If testing out seating (or mattresses) don't get there tired. When you're tired almost any seat feels good.

I rather like the colours. Good luck.

An article for you to read

https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/7-major-decorating-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them-stsetivw-vs~69260512

excellent article with concepts to keep in mind - thanks

Thanks for the article on "Trends" TTT. I must have missed it in all the comings and goings. Well, that is an eye opener, looks as if my colours are on trend or will be. So beige and blue are out - kind of pleased as the blue chair is no longer available. Returns policy on that online interiors isn't good, so will do the "bottom test" again and buy locally. Have heard though that what you test in store comfort wise is not necessarily what is delivered. Now that is a worry!

Beige is on its way back, blue is never out. Both are considered neutrals. You have options. Keep researching what's out there.

being a girl, I should enjoy all this shopping, but it is a pain as I don't know what I am really looking for, but will keep looking. Thanks so much.

You can hone down your options by looking at Houzz and other photos, putting them in your ideabooks and writing what you like underneath each photo. Initially you add everything that tickles your fancy, later you cull out things, and whittle down your look.

When I'm out shopping I see something from my research , often a lot cheaper.

good logical advice. I have a few pics already and my "ideas book" here on houzz I will use as a guide also. I truly am a classic / traditional person, but like a pop of contemporary be it either colour or an unusual eye catching piece. thanks so much for helping once again

I would suggest keeping larger purchases fairly neutral... Maybe consider textures to give them life. And slight variation in tone so not to match. Then you can accessories with your preferred colour scheme and switch out whenever you tire of the look? Blue to green etc... You are definitely making progress. An idea before committing to size is to do as you did with the piano and put paper down in the exact sizes to make sure you are happy with the flow of the space. Happy decorating!

thank you. This is such a huge project for me as I am finding this mocha coloured carpet not easy to find colours for. I am hunting now to change existing furniture but finding the big retailers just don't have what I am looking for and I really don't know what I want.

Article that talks about beige with brown

https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/decorating-with-beige-in-a-world-gone-grey-stsetivw-vs~68246901

Ronalisa where are you situated? Maybe a Google search for homewares and furniture stores in your area will bring to light some smaller retailers that might have something a little different. It's not easy making these decisions. Your saved images show the style you are attracted to. Go back through and study why and what they have. You may even find some furniture tagged with where it's from. This may help.

I am in Brisbane. Will google homewards & furniture stores. Anything apart from Harvey Norman, Myer etc. thanks for your help

TTT this article was so very helpful. I particularly liked the pops of colour in one picture especially spoke to me with the amethyst armchair and turquoise lumbar cushion on another. The jewel colours make things pop. I didn't know this "beige" or whatever it is call in today's parlance could be accessorised to make it look "WOW", here I was thinking my quest is almost hopeless

One thing about Harvey Norman, they do sell alot of furniture made in Australia.

Oh, OK, certainly something to definitely consider !

Freedom furniture have these two and more on sale at the moment... There are a number of fabric choices for each. Just a thought...

Great. Will do the "bottom test" and see how comfy they are. They look like they could be strong possibilities. We are doing the rounds again this Thursday. Current thinking is to have the 2 armchairs in different colours (similar colouring to the ones above) and different styles. something like a neutral 2.5 seater recliner and 2 different styled armchairs. I would love to be bold and have jewel colours ??? thoughts everyone please

If you are keeping the brown carpet I suggest you don't get grey seating.

I love Jewel colours. It's my dream to have a velvet amethyst or sapphire chair in the bedroom.

Do you think it would be too much in a lounge? maybe we would tire of it ?

no, won't be getting grey seating.

How about borrowing the fabric choice book from the retailer(s) overnight and see how they look against your carpet? If they won't allow you to do this, then perhaps make note of the fabric manufacturer, style and colour (any codes too) and call around to curtain manufacturing shops to ask if they have that same fabric (as if you were going to have curtains made) and ask to borrow theirs overnight.

good idea - thanks Ann B

Another idea to consider. I am not usually a fan of modular lounges however looking at the dimensions of the room & its constraints, the right modular lounge could work very well in your room. It would need to be simple, elegant & clean lined (sample pic below) not a big puffy one & you could add a statement chair if you wanted to. Would also give a nice view as you entered the room. There are many around these days designed for smaller & awkward areas. Just another thought ......

hadn't considered this, but will see if we can find something on our hunting spree tomorrow. Thanks !

Went shopping at Nick Scali and put an order in for an "Ariel" 2.5 seater leather sofa (without the chaise on the side) in "Bianco" colour. On the way home, I had a panic attack "how am I going to keep it white". In the showroom I thought it would look lovely against the mocha carpet but commonsense prevailed and now I need help to choose a different colour of leather.

What colour leather do you suggest would look good against mocha coloured carpet. I need more help please - anyone !

Taupe. Cream, Light blue. Caramel (hot right now). Just not dark brown or black, please.

Cream or beige

Hmmm, I like the idea of caramel, but think great idea to bring sample book home and see for yourself. Trust yourself, take a breath, truly it will be fine. :)

I was looking through photos of caramel/tan leather couches to see what armchair colours they were teamed with. Some photos that may appeal to you. As you say you are traditional at heart, and if your armchairs are comfy and in great condition, I still think reupholstering at least one of them is a viable option. I love the caramel/tan idea for couch/sectional. Note:as far as armchair fabric goes, stripes are timeless. One of the sofa photos has a jewel colour you mentioned you like, but I can see that colour going nicely with caramel couch.

More.

