open multi purpose space design dilemma

5 years ago

Hi - I recently bought a new house. Although the picture is not a perfect angle, my dilemma is that although it looks beautiful it’s not practical. All furniture used is staging, so it’s not mine either and there is a painting instead of a TV on the wall.

I’m looking for ideas on how to break the space between kitchen and living, without losing the open concept feeling.

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groveraxle

5 years ago

We really need a floor plan or at least dimensions of the space to give you accurate advice. That said, the furniture does look too large for the room, though realtor's photos always distort the space.

It looks like you could set it up the way it is staged with a TV in place of the picture on the wall. I don't see anything impractical about the way it is staged.

The open concept means the areas are divided by the way the furniture is arranged instead of with walls or room dividers. If you want the open concept feeling, then leave it the way it is.

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Comments (13)

Brown Dog
5 years ago
Is this your main tv viewing area? Or is it just a space between kitchen & dining room? Need more info.
Karenmo
5 years ago
I would put my 7 foot ficus tree between the dining table and the backs of the chairs, maybe with a different plant next to it that would be about 5 inches above the chair backs.
The plants would be a nice 'living statement' kind of divider that is defining but still airy, and a great textural addition no matter what style of furnishings you like.
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Your dining table is right there so you really don't need the seating on the peninsula. It will still not be an open kitchen because of the stairway wall. It is only open to the dining room. Are you saying that if you stand in your kitchen that you will see people walking down your stairs. No wall? If no wall, you don't have room for a large window and no room for a wall oven. You essentially have a kitchen on one wall only. If you put a cooktop on the peninsula, you CANNOT have seating there, plus you need a vent hood above it. I don't know if you will have an electric or a gas cooktop. You could install a downdraft vent which are expensive, but it depends on your cooktop. I guess they still make them. If you do have a wall and can't see people walking down the stairs, put cabinets on the wall by the stairs. I don't know if a concrete home means just the exterior walls are concrete or if all interior walls are concrete too. Maybe you could extend the wall and put cabinets closer to the dining room so you don't run into cabinets when exiting the laundry room. You may have to move the laundry room door and make it a pocket door (unless it is a concrete wall). Then the refrigerator could go on the stair wall along with a few cabinets. That way, you could still have your wall ovens. You said you do not have counter depth refrigerators in your country. Maybe they are called something else? Call around and ask for a refrigerator that is 24" or 25" deep. That is too bad because you would like a counter depth refrigerator. It is not as deep as a regular refrigerator, but it is wider. It is so much easier to find food. Nothing gets lost. Are you trying to keep and use a refrigerator you already have? This home is newly built? Exactly what has been done in your kitchen already? Water lines for the sink? Wiring for the wall ovens? Wiring for the stovetop? Water lines for the ice maker in refrigerator? There is no point in offering advice if it is too late to make changes. The plan shows an architect that knows nothing about actually cooking in a kitchen. Sad that some bad plans are out there when there are so many goods ones.
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niccidhg
5 years ago
I think your room could use something taller, as all the furniture is on the same plane , and the lighting is just at the ceiling. Either a small console table ( instead of along the stair) with a lamp and an art piece on it ,or a floor lamp ,or an arc light behind the chairs would visually define the spaces more. Also something green like a tall potted tree in the area where the floor mirror is would add some “life” and help to delineate the spaces ,while not closing off the room .
jmm1837
5 years ago
I can't make out where the TV is, but I honestly don't think you need screens or plants to delineate one space from another - that's what the rugs and furniture are for. I do dislike the mirror but, since it's not yours, it's irrelevant. Smaller furniture, sure, or at least a smaller ottoman, and some art would be an improvement.
niccidhg
5 years ago
Mangi17, don’t know if your room gets enough light in that location for a live plant, which is always the ideal. If not there are some beautiful silks out there. Here is a bird of paradise ( which won’t bloom indoors ,but has fab foliage) and an olive tree.
Laura Villar
5 years ago
Can we see more pic’s of the area?
Karenmo
5 years ago
Love the arc lamp idea -- this does seem like the perfect space for it!
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I think we need to see your furniture not the staged stuff I certainly do not think you have a space for a free standing screen it would be knocked over all the time. I find the way to get definition of spaces is art hung that is different in each space and we need to know more about how many seats you need in the TV space how big the TV is and a floor plan to scale would be a huge help
mangi17
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the comments - I will post new pictures this weekend so you can get a better idea of the space!
cawaps
5 years ago
I'll second the idea of using a console table if you want to delineate the spaces a bit more. Using the staged furniture for reference, this would mean putting a console table behind the two gray chairs facing the camera in the OP. Since the room doesn't seem wide enough for seating and side tables (I'm assuming either a sofa or pair of chairs in that location), the console gives you a place to put a table lamp and set down a drink, while giving you the additional delineation you seem to want.
homechef59
5 years ago
Delineate by using different area rugs. Then, consider a console table behind the chairs with taller decorative elements.
Denise Marchand
5 years ago
A floor plan is needed to give any advice. If you post a thumbnail sketch with overall dimensions and all dimensions around the room, I would be happy to do a proper floor plan we would be able to work with.

Scale, form and function is the trick with open plans. As another poster asked: Is this the main tv viewing room? How many people? Kids? Dining for how many? Where is the entrance?

I always advise my clients to have a Wish List for any project. Add houzz pics to your idea book. This is a good reference for you to stay on track for a Master Plan.

Would love to help!

open multi purpose space design dilemma

groveraxle

Comments (13)

Brown Dog

Karenmo

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open multi purpose space design dilemma

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