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Design Dilemma living room Home Decorating

Help make this room functional!

3 years ago

Help us make this room functional! The first picture is the view as soon as you get to the end of the entry hallway and turn left. We currently have a couch opposite the fireplace against the wall. Around the corner right before the kitchen is a dining table. It just feels awkward. We have another larger room used as a family room with a tv.

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Comments (4)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
3 years ago
This is all my own opinion. Since you already have a room with a tv, what is this room used for - perhaps a formal sitting room for guests or for non tv activities such as board games? How many people usually sit in this room? If this were my place, I'd put a convertible coffee table in front of the couch that can be raised for board games (if that's what your family does). I'd also add a tiny side table to the left of the couch, and an upholstered chair to the right of that (for additional seating if needed). If that's to big a piece for that area, how about a round ottoman? I hope your ceiling lights are on dimmers. Ceiling lights are functional, but aren't very flattering to anyone. In addition, they don't lend themselves to a very intimate atmosphere. Sometimes they make a room look like a doctors office instead of a room in a home. For more intimate lighting, I'd add a table lamp or wall sconce in each corner at chest height. Put large wall decor above couch. You may want to put wall decor on the walls perpendicular to either side of the couch wall as well.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I need to know meausrements and a floor plan done to scale From what I see a couple od nice chairs for a relaxing after dinner glass of wine and enjoying the FP away from the TV noise. A nice rug some lighting and few trips to the galleries in town for some more art on those walls. A nice chandelier for the DR Is that your back door I see in the DR? That kitchen looks very small have you thought about opening it to the DR?
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Thanks for the feedback! I know a sectional will be limiting, but I can't seem to make anything else work. The doorway to the left is to the kitchen, that isn't moving. Anything I put in front of the window needs to leave a walkway to the door. Same for anything on that wall next to the kitchen. If I put anything there that is not against the wall, it needs to be out enough to have a walkway to the kitchen, which puts it too close to the FP/tv. Moving to a couch and/or loveseat is an option. I just can't seem to make that work. It always looks off balance and odd due to the kitchen doorway needing clearance. It's entirely possible I just haven't found the right combination yet. I would definitely consider adding some recessed lighting. If I end up putting in a built in along a wall, it would definitely need a light above each side. The only light currently in the room is a flush mount ceiling light centered about 3 feet in front of the window at the bottom and a floor lamp next to the 18 inch support column. Hard to make it anything but better from there! Additional thoughts/suggestions welcome! I have a really hard time with stuff like this. Lucky for me I found an app that let's me play with furniture, sure beats drawing it out each time.
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That really looks nice Buehl. As a former IT pro, it amazes me how much I still prefer to do via paper, including layouts. I think due to costs among other reasons, I'll stick with having the one wall done now and maybe add/update cabinetry on the other walls before sale time (quite a few years from now). I'm still leaning towards IKEA cabs since their product should be around during the next 10 years. Also, since we have several nearby IKEAs, the tenants can buy all the IKEA interior drawer organizers themselves...on their dime. (I am glad they no longer plaster 'IKEA' all over the little hinge covers as in the early days). next I'll need to pull together flooring (vinyl planks?), countertop (Formica/laminate) and backsplash colors (something modern/contemporary). Going with IKEA shaker style cabs, I think...I'm never sure of my choices. This rental update has to be budget friendly; i'll start a new thread. please don't desert me now! I'm heading into the details and here's where I *always* seem to 'crash and burn' in my choices and then by the time the project is done, I hate the results. Please spoon-feed me. Haha!
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I think I like the idea of maintaining a 15 inch landing space to the left of the stove. For one thing, it gives me a convenient place to put my Instant Pot (yes I have WAY too many gadgets!) The other thing it does is keep the prep space mostly under the window. I'm coming around on the benefits of a 30-inch sink cab. It allows a larger sink, I can put a cutting board on it and use it as prep space if necessary....all good things. And I saw this cool hack where you can make one 15 inch door into a trash pullout, and the other side can be a regular door (or, I guess, another pullout.) I like that! I think I'm going to start another thread seeing if people might be able to share pictures of their off-center sinks. Seeing this will help me visualize it a bit better. Hi, Rebunky! I'd love to go to Hawaii some day. It is very hard to find an affordable 30-inch, counter-depth fridge, I'm finding! There's the Fisher Paykel, but I worry about reliability and it's at the tippy-top of my budget. There's 33-inch wide counter depth fridges, but at that point, why not just go to 36 inches, you know? I'm not sure if a contractor can build a recessed space for the fridge because that wall goes into a stairwell, but I won't be sure until I get someone in here to look at it. So, it's just another compromise for me to consider -- overly big counterdepth fridge, or correctly proportioned standard fridge that might jut into work space? Sorry that I'm using you all as my constant sounding boards! The limitations of a small space can be frustrating but I find this enjoyable to talk about.
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No the chair was better at the other end of the room :) Easy to pop in and read a book while keeping an eye on dinner, easy to see the back yard and deck if the kids are outside and you're having some Parent Time, close enough to enjoy the fire if you should decide to start using it. I think the area around the door should be designated as entry space and kept clear of any upholstered furniture that could get mucked up by kids kicking off boots, dropping wet rain coats, etc. You could put down a large door mat that extends from window to the edge of the door, if there is enough clearance under the door for that. And add a bench with storage underneath under the window for putting on/removing shoes.
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PRO
Angelica Angeli ❤ Interior Design Journalist
3 years ago
What about adding another chair in the corner near the couch and add a lamp and table. It could be a great reading space.
Modern Second Home: Living Room · More Info
Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
3 years ago
I like the idea of a rug, but that may affect your traffic flow. If you run around the house like I do, it will!!!

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