travertine for sure- for rhe jewel box direction, most of the dusty medium to deep blues look great with this color stone, as do some of the toned down teals. A rich plum or mauve would also look great if you want to stay tonal without blah beige everywhere. Make sure whatever paint color, curtains etc you choose are muted/muddied/soft/grayed down colors ie not fresh, crisp, clear, to prevent your stone from looking dirty in comparison. For a pale neutral and ligher airy look, try BM Muslin or SW Patience, the lightest of the creamy pink-touched near-white neutrals.
Definitely replace the sconces. The existing vanity top is quite dark – the big box stores still sell light pink-beige tops that will blend with the existing look and not scream NEW COUNTER, OLD BATHROOM – we’ve all seen that happen 😉 Search vanity tops, beige color family. Good luck!
These posts are fun, and I’m wondering based on what each writer says each time if there’d be a simple way to obtain some details from people who submit their rooms? Like, offer a link to a form that could be submitted with the photos? It could include lines for the budget, styles they are drawn to, dimensions of room, and the description of the room being submitted. Anyway, always fun to see people’s homes and read the writer and commenters ideas!
To another readers comment, the brain needed on that bathroom approach is Orlando. He’d have a great take on a new pallette and the power of paint.
How do I nominate a space in my home or someone I love’s for consideration in this series?
My solution to the bathroom is to lean into what currently exists including the ugly sconces. Maybe change out the mirror, but add a really strong wallpaper. This one is from mind the gap and could look really fun.
I love that idea! Would love to see a mockup.
The suggestion of full length curtains in front of the shower is brilliant! Even if the shower is used often, there is no water damage risk to the curtains since it has a glass enclosure. I was thinking of just a regular shower curtain (maybe 2 shower curtains to make it look more full) to hide some of the tile, but to-the-ceiling curtains is such a better idea!
I want to see a deep plum in that bathroom!
My favorite posts! Maybe one day I will send a submission. I get so jealous of the lucky people you pick to help 🙂
Agree with option of painting the cabinet and getting new countertop along with new mirror, faucet and lights. Thumbs up to frameless glass.
Travertine usually has a hint of light green to it. BM China White goes well with Travertine if you are interested in going lighter on the walls. I would steer clear of the beige suggested by EHD because it still gives off Tuscan vibes.
I was so thrilled to see that my bathroom got selected! Felt a bit famous haha Thank you all + Arlyn for your great suggestions! I’m feeling inspired and want to get a few paint samples (still can’t shake the desire for something moodier, so might do a deep plum or olive green), look into a new quartz countertop (our sink basin has a crack in it already so might be good time to replace!). It may take me like 2 years to get to it, but I’ll try and report back 🙂
I think a dark plum would be fantastic. I have a vintage bathroom with original pink fixtures and I painted the walls a dark navy to contrast with the pink and added a white shower curtain and love the dark color (however, I also have a south-facing window in the bathroom that lets in lots of light, so the room doesn’t feel dark).
Arlyn, I love your fixes for that Tuscan bathroom! Such useful advice for so many.
May I suggest that she can update her vanity to make it look very similar to the new one you suggested simply by swapping the hardware for something similar (adding a handle to the faux centre panel)? And refinishing the wood if she is up for it. Next-level handy would be to remove the legs with a jigsaw (this wouldn’t be difficult) and swap for something more streamlined. Voila–virtually identical.
This posts are brilliant! Would love love love to pay for this service 🙏