awkward lr/dr combination...need help

11 years ago

Hi everyone...I am currently working on furnishing a condo renovation that has and extremely awkward/unfortunate layout ...essentially the 'dining room' is basically a giant hallway that you must traverse to reach the living room....so first things first...

I purchased the arhaus 'annency' table for the dining room and right now I am trying to decide do i center it in the room (only 12' wide!) or push it toward the exterior wall which could function like a 'nook'....from a functional POV, I think i prefer it centered, because you can circulate around the table on both sides, which I find extremely helpful...otoh, it sort of feels 'stranded' in the middle of a room where you must walk through to the adjoining living room....

I have taken several pictures...pleas disregard the placement of the chandy (which was there when I purchased) and the chairs, which are placeholders from an old kitchen set...heck, please disregard almost ALL of the furnishings as the living room will be completely refurnished (suggestions wanted!) as well...

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Comments (12)

mdrive
Original Author
11 years ago
apologies for having to post this additional pic via another post!

another view

This post was edited by desert_solitaire on Thu, Apr 18, 13 at 16:15
mdrive
Original Author
11 years ago
last one, view of adjoining living room space...

the living room furnishings will be replaced...still deciding on upholstering the ethan allen chairs which are in excellent condition, but the fabric must go...I am looking at some english arm sofas to replace the sofa that is covered temporarily with slipcover

