Two-Story family room -- balance never felt quite right! Please help

5 years ago

Hi Houzz readers,

My wife and I moved into our new home and we have struggled to make the family room feel "finished". This room is the somewhat cookie-cuter "grand family room" that has crazy high ceilings. I really enjoy having two "entrances" to the family room-- one from the breakfast area and once from the hallway near the study. The couch placement at the moment allows for such access.

I have included some photos for reference along with the floorplan for scale.

We did purchase the gray sectional (90 x 115) and that does limit some of the choices we have remaining. Further complicating matters, we do NOT want to put the TV above the mantle. While I appreciate how nice it looks, it simply isn't conducive to relaxing.

We are looking to add some new pieces including an updated TV stand, chair (for the corner near the short side of the section) and possible a new coffee table.

Any advice concerning furniture placement or selection is very much appreciated.

Thanks for looking!

(the breakfront and small couch are now gone.. see next photos)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You desperately need some layering. I'd add another smaller area rug with some color and pattern on top of the carpet in the conversation area (sofa, coffee table) and add a smaller, swivel arm chair at an angle facing the sofa. (If we're looking at the top photo, the chair should be diagonally across from the top right hand corner of the coffee table.) You also need some large-scale art or multiple framed family photos in a gallery wall next to the TV--that wall is huge and needs to be anchored. And I'd also include some fixed drapery panels that coordinate with the rug. Add some pretty throw pillows to the sofa, too.

As a side note, if it were me, I would have oriented the conversation area around the fireplace with the TV wall mounted above the FP. Then you could put a long row of narrow bookshelves along the current TV wall to warm things up.
Bloom Bloomer
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you! I absolutely agree the giant wall is challenging. I was hoping to fill that with some millwork (picture framing!) and paint but I suspect the cost will be high.

