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Furniture Design Dilemma living room

Please help us plan the layout of our L-shaped living/dining area

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Hi there! We're moving into a beautiful apartment in San Francisco with views of the downtown skyline from big full-length windows in the living room. This is our first apartment together, and we're starting from scratch in terms of furniture. The thing is that the living room has a bit of an odd layout, so we're scratching our heads trying to figure out a good plan for what furniture to buy and where to place it. We'd love your inputs! We're trying to solve for the following: dining area

in front of the kitchen
thinking of doing a 6' x 3' rectangular 6 seater

living area

seat 6-8 people
give at least a few people a good view of the skyline which is beyond the patio
my wife and I like to watch TV together now and then, so placing a TV on a wall that faces some of the seating. But TV viewing only needs to be optimized for 2 people, not for group viewing.

I've attached a video walkthrough of the living space, as well as a floorplan and some photos. Thank you very much!

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PRO

Flo Mangan

6 years ago

Challenging. I almost never suggest sectionals but I might have to make an exception here because the layout is so limiting. You can do a narrow dining table but very narrow. Typically, we like 4' around the table to be able to push chairs back. The room is 9' wide. So, with a 36" wide table and 4' on each side it doesn't work. You only have 6 ft left with a 36" table and you have sliders and entry to kitchen to consider. If you could find a 30" table and very small scale chairs it could be done, but it is a squeeze. In the living area, the TV has to go on a console on the short wall opposite the fireplace and then a sectional long on the long wall side and coming around the 6' wall for that leg. No chaise, just seating. Then you might have room for an additional chair and coffee table. I will play with some layouts for your tomorrow, but about time for me to close up shop here. I'll check back tomorrow. Think about how you will really entertain. That desk is fantastic and I'm thinking that might be your place for entertaining 6 for dinner and then have a small round table with possibly 4 chairs in the eating area outside the kitchen. It is really just a breakfast area, right? I could see a great arrangement of table and chairs on the deck for parties and fun times. Just need to know how you entertain and how many you would host for any given event.

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Comments (10)

jansgirl
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Congrats! Lucky you guys! This is a thread I want to follow and see what advice you get.

Your living room has two focal spots on opposite ends of the room-the diagonal fireplace and THAT view. Swivel chairs!

Will you be keeping the mirrored wall?
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I really like your home so far. Your hall and view down the house are wonderful and will do great things for it. I have something similar, with windows and single French door at the ends, but less "clean" and lined up. I want yours (!) and agree with recessing the bar slightly so there aren't always messy snags to the view you've created. Ours not only makes our home feel much larger than it is and connects us to the outside, but its simplicity makes our home seem more orderly even when it's not. That rear cabinetry could be much, much shallower and still provide excellent bar storage. Although if it doesn't fit your lifestyle, it just won't do, the three rooms carefully opened to each other could be fantastic, with an open staircase too. A neglected or unappealing dining room is definitely something to worry about, though. If you were to leave the dining room where it is, could you work on its function a bit, "break" the usual dining room box? How about putting a TV in there too for when a game's on? The table could have the kind of comfy armchairs people end up spending whole evenings in. Even a couch, or a very cushy wall-to-wall banquette, where the china cabinet is. What's out those side windows in the dining room? Do you have 8 (even 5?) feet to...perhaps a creeping fig or ivy-covered wall with a quiet water source dribbling down into a little deep green pond running along the wall, even a few ferns poking out of the corners, resident frogs, mossy brick if you wanted? If so, how about "breaking" the otherwise front-rear orientation a bit with windows across most of that wall to your secret garden? If so, would you need a window in the kitchen?
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Does your cute toddler play with all of his toys, all the time? Might be more interesting for him if you would put some away and in time swap for the others....they will seem "new" to him again.... Can you get a low storage bench for in front of the window and keep his toys corralled there? Something he can open up to get to his toys...Have only one couch and get a couple of swivel or recliners for your space. If possible, I would hang the TV on the wall...I see a pen around your TV now....Just remember the toddler age lasts for a couple of years and then it will pass. I had a climber also and had to listen for the squeak of chairs as he pushed them over to the bookcase and what-not shelf to climb on. Another idea, could you have the dining room his designated toy/play area and you have a small dining table in your living room where the toys are now?
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Is there an eat in kitchen or would the dining space be the all-the-time eating space? I like Judy's layout if there is another more casual eating area (breakfast/lunch). traipsing across living space (from kitchen) for every meal doesn't seem functional. That said, walking into your fireplace area as a LR isn't ideal either. I think it could have 2 chairs and be cozy but the TV and living space would have to be across the way. It's a beautiful looking home.
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jansgirl
6 years ago
Yeah! Flo is here!
sidatgt
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi @jansgirl..thanks! and yes, we have to keep the mirrored wall. The landlord installed it.
N S
6 years ago
Hi! I am SId's wife and co-habitant :-) Thank you for all the advice @Flo Magnan unfortunately SF's weather does not always allow for outdoor dining to be an option. It can get cold and windy so think we would have to go with the indoor option.

