Making it Yours (MiY)

MiY 5a: Bachelor Style

Meet James, the fictional man that lives in this apartment. As we first meet him, he’s single, in his late twenties, and has just started his career as a research biologist. In his living room we have the mid-century rocker that will be the basis for each of the five looks in this edition of Making it Yours (MiY).

James loves orange, so when he bought his new couch he figured he may as well get one in his favorite color. He also picked up an orange pouf to rest his feet on and an orange pillow for the rocker. The couch has a faux wood grain pillow and a blue pillow that goes with the wall color and curtains. The cowhide rug, black floor lamp, and Ringside print are masculine and good-looking, much like our young bachelor (ba dum bum). And what could be more perfect on a biologist’s coffee table than a molecule building set? Awesome.

Next time we check in with James and his mid-century rocker, he won’t be a bachelor anymore… his girlfriend is moving in.

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  • Laura
    June 24, 2010 at 11:03 am

    Love the simplicity of the palette. That grey-blue is such a lovely color and pairs awesomely with the burnt orange.

  • Nikki
    June 24, 2010 at 11:04 am

    Very “Mad Men.” I like it, but have a hard time believing this would suit the average bachelor… especially the knitted pouf. *raising eyebrows*

  • Eugenia
    June 24, 2010 at 11:05 am

    Can I go out with James? He has much nicer furniture than I do!

    • Making it Lovely
      June 24, 2010 at 11:06 am

      Maybe his girlfriend Eugenia is moving in with him! ;)

  • nicole
    June 24, 2010 at 11:07 am

    i LOVE this one!

  • Erika
    June 24, 2010 at 11:09 am

    Oooo this is so fun :)

    Too bad James is fictional :(

  • Shannon
    June 24, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Oh, yummy! I love this one, it’s one of my favorites yet.

  • molly
    June 24, 2010 at 11:11 am

    Great room – but I’m guessing James’ sister gave him the pouf for his birthday, because I’m not seeing him buying it for himself.

  • Christine
    June 24, 2010 at 11:12 am

    Nice to meet you, James. You have fabulous taste ;)

  • tia
    June 24, 2010 at 11:12 am

    that sofa looks great and is a more economical alternative to the c&b petrie sofa i’ve been lusting after for years. i’m surprised i haven’t run across it before.

    • stef
      June 24, 2010 at 10:29 pm

      tia – the Macy’s Corona is an *awesome* sofa. It comes in a sectional setup as well. Just sharing – http://www.flickr.com/photos/imavunderbrah/3483606969/

      • tia
        June 25, 2010 at 11:38 am

        thanks for the info, stef! what color is your sofa? it looks great with the chaise.

      • stef
        June 27, 2010 at 7:47 pm

        Mine is Pear

  • casey
    June 24, 2010 at 11:13 am

    this is so fun! love this room. great job! can’t wait to see what his girlfriend brings to the table.

  • bari
    June 24, 2010 at 11:17 am

    I love this, I love everything about it! but there is no way James bought that pouf, Eugenia must have picked it out.

    • Asia
      June 25, 2010 at 5:49 pm

      I keep seeing people saying this, but my husband had two Moroccan ottomans when I met him!

  • Cara @ Green Heart Studios
    June 24, 2010 at 11:17 am

    I married a research biologist… unfortunately for me, he was not this stylish. I love that molecule set though! I’ll have to keep that in mind for Christmas. I also love the knitted pouf, reminds me of the handmade ones from pickles… http://www.pickles.no/puff-daddy-knitted-stool/ cute stuff. wish I had the patience/time to knit.

  • Allison
    June 24, 2010 at 11:21 am

    I love the little story to go with it! I look forward to seeing the girly edge that Eugenia (his gf, of course) will bring to it!

    These and the similar fashion posts are so much fun! I’d love to see a mashup of the two (outfit to go with a room, or a single dress through several different looks).

  • Carrie
    June 24, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Nicole:

    Looks great! I just wanted to put a vote in to see how the rocker would work in a nursery! I’m thinking a boy’s room with the DwellStudio Transportation crib set. ;)

    Carrie

  • Ludmila {CreamyLife.com}
    June 24, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Such a catchy post! great story about James the bachelor! He has pretty good taste, now waiting to see what will his girlfriend re-design :)

  • Asia
    June 24, 2010 at 11:46 am

    I love a man with good taste! Is it too late to catfight his fictional girlfriend for him?

