What to do with this odd cut out?

5 years ago

Hi! I would love any ideas for what to do with this odd cutout in the living room. I think it was initially designed for a fireplace. The cutout goes all the way to the bottom. This is the image from when we purchased the house -- so please ignore the strange furnishings. It is now decorated much more traditionally. The couch faces the cutout, and we have a TV stand in the cutout with a TV on top of it. It doesn't look very good at all.

We'd love any ideas for making the space look 'normal'. We could drywall it all in, but it is a tiny house, and I'd hate to give up all of that potential space. We talked about making it so there is a really deep cabinet below the TV and one above the TV, and drywalling the middle portion to hang the TV flush. I like the idea that we would get some needed storage that way, but I am not sure it would look very good. Any other ideas? We are open to any suggestions!

Featured Answer

queenvictorian

5 years ago

All you guys are wrong. That alcove was clearly intended for a suit of medieval armor.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (29)

Sandra Martin
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I think your idea is a good one and maybe consider an electric fireplace for esthetics. built in shelving and cabinetry always add to a home..can you send a current picture, that picture with that awful furniture is hard vision..
Hansen
5 years ago
Builtin shelves that will house the tv.
Related Discussions
Do I pull out my cabbage and kale or cut them back?
Q
Comments (2)
They are cool-season plants, and the blooming is called bolting. As far as i know, they will not survive our summers. I usually leave the flowers on until they die back because the bees love them. I then pull them.
...See More
What to do when oven cut out is too big?
Q
Comments (3)
I had to install a 24" Gaggenau combi steam oven in a 27" cutout after the 27" was discontinued. It was replaced under warranty. The installer used strips of wood behind the oven at the sides to mount the oven. I was left with gaps on each side of the oven. Gagg did not make a trim kit, so I had a custom trim kit made by a company called Microtrim.
...See More
Long X-post with dec...odd room out in unit.
Q
Comments (5)
As someone who overimproved (not historical) I understand see the hesitation to finish or not finish. Here is what has to be done, then there is optional: you have to fix all cracks so it looks good, and put a nice coat of paint on the walls. If there are really crappy closit doors that are out of place, you have to replace them. The fireplace has to be delt with, it either needs to be covered over, or broken through and finshed to some level of finish. you don't need to make everything "perfect to the period" but it needs to be move in condition and nice. bland is ok, old, cracked, unfinshed,or partially exposed, it cannot be. Granted you could put a for sale sign up tomororw, but you are really doing yourself a disservice to do 90% and leave 10% unfinished, it will cost you. However, unless you really have historical house snobs ( I mean in the nicest way) as a rule in your area, it doesn't have to be to the exacting detail that you went to in the other rooms, stock trim is probably fine.
...See More
We have this odd little area....what do I do with it?
Q
Comments (4)
Could you get two single door cabinets, one of the shorter height and one of the taller height and fill in the small resulting gap with a filler? Barring that I see: Fill it in with a matching panel Fill it in with drywall and paint it the same color as the dropped area. Drop the ceiling at least as far as the gap I wouldn't call extra attention to it's oddness by doing something "different" with it.
...See More
artistsharonva
5 years ago
If keeping couch in front box in bottom with a countertop on hinges to lift up for hidden storage then shelving above.

Or if move couch, a built in or closet with doors.

Or drywall it & make it accessible from other room.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
5 years ago
A skilled woodworker can make that look entirely planned. Do a combination of closed cupboard and open shelving. Set the tv in there.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
I like idea below
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
R J
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you everyone for your ideas! I like the idea of doing some sort of built in, but I'm not sure how to pull it off without it looking strange. I've never seen a recessed built in right in the middle of the room. My contractor can build anything, but isn't good at coming up with an idea. It's a small, starter home type house, so I don't want to invest in a cabinet designer. Any suggestion on where to look for finished examples?
Butternut
5 years ago
Put some doors on it and use it as a closet?
R J
Original Author
5 years ago
I like the idea of using it as a closet, but I need that wall for the TV. Is there a way to do both? I know a previous commenter mentioned having the doors open from the other side, which is something I'm going to investigate further as well.
missenigma
5 years ago
What's the depth and width of the alcove?
R J
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm not home to get the exact measurements, but my coffee table that I'm using as a TV stand for fits in it completely. The 46" TV has plenty of room in other side. Not sure if that helps give you an idea.
missenigma
5 years ago
You could likely do something like this using unpainted stock cabinetry from Home Depot or Lowes that was trimmed out appropriately. Stock cabinetry used as the foundation is a great cost saving way to get a custom built in look.
Kicksychick
5 years ago
Drywall it out of existence. Your room needs more wall space, not more furniture layout issues.
laurafhallen
5 years ago
I think a large stuffed grizzly standing in there would be perfect!

Actually I like the stock cabinetry option- make it look like it's supposed to be there.
Mary McGiffin
5 years ago
It is odd to have it in the middle of the room, so instead of a full built-in, what about some very natural-looking wood shelves all the way across (no flanks or back)? Literally just the wood -- live edge would look cool if you have a good source! But that kind of thing is what I'd be considering, and go ahead and put a sofa back in front of it like the old owners had. Then it'll look accenting.
missenigma
5 years ago
Here's what's in my house from 1935 - an alcove in the middle of the wall for the fireplace. Using stock cabinets in place of a fireplace to make it look built in would make add some interest and charm to your room. Since that's really the only wall to place a television, I don't think drywalling over it buys you much in terms of furniture placement. If you're happy with your current television size and it fits in the alcove, I think that's the perfect place for it.

Here's a better look after things were repainted.
jpp221
5 years ago
I think it depends in large part on your current use of the room, and how the furniture is arranged. I could see filling it in with a piece of custom cabinetry, possibly housing a TV, or even just a bookshelf. Also, depending on your taste, perhaps expanding the bookshelf so it covers the entire wall (I could imagine a very grand wall with hundreds of books). Oh, and I know you said to disregard the furniture, but I can’t. It absolutely frightens me.
jpp221
5 years ago
Please provide an address for the home’s prior owners. I need to go over there and shake them real hard.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
missenigma
5 years ago
Here's a Pinterest page chock full of inspiration and ideas like this one . . .

Or this one . . .

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/274649277248049667/?lp=true
missenigma
5 years ago
BeveryFLADeziner gave you a terrific furniture layout. You've now got great opportunity to turn what you've been considering a major liability into something wonderful.
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago
I know this is a bathroom, but in a rush it is all I could find to illustrate what I would do. Lighted glass shelves for display and then wall mount the TV on the wall right of the opening, or on an articulated arm in the right side corner.
Clean and Simple · More Info

Greenwich Village Renovation · More Info
R J
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you so much, everyone! I appreciate all the help.
Jessica
5 years ago
I love built ins but they are not for everybody. Love the ideas of a fireplace too. You could alsou drywall over the livingroom side of it then blow out the back and add doors it to use as a closet or built in shelving for the room behind it.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Today I saw this picture and want to share
BC Southlake, TX · More Info
The alcove is painted in different color, that makes him poped up.
R J
Original Author
5 years ago
I really like that picture you just shared. I wonder if it would work well with our narrower alcove. I like how it gives the TV a real home without eating into the living space.
arcy_gw
5 years ago
What is on the back side? Would that be a place for the door and dry wall the living room wall. You have a closet and the wall you need.
R J
Original Author
5 years ago
Drywalling it and accessing it from the other side is another option I'm considering. I need to double check if it is completely located in the bedroom behind the living room or if it straddles the door into the bedroom.