@Grover: I love the idea of the ethnic or tribual look. Do you think I could sneak in a zebra print? #IJS

OMG - Looking for a reason to buy something - how I can relate to that!!!

If you really love the table and definitely have a place for it then go for it. It is different (and I mean that nicely). Just wouldn't get the shiny one, could get scratched and would show fingerprints.

Pillows - or cushions as we call them. You will really need the rug in the room to decide I feel.

#1 - ho-hum ......... might be useful to break up some patterns
#2 - need to see with rug
#3 - no - too grey
#4 - NICE - good potential but depends on rug
#5 - nup - bit dead with lounge
#6 - same as #3.

Wonder if you could get a zebra print throw??

@Grover: Just thought of something else . . . I have a gold Garden Stool that I bought a while back at Home Goods. I love that store. But anyway, I can probably use that next to the Teal chair. What you think?

http://houzz.com/photos/276774

@olldroo: Thought you would have been sleep right about now. It's 9:00 on EST.

Zebra Throw. I love that idea. I will look for one. Don't think I have seen one on my shopping adventures. :-)

Thanks for the feedback on the pillows, oh I meant cushions. -;)

@olldoo: you are so right about fingerprints on the shiny stuff. That will happen with the garden stool.

Here is a few really cool pillow:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Zebra-24-inch-Feather-and-Down-Throw-Pillow/5190099/product.html?AID=10712286&PID=5707978&SID=skim30534X881380X52b8694db2bdc5106e3b860252748dab

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081TIFHM/ref=asc_df_B0081TIFHM2591083/?tag=prontocom100028-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B0081TIFHM&linkCode=asn

http://www.google.com/search?biw=768&bih=928&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=rWvZUfiBFpP49gTdvYHYDg&q=zebra+throw&oq=zebra+thro&gs_l=img.1.1.0l4j0i24l4.6184.14202.0.19171.10.8.0.2.2.0.1041.2540.3j1j2j5-1j0j1.8.0....0...1c.1.19.img.r97NZAFgakw#biv=i|46;d|d77tAG8tCEX81M:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/skip-20x13-pillow/f51878

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kohima-18-pillow/s504165

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/izza-18-pillow/s499080

rooky, it's 7 a.m. here and I'm only on my second cuppa, so give me a little while. I have all your Crate and Barrel pillows, the West Elm stool, and the gold garden stool. (Since I've already spent the morning hanging art and drapes on Rhonda's thread, you may have to give me time for a bit of breakfast too.)

DON'T BUY ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE YOU BUY THE RUG! Sorry for shouting, but you seem in a bit of a frenzy here and I'm ready to drag you to tai chi with me. Have a nice cup of joe, relax with the paper, and I'll be back in a jiffy with your room.

I will then return to those pillows in your last post.

BTW, if the dog asks for his bone, tell him I got tired of the way he left it in the middle of the floor and so I gave it to Grover. Grover says thanks.

@Grover: LOL . . . Can you tell that I'm a little excited? I DO need to join you in tai chi . . . For real.

No rush on my part for the pics. I'm cooking and cleaning.

I plan to shop for the rug this week. I promise Not to buy anything else until I get the rug. Once we eliminated the CB pillows I already bought I will go make my returns.

I don't need coffee with my energy. LOL

@Grover: As you can see, my dog is really sloppy. One of the reasons why my rug budget is on the low end. I want the space to be very livable for slobs . . .

Here are your C&B pillows with the gold garden stool and the West Elm stool (except in persimmon because I happened to have that laying around and I like it better than the bronze). And my assessment:
Plain teal pillow is the wrong hue and a little dowdy. Take it back.
Blue and green applique pillow and yellow pillow are too busy and compete with the rug, but may work in another room.
Green mollusk pillow and ivory pillow are fine.

OLO. rooky, I doubt your dog can hold a candle to Grover and his cohort Daisy. They're basset hounds. Trust me; I KNOW sloppy!

Just looked at your latest pillows. New rule: more texture, less pattern. Like this in a different color.