  • Rachel
    June 24, 2010 at 11:55 am

    I am lusting over that coffee table. It’s the perfect version of the bench of my head.

  • Danielle
    June 24, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    This James fella seems like a hippster. I love the way you mixed in the wood grain pillow and color orange. I feel like even though there is a lot of orange, it’s not matchy, matchy. Great job!

  • Lisa
    June 24, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    I wish my dude had such stylish tastes before we moved in together! He came with a futon.

    Btw, I have the Corona sofa in brown and over the past few years it has held up well. It is also the perfect sofa for naps.

  • Kim at Yellow Brick Home
    June 24, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    Can’t wait to see what the girlfriend brings to the table! Some pink, maybe? Textures and fluff? Although I have to say, orange is my favorite color, too. And no matter what anyone says, it DOES go with pink!

  • Sheryl
    June 24, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    Beautiful. Especially love the couch. Is the one shown the paprika or is it a different color?

  • Mary Jo
    June 24, 2010 at 12:31 pm

    Love it! We found a chair just like that on the roadside, minus the rocker. My handy hubby added the rocker and it was perfect for the nursery, our baby girl took her monthly pic on it. And we have that sofa!

  • JuliaL
    June 24, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    I am so glad you are doing a “manly” post. I often have hard times incorporating masculine into my girly designs… which isn’t so good when you have a “manly” boyfriend.

  • meredith
    June 24, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    I would definitely date the guy with that bachelor pad.

    (If I were not already happily married!)

  • Cara
    June 24, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    I’ve never had a guy buy one of my poufs, but I could see it. Also, I LOVE that couch.

  • Mrs. Foot
    June 24, 2010 at 1:14 pm

    Being a research biologist myself, I love the molecule building set for ME :)

  • Danielle
    June 24, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    I’m loving that poof! do you ever use yours for actual seating or is it more a footstool/short table sort of thing?

    • Sarah
      June 24, 2010 at 5:02 pm

      danielle,
      I have that poof and LOVE using it to sit on. my “bachelor” uses it as a footstool. I tried using it as a table when sitting on the rug w/ my laptop but it isn’t quite flat enough.

  • Nikki
    June 24, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I suspect Eugenia might be in for a rude awakening when James hits up his first Pride parade…

    P.S. I LOVE the Molecule Set!

  • Amanda
    June 24, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    Love it, and not just for a bachelor!

  • Mrs. Kinne
    June 24, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Love this– especially the coffee table! I am looking forward to seeing more, although I know it’s going to make me want one of those chairs.

  • Jennae @ Green Your Decor
    June 24, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    I love this one. I’m thinking James won’t be a bachelor for long. Any man with such great taste shouldn’t have trouble snagging a beautiful, glamorous girl (or boy) :)

  • Lacey
    June 24, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    WOW. I love this room and adore the creative description. Hopefully, this will inspire my boyfriend when decorating the basement “man cave”…before it ends up with a big la-z-boy chair and bobble head collection decor lol.

  • Kate Allison
    June 24, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    My husband bought a pouf a few weeks ago…goes with our “new” 1950’s 9 foot orange tweed couch.

  • Tessa
    June 24, 2010 at 6:11 pm

    I like this, it feels like I’m playing Sims. hahaha.

  • psprpb
    June 24, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    you rock ~

  • Punctuation Mark
    June 24, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    perfect for a the pads of a few guys i know… ha!

  • Pencils
    June 24, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Hey, that’s my couch! Or it will be, when Macy’s delivers it and the matching loveseat. Ours isn’t going to be orange though, but “fawn.” I’m going with a beachy look (we live a mile from the water) without anything specifically beach: sand colored couches, ocean blue walls, bamboo shades like beach grass, maybe some classic stripes like beach towels and umbrellas. If I can talk my husband into it, maybe I’ll replace the brick fireplace surround with glass tile like beach glass!

