Hi, Hapikat!

I love trilevels, even ones that back into living rooms. : )

Can you post a picture?

I tried backing the sofa with a screen also, in mine. I really liked the way it felt more like a room in the lr. However, my cat leaped to the top and knocked it over! If I'd been outside at the time, I'm not sure how I'd have gotten back in!

I'm making mine more of a foyer with a ceiling and floor change to tile, as well as an armoire at the end for coats, shoes, and things. Not for everyone, but I don't care. I don't like the current setup and it really doesn't work well functionally, either.

Yes -- we have a tiny square of tile that represents a foyer (LOL!) so we simply turn the furniture towards the seating area in the one-and-only living area in this house.

Hello fellow Tri-leveler!!

Ours opens into the LR, too. You come in the front door and the room flows from your right. We have an oriental runner that flows from the front door to the kitchen doorway straight ahead. There is an antique chest of drawers centered on the lefthand wall that has a lamp and a changing display of decorative stuff.

There is another oriental in the LR area with bare hardwood floor between the edge of the runner and the larger area one. There is a comfortable wingback chair anchoring each of the two ends of the rug. The sofa is against the far righthand (house end) wall. The wing chairs face the sofa at an angle. Since the room is not huge, the space in the middle of the room is not "lost" looking and the pattern of the oriental can be seen. Under the large pic window is a low ancient wash bench that can be used as additional seating if needed. There are usually a few plants parked here along w/ current reading materials. On the inside wall across from the pic window is a large secretary that is closed when I am not using it as my desk. There is an old chair parked here that can be angled to either wing chair or turned to the sofa... wherever conversation takes place.

The arrangement works as a "foyer" because the runner acts as a "hallway" of sorts leading you to the kitchen or the stairs. The backs of the chairs (at angles) helps guide you along the "hall". The opening between the chairs acts as the enterance to the actual LR. The hardwood floor showing between the runner and the larger area one also helps seperate the two areas.

I love the open-ness of this space. One fellow tri neighbor actually built a real wall w/ a cased opening into his LR. I hate it! His foyer is a dark tunnel and feels tight and cramped. He lost all the beautiful light coming in from his pic window. I go home and walk thru my front door and feel so relaxed.

Part of the reason our arrangement works is that all the furniture fits the scale of the room. The sofa and chairs are of a smaller rather than a massive scale. There is a mix of open legs (chairs, side table, washbench) and solids (secretary base and skirted sofa). It's not a lot of LITTLE pieces (which can be way too busy), but it's not under or over filled w/ too large of pieces. I believe scale is huge in the overall comfort and function of a room. This can be hard to do in our tighter Tri's and Quad's.

I think that screens and sofa backs have their places... but to me they are too massive and dismissive feeling. Too solid. Perhaps try something like we have done and see if that helps you achive the desired effect.

Sorry that I can't post pics!

I can imagine a solid screen wouldn't feel right in all situations but, actually, I have one of those open carved wooden screens, and it's such a beautiful backdrop to the sofa that it felt good. While it does weigh a lot, it's more airy and open. I love the way the light comes through because I love tracery work and texture. I actually felt I could enjoy it more that way :) as well as loving a sense of enclosure. And I just hate looking at the front door! : ) Bad feng shui, I think.

How about hanging something from the ceiling?

I'm into this right now. Slider panels or noren (not all the designs *look* Japanese).

Open book shelves?

The previous, previous owners of our house built a closet. Extra storage is never bad.

What about pendant lights over a mid-height bookshelf or cabinets?

The house I lived in when I was small had a front door in the living room and it had a planter that just below shoulder height. With plants, it was effectively eye level. Above that were swagged lights.

Here is a link that might be useful: Japanese Noren

What about a partial wall?

Have you considered columns to define the edges of the entry?

Thanks everyone for your great ideas! I haven't been online in awhile, so forgive me for not responding earlier! The screens are not my style although my neighbor has them and it looks great. Actually, I had thought of partial bookcase but really I am working on a set up much like yours Syllabus. It does lend to an openness with the light. I also have hardwood floors with long rug leading from doorway right up to kitchen. My bearing wall is to the right of the entrance into the kitchen so I have a family heirloom table there as well as a chair on each side with pics above. Our stairs are to the left for both up and down..I haven't figured out how to post pics yet, but I am working on thatas I am doing a kitchen remodel, and have been visiting kitchen forum.
That is a horror story in its own!
A friend of my husband, (trouble right there!) came in knocked down wall between kitchen and dining room, tiled kitchen floor, pulled off two walls of cabinets (which I knew nothing about...DH was going to surprise me with new cabinets..(Before we needed money for new furnance, ac unit and water heater..and washing machine....when it rains it pours right:) anyway, guy split and moved to Florida...the tile has all cracked (no subflooring work)and now I am stuck with finding new cabinets on an almost nonexsistent budget (I was going to resurface my old ones) as well as need new flooring etc. What a mess! Oh well, one day at a time right? Thanks again for all the ideas and will keep in touch...I love these forums..I am a newbie and now I get nothing done in the evenings because I love to read all the great ideas!

Are you near a Habitat for Humanity store? You can find amazing things in those.

My son was living in a small apartment, but still wanted to have what looked to be a tiny foyer. We took a tall book shelf, backside toward the door, and wallpapered it, hanging a beautiful framed mirror as a finishing touch. On the side of the bookcase, he hung a small candle sconce~it was probably an 8" space. On the side where you would put the books, he incoporated a tiny library nook, desk and all. We also used a small formal rug to give the feel of more elegance, and make the area it's own space.

Does anyone have pictures? I'd love to actually see these ideas! We have a small patch of tile, and that's it.