The furniture looks great to me, all well sized and super comfy, which is ideal for a beach house! I like that the furniture upholstery doesnâÂÂt appear to be too formal, and should wear well.

You don't think the room is too crowded?

Also, in re furniture... I will probably order the very PB sofas pictured, but I think the reading chairs should be different from each other and the sofa, or else it will look like a hotel lobby, kwim?

I think the room is too small to float all the biggest pieces.
Also, only two people lying on the sofas will be able to really watch TV at that angle (maybe that's the plan, lying down). I know its a problem when there is a fireplace.

I don't think a vacation house needs such a rigid arrangement, or pairs of everything.

Pal,
Thanks for your input. The TV is really secondary or tertiary to me ... i'm never interested in facilitating the watching of TV. And I'd forego it altogether rather than put it over the fpl. I was thinking of having it on some sort of console with wheels maybe ... I did consider the mirrors with TVs hidden in them, but I gather the picture is annoyingly blurry? Ive only ever seen small screens like that in hotel bathroom mirrors.

Yes, the layout looks formal. But how else do i get all the seating space w/o using two sofas? Or should I just use smaller sofas? As for the "pair"of chairs, both DH and I tend to sit in a favorite chair to read at the end of the day, at our lakehouse. Now instead of racing to get it first, we can each have one. But, as I said, not a pair per se.

I would love any alternate suggestions ... it is a blank slate.

That is my favorite design for sofa and chairs. I love the T cushions and the tailored arm whether it's upholstered or slip covered. These style pieces are available from more companies than just Pottery Barn.

Use the 80" sofa instead of the 90" version and save some space. Also, I'd like to suggest an alternate seating arrangement using slightly smaller slip covered chairs off to the left side of the room, and one sofa and 2 lounge chairs for the center seating area.

Thank you so much Beverly for taking the time to do this!

One thing I like about this right away is that you are not confronted with the back of a sofa when you enter the room.

I don't know why I have forgotten this, but in my old house in Montclair, I had almost the same arrangement I was proposing above... dueling sofas, one with its back to you as you enter. For staging I was advised to get rid of the second sofa and get 2 chairs, and it did feel much better.

PS How can you move elements from my own plan? Photoshop?

I like bev's plan. I would add swivel mechanisms to all the chairs to offer better viewing and/or conversation options. Can not wait to watch this project unfold! Best of luck with closing!

One thing I just noticed in playing around with it some more. The walls to the either side of the sofa are each approx. 8 1/2 feet long. I don't think that should stay empty, but there is also a window there that you would not want to occlude.

I was thinking of making each a conversation area, with two chairs and a little table. It should fit, esp. if you switch out the oversized chairs i was showing for something more normal. I would not want these chairs to match, but rather to be an assortment of chairs, clearly slipcovered, maybe even with ties showing.

If I made these two "conversation nooks", would you still put 2 chairs across from the sofa OR would you go back to two sofas. Note this is the same sofa just in 80" instead of 90". I worry that maybe 6 easy chairs in one room would look odd?

TIA

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

mtnrdredux, I adjusted your layout simply by using MS Paint, and when necessary, MS Publisher. It's how I adjust photos too.

Lots of lounge chairs in that latest layout.

I just wanted to pop in and say that I think the white slipcovered PB sofa looks perfect for your new beach house. It seems casual and beachy, while still giving a nod to the beautiful somewhat more formal woodwork.

I'd stay with the two large chairs and the sofa, especially since you said you and your husband prefer sitting in the chairs.

Perhaps consider putting in one of those tables that fold to a narrow size but open to a card table size either against one of the walls in place of one of the conversation chair groups or under the windows instead of the square table. If it is a small one, you might even put a non-upolstered chair on either side of it.

If you are sitting in the two chairs facing the couch, where is the light for reading coming from?

Beverly, Hmm, I keep wondering if I should buy some new tools to do this stuff with! But then there is the learning curve and I am so impatient!

Prickly, thank you! I have a had a crush on English rolled arm sofas since last summer when Pal taught me what one was (i wanted it for my stonehouse). I know someone above mentioned it isnt just sold at PB, which I know, but I like this particular one because it is deep and large. A lot of the ones of this style are more delicate. It also comes slipcovered, which is a must if you want light colors in a summer home. Lastly, it is inexpensive. I don't want anything I have to fret over.

