The more I visit the Brick Monkey, the more I learn about design.  I don’t want to say this couch is anything it’s not.  You would never suggest this seating area looks drab.  But look at the couch.  It’s nice.  It’s comfortable.  And it’s entirely behind the scenes, until you add these dramatic colorful pillows.  Now that they have your attention, are you seeing fall shapes and colors?

Here is another example of taking a beautiful black single palette leather chair and adding punch with an embroidered pillow.

Have you ever wondered how to create an inviting room like this?  I asked Barry Johnson, Brick Monkey’s in-house designer just that question.

“For a seating area like this, you start with the couch, and the table and arrange them for function.  From there, you start filling in.  The chair and a trunk give the room shape, and a console table behind the couch gives the room depth.  From there, you accessorize.”

Just like that, you have a functional, inviting sitting area.  The pillows pick up the colors of the purple flowers behind and the color of the walls.  The next series of photos give you a closer look at the details.

Here is the console behind the couch with interesting accessories.

Here is a closer look at the table and couch.

This room says elegance.  The couch in linen, with a skirt the reaches the rug, combined with the metal and glass Kolkka table form the foundation for this living area.  The console table holds a pair of squatting sophisticated lamps, which is layered again at the fireplace mantel.  Again, the pillows add contrast and punch.  Notice the elegant pillow theme, velvet and more linen bringing it all together.  And, well, it wouldn’t be Brick Monkey without a little whimsy.  Who is that dancing on the coffee table?