Help me make this awkward great room great
-Long and narrow. Layout feels awkward sometimes. Have considered reorienting the room but I can’t put the tv over the fireplace and I’m not sure if I like it in the corner (though I’m open to your ideas).
- Don’t know how to fill the wall space (especially the tv wall). Seems like the three walls all compete with each other. Maybe that’s ok???
-Once you’re in the room it feels ok but the entry from the French doors is awkward. I think the sectional is too big?....and the tv wall too....meh.
- I’d like to change the color scheme. French doors lead to the kitchen/dining area, which is SW Mindful Gray. The landlord is fine with us painting. I’d like colors that make the room feel cozier with a rustic/eclectic feel. The room begs to feel dramatic but we are currently missing the mark. I can go dark or bold. I just don’t want to go lighter than Mindful Gray. I can paint the mantle but I am NOT able to paint the fireplace, wood work, or the brick. - Little natural light (just two small windows on the west wall flanking the fireplace, and the French doors to the patio - note: there is a second set of French doors on the same wall leading to the kitchen) and no overhead lighting other than the fireplace. Need to work with floorlamps.
- The pictures and ugly curtains on the patio doors will go. I’m open to changing the seating and eventually we will get a bigger tv but it’s not in the budget for now. The guitar wall stays and we are keeping the teak cabinet teak that is currently under the guitars (though it can be moved). Everything else is open to being replaced, removed or repurposed.
Last note, we originally had the ottoman by the sofa and a chair in the corner but it felt crowded and the chair (not shown) felt frumpy. You will see in another pic that we moved the ottoman to the corner and got a coffee table. We like stools and benches worked in because they are great for music sessions but again, totally open to your suggestions. Also, in one pic there is a lot of clutter. That’s unusual. It’s there because we had to move some things when we were painting another room.
Ok.... I welcome your thoughts on how I can improve this room. I’m especially interested in paint color recommendations. I originally thought more neutral and Twilight Gray and mega Greige were both recommended, with maybe Gauntlet gray on the fireplace wall. Now I think I might want something with more impact. Let me know what you think. Thank you!!!
Comments (33)
7 years ago
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Please Please help me decorate my great room...need to order furn
Comments (21)You asked: I hate it. The bottom one looks like someone took a traditional, wicker sofa and wrapped it in leather. Those very formal, old fashioned arms, and bun feet, don't go with the eclectic, casual style of the upholstery. The shape of the red sofas is much more appropriate, but it would be better in all leather. Leather is great with kids so long as they don't have sharp things in their pockets and can be trusted not to poke pencils into it. It cleans up with water and saddle soap. But it does stick to bare skin, and can get hot. It's nature's vinyl. Which is why they combine it with fabric. Bad move. Either be fabric or be leather. The weight and texture are too different and they rarely come out looking great, especially after some living happens. The red bench is cool! Less imposing than a sofa table (console), but with a lot of the same function. And it's folky and funky. My Aunt had the two sofas flanking the fireplace in her living room. It's a great conversation grouping, but not so much for TV watching. For that, especially for the kids who probably look at the screen more, you want a straight on view. You can do a big square, though. An L of couch and settee or second couch or loveseat, and a couple of small easy chairs that are easy to get around on the opposite side. You have your red chairs. I'm not sure if they're too big to allow people to walk by easily if you close up the square, but even so, you can always pull them over for company, and keep them by the piano for family time with running kids. Re Larry, have your other family members sit tested him? I totally agree about the shape. It's very tired. But that LOVE thing is important. Your family room couch should feel Ahhh to sit on. I'm sure it'll still be there though. Maybe you can find a similarly comfy couch in a more classic shape that will give you more breadth of possibilities. Comfort comes first, but it can be done with a little more style than poor Larry. ;-)...See MoreHelp me with this Great Room please!
