Are dividing doors between living & family room a good idea?
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5 years ago
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Need ideas for family room french doors--pic
Comments (18)Hi, Red, Your room has great doors. I'm posting a couple inspiration pictures of a room that has a couple door areas similar to yours. The pictures show how the curtain panels could be stacked on both ends and in the middle between the doors as an option--the look really warms up the room. I think you may find that you'll have studs in the places you need or can just use wall anchors to screw into when placing your brackets so shouldn't have to rip out sheetrock to hang the brackets. You can also search the JCP or other store websites for curtain rods. When the rods are long, they'll usually have an extra support bracket. The rods come in up to 10' lengths, but you might have to use still use two and join them at a support bracket. Hope this visual helps. The link below is just one idea for a panel. And yes, if it were me, if the panels weren't wide enough and I had to use more than one, I think I'd sew them together (but I sew). Here is a link that might be useful: Paisley panels at JCP...See MoreShould I open up the wall between my living room and family room?
Comments (33)Ok I am back..... Wow, I just read thro' all the responses and you guys rock !!! I love this forum :))) So far the consensus seems to be to open it up. To answer some of your questions.... oakleyok: The rooms are small. LR is 13 x 18 and FR is 11 x 18. So if we open it up, it will prob. be around 24 x 18 which I think is a nice size....Not too big nor small... bumbledoodle & jan in wisconsin: Thanks for sharing :) I am glad you love the openess....Its very affirming. We currently have a full set of furniture in the LR(Sofa, loveseat, 2 chairs, coffee & end tables). In the FR, we have a loveseat, 3 accent chairs and the TV which is currently on a console. One wall in the FR is dominated by a brick fireplace, similar to the inspiration photo that I linked. So I guess we will have two separate seating areas, even if we open up the rooms. Prob. one will be near the fireplace and another TV watching area.... lynninnewmex, nanny2a & bronwynsmom: Yes, I def. plan to check with an architect if its a load bearing wall or not. I've read (in cote de texas's blog) that if you put in a doorway, it wouldn't cause an issue to the structure as opposed to removing the entire wall. Is this right?? palimpset & pps7: Thanks for letting me know that traditional homes have open architecture...I never knew that. I didn't grow up in this country, so a lot of it is new to me......Now I feel better that I won't be really messing up with the integrity of the house :) Scanmike: Thanks for sharing your pics. You have a beautiful home. I really love your sunroom..I wish I had one and also some new kittens :) susanilz: I think we'll be here for atleast the next 5 yrs...Maybe 10 yrs...I don't have the energy to move anytime soon...So I guess, it makes sense to make it into something functional for us.... vampiressrn: We don't entertain a lot...But def. a few times a year, we have large gatherings for 30+ ppl....Maybe we'll be more prone to entertaining with an open area...I am feeling really pressurized cos we're having a formal gathering of nearly 50 ppl...Its a prayer meeting, so everyone will be sitting together in the same space unlike a party where ppl can move around... Initially, I was considering putting in only a regular doorway (with a french door or pocket door). But after committing to hosting such a large gathering, I am really at a loss on how we're going to accomodate everyone. This was the trigger to everything..... jamaraz: Thanks for sharing your experience...I am scared about the unknowns...Sometimes I think I am opening up a can of worms :) monablair: I am not sure it would work for us. Like I said, the FR has a fireplace and has a very cozy vibe..Maybe I could place some seating around it and have some bookshelves against the adjacent wall to create like a reading/library room (similar to the little reading nook in Somethings gotta give)....I love my books :))) awm: Thats exactly the look I wanted initially. But somehow DH is against the idea of french doors or pocket doors. He wants a more open feel I don't know if I should really listen to him. He doesn't hang out obsessively in design forums like I do, KWIM :)) He's pretty clueless when it comes to design..... How wide do you think that opening is in the pic?? I initially did want doors. But I am not sure how wide the opening would be if we put in doors(like I said, we're trying to accomodate nearly 50 in one space) Also, with french doors, I am thinking if it will hamper the space/furniture placement when we open the door. tomorrowisanotherday: Yes, I really don't want to lose real estate value...I will have to somehow figure this out and make it work.... dlm: Thanks for sharing your pics :) Your french doors are so gorgeous...I don't have any in my home and I really love the look of one :( teaforwendy: We do have a door connecting the FR to the breakfast nook & kitchen. Its not as open as I would like it to be but I don't mind it too much for now...Maybe it could be a project for the future...... kjmama: Yes, we did talk before :) Infact, I searched and pulled up your thread yday to get more ideas. How's the doorway working for you?? Are you done with decorating? Any pics to share :) Please keep the ideas coming...Right now, I am def. leaning twds putting in a doorway...Our "handyman" is coming to take a look tomorrow...But I need to check with an architect about the load bearing aspect of it before we start on anything....Will keep you all updated and will also, try to figure out how to post pics meanwhile..... Thanks once again :)...See MoreDifferent Flooring Between Kitchen/Family Room & Living Room
Comments (5)If you don't want hardwood in the kitchen there is no reason that you need to do hardwood in the kitchen. The current trend is to have one flooring throughout your home. Prior to the last 10 years it was much more common to have different flooring in different rooms. Usually a tile or laminate in kitchen and baths, hardwood or carpet in other living spaces. Trends come and go. Pick the flooring that will best fit your lifestyle and make your home work for you. There are many ways to transition from one flooring to another. The transition is easy when there is an architectural break between two room (doorways are most common). Sometimes we can use flooring to define an area and create two spaces where there is no architectural break. My last home didn't have an architectural break between the living room and the entry, but the transition from carpet to tile defined the areas. Here are a few other transitions that are obviously a design choice where two floorings were intentionally selected....See MoreHow to divide a long hall into living room,dinning room&family room?
Comments (7)tv is on the wall in the area where the fan is, the long wall with no window. since you have a dining area in the kitchen I would treat the other area as part of the entry/ sitting area....See MoreSabrina Alfin Interiors
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