We like the idea of the sectional - what types would you recommend for that space? We are having a hard time finding a reasonable priced one that we like.

As for the TV - would you do a console or a swivel arm given the angles in the room?

Thank you all for the ideas!
PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago
Console for the TV, since it will be mostly for the two of you. Basset Furniture is one source you might try. I would go with a microsuede fabric so it can take the "guest" and people sitting and spilling factor. I haven't had time to lay things out yet, but we need to find a much more creative solution for your dining area. 9' wide is really tight. Not sure if you are moved in yet? or if you can test sizing out, but a good way to get a feel would be to lay towels down on the floor the size of a table and then put some shaped like chairs. This will help you see the challenge of this space. I am thinking about some kind of table that for everyday you could sit on one side and gaze out your wonderful windows and for when you entertain, it can be configured for more people? Have to think on this a bit. bbl
PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago
What style are your leaning toward?
PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago
Here is my first cut at your space. Rev. 1 (and btw, super-duper measurements!! kudos!). I put an approximately 11' length of sofa along the wall and since you have that short wall before the windows, I put a large ottoman type piece. I put a swivel chair in "corner" of the living space near the windows so you can swivel to converse or watch TV? maybe, or swivel toward windows for views. I put a 60" long (max. to maintain walking space to other part of the apartment) and keep it 16" deep because it will stick out 17-18 with baseboard, cords, etc. Set TV on that console. I put a 52 x 30 coffee table that would be 18" from the front edge of seating area. You could also put a small round decorative stool/table, beside the swivel chair for a place for someone to set a drink/cup of coffee, etc. Now to the dining area. To get a nominal seating for six in this area, you need a 30" wide table and you might have to have it made. A live edge custom table with metal base might be great in your space if that is a style you might like. Then in the living area, go modern and sleek. I would do the coffee table, even smaller if you wish with glass top and metal base to work with the dining elements you select. The chairs at the dining table have to be really narrow across the front seat edge. That is the big challenge. This table is 60" long and 30" wide. For every day, 4 chairs could be placed there, two on each side with the additional two chairs in the corners just to give a more open feel and help maintain views. You will need some additional lighting and a arc lamp would work well on the fireplace end of the sofa and you might want another floor lamp beside the window end of the TV console. Unless you shorten the sofa on the long wall, you have no space for end tables and lamps. So something to think about when shopping. I put a 36x16" bench in front of the fireplace for one person. The seating area will only seat 5 so total would be 6. You could bring in a chair from the dining set if needed and just squeeze folks in. Watch the size of cushions for any sectional you buy, each person needs at least 24" of space, and generally don't like sitting next to each other. Also, TIP, make sure your sectional pieces join together "under" the pieces so you don't have brackets on sides. This allows for greater flexibility in "next" house and even if you just want a seasonal change of some kind here. I'll play a bit more with this later today and see what other options I can come up with for you.
jansgirl
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ah, SF weather! I love it.

If I had your dining room I would be so tempted by a set up like this (below) without the sofa, of course, in front of your glass doors. Unusual, I know but your view is so great.

Add a seat at each end. The minimum length would be 96" to place these four chairs. I'd want about a 12" overhang for a chair at each end (think placement of 12" dinner plates on a narrow table!) You show off the view to guests yet close enough to lean over your plate and yell at the person down the table!

I sold old harvest tables that we cautioned customers when they planned to use them as dining tables. We had comments that you felt quite close to the person across from you as your plates were only about 6" apart. A different dining experience than your average 6X3!

Cheap Hacks To Keep Stuff Organized : theBERRY · More Info

Another option is a drop leaf table. These are from Crate and Barrel. Pull up both sides for a big table or just one of the sides. My dad built me one like the round one below. Usually it was against the wall w/ one side extended. Sat four great. Pulled it out and lifted up the other leaf for six people. A bit more casual but we were young and fun!

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Origami Drop Leaf Oval Dining Table | Crate and Barrel · More Info

And big , cool art on the wall!

As this is a rental will you be able to install a light over the table?
PRO
Flo Mangan
6 years ago
Good ideas Susan. I was thinking along the line of putting a drop leaf up to windows in the dining area for every day with the one side up for two. Then you pull it out when hosting more. So, similar concepts.

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