My great room needs help!
I really need help finishing my great room. I'm not a great decorator, so I have no idea how to finish it. I just want it to look finished. What am I missing? What can I add to the walls? What should I change? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Comments (11)
thisatrip
6 years ago
It's a great room, so its the living, dining and kitchen. My first time using Houzz. I saw the topic online and thought this is the help I need!
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please help with my great room (pics)
Comments (29)Thanks again everyone. I am so glad I wrote in - I read these forums everyday but I am not usually brave enough to write. Thanks again, Magnaverde. Yes, the painting is a Breughel! My husband picked it out and is pleased that you like it too. He loves it. And, I can see your point about the painting and using all the colours from it - how true. I will keep that in mind. I have already put a antique turkish urn - okay, antique is debatable, but that's what the merchant told us :)- that we got in Istanbul at the bazaar on the shelves and will dig out some other things that would look good in the room. The 2 smaller pictures above the shelf are from an antique art shop in Edinburgh. Honeybea5 - thank you - I am definately going to look for a richer colour for the sofas. We also know having window treatments would add texture and interest - that will be next on our list (window treatments seem to be ridiculously expensive). Your "room" sounds wonderful! I can also see a room in my head, I think I just went astray - it will just take more work and time, but that's okay. jjam - I hope the ottoman works for you. I thought it would for me too. I know it would be durable but I am taking it back today. I know I will find something eventually that suits my dream room better. newdawn - I have never been to an estate sale so I don't know what it is like here. We have a neighbourhood with some neat antique stores though. I will have to go more often....See MoreThis great room/dining room needs some spice! Please help!
Comments (31)Here are some pics from Houzz that might give you some ideas. I love the blinds in the first on that hide the upper windows, but it's a pretty contemporary look. The interest on the ceiling along with the chandelier brings it down a bit. [contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by new york interior designer David Landy ASID CID NY State This has a strong horizontal element with lighting that breaks up the height: [traditional living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by dc metro general contractor Moss Building and Design [ the last two use lots of wood/built-ins to add heft and interest [(https://www.houzz.com/photos/st-clements-great-room-traditional-family-room-toronto-phvw-vp~81556) [traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by toronto design-build Schnarr Craftsmen Inc [traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by atlanta interior designer Mary Trantow...See MorePlease 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 decide on my open Great Room floor plan! (kitchen included)
Comments (16)Benjesbride, what you say regarding dining/island makes sense, but unfortunately I have ~11'x16' space to fit in the kitchen. If I decide to rotate the kitchen the way you say it, then my kitchen island will be quite small. I too started out thinking of a longer island and thus came up with option 2, and am not able to find pictures to tell me if that would look ok or not. Secondly, currently the plan is that the Great Room will be mainly conversation area. TV will be in a separate room, so no need to consider TV-watchability. Mama Rachel, your idea of spice kitchen is great! That's the kitchen I started out "wanting". I had to abandon it halfway, however, because of space constraints. My whole house is ~2200 sqft, therefore allocating disproportionately large amount of space to the kitchen would have meant I gave up on some other priorities. Mama Rachel : regarding powder: we decided to ditch the powder because of the availability of full bath on that floor, which otherwise will be guest bath. We also wanted as much storage as possible, therefore decided on having a storage rather than powder. Anyway, here's the original plan. Note that we added ~5ft towards the courtyard and some square footage along top wall (which is facing backyard). I am working on sizing of the entry right now, because I think it's a bit too big for the house, but that space will NOT become available to the kitchen again due to the building rules....See Morethisatrip
6 years agothisatrip
6 years agoLOL we don't use the sofas much(kids all gone) but when someone comes over we just throw the pillows on the floor. The sofas normally face each other, my son moved them one day when he came over, to try a different look. Yes we have hardwoods throughout. I'll try to get a closer picture of the fireplace. The walls are a medium to light gray color. I matched the color on the table with the colors on the pillow and area rug
thisatrip
6 years ago
decoenthusiaste
6 years agoYour original instincts on the seating arrangement were spot on. I suggest a smaller coffee table centered on the firebox. Place the two sofas facing each other perpendicular to the fireplace and 18" or less from the coffee table. You can tape out the idea with painter's tape on the floor to judge how big a coffee table your space can handle, but the current one is way too big. Then, the two chairs will face the FP and be the closest seating to the bar/dining and provide you with your TV watching spot. Continue to pick up the teal in a large piece of art behind the dining table. You also need an upgraded and stylish chandelier hung 30-36" above the table. I'd have an electrician center it if it isn't above the table. Are you considering drapes? Matching them to your wall color or going lighter and hanging them high and wide will enlarge your space visually. A matching faux roman shade in the dining room and at the door will be sufficient for that area.
havingfun
6 years agook, i removed my rugs, since you said you have teal in yours? although i would have liked to get you something a little more daring. i also hate to say this, but i do not see the connection in the pillows, i would love to give you some that have a better connection.
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Amazon.com: Luxbon Set of 4 Pcs Vintage Style Peacock Print Cushion Cover Durabl · More Infoi know you need more for a full set and i can give those and some can come from what you already have I would probably give you some velvet or silk solids. these are cotton and or linen. usually cost about $25/set. Amazon also sells the down fillers.
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Bluebell66