Need help for my open living/dining area

8 years ago

Hi,

I really need help for redecorating my living room/ dining room area. I have a open floor plan and high ceiling and don't know how to mix and match things to get to a "luxe living "end result...thanks a lot!!

Featured Answer

C&T Brooks (VA, Zone 7a)

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

What a beautiful home. I love the mediterranean influence. OK, so there's one big thing lacking in your space. Architecture. You have all these other lovely elements and then just plain flat walls and windows.

-Start with building some architecture along the walls via wainscoting, chair rails, and other molding, segmenting the space horizontally. The top of the lower level molding should be at your second floor height and wrap around the room. Continue by adding some detail to the ceiling. A coffer would be amazing. Paint it all white, then add a color above. This will also help balance the TV cabinet and fireplace. Update: I found a picture that illustrates what I'm saying almost verbatim, see below. Obviously, this isn't mediterranean (go with the style of your own home), but you get the idea.

-I agree with the comment about the curtain rods. Commit to real curtain rods and choose drapes with structure. If you're on a budget curtains with pleating tape sewn in make it easy and the drapes lay nicely. Pick something with nice weight in either a color you love, a pattern or great texture....not white. You could even use one long rod all the way across the room and hang curtains so you don't see the little sliver of wall in between them.

-The light fixtures are pretty but they're scale is a little off. I'd opt for two larger fixtures (matching), one over each zone. Definitely not a deal breaker though

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Comments (20)

User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Paint the wall a rich color to start. If the TV cabinet is not fixed to the wall, I would move it. The TV would look better above the fireplace. It would give the fireplace some height.
adinabibart thanked User
adinabibart
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi RoseAbbey,

The tv cabinet is built in, so it is fixed to the wall... What color would you suggest? I was thinking to add also some decorative molding and maybe some wall paper...
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User
8 years ago
i cant suggest a color to you, as it depends on what colors your like.
Annie Deighnaugh
8 years ago
I would add a crown molding all the way around the room below the air vents...lining up with the 2nd story and paint the room below that darker.
adinabibart thanked Annie Deighnaugh
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Do not start with paint. Do your research first. Your home has some obvious Mediterranean references so keeping a neutral wall might be the perfect solution. I would recommend you view all the interiors of Barbara Wiseley & Richard Hallberg and see if this is the direction you want your interiors to head. Their solutions often involve the careful selection of both traditional and contemporary furnishings & the contrast of textures to make the interiors interesting. Almost all of their rooms have a few items in black to add some drama. Here are a few examples. Definitely Luxe
adinabibart thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
graywings123
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You have a lovely house! The staircase is beautiful. For me, a "luxe living" end result - using the furniture you have now - would focus on appropriately-sized artwork and accessories. The accessories would be larger than the current ones. The drapes you have are OK, but maybe something else would have more of the luxury look you want. But exactly what to buy and where to put it, for that you need someone local with some talent. Are there any home stagers in your area?

I like the current paint color. Decorative molding is not going to help. I would invest in artwork instead of wallpaper. The one change I would think about making is to remove the built-in TV cabinet and replace it with drywall. Then I would put the TV on a cabinet stand in the same location centered between the TV and the corner. That TV cabinet ruins the look of the fireplace, which should be a focal point of the room.
adinabibart thanked graywings123
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago
Graywings is correct. The built in a problem and I'm not quite sure why you fireplace isn't centered on the wall. Larger scale accessories for this room.
nini804
8 years ago
I would change out the curtains & rods...I never understand those 1/2 rods. They make the drapery look absolutely superfluous (even if it is.) I think drapery should always at least LOOK operable. I would get full length rods and a bit wider panels.
adinabibart
Original Author
8 years ago
Beverlyfla and graywings123 thank you so much...do you guys think maybe painting the built in with a beige coloror something close to the wall color would help? I have a toddler in the house and that was the main reason why we did the built in ...she was very interested about that area and the tv cables
adinabibart
Original Author
8 years ago
Beverlyfla what did you use to add your changes to the picture? And does anybody know from were I can buy large scale accessories?
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You can try painting it out, but it will still be positioned incorrectly. It certainly makes sense to keep the flatscreen secure with a toddler.

