which is a better LR layout?

12 years ago

This is my Florida townhouse, leased for now, that we will live in at some point. Hopefully. In the meanwhile I am collecting and rehabbing furnishings. We are going for a comfy, coastal poor man's Bilhuber.

Things I have committed to are a pair of petite tufted Sherrill sofas and a small expandable Hickory oval Provincial dining table and a wicker rocker by the window (a childhood thing). And an art table.

The living/dining space is big (19'4" x 29'3" less the stairs & balcony) BUT plagued by traffic path issues - so the small scale curved sofas are a plus.

Layout option #1 is facing sofas

Layout #2 is angled sofas

TV will go on the right wall, probably above low bookcases, and #2 has a sofa facing the TV. We don't watch that much TV, but TV is a consideration. #2 is more open to the window and art table area, but getting to seating seems awkward. #1 has facing sofas and I have always liked that look. #1 adds a comfy chair for DH and I'd be happy curling up or lying on a sofa to watch a movie.

What do you think?

Do you see another way - I'd welcome any alternative layouts, as I found the space surprisingly hard.

link below has pix of furniture etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida furniture bits

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Comments (6)

les917
12 years ago
I would consider putting the art table in the 'L' shaped area formed by the walls of the powder room and the right side of the plan - where you currently have the dining area. I like the idea of the table being tucked against that wall.

I like the two couches at right angles, but I would put them opposite the way they are in the second drawing, so that the one has it's back to the window, the other faces the fireplace. Then your DH's chair could be put comfortably opposite the one couch, because you would have a lot of room there if the art table were tucked in as suggested above.

Finally, I would put the dining area down by the window/balcony. A lovely place to dine and appreciate the view, or sit and do a puzzle or sit with a laptop. I would run the oval table parallel to the window.

Another choice would be to use only one couch and your DH's chair by the tv, and use the other couch as seating by the dining table, back of the couch against the right side wall.

Being you are in FL, consider putting your wicker rocker on the balcony. Seems like a wonderful place to sit and rock and enjoy a lovely night.
celticmoon
Original Author
12 years ago
Les, I was hoping you would weigh in. You have a great sense of space.

So you are suggesting a third option:

(There is no fireplace there on the right)

Interesting....

It is a haul from the kitchen to dining table...but if we have a group they can portage. We often eat in the kitchen anyway.... hmmm. I know DH will say he'd prefer the art table to be near windows, but when he's working, he's not looking out the window. Here he works with his back to the window. And we can add plenty of artificial light there at the art table.

Hmmmmm. I do like puzzles. And sunsets. And laptops. And eating.....

Thank you so much!

Other opinions???
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I'm not crazy about either plan. You have a lot of space upstairs, but there seem to be some problems, some already mentioned above. In looking back at your first floor plan on your other thread, I see that the Office is over a screened porch. Since I think you said you are in New England (if not, where are you?), I think it would be difficult to insulate the office well enough for it to be comfortable to work in during the winter with two outside walls and the floor needing to be extremely well insulated by someone who really knows how to do it right--still not sure if it would be warm enough. Additionally, it seems to me that most people would prefer to have the office be able to function as a bedroom, if needed. Even though you may not need it now, things could change. And even if you think this is your forever home, that could also change. Either spouse could die when younger than expected. The remaining person may have to sell, so it would be helpful to have a plan that has the most flexibility in how the rooms could be used. So here are some things to think about or try out; some may work for you, some not. I'm going to reference your first plan. I'd put the office roughly where the master bath is with the door as far to the left as possible, shift the master bath to the right with the door as far to the right into the bedroom, and make the office the WIC. If it is too cold in there, you could use a space heater for those times when it's cold, since you wouldn't be in there that long. I think the dormers need to be reworked so that there is a single large dormer for the bed to be opposite--I think it will feel strange the way it is opposite the short wall. I'd make a little "vestibule" so that the MBR door is opposite the new office door. So there would be about a 4' wall parallel to the top of the stairs about 7' to 8' in front of it, with the MBR and Office doors opening off of it. To have a bathroom for the Office/4th bedroom, as well as the twin room, I'd use the Laundry with the door moved in about 4' to create a little "vestibule". I'd have the entrance to the twin bedded room open to the left off of this vestibule through the present BR closet. I'd make a wall across the hall to the left of the door to the double bedded room, put a wall where the present entrance to the twin room is, and get rid of the long bathroom wall. Then I'd put a wall down the middle of this space by extending the dark black line that's next to the length of the stairs. This will give you a WIC for each of the bedrooms with about 4' on each side of each closet with room for shelving in between, and you could put a shallow linen closet facing the hall and to the left of the door to the double bedroom. The former WIC for the double BR can be the Laundry. You can put a large (16 or 21"?) Solatube or SunTunnel for light. You can add about 1'6" to 2' from the bathroom, because 5' to 5'6" is wide enough for the bath. In the bathroom, put a 5' tub/shower across the right end, the vanity to the left of it, and the toilet to the left of it. From looking at your first floor, I'm not sure how much leeway you have in moving windows. However, I'd really try to work on both floors together to get better placement on the second floor, but still have pleasing elevations. In the twin BR, you should be able to add an additional foot or so from the new bathroom, and I'd REALLY try to center the BR window between the twin beds so that one bed doesn't have to be scrunched up against the wall Hope some of this helps. Anne
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The left one is the more traditional layout. But I see what you like about the one on the right. I'm in a house rather than an apartment, but my layout is very similar to your right option. The kitchen is dead center of a large room that has the DR on one end and the LR on the other. There is a garden in the center. With that layout, I can see you shifting the dining table down to the center section, and having a desk or other small sitting area up at the top, adjacent to the second bedroom. If you go that way, you might consider shifting the door on the hall bath to the top, so one isn't "in" the kitchen when going in and out of that bath. I also wonder about the set-up for the TV. I know the furniture placement isn't a done deal, but I don't think it works with the TV in the corner. You could consider mounting the TV in a recessed fashion on the wall that backs up to the master closet. Put it on an arm that will allow you to swivel it out if necessary.
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Try it with the two armed chairs in the bay window and the large sofa up against the long wall - you do have a lot of furniture and the scale is large so RL Relocation isn't completely wrong but I'm afraid the tone is a bit strong. I like the glass round end table in the bay between chairs, you no doubt could use one more on the dining room side of the sofa and then the round stools can store to the right of the sofa - the dining room chairs can be pulled in for additional seating as needed.
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celticmoon
Original Author
12 years ago
Still thinking. Would be good to commit since I have to decide which shape coffee table to refinish.

