Decor for Dudes

I always feel inspired in a newly acquired and empty-ish LA rental. I spent the evening with my friends at their brand spanking new one in Santa Monica tonight! A 3br 2ba free-standing bungalow.

Tomorrow we go shopping, but tonight I pulled together a few images for them, to plead the case for black paint in their living area. And, for the doubters and haters of all things deemed trend – I KNOW that black paint made its bloggy ripples FOR LIKE EVER ago… but this is about illustrating a case to my friends that don’t read design blogs!!

I BELIEVE that black is legitimately an under utilized neutral. It also beats the SHIT outta a terribly tired red wall in a bachelor pad any day, and I welcome any other paint color ideas to challenge its perfectness for my friends’ new hizz.

Here we go… Picture first, notes below!!

White curtains look awesome and classy – and that blue chair is purty in there… you should totally get a solidly bright chair.. all the better if its velour/velvet. The red table is helping the room not feel too monochromatic as well.

This example of black curtains on black wall grabbed me. I thought about black curtains while I was sitting in there.. but it will have a different effect cause of the white/greyish walls that the windows are on… however, I think its worth considering black. I couldn’t find an example, but I envision the most perfect blue curtains.
Meanwhile, the coffee table in this picture would kick everyone’s ass.. something like that could be great for your space, unless you are anti coffee table in the middle of the rooom?

Now, you probly don’t give a shit.. but working the right wood tone into a room is a decision – and this photo interested me b/c of the wood against black walls… its similar to your current table that the tv is on..  (though that table would be a million times coolor if it where painted a color).

Frank’s idea for hanging art in a cluster was a good one, except for the diagonal thing. I’m not sure what he meant by that, but this is what I pictured while he was saying it. Suitable especially if you guys go with a ‘museum’ theme

Another option to fill wall space w/ visual interest and these kinda shelves are real affordable at like $13 each or so..

Still think you could do this and it would be an amazing experience for the home… Though, hanging an old vintage chalkboard in the space at the north wall would be a more rational version of great…!

On the furniture shopping list for the new place:

• curtains and rods
• dining table & chairs
• lots of end tables
• comfortable living room chair
• several table lamps
• dining room console(s)
• coffee table (maybe)
• rugs
• palms

Here are some before iPhone images of the house in question. We’ll check back in on this place if the boys come through on any advice that I’ll meanwhile be dying to offer!!

Thanks for playing,