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

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

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

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 !

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.

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

no, won't be getting grey seating.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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