Can I just start by saying, thanks for all your feedback on our “his chair” post. I spent some time rearranging things, swapping sides and eventually just put him and her next to each other with Chris’s djembe in the middle to act as a little side table and I think we like this arrangement best. We still haven’t decided, for sure, if we are going to keep both chairs together. The Ikat slipper chair, aka “her”, might go live in another room or in another house. But, we have learned to just live with things for a little while and if the wincing doesn’t stop when we look into a room–then we change it.
What’s causing the most wincing for me? The differing heights. Yowza.
While we aren’t quite ready to demo the kitchen, we did pick up some cabinets … … that weren’t for the kitchen. Did we fool ya? The wall directly across from the large window in the living room was in desperate need of a credenza, console, buffet, sideboard, insert another synonym here.
Not only did that really dark wall need broken up with something, we loved the idea of adding additional storage for games (which are currently stored in the garage), a place to plop some really nice lamps on to add additional lighting, something to ground the art that we want to hang on that wall, and even a surface for snacks when we have guests over. I scoured the online classifieds for weeks for a long dresser or console that would work for all the needs we had in mind, but never really found…it.
Then, one of our readers on our Facebook page suggested we look under the cabinets section of the classifieds and a lightbulb went off. Of course! I had remembered a few fab bloggers making a credenza, now coined as “fauxdenza”, here, here and here out of Ikea cabinets and the look and function was just what we needed. So, we hit up Ikea and came home with:
3 Akurum Wall Cabinets (30×24)
6 Applad Doors
12 Hinges
6 Hinge Dampers (Soft close. OOoooo)
2 Akurum Suspension Rails–but we only used one
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
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I was on Pinterest tonight and ran across an image with a white sofa and an ikat chair that looks very similar to yours. They even have a lamp that is very much the same! http://www.restoredstyle.com/living-roomdining-room-before-after/
Have you seen this room before? Thought it might give you some inspiration.
I’m feeling seriously inspired right now. Random thought, but if you added some faux legs below that cabinet it might help the vents to recede a bit more.
Perhaps you could paint the top half of each of the vents to be same color as the wall? Just a suggestion. Great fauxdenza, i’m excited about all the cool things you’ll arrange on top of it and the difference that art will bring to the walls. I feel pretty confident that you will resolve the chair situation. I love rearranging a room until it fits.
Definitely still like the “his” chair better! ;) And those cabinets look awesome! I absolutely love how they are floating, it’s just fabulous!
It’s true. The couch is super low, and Chris’s chair has a very high back–but I kinda like that! Once we get art about the couch, I think (hope) it will all balance out. It’s a puzzle right now that we’ll solve soon enough. Thanks so much for your thoughts. They are ALWAYS worth a lot to us.
I’m probably in the minority, but for what it’s worth, I think the shape of the ikat chair is more consistent with the shape of your couch. From this random stranger’s perspective, I would try for another chair shaped similarly to the ikat chair. Also, the ikat print and colors pop against the wall color. I love, love, love the color combination of grey wingback and the ikat though, so I would try to find another grey chair.
Haha. Yes–my chair looks so teeny next to his. In reality, it is like a totally normal sized chair, and his isn’t huge by any means, but the back is substantial–which is kinda perfect for us tall folks. So, we are leaning toward getting another one. :)
Holy cow there is a HUGE difference in chair heights!!! Your chair looks so small compared to Chris’s man chair!!! Would you totally get another Chris chair? I love the structure and tall back. Your chair is gorgeous and would look so pretty in another space. Would it go in your bedroom? I love a good sitting area in the master.
Love the cabinets! Just think of the storage!! You guys are so clever with things that are out of the box.
We are still choosing the wood, but whatever we choose, we’ll probably stain it walnut–our favorite! As for the art above, I have a few prints from my printmaking class in college that I want to frame. I’m envisioning a big, custom mat around each.
Ah, yes, the Fauxdenza! I loved the idea when your predecessors made one and I love that you made one too! What kind of wood are you thinking of adding to the top? Are you going to hang one of your pretty paintings above it?