@ Grover. Thanks for you feedback. I didn't think the pillows I already have would work. Back to CB I will go.

Do you think any of the 2nd pillows will work? I like the idea of tribal.

rooky, don't feel like you decorate a room and then it's done and you move on to the next. No room is ever finished; it just becomes your life's work. Soon you'll be on your own, so some tips:

Just because a thing is on sale doesn't make it easier to work into your design. And if it doesn't work, it's not a bargain at any price.
Don't be afraid to wait for the perfect piece. And don't be afraid to buy the perfect piece when it falls in your lap.
If you're just not sure about a piece, then it's probably not right. Live with it for awhile to see if it grows on you. If it doesn't, take it back.

Something about the rug you've chosen (which grows on me more and more) gives me a primitive ethnic vibe. To that end, I have added the West Elm Bamileke end table ($199), a little beaded Hoopoo bird ($12 at World Market), and a Yoruba Crown (which I happen to have on my own mantel, so you'll have to get your own).

When I travel, and every year at the African Village that comes with the Gem and Mineral Show here, I keep my eye out for interesting pieces. When I fall in love, I buy it. I have Guatemalan textiles in my dining room, African furniture and carvings in my living room, English and Australian pottery in my china closet. They all have meaning and I've never tired of any of them. From the smallest to the largest items, buy only what you love and don't feel you must finish the room today.

Be careful with too many patterns. I've added the bolder of the zebra pillows; it works if you keep it away from the rug. I also moved the Yoruba crown to a shelf; something busy like that also needs to be away from the rug.

If you're wondering about the current pillows on your loveseat, keep them. That rust and teal have been the inspiration for the whole room. You can't remove them now.

@ Grover: you have given me SO much to work with. I bought STUFF before because I had very little direction. Like a lost child in the forest. LOL

But seriously, I now have focus and direction. Thank you so much for all that you have done. I can hit the ground running now. I will send updates to let you know where I am in this process.

I think my biggest issue before was fear and not having a vision on how to pull everything together. Thanks for reminding me that decorating a room is a process that you keep building on.

Speaking of moving on to the next room . . . I will be doing that in a couple of weeks. I'LL BE LOOKING FOR U! ! !

I will be glad to help. Grover, OTOH, will be looking for a package of rawhide bones in exchange for the absence of my attention. He specifically wants the knotted kind, not the pressed kind. Pick up some for your own sloppy doggie while you're at it.

Morning guys - I can say morning as it is nearly 3 AM Monday morning - I was hooked on the Wimbledon Men's Final, but just checked in on the way to bed.

Rooky, grover has given you so much excellent advice, definitely your rug MUST come first, it is going to be the feature of the room and I definitely agree on texture for cushions over pattern to let the rug shine. Sorry to disappoint too, but leave the zebra for another room, he will be overkill.

Catch up later, too tired to think more now. BTW I love tai chi too, haven't done it for a while but it is my priority to get back into it.

@olldroo: Thanks for checking in olldroo. Okay, I'll back off of the zebra print for now. My International Design Team has spoken and I'm a good listener. LOL

I'll save it for my office project and will decorator around that. I guess you can say it will be my inspiration. LOL

Thanks for your feedback and follow up.

'Rooky' You need to get the rug first. Going off in too many directions. Pillows and throws and accessories are last after the main larger furniture pieces and rug are chosen. :) You like too many things, I'm right along with you!

@Grover: Hey it's me again. I found this rug that I absolutely love. We you do me a favor and put it in my room. Let me know what you think.

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Retreat_Area_Rug_2/310/

NO, no, no, it's too dark for a basement.

@Nancy: Do you think it is darker than my previous choice? My room has a window so the room is not a dungeon. LOL

Love the room,nice couches.Yes turquoise would be great! As for the wall. Color gray is my vote.I would get an area carpet that incorporates turquoise, the red from your furniture and fireplace and another color.Some colorful artwork is amust too.

