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Opening Family Room and LIving Room

8 years ago

Hello! I have started planning a project to partially open my family room to my living room. We love to entertain and with a closed off living room it will just be a wasted space.

I had a designer friend layout an option for me, but I have had a couple of contractors come in and they have different ideas so I am really struggling with how to move forward. I have inserted pictures of the two rooms as well as the initial design. We just moved in and really haven't done much with the space yet. Here is what I am struggling with....

- What type of opening should I do?

a centered 8 foot opening?
5’
interior French door unit along with two 2’-6” side stationary panels
two 5 foot openings with wall space inbetween where I can put our TV vs.putting it over the fireplace
Or two openings about 4-5 foot in size with wall space in the middle to put my TV vs. moving it over the fireplace.

My other issue is that I don't have enough closet space. Initially we planned to remove the closet between my kitchen and family room to open it up a bit and then add a closet in the living room. What are your thoughts on this? One person suggested doing the two openings and then the new closet would be flush against the opening with the closet.

One thing to note is that the wall is load bearing and we have had a structural engineer in to assess it. All of our HVAC also runs through that wall so we are adding new AC and heating units into our attic to make two zones. Of course all of the paneling will come down and the hardwood floors will be stained to match etc.

Thank you for your advice!!!

Sara

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Comments (4)

rockybird
8 years ago
Are the posted plans the ones the designer came up with? I think they look pretty good.
Vith
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I personally do not like TVs over fireplaces considering you have to look up the whole time. It is not a neutral position for you neck. It is like sitting near the front at a theater. Also the sketch is a tad messed up on the depth, it wont look like that as the partition wall will be right behind the chair on the left.

If you want to open it up, then open it up and get rid of the wall all together. Have one or two support pillars if needed.

Also, is the half bath currently where it is in the sketch? A lot of people would prefer it somewhere out of sight you could sneak off to it so you dont have to announce you were going to the toilet. When at the dinner table you dont want to hear or see the restroom.
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Having the home's only fireplace in a dining room would be strange. If it were a secondary space, it would still be strange, because of the amount of space that it would take up. As in, the room isn't large enough or created around having a fireplace in it. The room itself would have to be larger to accommodate the fireplace and the dining functions. And that was only if it were a secondary fireplace. As a primary, it belongs elsewhere. I'd personally turn the way too far away dining room into the "away" cozy spot with a fireplace and a sofa, and make the odd small breakfast area into a space that could be versatile and serve as both casual and formal eating space. It would be more efficient, and you NEED a spot that isn't open to all of the noise and activity. Right now, everyone has to go to their bedrooms for that. And the breakfast area isn't the most efficient use of space as it stands.
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I vote for hardwood or engineered wood through the whole space, including the kitchen. Opening the wall would be nice, but I suspect your appliances are arrayed along that wall? I'd paint the wall the same pale color as the living space, and hang a really big mirror on the wall if you can't open it. Then you open the wall visually, and reflect the light from the sliders back into the space. (I know...me and mirrors. They are great manipulators of space, particularly when you commit to making them big!)
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There are some truly amazing options out there for hidden TVs. If you were open to any of them, that might make your arrangement easier. being able to place things without having an obvious TV in the room when it isn't in use. We have a TV mounted above a fireplace and it ends up straining your neck to look up that high from a couch. Keep the TV low wherever you end up with it.
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Sara
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you Rockybird, the plan is the one that my friend came up with. She is not an architect, but works for an architecture firm. Do you think the closet in that location is ok? I think I will likely do a 10 foot opening rather than 8
Sara
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Vith, I am not a huge fan on TVs over fireplaces either, but I am just not sure where else to put it. I think I am going to do a 10 foot opening. I am afraid if I open it up completely it may be too large of a room

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