Ottomans have become a favourite of mine to use in family/media rooms and dens. I like using them for several reasons. First and foremost they serve as the indispensable coffee table. I like to make mine with tight tops and rather flat as opposed to padded with a pillow effect. This way you can set things on top of them without worrying about them toppling over. Secondly you can comfortably set your feet on them and be in a semi-reclining position to watch TV, read or maybe even fall asleep. Thirdly I can have them made any size to fit the requirements of the room. This is a real benefit because large coffee tables are hard to find and are more costly than having an ottoman custom designed for the space. In the space below the ottoman is made out of deep chocolate brown faux Ostrich. This family has two young daughters and they use the ottoman to color on and do their craft projects and have snacks. Spills can be wiped up easily, and the deep brown faux ostrich adds and a nice textural interest and makes a dramatic center focal point for the room.
Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Roger Brooks
Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Roger Brooks These ottomans (in the same house as the photo above) go against my tight top rule, but who couldn't resist sitting down in this den and putting your feet up on a down filled leather pillow top ottoman.
Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Roger Brooks
This ottoman is large by ottoman standards 5 feet by 3 1/2 feet. It is covered in Holly Hunt, Hair on Hide Leather, in a creamy butterscotch color. It was made long so 3 people sitting on the sofa could all put their feet up on it, and I made it deep enough to that there was still room at the back for the inevitable books, magazines, remote controls and trays for snacks and drinks. It also doubles as extra seating for parties. What coffee table has that much versatility?
Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Gary Beale The Ottoman in this penthouse I had made in charcoal gray Beacon Hill "Pashmina". It is soft and luxurious like a Cashmere blanket and makes a nice warming contrast to the leather sofa. It sits on top of the same color of Belgium wool area carpet. Facing the sofa is the view with the TV hung and framed between the windows. Where else do you put the TV in a room that is all windows & view.
Patricia Gray Inc. Photo Gary Beale
Below are some more designs for ottomans, benches, foot stools, and hassocks that I like.
Madeline Stuart Greek Key Ottoman Tangier Hassock by Michael Berman
I am seriously thinking about throwing out my old irish dining room table cut down to coffee table height and doing an ottoman instead = ala Rheinstein's race tract or something like that. this post really came at a great time for me. love seeing all your work!!!
ReplyDeleteI am sold! I think I will scrap the coffee table and have an ex-large ottoman made instead(I have a huge kitchen remodel this summer that has somehow made it's way to the livingroom! This is just what I needed! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love to use ottomans . Actually my dad creates some . I like them classic and timeless. I love the Berman's ones , I like this morrocan inspiration
ReplyDeletemy roommate and i have been on the hunt for a perfect ottoman to replace our very temporary ikea coffee table. i absolutely love that first space with the pop of color! and agree that i could not resist settling into that cozy den corner... beautiful spaces!
ReplyDeleteI love the round hassock style ottomans. I saw a bunch of Indian ones in the new Elle Decor. A family room w/ an Indian theme (in a lovely house) and several of these strewn around.
ReplyDeleteAnd they don't cause stitches when little ones fall on the edge..
Sara
i've been redecorating my living room with a blck and white theme, I got these awesome black couches and now i'm looking for a white ottoman, but i'm worried that it will be too hard to keep clean...?
ReplyDeletethoughts?
-emily
www.homebasecolumbus.com
Great post! I esp. love the Berman ottoman!!
ReplyDelete~Kate
I like the white round otto's with the nailhead trim. good post
ReplyDeleteI like the round poofs with the nailheads -- they have the most personality. In the meantime, I have an old George Smith Kilim covered ottoman in my family room that I can't figure out what to do with so I'm just going to paint the entire room a bright leaf/olive green and leave it at that. I started to hate the dead Khaki Martha Stewart look.
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE that green painting in the first photo... I love green! That reminds me of a painting in my mother's living room many a years ago that a decorator pick out for her... she still has it in the garage... shame it's not hung up... maybe I could talk her into bringing it back if I show her this photo.
ReplyDeleteGREAT posts!
I too am a huge fan of ottomans, esp. very large ones. And I also want to replace my coffee table with an ottoman. (Sounds like everyone has the same idea!) Husband wasn't too thrilled about replacing a nice (i.e. expensive) table we just bought a couple of years ago. :(
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia, for some wonderful examples, and the photos of your work. I love the pashmina-covered one!
After seeing your website a few months ago and falling in love with your style I became a daily visitor to your blog, which i enjoy a lot. I love to go through beautiful pictures first thing in the morning while having my coffee which seems to set the mood for the rest of the day and your blog definitely does it for me.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards
Tareq Abu Ghazaleh
Amman - Jordan
Hi
ReplyDeleteYou inspired me to post this piece
http://qerat.blogspot.com/2008/06/versatility-of-benches.html
Tareq
It was certainly interesting for me to read the post. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I would like to read more soon.
ReplyDelete