Welcome to Love It or Leave It, a fun concept Jess and I cooked up earlier this month to satisfy both of my design loves: helping people to shop for specific pieces that will help improve the way their room functions, and brainstorming ways for readers to make something they already have work. We put out a call to our audience and it turns out, more people just need help shopping. Ha. We did find a reader who let me have some creative fun with an existing item, though, so read to the bottom to see what we did with a *super* rough around the edges dresser she found on Facebook for $25!
First up, Katie, who wants to revamp her whole room eventually but is starting with her media cabinet.
Leave It: Media Cabinet Trade Up
“This room as a whole is a little bit of a problem child, and I think part of the problem is the buffet/bar. Once I get it figured out, I should have a much better idea on what I want for chairs, colors for side tables, what type of lamps/accessories, etc. All of the pieces, even the curtains, were bought/collected for my last apartment and we just made them work when we moved here two years ago. Here’s what I need: Something that fits the space better, provides some storage but also display space, and helps to define the space better.” — Katie B.
Before I jump into my recommendations, I want to add some more information I got from this reader. She said the sofa is where it is because she has toddlers that she doesn’t want climbing onto that pony wall, otherwise she’d prefer it in front of the window. From the door on the left to the window wall is 14 feet, from floor to picture rail is 8 feet, and the total ceiling height is 14 feet. She’s open to a bookshelf or a buffet.
Now, for my take. I agree that their existing buffet (48 inches wide) is just too small, especially with 14-foot ceilings. The hardware and two-toned finish feels a little dated in here, and I think a wider and/or taller piece is going to work wonders for grounding this room. It could be such a cute piece with a cabinet knob/pull refresh and maybe even a paint job, but I’d find another room for it.
What I’m not clear about is whether this is their main living area where they’d prefer to have a TV or just a front receiving room. Either way, I’m going to give them an opportunity to use the wall space for art or a television.
While I LOVE big giant bookcases (and think the height would help balance the tall ceilings), I don’t think this is the room to do that in. They need something with a little breathing room. Here’s what I’m thinking:
Top row, from left: Austen Black Traditional 3 Piece Entertainment Center, $1,395 at Living Spaces | Bankhead TV Stand, $1,240 at Wayfair | Besta Oak Console (Doors, Tops & Sides Only, Besta Cabinet Included), $1,632 at Fronteriors | Bottom row, from left: Bowie Media Console (92″), $2,799 at Pottery Barn | Jasper 72 in. Tall Warm Pine Solid Wood Standard Ladder Bookcase with Fluted Cabinet, Set of 3 | Scarlett TV Stand, $630 at Wayfair
Katie included in her email that she really liked the Jasper ladder bookcases, but her husband didn’t like that they couldn’t add a TV to the space if that’s the route they went. It didn’t seem like a deal breaker, so I included it down here because I think stylistically, they could work well in her home. I would recommend that instead of the set of 2 she showed me, she ups it to 3, to cover about 100 inches of wall space. Since the bottom 8 inches are open, it can still accommodate the A/C return at the baseboard on the left side of that long wall. I don’t, however, love the color of the warm pine with all the other wood in the room. It’ll feel a bit too one note, tbh unless they plan on painting the walls.
Because of that, I rounded out some other picks in different colors. The black entertainment center from Living Spaces is such a great price, but it’s not clear to me what the size really is. It says 74 inches, but is that the media stand itself not including the bookshelves, or is that total? It may be too diminutive if that’s total, tbh. The black is a nice departure from all the oak in the room, but the silhouette is still classic enough to make sense. That Bankhead TV Stand isn’t 100% in line with my taste (mostly just that arch at the very bottom rail), but the color is nice, the size is right and it provides plenty of storage. I like the warm, deep tone of the Bowie Media Console for some variation but it’s about three times the original price of what Katie said she was looking to spend. The Scarlett is very cute and well-priced but I wonder about quality in the long run.