It would be good if you could shift the sofa so it's centered in front of your window. Maybe change one of the sofas to two chairs with an occasional table between the chairs. I agree the drapery poles should extend across and drapery panels should be beefed up.
starlight99
8 years ago
I would add a large piece of art from the curtains to ceiling in between the small windows.....that wall looks empty!

Similarly...I would place a long mirror above the fireplace to extend/complement the height of the high ceiling.
graywings123
8 years ago
Child safety trumps room symmetry every time, so if that arrangement of the TV feels safest for you, leave it as is. I would not paint it.

Everything here is personal opinion, so take this for what it is worth: I would not place artwork above the windows, and I would not add a mirror - it is already a large, imposing space. I would be looking to add texture and color.

I'm not saying that you cannot decorate that upper level. But for now, I would focus on the wall area in the room that is no higher than the air vents on the fireplace wall.
erinsean
8 years ago
I agree with Graywings123 and Beverly and do understand a small child and keeping them safe. That said...I think for me it is the fact that your TV shelf unit is taller than the fireplace. Is there any way you can redo the unit and have it the same height as your TV mantle? Like take the top part off and lower the section that the TV is in? I think painting it the color of the wall would make it recede because it looks like the fireplace color now and is not really part of the fireplace. Also center your sofa in front of the window...looks like enough room to do that. I really like your curtains/rods. I would put nothing on the tall walls....they are beautiful as they are.
sjhockeyfan325
8 years ago
Even if you want to "secure" the TV, I would like to see the built-in dry-walled, the TV mounted on the wall where the builtin is not, and an appropriately sized piece of furniture under the TV.
tuesday_2008
8 years ago
I really, really dislike it when a poster is negative about something that someone has just proudly purchased or built.....but here I go and I fully understand if you can't do anything about it. Your beautiful room would look so nice with an entire wall unit built around the fireplace - shelving on each side with paneled area above the fireplace for the TV or for a picture. The unit could go to the bottom of the air vents and add some height. Is your current unit attached as a single unit where it perhaps could be moved and reinstalled somewhere else in your home?

I fully understand that changes like this are not always possible due to budget and workload restrictions so I apologize in advance if I am being too forward with this suggestion. It might even be something to think about for the future....I always have grandiose plans for the future (that never happen). I've attached some examples, but not quiet what I am looking for - perhaps someone else can find better pictures.

Some Inspiration pics
starnold
8 years ago
Often good re-decorating requires taking some elements away, but you are asking for a feel of luxury, so you need to carefully add elements. If you have enough space and budget, then consider continuing the built-in to the other side of the fire place, and painting all of it to match. That will anchor the fireplace as the focal point of the room.

Fabric can really add a sense of luxury so you could raise the curtain rods and add longer drapes on either side of the windows, with a filler spanning in between, not a swag, but something like you'll see as an example on the the first picture that Beverly posted.

Original art says "luxe" and it looks like you have space for a great and sizable piece of art on the wall adjacent to the sideboard across from the dining room. Larger accessories absolutely, and some that are taller. They don't have to be expensive, but they should be things you really enjoy looking at and that you find delightful, or even amusing. Garage sales and flea market are gold mines. Then look carefully at the 2nd pic from Beverly and you'll get and idea on how to do a collection of smaller items to make a bolder statement (collections are 3 or more items.)

The key to unifying is color. You've done a good job with your neutrals, add a couple of more luxurious throws in that palette and a few pillows. It looks like you enjoy blues so add that to the mix as well and a pop of black here and there and you should be well on your way.
adinabibart
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, cbrooks0801! Great observations ;)
patrickthedestroyer
8 years ago
I also think that the built in needs to go as it just doesn't make sense with the fire place. Lots of good suggestions in this thread, but I'd also add that you might consider getting more decorative vent covers, as those read as very builder's grade to me.