Comments (25)Palimpsest - wow that is clever! And yes just taking out the wallpapered ceiling makes a huge difference. I don't think we want to go with white walls - we want the room to feel inviting and cozy despite its size. I think the Cream yellow from our current living room might work well. I will have to spend some time looking at flooring options (assuming there is no hardwood under the red carpet). I think by kid friendly carpet, I meant something not too light and with some sort of pattern as opposed to industrial, but perhaps they have nice looking industrial carpet? I think of that as being something I would use in a basement not a living room? But as I said I have little experience of carpeting (we always have wood floors), so I'm not sure what options there are. I think we'll go with the majority vote and keep the beams dark - now I've seen them in the photo shopped pic, I think we would lose a lot of the impact of the room if we painted them white. Thanks so much for the ideas guys - I feel like I'm starting to get a grip on this one room at least! : )...See MoreOur new granite/help me make it look great
Comments (25)Thanks, Mysterymachine. I think that after living with the gray light kitchen the black on the counters just hit me hard. I agree about the cherry. It would have to be very simple...like cat mom's. Please continue to follow me with this. The support from the people on this forum, and the support of the people on the pool forum as I built my pool has helped so much to get me through the tough stuff during both projects. DH tries, but truly doesn't care as much as I do! I'm glad your seams are nice. When mine was lighter is was the first thing that caught my eye when I walked into the room. As I said, my back seam is perfect. I wish that I could have switched them! Minac, did you see? I do have apples up above my counters in a silver bowl. They were on sale at Target! My things on top are not my final choice, just stuff I picked up and put up there to make my kitchen look more finished for Christmas company. LOL. And yes, I guess I was leaning towards the colors in my dining room set. The chairs are cherry with a black leather seat. The table is cherry, the painted glass, and brushed silver. I thought that using that color glass would look great and bring my counter into the year 2008. If I got new door and drawers, I would go with the longer hardware too. I've included a link to my set (I got a much better deal than that!) but mine is cherry and black. It's the coolest table ever! It pulls out to a very big table for large gatherings, but pushes in to smaller for a more intimate dinner. I waited 20 years to get what I wanted! Glasskote contacted me today, and asked for my measurements for a bid. I'll let you know how it goes. I also ordered a sample from 3M. Can anyone recommend a company that would make replacement doors similiar to Cat Mom's for my cabinet guy to buy? The closest he had was a slab door in pear. Here is a link that might be useful: Dining Set...See MoreHelp me design my Great Room [Dining and Living Room Combo]
Comments (14)The table top in your inspiration pic caught my attention. It's not the usual furniture showroom table top. I really like this cedar "countertop" and was wondering if something like it might work as a table top or as a top of a rolling cart island that could work as kitchen prep space and/or guest dining if not as a table. http://www.devoswoodworking.com/designing-wood-countertops/wane-edges.html Legs could be bought separately. https://carolinalegco.com/products/x-metal-table-legs-set-of-2-modern-industrial-legs-custom-sizes-available?variant=32186224640097&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_term=&utm_campaign=DR_PLA_Smart_200%25&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=7051262680&hsa_cam=9915659242&hsa_grp=103137792649&hsa_ad=432122759881&hsa_src=u&hsa_tgt=pla-296303633664&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6p_wwNPU6gIVgbbICh0T8w-jEAsYAyABEgIkX_D_BwE...See MoreRelated Professionals
Boston Furniture & Accessories · Charleston Furniture & Accessories · Aurora Fireplaces · Damascus Flooring Contractors · Rogers Flooring Contractors · Hammond Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Chambersburg Furniture & Accessories · Golden Glades Furniture & Accessories · Brownsville General Contractors · Flint General Contractors · Ashburn Painters · Indianapolis Painters · Pasadena Painters · Berwick Painters · Olympia Flooring Contractors- 7 years agoYes. We do use the fireplace quite a bit. Here’s a pic of the view from the tv. The kitchen is a mess because we are getting ready to paint the cabinets but you get the idea. We almost always keep the one side of the French doors closed to create a breakfast nook.