This is a combo of Les' idea to put the dining table at the window fused with the original angled sofa plan. I tried it with facing sofas but it doesn't work so well.

I think I prefer the sofa to face toward the window, as the art table area at the bottom there will likely get messy. The dining table can expand for 8. I can get a tea cart or something for transport to and from the kitchen - that might be fun.

Les, the wicker can visit the belcony, but can't be out there in rain (It is paper rush Bar Harbor wicker). This plan lets the wicker rocker move around. I like too that DH gets his comfy chair. I remain grateful to have found 2 petite curved sofas - helps with traffic flow.

It is hard making a space work for 2 people but be expandable for 6 or 8!

Any other thoughts???
robin_DC
12 years ago
I like the l-shaped arrangement of the sofas on your last post. Les's suggestion for the art table/dr switcheroo is good, but I think it depends on the lighting your DH needs for the art. Natural and artificial light are so different, and if natural light works best that makes the window the best spot for the art table. Aesthetically either location for the DR table works, so I would make the decision based on functionality.
User
12 years ago
Do you really need 3 spots for eating? You've got a bar area, a breakfast area, and a dining area? Couldn't one or two of them be eliminated? If you got rid of the peninsula in the kitchen, and created banquette seating by the window in the breakfast area, that would make things feel a lot more spacious and you could still have seating for 8, but with better traffic flow. How many times a year do you plan to have more people than that to dinner?

With the eating area confined to the rear, you can have more seating/social areas in the LR. Angle the sofas as a "V" coming out from the area by the stairs with the open end towards the TV. Keep the window area for your rocker, a couple of book cases and maybe a chaise. Keep the desk close to the powder room.
celticmoon
Original Author
12 years ago
Good thought on the lighting, robin. I think we can light the art table well enough. I am getting attached to the idea of the oval table at the window...

Hollysprings, this is a Florida coastal place, so we do expect to have midwest and New England friends and family visitors frequently. We can sleep 8 and I want to plan to feed 8 very comfortably. Meals are central in my life. I am OK devoting space to that in the main living area - especially if the table can shrink to a pleasant spot for just us two for cofee, newspapers, puzzles....

We won't be renovating the kitchen. Tearing out 5 year old granite and tile isn't in the cards or the budget, though I agree the space could be laid out better. DH and guests can visit at the penninsula when I cook, doubt we will eat there. Not sure whether to use the breakfast area for eating or office or some combo.

Interesting idea on the V shape. Something like this?

I considered a V earlier, but that was before I had short sofas, so it didn't fit well. A family member has a LR set up in a V, but theirs doesn't work well. Too contrived? And their V just drops off into space. Odd. This V would have orientation toward the media and could be squared off with a DH chair and pulling over an art table chair or two for a crowd. Hmmmm. Interesting.

I'm trying to work out the layout since I have started refinishing, reupholstering, etc. Need to firm up my fabrics/colors plan. Here is one of the CL 'art chairs' in progress.

which is a better LR layout?

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which is a better LR layout?

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