Oh, and that Besta Oak Console in the green…I had to include that because I’ve had a five-door Besta set up for about 10 years now and it’s still one of the hardest working pieces in my house. Fronteriors makes beautiful doors, tops and sides to make it extra special, and that green stain could be very fun in that room.
Leave It: Family-Friendly Reading Nook
“We moved into our new home a year ago and I’m still working to replace a few pieces of furniture. I’m interested in replacing the chair in the corner with something high-quality and stylish. I’d love to be able to cozy up on it to read a book with the kids or do some work, but haven’t found the right one that fits the style of the room. We also have kids + a dog so durability is a must! I’d like to avoid anything that feels very mid-century.” — Andrea K.
I moved into my home two years ago, and my bedroom looks far less finished than this does. So, Andrea, I’m just here to tell you that you’re doing great! But I was so stoked when I got this request because look, you may not know this about me, but I’m an armchair fanatic. Give me any excuse to spend someone else’s money to shop for armchairs, and I’ll take it!
So, Andrea is working with roughly 42 inches between the drapery and the dresser, and her budget is flexible but she’s thinking around $2,000, which is a pretty healthy amount for an armchair. I wanted to find her something that’s sturdy because she mentions having kids and pets, a bit modern to match the room’s current clean-lined aesthetic, but cushy and comfortable for cuddling up in.
Her existing chair looks like a white boucle and I think this little corner is begging for some muted, subtle color. A moss green or buttery yellow/citrine would still feel like a neutral here while providing some contrast between the dark gray curtain and the deep-stained wood of the dresser. I didn’t want to go overboard with pattern or a dramatic hue because that’s just not in line with what I’m seeing in the rest of the space. I rounded up six options that I think would all look beautiful here, three being more classic and tailored design options, and three being more “statement” chair picks.
Top row, from left: Vale Armchair, $1,899 at The Citizenry | Amelia Swivel Chair, $1,599 at Sixpenny | Matrix Velvet Lounge Chair, $599 at Article | Bottom row, from left: Desmond Chair, $720 at West Elm | Gio Chair, $1,699 at Sixpenny | Rumford Accent Chair by Jake Arnold, $1,399 at Crate & Barrel
Everything here is in budget (or well below), and sized right for this reading nook to-be.
My top pick is the Amelia Swivel Chair by Sixpenny. It’s one of their more compact designs (we’re not working with much space here, remember), but just the right shape for sharing with a little pint-sized human or pet. It’s a touch more formal with the skirt, but still really clean-looking and cozy. Also in the comfort chair category is this neat little seat from The Citizenry (love those bun feet) and Article’s Matrix chair, which I got for my parents and it’s so soft. It’s a petite chair that delivers big on comfort and color.
Now, for a little fun if the reader is looking for a “moment.” The Desmond Chair might be a bit too contemporary but man do I love it! Plus it’s on sale for around $720 which is such a steal in the accent chair world. The remaining two are about twice as much as that, but so special. The ridged frame of the Gio Chair is SO good, but definitely isn’t as much of a snuggle chair as the others being that it has wood arms rather than upholstery. And I love everything about the Rumford Chair, but it’s certainly more of a style risk, and I’m unsure of this reader’s risk tolerance.
Love It: Dressing Up a Dresser
“The dresser we had when we moved into our remodeled 100-year-old bungalow was sweet, but no longer my style, and so much white. She was sold to a new home. Enter the replacement dresser, a $25 Facebook marketplace find with potential. The dimensions, drawer pulls, and straight lines were what we had searched for, so I nabbed it! My plan was to finish removing the half-ripped-off painted wallpaper and repaint it; I haven’t made it very far yet. I’m in need of a path for color. The rug sums up my general color choice: blue/green. The bedroom is right off the living room. One side of the room has quite a bit of wood. I could consider painting the room, as well. I like the comforter color but originally considered doing the dresser in that shade, so I’m willing to change up the bed though not with a white comforter as it needs more charm, I think.” — Jennifer W.