    But enough about me, I’ve always loved burnt orange and grayish blue, it’s a fab color combination. A guy I used to know had a burnt orange leather couch and steel blue walls in his living room.

  • Christine
    June 24, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Love the story to go along with your great design!

  • Paige
    June 24, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    I love this room. I can’t wait to see the rest of the rooms you use the chair in. This is one of my very favorite things on your blog! Looove the idea behind this one especially.

  • Lilach
    June 24, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Love the story! So much fun.

  • Nicole RJ
    June 25, 2010 at 8:07 am

    Ah too bad he’s already taken, I like his style! *lol* I had an orange couch in Uni… loved it!

  • Melissa
    June 25, 2010 at 9:05 am

    Ooh, I love this! My husband’s fav color is orange, so I’ll keep this in mind for his man room. I have a molecule set in my office too (leftover from organic chem, but I love the colors on this one…maybe I’ll paint mine). Love your ideas!

  • luuve
    June 25, 2010 at 9:14 am

    oooooh how i long to be james’ girlfriend! lol change her name to mine! lol

    and yes! you out did yourself on this look and story! its amazing..the colors are great for man or woman…really nice!! :)

  • christa
    June 25, 2010 at 10:24 am

    oh Nicole, i wish i could show you a mood board of the horrid furniture my boyfriend had upon meeting! We’re making strides…

  • ashleynashville3
    June 25, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    love this! how do i apply to be his gf?

  • Jen
    June 25, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    Really love this, I want to apply to be his girlfriend too just for his house! :)

  • Kathleen
    June 25, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    What!? James has a girlfriend? I totally thought he had a fabulous boyfriend – not to be stereotyping his wonderful taste in furniture and poufs.

    Love it, of course. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

  • annie
    June 26, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    I love this! I can’t wait to see the next one.

  • Eileen Russell
    June 27, 2010 at 12:47 am

    I own this couch in Pear. Love the look, oooed and ahhhed it for a year before purchasing. Must say sadly, it is NOT the most comfortable couch. We had also purchased the Corona half circle accent chair that is way comfortable and oh so chic.

    Will be selling Corona couch on Craigslist soon. We just ordered the Soho couch from Z Gallerie in a custom color. Not as mid century, but much more comfortable.

    I do hope James loves his new couch, and wish him continued luck with the ladies.

  • Alexis L., The Studioist
    June 27, 2010 at 6:27 am

    Wow. How atomic. James is going to love that long, comfortable Macy’s Corona couch. Mine has proven to be resilient and stylish: http://www.studioist.com/in-praise-of-the-corona-sofa/

  • Sean
    June 28, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    My wife and I went to check out the Corona sofa just yesterday because we loved the look, and the price ($699). Looked great in person until we touched it. The fabric is like sandpaper. Seriously, it was the scratchiest stuff I’ve ever felt on furniture. We passed (and the search continues). Caveat emptor.

  • Jen
    June 28, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    Love this! MIY’s are my fave and that tomato color is lovely!

  • Johanna Troupe
    June 29, 2010 at 9:35 am

    I just wanted to thank you for helping me find the perfect new couch for our living room, The Corona!!!! We just moved into an older home that has a retro feel and had been looking for a while for something that would fit. It should arrive on Saturday!!!! Thanks again.

  • Eileen Russell
    July 6, 2010 at 11:44 pm

    Hope this is OK to post, but I have a Pear Green Corona sofa to sell in you’re in the SF Bay area. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/fuo/1829435381.html

    Thanks,
    Eileen

  • Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so. » Blog Archive » MiY 5b: Moving in Together
    July 7, 2010 at 2:09 pm

    […] changes are happening with James, our fictional orange-loving research biologist. His girlfriend Eugenia has moved in with him! She’s so happy to be with a guy that has such […]

  • selena@howaboutcookie
    July 8, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    I love this!!! I am looking for something exactly like that coffee table — but in white. I wonder if that’s paintable?

  • Making it Lovely | Transforming the so-so. » Blog Archive » MiY 5c: The Bedroom
    July 13, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    […] around. We’ve already seen their mid-century rocker in two versions of the living room (once when James was living alone and then again after Eugenia moved in), and now they’ve moved the chair into their […]