Office? Dining? Sitting Room? Need help with under utilized space!
Kelsey B
5 years ago
We have never known what to do with this room, as it’s small for a dining room and sits right off of the entry way.
Ended up using it for an office space for the past few years, but looking to make it more exciting!
Office? Dining room? Sitting space? Help us decide!
Ended up using it for an office space for the past few years, but looking to make it more exciting!
Office? Dining room? Sitting space? Help us decide!
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Comments (17)
shirlpp
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Seeking ideas to utilize long narrow spaces for kitchen + family room
Comments (20)This is our first remodel project and we've certainly learned some lessons. We interviewed 4 companies - 2 design build firms and 2 architects. DH's uncle is an architect in another state and he was our sounding board as we went through the process, and gave suggestions on floor plan. Ideally, we would've had him do our house, but we couldn't afford it. We liked one architect's design portfolio, but decided we didn't have the money to do what they could've designed to really take advantage of their creativity. One of the design build's firm work was more in line with what we knew we could pull off. The floor plan they came up with is a good use of our space. If we had unlimited money, we would've gone a different option. Be prepared to consider options. We were dead set against touching the 2 bedrooms as we needed the space to live in, but the weird walk-in closet in one bedroom was the perfect location for the master bathroom. There were 2 closets in this room and it was minor change - building a 5' wall to close it off from the bedroom and creating a doorway in the other wall for access to the master. This one change made the entire layout work. We did consider minor changes, but they didn't fix underlying problems with layout. That's why people are suggesting you consider relocating kitchen or opening up some walls. Yes it is more to do that, but it costs so much to do anything in the first place and it may be worth it. You won't know until you check....See MoreHelp needed - how to add doors to separate an office space?
Comments (6)You’d have to narrow the wide opening in order to fit pocket doors, but you also have some hvac and electrical to deal with that I can see which might still make pocket doors problematic. What if you just walled off the dining room and have the only entry to the office be via the hallway? Or narrow the dining room opening, do traditional French doors and a long transom on top? I think you could get away with traditional French doors in the entry foyer also, but again, that’s a lot of French doors and they wouldn’t be terribly effective at blocking sound....See Moreneed help finding an area rug to go under the dining room table.
Comments (16)Put your centerpiece on the chess table. Is the other ornate dining set for breakfast, gaming or could it be used here? Do you want to continue with the cow head/skin theme, leaning SW in your decor? They aren't really "cozy and elegant," IMO. Is a new chandy in the picture? That one misses the mark on elegance. You need a minimum of 36-42" from the table top to any baseboards or furniture surrounding the table to allow for chair sit/scoot space. I'd do that measurement first. I really wouldn't want the rug jammed up against the exterior wall. Maybe the smaller, round table would be a better choice for using a rug here....See MoreNeed suggestion for curtains/ drapes for dining room sitting room
Comments (7)I would get a new light that is LED 3500 K and in a style that actually lights the table. I would paint the walls the cream from the rug and then do pale blue silk drapes I love the rug it is IMO the best thing in the space and honestly if you don't use the DR why not do 4 chairs and a coffee table and some nice bookshelves and use as a nice spot for a glass of wine before dinner and a library all the rest of the time or jusrt anice spot to relax in the afternoon....See MoreKelsey B
5 years agoKelsey B
5 years ago
Sarah
5 years agoIt seems to work well as an office. If you find yourself using it that way then it makes sense to me to keep it as an office. However, I do think you can make it a much more functional and aesthetically pleasing space.
I'd seriously considering some sort of custom free standing or built in shelving that hides the desk when not in use. Google "hidden wall desks" and check out the images.
Depending on your needs, the room could be an office / library room. You have some nice natural light in there, it's a cozy space, and it's one of the first rooms guests see. Personally, I love the potential you have for that cool space.
Good luck!
shirlpp
5 years agolizziesma
5 years ago
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago- PRO
M Doshi
5 years ago artistsharonva
5 years ago
sheloveslayouts
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoKelsey B
5 years agoartistsharonva
5 years agoartistsharonva
5 years agoSince it's near the entranceway, maybe a built in like this.
A place to gather stuff to go in & out of home.
A desk could go there too & gather snail mail & shipped out in stuff.
Kind of like a fancy "mudroom" coat storage built in area
shirlpp
5 years agoIf you're going to keep it as an office, then the desk needs to move on the wall with the chair and lamp near it - so that it's not front and center when you walk through the front door.
Then maybe a sofa where the desk currently resides and a chair near the railing...or...a 2 chair cocktail lounge(like what decoenthusiaste is showing). I'd make the 2 chairs swivel though.
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5 years agoso what you really need is a combination office/dining area :)
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