I want to begin by saying how lovely the previous dresser was (above, right). The scale was great for the space and it was really charming. I can see how the white dresser on the light gray walls and the gray rug (she says it’s blue/green so maybe it’s super light and the sun is washing it out in the photo) might feel too sterile, but it was lovely.
Now, for the new dresser. The reader mentioned they were looking for this smaller scale and something in a clean, modern style, so while I liked the original dresser for the room maybe a bit better, I’m gonna trust that Jennifer has her reasons (plus, there’s no getting back the other dresser anyway).
Jennifer brings up making some other changes, like the bedding and even the wall color, but we’re going to stick with discussing the dresser and see if that takes her anywhere. I wanted to deliver some paint color recommendations in the family color she seems to like. I also think adding a wood top to the dresser would warm it up and marry well with the wood on the other side of the room via the bed and nightstand. This can be pricey, but will really elevate the piece. Also, she notes liking the hardware, but personally, I find it a bit too starkly modern as compared to what else is in this bedroom. It’s just optional, but I’m also including some new affordable pulls. Let’s take a look at everything:
Top row, from left: SW 7605 Gale Force by Sherwin-Williams | SW 6208 Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams | Newburg Green HC-158 by Benjamin Moore | Bottom row, from left: Black Forest Green HC-187 by Benjamin Moore | No. 289 Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball | SW 6236 Grays Harbor by Sherwin-Williams
The green this reader is trying to replace (that’s on the painted wallpaper she’s working to peel off) doesn’t have enough depth, and she should look for something with a little more black or grey in it. Gale Force is a gorgeous color for cabinetry (that actually looks a bit more blue in real life). Stay tuned for a special project reveal soon that uses this killer hue. Pewter Green is much more green than it is blue—and you’ll recognize it from the Portland kitchen. It would work well if she wants to keep her bedding blue.
I had to sneak in my favorite Inchyra Blue from my old dining room as it’s that perfect sort-of-blue-sort-of-green-totally-gorgeous shade. For something more squarely emerald green, I love Black Forest Green and for something bluer, Grays Harbor is a solid pick (the color of the cabinet in the upstairs hallway in the Portland project, of course).
From left: BESTÅ Top Panel, Oak Veneer at IKEA | 4 ft. L x 25 in. D Finished Engineered Walnut Butcher Block Countertop | 4 ft. L x 25 in. D Unfinished Birch Solid Wood Butcher Block Countertop
Now, I don’t know the dimensions of her dresser, so I can’t give real recommendations here, but here are a few options. I think a deeper walnut stain is ideal for a deep jewel tone, but she could also go the route of a lighter unfinished birch or white oak if she’s after something not as regal. For a more budget-friendly solution, you can try to make something yourself. Check out this DIY and this DIY for two options.
From left: 10 Pack 10-inch Champagne Copper Cabinet Pulls, $60 at Amazon | khtumeware 6 Pack 10-Inch Champagne Bronze Cabinet Pulls, $60 at Amazon | Asidrama 6 Pack 10-Inch Brushed Gold Cabinet Pulls, $47 at Amazon
Now, for the last part that she didn’t ask for…possibly some new hardware? While what she has might be A-okay after some paint rehab of the dresser, I do like the slightly softer appeal of these three. This 10-pack is subtle, simple and clean, while this 6-pack feels more traditional. If she’s looking for clean and contemporary, I do like these.
All in, between the original $25 expense of the dresser, paint (not including supplies because I’m not sure what she already has on hand), a wood top and maybe even some hardware, this project will come in at around $300…not bad for what will end up looking like a brand new dresser!
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There we are! I had a lot of fun window shopping with a hyper-specific list, and hope that these three readers find some solid solutions in my recommendations. And as always, let us know in the comments if there are any other areas of your home you’d love our help with. Throw out some suggestions or ideas that would be helpful to address, and we’ll see what we can cook up.
Until next time…
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE.