Are you suggesting that the chair should go where the small round table is now? I did remove the breakfront so that corner is totally empty at the moment.
Related Discussions
Our Story Using TV Shows....The Entire Story Line
Q
Comments (2)
Thanks for all your hard work Karen! Can't wait to read it in its entirety. Jodi-
...See More
Help me with Family Rm, not quite right!
Q
Comments (18)
Lovely home, and lovely arts and crafts details. Do you need the loveseat and the couch? If not, I would move the loveseat out - too much brown leather and too crowded. Keep the couch across from the tv, move the smaller dark leather chair and ottoman to the right of the couch. Get ALL the front legs of the furniture on the rug, as well as the ottoman- it looks like you are avoiding touching it, or have cleared the furniture away to hold a dance in the middle of the room. LOL I don't see panels on the windows, but I would like to see larger valances that are hung above and outside the trim. With the blinds you have already, the little flap of fabric inside mounted is too small and looks lost. Color is good, tho. I think I would look for something with some pattern and more colors in it, perhaps some green and blue tones pulled from the rug. This plaid might work: bridgett autumn Or this vatican multi I don't mind the art, but I would frame it in a darker frame and hang it so it is a bit higher than the current window frames. Then put the pieces on the mantle a bit in front of the corners of the artwork, for more of a layered feeling, rather than a lineup. Change out the candles to a blue or green. Hang a cute mirror above your cubby storage. You would do well to have more lighting in the room, too. Something by the couch for reading or doing paperwork, etc. Are there plugs in the pillars at the base? Could you do wall-mount, plug-in lamps on the pillars? The only artwork I would change is the one over the tv. It almost feels like a second tv screen staring at you. Instead, get a series of three items, perhaps some interesting iron pieces or a group of plates, to add some shape and texture but not be another 'picture' competing with the tv.
...See More
Upper midwest/north - anyone regret (or love) a two-story family room?
Q
Comments (18)
I agree with Mattypies! I LOVE our 2 story great room, despite having a "small" house (1350 sq. ft.). Ours faces due south with 7' tall (4' wide) windows going up 2 floors and a vaulted ceiling to boot, but with a good supply of mature trees that leaf out beautifully in the early spring, protecting us from the UV and heat. We actually don't even have A/C and even with summer temps in the 104 degree temps in the summer, it's been super cosy. The key for us is that all of our windows open and we have TONS of great cross ventilation. The deciduous trees are leaf-less in the winter, and that means that we don't have to start heating the house until late in the year and get to turn the heat off in the early spring. We of course, went with high efficiency windows that are designed to improve heat penetration during the winter, and reduce it in the summer (sun angles). We don't have children yet, but the noisy even when all the nieces and nephews are over isn't very noticeable. We did Roxul Safe 'n Sound in all of our walls and floors, which I think made a huge difference, along with solid doors with a minimal gap under them. Plus rugs and plush couches. We *love* the way it feels like we're outside even when we're inside. The sun shines in during the winter, the birds sit on our window sills, and the breezes flows through in the summer. It's like being a part of the outdoors, instead of being in this little box of wood and drywall. Ick. Our heating costs have been LESS than our friends who have bungalows of the same size, and I'm certain it is because of the passive solar heating. A big fan in the middle of the vault, and using high quality insulation and proper attic ventilation, we haven't had any issue in the summertime either. We keep the 2nd floor doors closed during the hot days, and that helps keep the heat from entering. Not that it matters because one bedroom is on the north side and is quite cool year round, and the east-side master bedroom has 3 windows and a balcony door, so the evening breezes and a ceiling fan cool it down right quick. I think you REALLY need to think about the placement of all the rooms, and if you can capture the heat/cooling in the house. Go with what you love, not with what "everyone else likes". That's my biggest pet peeve; we build a house for someone else, not us. Why bother?? Just buy a used house and live with what everyone else liked.
...See More
Two story family room... I screwed up...
Q
Comments (34)
@casey I'm not much help with the design of your room, but I'm very interested in hearing more about your Mantel Mount. My TV is too high above my fireplace and I have been researching the Mantel Mount. Are you still glad that you purchased this, does it work as you expected, and is there anything you would recommend when choosing which Mantel Mount model? I really appreciate your input. Thank you.
...See More
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
5 years ago
No, in front of that table, closer to the coffee table.
Bloom Bloomer
Original Author
5 years ago
Got it. Any thoughts then for the unused corner? (to the left of the fireplace in top photo). The piece in the picture is gone now.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
5 years ago
If you put drapes up, it won't feel empty. But you could always put a small side chair there for extra seating when you need it.
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years ago
We did purchase the gray sectional (90 x 115) and that does limit some of the choices we have remaining. Further complicating matters, we do NOT want to put the TV above the mantle. While I appreciate how nice it looks, it simply isn't conducive to relaxing.

It's a tall room but it's also actually a very small room. And by buying a large sectional which is far too big for the room and which cuts off much of that two-entry access you like, and not wanting the TV over the mantle (which I tend to agree with), you've hamstrung yourself in terms of balance. The sectional limits pretty much all of your remaining choices.

How many people live in the house and use the family room?

What do you use the study for? Can you turn that into the TV viewing room?
2pups4me
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
How long is the wall where the tv is currently? (without counting the window)

ETA: If it fits, I would rotate the sectional so that the long side is against the wall (where the tv is now) and place the tv on the wall where the tall cabinet is in pic #1.
User
5 years ago
An idea for you wall that wouldn't be too $$

I think I would go up to where the shade starts on the window.

Two-Story family room -- balance never felt quite right! Please help

Comments (8)

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Bloom Bloomer
Original Author

Related Discussions

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Bloom Bloomer
Original Author

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally

2pups4me

User

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Two-Story family room -- balance never felt quite right! Please help

Comments (8)

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Bloom BloomerOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Bloom BloomerOriginal Author

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally

2pups4me

User

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Bloom Bloomer
Original Author

Bloom Bloomer
Original Author