Design/furnishing dilemma
Very awkward living room. I have a very nice, low profile espresso leather sofa that I would like to match another comfy chair and perhaps 2 accent chairs. Thinking of keeping accent chairs where current ones are near pellet stove and nice leather chair where outdated blue recliner sits now so can enjoy window view. If accent chairs go in front of window then must be swivel (I am an avid bird watcher). However, Very limited with options due to dining room opening and large window. Looking to repaint and make back wall (orange yuk) an accent wall. Also hope to incorporate some tables in a more functional way (think coffee table or equivalent in front of couch). Also struggle with 1960’s foyer brick planter area (currently covered) and ceiling shelf build-ins.
ps: want to replace almost everything but couch, rug and pellet stove. Also would like another leather chair (comfy) to work off of sofa. same color/ style or accenting color?) This is design/decor hell for me
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Comments (6)
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Need help with furnishing & designing open living area!!
Comments (12)Does your husband need a special chair when he watches t v? And area rug is no problem? I have found that leather furniture doesn’t seem to absorb sound as much as upholstered furniture. How much floor space is there with which to work? Do the windows match on either side of the fireplace? Is the slider the main egress out to the patio? I don’t see a lot of space for stack-backing fabric panels. Would you take another photo of the slider? You might have to do fabric Roman Shades on the windows with draperies on the slider. A good liner on the window treatments will help with the echo, as well. I could see another sofa to replace the one you have now…a great, large piece of art between the two sconces…smaller, but thicker rug…but instead of a coffee table, do an upholstered bench…then depending on what space remains, two more chairs…swivels on either side of the fireplace might be perfect. Love those windows... Mirror over fireplace is very big... This kind of treatment, possibly for the windows…the shades with a wooden, padded valance, and depending on how much room you have at the slider either a matching panel or just another padded valance….all hung at the same height....See MoreDesigning/furnishing open room
Comments (1)Here are the additional photos of the open area....See Moreneed help designing/furnishing L shape living/dining room
Comments (3)1) wall may be structural 2) you may have to replace all the flooring if you remove it, unless you have more on hand 3) I'm confused, because it looks like the dining room is already in the main space, up by the kitchen/window where there's a chandelier hanging down. then I see two ceiling fans worth of LR space. the more enclosed room to the left looks like an additional/separate room, maybe intended as an office, or as a more enclosed space (family room) for TV watching. if you open it up, you need to think hard about where you are going to put the TV with furniture facing it, and how you will subdivide the rest of the space. If you can draw a sketch of the floorplan, with measurements, including things like whether there's a closet near the front door, we might be able to rough in some different arrangements to help you visualize what you might be able to do with the spaces. It's a bit too hard in the abstract to tell whether this is all one big seating space, or whether it's big enough for an entry zone or game table and a separate conversation area, and what would happen if you added in yet more LR space......See MoreHelp! - how to design/furnish this awkward entryway?!
Comments (18)It’s a beautiful room, love the front door. It’s hard to give suggestions without knowing more, especially your decor style. In the meantime, I agree with your wife — it’s a reception area, not mudroom. I’d want it to be a calm, welcoming, lovely entry into your house. I’d find a unique cabinet (even a cool armoire/wardrobe) or console with a pretty mirror, a rug, plant(s), a nice-looking bench or couple of chairs, etc. It doesn’t have to be overly traditional or formal, you could add some fun and interesting, plus functional, pieces and decor in without it looking like a closet. A beautiful vintage or antique wardrobe would be great, like this old pine one: You can certainly mix old with contemporary. Cabinets and mirrors: Furniture in there can be comfortable and attractive, while still useful: More info needed, though — what the other side of the room looks like, are you keeping the door and trim work as is, your decor style(s), will the entry mainly be used for guests or is it the way everyone will always enter the house, will you be painting it different, what does the opening to the next room look like, is the flooring and lighting staying as is, etc. Otherwise, it’s just a guessing game and a mish mash of ideas thrown at the dartboard — like I did above. :) Lots of inspiration at the link below, and keep in mind you can find things you like even from very different sized foyers to implement in yours. Don’t get stuck trying to find one just like yours. And you can narrow this search down by styles or whatever, if you’d like: https://www.houzz.com/photos/query/foyer/nqrwns ETA: If you do decide on built-ins, it needs to be the right scale, and look connected to the style of the room, otherwise it’ll look too utilitarian....See More
Nancy Walton
5 years agoThat "bulkhead" is probably part of the upper floor rooms, being that the house is a split-level. It's too bad you have the pellet stove, otherwise I would recommend putting the sofa on the accent wall. This layout is very similar to my daughter's house, with the dining room entrance in the same place.
I think the layout is pretty much where you have it. I would not add any more chairs. The only other solution would be to put the sofa in front of the window, but I don't know if it would be too close to the stove.
Diane Allen thanked Nancy WaltonDiane Allen
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
I am so excited to hear ideas from all of you. I’m not kidding when I say I am decoratively challenged! The original artwork is my fathers. The3 piece oriental panel will go. I was defini going to use wall behind couch for art/photos as there are two Downlights in ceiling above. I also want to change color on dated rod iron. Unfortunately I do have to keep the pellet stove because it is actually a main source of heat for this first floor. I was lucky to inherit the 1960s ceiling heat which as we all know he wants to stay high and the floors were freezing. So I pretty much dropped using the 220 V ceiling heat in most of my rooms and utilize the pellet stove to keep things much more cozy. I am going to take another picture of the rug to let you see that it actually has some variations of rust with the brown and taupey beiges. Also there are some nice blues in there with some creams. I know it’s hard to tell from the picture but there are absolutely no grays in this rug whatsoever. Even though it will absolutely terrify my husband I am going to at least raise the option of removing the shelf part of this area which is attached to this dropped ceiling over the foyer. I agree that it may certainly open the room up a bit more and it’s not something I even considered which is why I love getting ideas from other people who are good at this stuff. Thank you all so much.
Beth H. :