Here is a link that might be useful: basic english arm sofa
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I don't mind the aqua and orange and brown...in fact it's fairly popular (look at the design seeds thread and you'll see some rooms with this color scheme.) I agree the paint color is not the best...probably something with less yellow. The current furniture arrangement is awkward...it looks like it's set up for a debate. Personally, I find slipper chairs less than comfortable as you can't curl up in them. Instead, I'd eliminate the slipper chair and maybe get another armed chair to replace it if you need comfortable seating. Otherwise the beige chair is fine. Eliminate the wicker...it's too outdoorsy. Get a table to put between the 2 chairs on that side. The wicker one can work temporarily if you cover it with a table cloth to the floor. Put a lamp on it. The room needs lamplight. If you need more conversational seating, then get a couple of ottomans or a bench to put along the long end of the rug so it won't block the view of the TV. Then add a square coffee table to the middle for people to use. Or I see you have a love seat in the dining room...perhaps, if the 2 single chairs are low enough to see over to watch tv, you can put the love seat where the 3 chairs are now and use 2 of the chairs facing the fireplace. Get some end tables and lamps to put on either side of the loveseat. I would also move the white cabinet to the fireplace wall to help balance the weight of the fireplace. I can't quite see what's behind the sofa, but I would put a sofa table back there with 2 lamps on it, again for lamplight in the room. If that's a PC back there, the sofa table can serve as a desk area too. The other armoire thing has an inappropriate chair at it...get a better desk chair to use there if that area is used. In fact, if you move the love seat and the mirror, that may go better on the wall in the dining room...then you can put the bookcase cabinet where the armoire was and add one of the chairs and a floor lamp and create a reading area. I also am not a fan of the window treatments. While the color is bright and cheerful, the style doesn't seem to work well with the windows and the drape over the door seems odd, and the corner treatment seems to permanently block a window. Maybe think about what actual functionality needs to be served and then we can toss around some ideas for how that could better be accomplished. I agree to eliminate the mirror over the fireplace. I think the area would be better served with a large piece of art. Just some ideas for you...my suggestions may or may not work depending on how you and your family live...function should come first.
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Update...head now split wide open, brains oozing on the floor. I have, however, figured out why I'm obsessing over the chairs. It dawned on me last night, that when I'm sitting on the family room sofa watching TV or whatever with DH, the DR table is in my full view. Straight through the kitchen, the first thing you see is the table. The pic doesn't show it well but my view is to the left of the fridge, smack into the table base. When TV is boring (which it usually is) I just think about the DR and give DH an elbow and ask him "watcha think about x, y or z?". Believe me, nobody will be happier when I'm done with this than he will. :) Les put the kibosh on the chairs that most were leaning toward. The chairs that come with the table are wooden cane back that cost about a grand a pop. Maybe I'll just have DH drive me around Chicagoland over the holidays (he gets almost two weeks off) and hit all the stores. Great advice about sitting in a chair in person to get the feel. I want this decided before we leave for Italy next month.
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I'm waaay late to this party AND my taste is not what one would call *mainstream*. With that proviso and the understanding that what follows is of course MHO and is not at all meant to offend anyone, I: Think the chair and sofa in the Tomato are FABULOUS. I am pleased the upholstery guy darkened the wood as it needs the depth of color to carry that scrumptious color. Think the FC is a totally unique neat piece of furniture which needs to be fixed 'proper like'. I cannot see this detracting from its value but in fact adding to it providing it's done correctly and not some hatchet job. Think also the FC is SO unique it needs a bold *here I am* fabric, not some whimpy paisley kinda fabric. The fabric Sujafr posted would be super. If your concern is to it's hardiness if you will, then try to find something tougher but very similar. That wonderful Tomato insists on something equally bold and beautiful to compete with it. Think I'd like to see your dining room as it appears from your floor plan drawing the living is open to that room - yes? The FP remarks you have laminate in the DR. Whatever the flooring material in the DR - you need to continue same material into the LR and all the way down the hall. Alternatively, you rip up the DR flooring and replace the whole 9 yards. You'll need to find a area rug/carpet that will co-ordinate the whole (both LR + DR) and if you've a window in the DR, then you'll need the same or very similar WT's on both windows. If they are open to each other as it appears they are, they can't be treated as separate entities without totally chopping up your spaces. Think the stripes definitely need to go with all painted a background color. What that might be should be a decision delayed until after the FC has a chosen fabric. Think the FP also needs to be redone - something very background not *here I am* so it's a good thing that's easy peasy for ya. :-)) Again not done/chosen until after the main furniture pieces are completed. If you were fortunate enuf to find a neat mirror piece as ?? came up with, then likely it should be the star and the FP itself should be very similar to or the same as the wall color - whatever that ends up being. WT's should be pretty much last on the list although they will need to co-ord with your wall color. Being as I am, I wouldn't even consider that item until all the other pieces were pretty clear to me AND the FC was recovered and back home. Think coffee table definitely needs the deeper stain but you seem quite willing to do so and certainly have the talent so really that is a non-issue. Think I'd like to see the (fully repaired) wonderful FC in front of the window also, particularly once it has a dramatic punchy fabric on it. It really is a *star piece* and should be the first thing one sees when entering the room. Think I'd like to see the wood on the half wall stained darker with Tomato Sofa against that wall. Well I've said enuf -- likely you're thinking *more than*. BG's I absolutely LUV LUV that Tomato fabric! On our gloomy (and presently extremely windy here) PNW days, that color is going to be soooo warm and friendly/cozy. I will suggest that you don't have a Victorian home so use this yummy unique furniture as a bold statement rather than an attempt at truly period stuff. I don't often weigh in on threads because my taste is surely not everyone's so pay me no mind at all if it doesn't suit you. :-)) Happy Xmas Holly
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Thank you Bev for giving me the visualization I've been lacking! It really helps! I agree that the colors In the painting have been giving me difficulty. I may try to move it into the DR or another room, but it is quite large, so I'm not sure. In any case, you have helped me feel bolder about getting started on this project. Thank you!! Chucksmom: I I00% agree that if you love something, it doesn't matter if it's "out". In my case, I do think I'm tired of the colors and need a change. Since the whole house needs painting, it seems like a good time to implement these changes. The chandelier was something I really loved for a long time, but I need a aimpler look. I have a friend who wants it and it will be perfect in her DR. Kippy: I've always thought it was strange that the furniture faces the stairs. Maybe it's partly why the room feels weird to me. That and the high ceilings make it feel cold. We actually never use that room other than when there are large gatherings that spill into that part of the house. We all congregate in the FR. Kitchen and backyard, though the cats like to curl up on the sofa!
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mdrive
Original Author
11 years ago
geez! this website is terrible for uploading pictures...the pic was there, and when i posted it was gone! try again!
yayagal
11 years ago
Have you ever thought about putting the sofa facing the fireplace with it's back to the dining room and then put the two chairs at an angle to the fireplace? That way you have a semi separation and an intentional focal point.
mdrive
Original Author
11 years ago
hi yaya...yes, we had the sofa positioned in that orientation originally (purchased a very uncomfortable small sofa for that reason)....my husband really didn't like it because he likes to stretch out and lounge, and the 78 inch sofa (with the big rolled arms) just doesn't allow for that in this space...i think i will need at least an 82 inch sofa...if i purchase that length and float it, it leaves no room for end tables or lamps....so i think floating isn't a really good option (though i liked how it looked!)

