Help with Open living room/dinning room area
Hi everyone! After a couple of months of racking my brain, trying to figure out what to do! I decided I need help. We just bought this house! I love the open floor concept, but I'm having a hard time designing it to keep that openness in the space but also have a formal dinning table and enough seating for a large family in the living room.
A few thoughts/questions:
1. The mantle will go, and I'll have a reclaimed wood mantle installed centered just above the fireplace. Not much I can do to distract from the off-centered brick wall? Any ideas?
2. What would be the best seating setup for the living room? I would love to have a sideboard or cabinet on the wall in front of the fireplace; but that leaves me with less seating! I'm thinking two easy chairs by the fireplace, my Article Sven Sofa under the big window and a loveseat facing the fireplace (see my attempt to visualize this in the photos). Or should I skip the loveseat for another chair? maybe the sideboard?
3. I have the 8 seater table from Article as well, but it's too big for the dinning space. I'm thinking a smaller table for 6 with a bench against the wall. Bad idea? I have 4 counter stools that I'd like to use as well. This leaves me with limited space to move in the dinning room and no space for a small bar cabinet.
I am open to all/any ideas. I really want a mirror in this space as well, but not sure where best to put it. I have a large cool painting that I was thinking of adding above the mantle as well.
Looking forward to getting your feedback!
Comments (9)
jck910
3 years ago
PROMae Day Organizing and Interior Design
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Please help me with opening up living room wall to den area
Comments (21)Ditto what Annie said. You are talking about the structural integrity of your house and it looks like you have a second story, and you probably also have a basement. By removing the wall, the beam needs to support the floor above and the roof. And if you're in a "snow zone" that has to be factored in as well. Another thing, walls are distributing the load from above to the floor or foundation. When you remove a portion of the wall, you are creating point loads on the floor or foundation, which may require additional work to your foundation in the form of footings or additional beams below. These are examples of how removing a wall can get complicated. Maybe you are already aware of this. I hope so! Edited to add another thought I wanted to share regarding openings to let in light. You're only going to get sunlight during the daytime. How often are you home during the day when you can benefit from the daylight? Painting the paneling and better lighting in the family room will to wonders for making the room look brighter. Also, consider replacing the back door with a slider. That will allow more light into the family room. This advice is coming to you from someone who is considering taking down walls to let more light into her dark family room. :) But I've been in my house a long time whereas you haven't even moved in yet....See MoreHelp with layout and decorating open Kitchen/ Eat in Area /Living Room
Comments (5)I would move the sofa off that wall and make the long end of the sectional be parallel with the kitchen peninsula, so the sofa faces the sliders on the long side. I would get a rectangular dining table to go in between the living room area and the dining kitchen area. The wall with the high windows could use a bookcase, or a console table, a lamp and some colorful art. Some large plants would be good too. You have great light and need some more contrast in your color scheme. See about a stronger color rug and throw pillows if you can. It's a lovely room....See MoreOpen floor plan kitchen/living room/dining area- need help defining sp
Comments (21)Okay - did the corrections and think I have a close approximation of your space. Each block represents 1 foot. The gray area is the space needed around the island for walking with people seated - should be clear of furniture. Can you take a picture of the full wall where the fireplace and tv nook are - not sure I got their placements right. Do you plan on using the tv nook for the TV? How did you envision the living/seating areas when you designed the kitchen? How many people need to be seated - do you need a dining space and how many people need to sit at the dining table or are you just using the island for meals?...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 MoreMona Algherbawi
3 years agoMona Algherbawi
3 years agoanj_p
3 years ago
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThere doesn't seem to be room for both barstools and table and chairs. Around the table you need at least 3 ft. of space for a chair to move and to walk around. Even the bench doesn't supply you with the needed space. I don't imagine you will move all the barstools each time you plan to use the table.
Here are a few arrangements.
- PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
3 years ago Mona Algherbawi
3 years ago
anj_p