Yes, it is darker. The rug Grover showed you has basically a white backgound, with african design on it. You said you loved it, is it beyond your budget?

Sorry, beige background...

@Nancy: Yes, it does have a beige background and it is within my budget. It just that I saw the turquoise rug and I like it a lot better and wondered if it will work in my room.

Thanks for you feedback.

@greatsight. Thanks. I'm going with a color similar to Ecru on the walls and ceiling. That should warm the room up.

Thanks for your feedback.

I agree with 'Nancy' . I think you need a light background rug to brighten the depth of the sofas and the trunk. Any light background with strong colors to work with turquoise chair and rust brown sofas. It will keep the room crisp, brighter and more fun.

Something like this can work too

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Mosaic_II_Area_Rug/910/

Here's the new rug, rooky:

I like both rugs, but I like the first one more because it's lighter, but mostly because it's more lively. It has more movement.

Thanks everyone - Nancy, LB and Grover. You all are right, the second rug doesn't work.

@Grover: thanks for letting me see to compare.

Rooky, stop looking at rugs or you will be back where you started. Fell asleep last night dreaming about your black and white zebra print inspired office, with lime green accents. (Second photo is for dreaming).

[houzz=]

[houzz=]

@olldroo: I'm over the rug. I talked to Macy's today. They have to special order. I found the same rug at a lower price at Home Decorators. Will call them tomorrow.

LOL about your dream. :-) my next project will be to finish the Great Room on my main level. I have some direction on this project because I hired a Decorator for a consultation. I will reach out to you all after it is painted.

Regarding my office. I think this project will be much simpler because it is a small room that I only need to paint an accessorize. Probably will be a few months before I get to it.

It has definitely been a pleasure getting to know you guys.

Having just done so much in my home, I know where you are coming from, some days my brain seemed to hurt from thinking about things and other times I just felt so bogged down thinking about just getting dressed was an effort. Great you have found a better price on the rug. I think you mentioned something about your office in the posts I read before I went to bed and probably why it stayed in my mind.

Will be great to see what the decorator suggested for your Great Room, do post. Good luck.

Joining late. Loved the thread. Rooky love your rug choice can't wait to see it in place.

Rooky, have you finished your room yet? Found the rug here: http://www.arearugstyles.com/sphinx-by-oriental-weavers-emerson-2031a-area-rug.html for $295.75

I am so jealous of the prices you guys get things for. Not fair!!!!!

@Nancy Walton: thanks for remembering my post and sending the rug. I am still working on my room. I ordered my rug from Home Decorators at about the same price with a free rug pad and 2 x 3 scatter rug. Great deal. We just finished painting the room. Selecting the right color was a project by its self. We ended up with SW 7696 Toasted Pine Nut. It looks great. My chair is on order - 8 weeks to get.

I will send pics soon.

@olldroo: I'm still thinking about that office. :-)

I'll be watching for you, rooky.

@grover--what is that softwaree called? I must have it!

Maureen, I think she said it was Photoshop - may have been on another thread. It does look like fun but I really have to start to limit my computer time.

Yes, it was Photoshop SE or LE, but the special or limited edition, so it's cheaper than full-blown PS, which is almost $600. If you go to the Adobe website, and look under downloads, they might have it there. Or you could download Gimp 2.0 for free, and that has a similar user interface as PS. That can be found on gimp.com website.

Thanks Nancy, I will look at that Gimp site ........... one day.......... when I have more time. The top PS here is around $1,000, I have a camera buff friend who does the most amazing things with her's, there are just too many things to do these days, especially with all these new toys.

My comment about the $600 was the price when I bought mine in 1993! Of course, if you count all the upgrades since then, it's quite an investment. I was in graphic arts then, and doing some free-lance work, so it was almost a neccessity...

Wow, 93, I wasn't aware you could get things like that then. Of course working in the field would make it a necessity - lucky you.

Yeah, I think my first upgrade was PS 2.5!

A large acrylic mounted photo would look great in that space: http://www.lalush.com/cprints/