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
- 7 years ago
idk if this helps, but idea for rug with lighter background... also like your wood tree piece.
[https://www.houzz.com/products/portera-area-rug-710x108-prvw-vr~71036357[(https://www.houzz.com/products/portera-area-rug-710x108-prvw-vr~71036357)
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Playing guitar: do you/yours like to sit forward in the chair - or lounge back? I ask cause I play. Have you ever tried a different wall for them? Just idea for a straight line on long tv wall [rustic wine barrel]
[https://www.houzz.com/products/napa-valley-wine-barrel-guitar-rack-prvw-vr~24916483[(https://www.houzz.com/products/napa-valley-wine-barrel-guitar-rack-prvw-vr~24916483)
- 7 years ago
You have a lot of big brown/dark blocks--sofa, ottoman, TV cabinet, TV itself, dark fireplace. May I suggest that you get a very long, low console style cabinet for the TV wall and sell the ottoman, which looks out of place.
PRO7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago- 7 years ago
- PRO7 years ago
- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Beautiful room. Here are a few things that I would try, see if you like them. I would move the small table and picture from beside the fireplace to behind the sofa.
Remove the large wall hanging from this wall. Move the floor lamp to the right corner with one of the chairs from the guitar wall.
Your TV console is a little too small for the room. I have enlarged it in the pic below.
Lastly, the guitar wall is great. With the lamp and chair in the left corner. Move the nesting tables closer to the end of the sofa. The guitar wall would look better with the guitars all the way across and no wall hanging in the center ( I duplicated a couple of your guitars as an example). I didn't show it, but I would also center the light under the guitars with the ceiling beam.
Please let me know how you feel about these ideas.
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- PRO7 years ago
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- 7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
22" tall transtionally 'mod'... well sort of.... how's it goin'?
[https://www.houzz.com/products/serena-ditalia-contemporary-tiffany-2-light-striped-22-intable-lamp-prvw-vr~100253145[(https://www.houzz.com/products/serena-ditalia-contemporary-tiffany-2-light-striped-22-intable-lamp-prvw-vr~100253145)
[https://www.houzz.com/products/100-recycled-glass-textured-large-veggie-bowl-12x12x5-prvw-vr~36212352[(https://www.houzz.com/products/100-recycled-glass-textured-large-veggie-bowl-12x12x5-prvw-vr~36212352)
7 years ago- 7 years ago
7 years agoLove this room. I would consider painting the room a lighter version of any color in the brick because that is your focal point!
The layout looks good too as you can see the tv and the fireplace while seated on the sofa.
I think you should decide on the paint that will coordinate with the brick.
Then choose a light large rug, maybe broadloom in a light tweed rug to banish the dark flooring and create contrast with your sofa.
I would also put the cool guitars on either side of the TV in a long horizontal line to fill the wall.
Try the copper piece between the two doors.
Put a large rectangular mirror on the brick fireplace
Find large art work for the far wall where the guitars are now...maybe a triptych to fill the area;
Matching lingerie type tall chest on either side of the fireplace with colorful lamps on them.
A console table behind the sofa facing the fireplace with a pair of low fat lamps, possibly brass or silver or zinc.
A pair of lamps on the new art wall where the guitars are hanging now. Something that will look good with the art work; clear glass with colored lampshades?
A large lounge chair between the TV console and the fireplace, basically where the ottoman is now with a side table and a lamp for reading.
This will give you six pair of lamps for lighting and one floor lamp for lighting plus storage. They should be large and fat to fill the room. and light colored will give you contrast....Have light, white cream natural fabric, fur throw pillows on the sofa to lighten it up too.
Light curtains, roman shades white pillows large art
LIght rug, roman shades light pillows, light walls
Colorful lamp shades and colorful lamp, ligth pillows
Again light rug light pillows
- 7 years ago
everdebz