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Home Decorating Design Dilemma living room

Need help with open great room/dining room/kitchen decor

Lynne Om (9A, New Smyrna Beach,FL)

5 years ago

Bath plans · More Info

Living Room Decor · More Info

Living Room Decor · More Info

Living Room Decor · More Info

Living Room Decor · More Info

Living Room Decor · More Info

Above are some photos showing you layout and current state of decor of our great room/dining room/kitchen area (please excuse messy kitchen). Non-negotiable items for now are slate-look porcelain tile, which we replaced throughout the house and which we love (even though it is dark) and kitchen cabinets (which would be a huge project, and after 2 years of demo-ing the rest ourselves at + or - 70 years old, I'm over more demo for the moment. Sort of non-negotiable is the solid cherry Chippendale furniture, which I inherited from my mom and, which, although it might not be exactly my first choice, I like well enough and I'm not sure it would be worth changing out at our age. I understand that that limits our style.

Style: Mike, I would categorize as boho eclectic--he is reponsible for the clock on the living room wall (yet to be fixed) and the chandelier in the dining room). Me, Lynne, I would categorize as minimalist wannabe with unfortunate collectionist tendencies. I am responsible for the oil painting in the niche, the round tile and the lapis dragon in the dining room and the gray Formica tables. Of course I may be completely mistaken about both of us.

Questions:

1) Which end/coffee tables in the living room: the gray Formica to add to transitional look & to be indestructible for any visiting drunks who happen to want to dance on the coffee table? Or the cherry Chippendale that speak to our more refined sensibilities and are prone to rings from wet glasses left by visiting kids?

2. What kind of window treatments on East window by piano (currently just cheap roll-up shades there to protect the piano). We have double pane, and I think low-E glass, an ugly view of the driveway and garage, but probably need some protection from morning sun. West has original gray verticals left from previous owners, looks to lanai and pool, but is shaded by roof, so light is diminished except in late pm.

3. What lamps for tables? Anything else I can do to keep it from seeming so dark? (My last house had North/South exposure and the light was totally different!)

4. Any other ideas for chimney? It's not my favorite, but I don't even know where to start. I guess I've been hoping that I could do other stuff first & see if that took attention away from the chimney...

Thanks for your help!

Comments (3)

PRO
Restoration Decor and Consulting
5 years ago
Don't have time to answer all of your questions but here's what I can suggest:

1) Lower the mantle on fireplace a little, as well as the painting in the niche. (See #2 here)

Consider changing the mantle to something less rustic and paint in color A (see next suggestion)

2) Open spaces should be cohesive - which you can easily do with paint. Choose 2 colors or 2 shades of the same color and vary placement in different areas. (see #5 here) Consider adding a simple chair rail to the dining area. For example, with minimal effort, you could use color A below the chair rail in dining area, as the dominant color in window treatments fabric (I"d use draw drapes) , the back wall of niche, throw pillows, lamps ac, and maybe an area rug in living room, and in accessories (see #3 here) in living room and kitchen. I'd consider adding some of that color to kitchen also -- back of open cabinets for example, recovering bar stools and dining room chair seats to match drapery fabric and possibly slip covering one of the armchairs in the living room in a pattern that incorporates the wall colors with other colors in the space. You want to use coordinates, not just the same solid everywhere so look for different textures or patterns to add. Hope that helps. I've inclluded links to additional info about topics I mentioned that I think you'll find helpful.

3) see #2 - I'd choose lamps with either a base or shade to match color A. (See #7 here)

4) Add plants. If you aren't there often enough to take care of them, use artificial greenery.
2pups4me
5 years ago
The blue chair in the niche seems pretty big for that space. I don’t see a TV, so I assume you don’t watch it, or at least not in this room. Do you actually sit in the blue chair?
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The loveseat and the couch is what we have right now. I am debating if il change it to sectional instead as buyng two couches will be way more expensive than sectional. Or ican add an accent chair maybe?
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My advice would be to go on Houzz and start some idea books to figure what your style is . Right now all you will get is dozens of ideas that will keep you more confused than ever. We need info to help with this.
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A round table large enough to seat even 8 people would make it almost impossible to get additional seating in the room. Plus, a 72" round means that people across the table from each other cannot converse because they are simply out of range. (a la banquet tables that usually seat 8). I have included a seating guide go give you an idea. Your idea of two 72"x36" tables has the same liabilities and more if you choose a table with 4 legs at the corners because someone would have to staddle a leg at each "end". https://www.countrysideamishfurniture.com/blog/entry/the-complete-guide-to-dining-table-seating-capacity I heartily agree with suezbell who suggests trying all this out for yourself with graph paper and furniture cut outs that are done to scale.
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Yes, arrangement looks much better!! If you are anxious to paint, you could roll out the Natural Wicker, as you are going to need a primer anyway over that deep paint. Won't hurt to use is as basically a primer. I can't really recommend a paint until you are finished with the room. Your next step will be chairs, lamps, end tables, lamps (I would get a nesting coffee table or oval), art and drapes (which are too short).
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Lynne Om (9A, New Smyrna Beach,FL)
Original Author
5 years ago
@2pups4me, we just moved the furniture in from my other house not too long ago, and we’re still trying to clean out the last of the stuff out of the closets of that house while figuring out how fit things into this house and unpack boxes, so no, the short answer is that I haven’t actually sat on any of the furniture yet—I’m usually on the floor unpacking or repacking boxes. It “looked” like a cozy nook... we watch TV in the bedroom mostly.

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