The benefit of reupholstering is that you can find a fabric with the style and colours that would team beautifully with your new solid colour couch AND your carpet. Stripes are timeless, for example. You would be able to select a fabric that has the jewel colour(s) you favour. Choices are almost limitless. You can also have a couple of throw cushions made up in that same fabric to put on the couch. OR, pull a single colour from the chair fabric and have throw cushions made up for your new couch.

Thanks Ann B, I would happily have any of the above rooms you have selected, they are all so me. The seat cushions in my current lounge are so very hard (firm) to sit on. I think they are Dunlopillo enduro foam and it hasn't softened over time; mind you we have hardly sat in it since it was recovered years ago, I would be hesitant to have them reupholstered in case they came back the same. I hadn't given a thought to recovering the single seaters. Can you recommend what fill I should choose if I decide to go down this path. Do you have any experience with upholsterers in north Brisbane that you would be happy to recommend? If I go down the path of having the existing armchairs recovered, should they a) both be in the same colour, b) have one fabric then take a colour from that for the other, or c) what would you suggest? I have no eye for colour and this room is sending me crazy. For the new sofa I have chosen the colour "granite" from the nick scali palette for the "Julio" . How do I choose the chair colours. I was thinking blue but now from your lovely pics above, I am not so sure. thanks so much for all your help.

Hi Ronalisa. Is this the sofa you referred to? It's very beautiful and looks comfortable. Is it on order or did you purchase it off the floor?

You asked about re-upholsterers in your area; however, I am in Victoria and don't know any in Brisbane. Check your local listings, newspaper classifieds, etc. explain that you want to change the seat cushions when you have chairs re-upholstered, and ask them what foam/filling options they have. Pick 2-3 different people to come to your house and see your chairs. Ask them to bring lots of fabric samples for you to see. That way you can see which ones work with your carpet and the colour scheme in the room. You will be able to tell from a meeting which one you would prefer to work with. Ask for quotes, deposit and time-frame to complete. Also ask if they pick up and deliver for free.

I've had several sofas and armchairs re-upholstered over the years and have been very pleased with the results and having pieces that perfectly co-ordinate with each other.

Reason I asked if your sofa is on order was because you may prefer to wait u til it's in your room to meet with an upholsterer. If not, then perhaps you can get hold of a leather sample from Nick Scali OR contact the fabric maker directly and request a small sample. That way you will have all your colours on hand when selecting fabric for your chair(s).

Hope this is helpful. :)

yes, thanks Anne B, this is very helpful! The one I chose is not the one above. It is on order so I am hoping it will be as comfy as the one in the store. I was wondering if I should wait until it is here before selecting new fabric to reupholster the existing armchairs as the sofa is on order. Unfortunately they don't sell their floor stock and my order is not due here until early December. I might ask Nick Scali if I could borrow their leather "granite" sample for 24 hours and take up your suggestion of inviting 3 upholsterers, but in practical terms, that means I will only have the samples for one day which doesn't give me much time to get all 3 companies here in that time. I could also wait until mid January to have the sofa here then get quotes which seems a more sensible time to do all this. I doubt if anyone would be able to deliver before Christmas as it is now very late in the year already and it will certainly take the heat off. I have attached a pic of the "granite colour" which ties back to the creme coloured curtains and looks very good with our mocha carpet. Not sure if you can enlarge it though to get a good look.

Sorry, forgot to attach photo. Is this your new sofa?

Hi Ann B, yes that is it - minus the chaise on the side. I don't like the rolled arms, but I couldn' get get it all.

Hi Ronalisa
The Ariel 2.5 looks great... and still stylish With recliners! I think the granite will look fine.. do you have an opportunity to bring the sample colours home and see it against your existing colours?

Sorry have just noticed a change in sofa style... was there a problem with the Ariel?

Yup, thanks, got it. It's lovely colour. I'd wait until you have your meetings lined up (all on same day if possible) and schedule to borrow leather sample for 48 hours. They should be willing to do that for you. Timing is entirely up to you when you have chairs done. Waiting does give you extra time to think things over. I think a good way to choose colours is simply to look at lots of different fabrics and narrow it down to the ones you like the best. I'm sure you will do fine. You can always call on the helpful Houzzers when you have questions. Happy to help. :)

Yes, all the Houzzers have been extraordinarily helpful. I am sure in the end, it will be a beautiful room. With regards to the change of sofa style, I was unsure of my ability to keep the white leather clean - particularly the stitching. By finally going with the "Julio" it is slightly more comfy sofa than the "Ariel". It has a higher back and I feel the "granite" colour will give me less hassles. In reality, the "granite" colour has slight yellow/creme undertones which tie back better with the curtains but this doesn't really show up in pictures. Golly, I hope I am on the right track. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. Keep them coming please

Will upholsterers bring fabric samples or will I have to search the net for these?

They normally have samples.

Good luck. Can't wait to see finished room.

Yup, they have samples. :)

Hi ronalisa I was curious how does the size of the Julio you have ordered compare with your existing sofa? I looked up the Julio specs & if you have ordered a 3 seater it is W223 x D96 x H100 or a 2.5 seater w200 x D96 xH100 without the recliners extended (which need to be considered later when thinking about room layout, placement of coffee tables etc.)

See spec http://services.nickscali.com.au/assets/SpecSheets/JULIO.pdf

Hi allanaspree, current 3 seater is 1.8 long. The Julio 2.5 seater we ordered doesn't have the chaise on the end so we are OK. It won't be here until the beginning of December so I guess I can't do much until it arrives. Thinking now to recover the current 2 single armchairs, but won't be able to do that until after the Julio arrives which realistically means not effectively until late January / early Feb when the trades return to work. This will be a very protracted project it seems