i'm not too concerned about the current configuration in the living room...i've had the sofa on either side and floated, and frankly from a utilitarian pov, positioning it against the wall seems to work best...

not sure if you can tell from the pictures, but right now the dining table is centered in the middle of the room (and the living room opening), and for some reason this just looks awkward....but it seem more functional than pushing it closer to the wall, if that makes sense...

i have to make a decision about the positioning of the table soon because i need to replace (and move) the chandelier ...

i'll probably mount a large drum pendant over the table...right now the room looks extremely traditional with the egg and dart trim and crown moulding, crystal chandy, etc....and i want a more transitional look...

i plan to buy upholstered chairs for the dining table, but i think those need to wait until i pick out the living room sofa and chairs as they relate so directly to each other visually

any other suggestions about decor is much appreciated! really struggling with the space and how to furnish!
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
I think I would cheat the table toward the outside wall and center the chandy over it....it will still look like a full blown DR while allowing a little better traffic flow to the LR.
ellendi
11 years ago
I agree with Annie.
mdrive
Original Author
11 years ago
hi annie, and ellendi....

how far would you 'cheat'

i tried positioning it within the half wall 'space', sort of centering it there, in which case it looks more like a dining 'nook'

and it limits your movement around the table on the window wall side, having it just a few inches off center just looks 'off center' to me.....btw, you cannot tell from the photo angles i posted but the opposite wall from the window opens into the kitchen (same size opening as into living room) and there is plenty of room to walk aroun

very frustrating, because if i 'cheat' it toward the window wall about a foot, it looks more centered in the living room opening from the sofa (optical illusion) but looking from the dining room side into the living room, it looks off-kilter viewing into the living room...i think the half wall really makes it difficult visually...basically trying to 'center' it on 3 different elements of the room at once, and depending on your perspective from the room, thus far nothing looks 'just right'
Oakley
11 years ago
A few years ago we nearly bought a house and the DR setup was just like your's. I actually liked it. The only reason we didn't buy the house was because it had a small yard.

I would leave the table centered. It may be unusual but I don't find it awkward at all.
mdrive
Original Author
11 years ago
hi oaklyok....thank you, i'm leaning toward keeping it centered as well, mainly because as you enter from the foyer, it looks better...i was hoping for some feedback either way....i surely don't want to move the lighting fixture again, that much is for sure!

perhaps once the 2 rooms are fully decorated with artwork, lighting, and window treatments, the space won't seem so awkward...er...unusual! i like that much better...thanks again...

i really don't know where to start with furnishings, being one of those who 'knows what i like' when i see it, but have a terrible time envisioning in my minds eye how colors and furnishings look until i can actually see them in place!
ellendi
11 years ago
If you always need to be able to move around it, then you answered your own question. Function over form. But, I still think for everyday use, if you don't need to get around it then it functions better a bit off to the side.
When you have company, you just pull the table out. My kitchen table has the fourth chair against the wall and we have to pull the table out for someone to sit there.
erinsean
11 years ago
Is your dining table rectangular? If so, try turning it the other way....shorter side toward the window. Might make a little difference.

awkward lr/dr combination...need help

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awkward lr/dr combination...need help

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