Cloud -- Do you mean a gateleg table? And is the suggestion aimed at breaking things up, or function? I hate to take a space that is 8 1/2 feet wide and just put an occasional table there ... Or did you mean make it a "game table" nook for lack of a better term ...

In re reading light, those are not the chairs I am thinking of for reading. At the lake, there is a chair in the corner that has a view of the whole room (greatroom), and is next to a window. DH both sit there to read and put our feet up on an ottoman. I see us doing that in the areas shown with two chairs on the left and right of the fpl. I have table lamps there, but IIRC there are some swing arm lamps there now.

My new chairs will have an English rolled arm. I love the look!

Love the sofa and chairs! I have what might be a silly suggestion to you. For a beach house I would want more of a multi-function out of the room, a place where one could read, or where a few could play cards, or a small gathering spot for cocktails or a place in the corner to sit a laptop. So, I would have banquets/window seats on each side of the fireplace on the wall with small tables in front.

Thank you JTerri and HollyKay.

JTerri, not a silly idea at all! I had the same instinct. Only problem .., the windows there are quite low, and I don't want to occlude them!

For the life of me I hope this picture resizedâ¦photobucket grrr. Anyway I realize the size and scale is off but I was trying to figure out a way to open up the room for big furniture and have more seating on the back walls. It is meant to be corner booth-etts with a lower fixed table bench in the middle.
Grrrrrrrr you will have zoom, it just won't work! Oh, it finally worked.

This post was edited by jterrilynn on Tue, Sep 17, 13 at 18:16

On further examination it would not open it up with those little tables there (Too sticky outy). Also, IâÂÂm not sure if the fire place comes out that far in your diagram or it is a fireplace and area around the floor near fireplace as well. As for tables for the booth-etts the only thing I can see working is some sort of streamline sofa snack style tables or put a small round in front of the bench table (?) Or, forget about this whole idea.

Thank you so much for trying to do that, JTerri! The fireplace actually comes out almost 2 feet, and then there is a hearth, too (albeit not raised), which I forgot to measure.

So the "inglenooks" are actually quite large, at 8 1/2 ' wide by 2' deep.

If anybody else has any furniture layout suggestions, I am all ears!

Love the sofa and chair you've selected. The last two (with so many chairs) are starting to look too hotel-like. What about a nice chaise in front of the window? Nice place to nap or read a book.

Allison, that is a good idea.

I actually have a nice chaise that is a refugee from the MBR in our last house, will have to see where it hits the window. Also if it will work aesthetically ... it's kind of --- deco maybe?

I will post a photo when I am home tonite.

Allison, that is a good idea.

I actually have a nice chaise that is a refugee from the MBR in our last house, will have to see where it hits the window. Also if it will work aesthetically ... it's kind of --- deco maybe?

I will post a photo when I am home tonite.

mtn:
You're probably familiar with this company, but all of our upholstered/slipcovered furniture is from Lee.

They have so many choices - fabric, size etc. I've searched their website based on the dimensions I'm looking for (ex. I needed two chairs, smaller in scale, but still deep enough for comfort -- of course, they had just what we needed!)

Their "Coveralls" line is fantasic. We have a large, comfy sectional that moved with us to this home from our last. It's scale is probably a little too big for the room, but I think it works. We purchased it in a dark rusty/red and have since ordered an off white cover. They wash well, zip onto the cushions and backs - so they don't look "messy". It's 11 years old - and still looks, and feels brand new.

Anyway, as you can tell, I'm a huge fan....

Here is a link that might be useful: Lee Industries

Janice,

Thank you! I acutally looked at Lee Coveralls, but, oddly, they don't make an English rolled arm (thank you Pal, for teaching me that term) sofa, except in loveseat size.

Here is a link that might be useful: where's the sofa?

That's too bad. What a great looking loveseat...

It is, isn't it?

Not quite... but close?

Here is a link that might be useful: Rolled arm sofa

...or this....

Here is a link that might be useful: another option

I have actually already decided on this one, below, from PB. Number one consideration is slipcovered, number two that it is deep/oversized, number three the arm, and lastly the visible wooden leg.

I have never bought anything big from PB, but the price is right ... hopefully it will hold up.

I probably wont order until the new year ... when renos are further along. Oh yeah and certainly not until we close, LOL. One week!

Here is a link that might be useful: this one

Very nice...
I have sat in PB sofas/chairs at friend's homes and they are very comfy. Do they offer upgraded cushions?