Many questions about Family Room (pics)

16 years ago

I have another thread going regarding putting a wall unit entertainment center on a wall that has a window on it, but I have thought of additional questions and have pics to post this time, so I thought I'd start a new thread with a more relevant title. We have been in our home for 6 years and would like to tackle this room and redesign it eventually.

Issue #1 - we are looking for a place in this Family Room to put a 9 foot wide wall unit for our large TV. The best spot seems to be a wall that has a small window on it. Someone mentioned we should consider any alternatives that would avoid blocking off the window, so here are some pics and I would appreciate any thoughts.

Here is a drawing of the room:

Here is a pic of the actual wall (please excuse our mess, we are in the process of moving/discarding furniture)

View from kitchen doorway:

{{!gwi}}

Here is a pic of the large 6'6" window that is in the back of the family room facing the backyard:

I am also interested in any suggestions for window treatments for both windows. The picture window in the first photo has an upper window that has its own sill (not sure what type this is, what is it called?) and I was wondering if there is a better choice in window treatments for this than just a valance with blinds?

The back window is a casement style window with a large pane in the center with casement style openings on either side. The white sheer on it is what came with the home. I am not sure how I could treat both windows and have them match since the windows are so different.

The reason the room is two different colors is because we attempted to use the green side as an added eating area (that is why there is a hanging light there) but it really was just too small. The two different colors were an attempt to divide the space.

Notice there is also a support beam that runs through the ceiling and it drops down about 5 inches.

I would like to use this room as a family room that functions as our TV room as well as our computer room. For our computer, we have a desk armoire that covers up everything nicely when its closed.

Any additional ideas for furniture placement beside where to put the wall unit? We have a sofa/loveseat/chair combo that will change eventually (its over 5 years old) but that and the armoire is what we have to work with currently. We have end tables and coffee tables in storage that we can bring into play also.

I have additional pics if necessary. Also, we are quite sure that the doorway to the kitchen is going to get closed off during our kitchen remodel.

So. After all of this rambling... any thoughts?

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Comments (4)

les917
16 years ago
Seems like the best place would be on the wall where the doorways are to the kitchen and LR, especially if that kitchen doorway will be closed off. I would them put a couch and loveseat in an "L" formation, with the back of the one against the closet, and the other one running below the window to the back yard.

You could then create a secondary seating area in the upper left with two comfy chairs and a table and lamp between them, the table being situated in the corner. That area should still be able to see the TV when desired, but could also be nice for people who are not interested in the TV.

A narrow buffet or bookshelf could come out from the wall to the right of the front door to create an entryway there.
gardenwebber
Original Author
16 years ago
I forgot to also add that the "front door" you see is actually not our main entryway. It is a 2nd front door that just goes out to our sitting porch. This house is quirky with wierd things like that. We often wonder... why didn't they just do the porch all the way across like most farmhouses? But, in our case, there is a separate main entry with roof, then a space, then the porch was built separately from our main entryway. Its annoying because people that don't know us (solicitors) always think we are a two-family and knock on both doors!

Anyhow, we really enjoy our sitting porch so we us that door a lot. We may move the door to the other side someday which would get it out of the FR.

And, we are 95% sure we are putting a pass-through from the kitchen over to the FR so I don't think putting the TV on that wall is an option.
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I would move the tv to the wall where the couch is now. Move the couch opposite, with its back to the sliding door. Consider adding a sofa table behind with a pair of lamps to bring more warm lighting into the room. Keep the small chair where it is on the right side of the fireplace, and use the floor lamp next to it. Put the chair and a half and ottoman to the right of the couch, the end table and lamp beside it. Move the whole arrangement a bit closer to the fireplace, and make sure that the front legs of the couch and the chairs are on the rug. I agree that the coffeetable is not the best choice. I would love to see something round, perhaps a wood or slate top, with iron legs so that you don't have so much heavy furniture in the space. Down on the end wall where the tv is now, I would think about a game table and chairs in the corner where the screen is, great for snacking or playing games or doing puzzles. I would find a new home for the screen. Then a group of bookshelves with some closed storage in the same finish as the tv cabinet to the right along the wall to allow for storage of some of the toys, as well as a place to house books and media. Take the clock off the fireplace and use that on the end wall where the game table will be. Use the canvas you have on the fireplace, to bring some of the warmer colors of the room onto the grey fireplace. If your DH doesn't want to paint the fireplace, check into staining it. Just giving it a warmer finish would do a lot for the room.
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Virtuals are unmatched for letting you think through color patterns in the room, proportions and the things like this-- the final placement. My opinion is based on your comment that you don't need the chair-- I would move forward with the room with only a single chair for now. Since the dimensions of your bookcase won't change-- all you'd need to do to add a chair is to slide the bookcase and perhaps by an end table. (BTW I have seen the narrow profile end tables somewhere less expensive than EA-- plow and hearth, maybe?). If you find the *perfect* chair in the next few months, Squirrels virtuals show you that you can fit one in. My biggest fear for you is that both the kitchen and FR will look furniture heavy. Having the kitchen table/chairs right there is influencing my opinion-- and they aren't visible in the virtuals. Also, it makes for a mucky path to the bathroom if the whole family is watching tv together. I think your plan to check with the store that had the ET custom made for you is a great plan. Hopefully they will come in with a decent price. I'd still like to see it in a darker finish to give you some visual interest but matching would be lovely too. I too have seen the Macy's pieces and they were solid wood (though I don't know if it was veneer on wood) and seemed to be well made. I do not think it would be a bad option for you-- other than the fact that it may not work for your photo albums. Maybe you can throw one in a tote bag and try it out on the floor? Just more of my continued 2 cents. I guess I am up to a dime now ;)
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les917
16 years ago
Are you going to be dining in that space once you remodel? I ask only because of you putting in a pass-through - what would be the purpose of that?

If you are not needing a dining space, but will have some kind of opening on the wall, try flipping the suggested arrangement, putting the TV on the closet wall and the furniture in an "L" with one piece on the pass-through wall and the other by the windows, coming together in the corner where the kitchen door is now. I know you are saying the entertainment center is 9 feet wide, so a bit wider than the closet wall by your measurements. But have you purchased this already so that you are limited to that size, or is this just something you are planning on doing?
gardenwebber
Original Author
16 years ago
No, we will not be using that space for eating. I want the FR used for TV and computer. The pass-thru was only for communication and so that I have something to look at besides a wall when I am at the sink (the sink will be on the other side of the pass thru)

Anyone think that putting the TV in front of the window in a large wall unit is a GOOD idea?

And, no, we haven't bought the unit yet. Its picked out and on hold. I feel like I would rather have a nice wall unit with book shelves and plenty of space for media than a small window that faces someones driveway. Any other thoughts? How about window treatments?

Many questions about Family Room (pics)

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les917

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Many questions about Family Room (pics)

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les917

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