Help furnishing one room in our house

[Anonymous]

We set a budget for each room in our house and move on a "year by year" basis to buy furniture and "put the room together," so to speak.

We're pretty much done except for the main room in our house, the living room. We've used a hodge podge of things since moving into the house (old used couches, old coffee tables from prevoius apartments, etc). But now we want to furnish the room with completely new stuff that all fits together and looks good.

The big question for us is how to do this. For some reason, we didn't have so much trouble when it came to our room, the baby's room, the office and our dining room. We tackled those just fine and I like the end result.

The living room, however, is daunting. It's a long narrow shape with lots of windows and a fireplace.

Long story short - does anyone have a recommendation for a store that has GREAT customer service and would be able to help us put this room together? And/or, an individual who does interior design on the cheaper end and who doesn't mind doing just one room. I know Ethan Allen is known for this so we'll consider them but welcome any other ideas.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I know this probably isn't the answer you are looking for, but you may want to try looking at the Home and Garden network website to be featured on one of their tv shows to decorate rooms etc. I know they do casting in LA, Chicago, and Washington D.C.

Other than that the only place I can think of is the Room Store, but I didn't find the one near us particularly helpful (maybe you'll have better luck).

[Anonymous]

I've worked with Patrick Baglino in DC (www.pbaglino.com)--starting with the living room featured on his website that I totally copied.

He does initial consults for around $400, which is what I initially hired him to do, and he picked out paint colors, recommended furniture specifics, basically sent us on our way and all his recommendations were spot on.

[Anonymous]

I"ve used Melanie Whittington/Whittington Design Studio. She's great and located in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

My livingroom just lookes like an Ikea display room.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for all of the suggestions and recommendations! I really appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

We've had great luck going to the furniture stores in High Point, NC - they have designers on staff that will work with you for free. Sure, it's a trip, but we figure we make up the cost/time with all the savings on furniture and the free design services (you can even talk to your designer ahead of time and send them room dimensions, ideas, etc. and they will have a plan when you come in).