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Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Awkward Hallway Attached to Great Room

3 years ago

This area was originally a linen closet that never was installed where the yellow chair is now. It gets no natural light, but there are two recessed lights above as you may be able to see. I was thinking of large mirror perhaps but am open to any other ideas. Thank you.

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Comments (13)

Holly H
Original Author
3 years ago
Bump
Holly H
Original Author
3 years ago
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we've had a few contractors out and they all nixed my original upstairs plans because they said that wall could not be removed. so now we are getting estimates for butting the wall out a bit to the left (in the middle room) and removing the closet in order to create a 9x10 bedroom, and then having a hallway to the back bedroom. i'm very happy with the new plans, but i'm anxiously awaiting to see how much it will cost. we have some roofing issues we have to deal with in order to expand the middle room the mere 3x5 feet - but it will make all the difference and allow us to have a usable bedroom. i can't wait!
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geokid, that is actually what I think my husband and I will be doing! What a coincidence! Over the weekend, we tried almost all the layouts suggested (much to my husband and everyone who had to help's horror), even went back and forth a few times, and have settled on two arrangements that will work best for us. In either arrangement, the sofa is going to face the fireplace. We'll have two slimmer side chairs with a opposite from the sofa. We most likely will have the TV mounted on the long wall with a smaller cabinet or mounted cubbies/shelves (something) for the electronics. I might add in a small tufted bench opposite the TV if we need more seating, but the two side chairs should work for now, and when my family/friends come over to play video games (which seems to be really often lately), we'll pull the chairs over. But realistically, we all sit on the floor. The piano will stay along the stairs, and to balance the open wall space between the piano and the sofa, we'll mount some shelves for decor and books. We tried mounting the TV over the fireplace, and I surprisingly liked it, too! It totally cleared up the floor space and made everything so open, but...it was kind of uncomfortable to look up at the TV. I'm only 5'3"; I don't mind a few minutes like that, but not for a couple of hours and not for game-playing. It's fine for my husband, though. I'm still keeping this an option, as I think we won't really know what'll work for us until we start buying some new furniture. I tried placing the piano in the dining room; no good because it ate up too much room. The bookcases are currently there, and I kind of like it! LOL. We have no dining table yet, so it feels like a special reading room. Haha! I like the idea of the bench along the window. If our chandelier was centered in the room, would it look weird for the table to be off-center? Otherwise, my plan was to buy a narrow table, have bench seating on one side (probably closer to the bar area) and regular chairs the other side.
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Take a look at SW Restrained Gold and Blonde. Those are nice honey golds without being too brassy. Glidden Water Chestnut is also nice with blue. As for the stone, it may work with a new paint color, but if not go neutral with it and let that be the accent wall. You don't want to have competing focal points. The carpet is such a striking color that you may not need an accent wall though. Perhaps just a nice large piece of art or some really dynamic fabric. I would definitely paint the woodwork and paint the adjoining dining area the same color. You can set a nice tablescape with colorful place settings for some pizzazz. And i would absolutely change the light fixture in there. There are lots of affordable options out there. I attached some fabric swatch ideas using restrained gold and blonde. Enjoy decorating your new place.
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Without dimensions I can't be sure, but it looks like you could put two chairs and a side/end table on the front wall. Not sure if that is what you're looking for, but it would be a cozy place for two people to sit and talk or read if there is too much activity in the family room for quiet activities. If your table has a leaf you can remove and you don't need it to have 8 chairs around it all the time that would buy you more space for seating.
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KW PNW Z8
3 years ago
Holly, are you asking for input on what to hang on wall above the yellow chair? My understanding is that the pot lights above the chair are there because a console type cabinet/ cupboard was supposed to be built in there but wasn’t. Right? I think more info needed to offer suggestions. What’s the width of the wall space from opening to corner? Would you post a couple more pics of the space showing where the door leads to & a short from opposite end? Is that the kitchen through the opening? Does the chair serve a purpose in that spot? From the single view, it looks like the pretty red lacquer chest might be better where the yellow chair is.
Amanda Smith
3 years ago
At first glance, I would say the yellow chair doesn’t belong there. It looks awkward as the other chair has its back to it. More photos needed....
Holly H thanked Amanda Smith
Aneisa Ahmad
3 years ago
Floor length mirror and some foliage
Holly H thanked Aneisa Ahmad
Holly H
Original Author
3 years ago
I agree that the yellow chair doesn't belong there, but I have no idea what does belong there. I was also considering moving the red chest but was not sure. It is the kitchen through the opening. It was originally supposed to be a linen closet but I decided to put a counter instead. This obviously got ripped out. It measures 29 inches. The door leads to a bedroom. Actually the hallway leads to two bedrooms and a bathroom on the other side of the 29 inch wall. I will load another picture.
Holly H
Original Author
3 years ago
partim
3 years ago
Remove the yellow chair and you're done.
Maureen
3 years ago
It’s nice to have breathing space and all walls don’t have to be filled. I’d remove items on both side of console. Add matching framed prints on both sides of opening for a balanced look and consider re-accessorizing console. Envision below but a set of prints would be on either side, one above the other. Now you’ve created a focal wall that is simple, but interesting
KW PNW Z8
3 years ago
Holly, I’m pretty much agreeing with @Maureen ideas. I see a nice blue floral on left wall of red console & another floral with reds on right wall facing console. How about try moving that smaller red one on right to wall above yellow chair (which we think should be moved). if you have other smaller art that you can put with it to make an arrangement which is the same general size as blue art on left, then you’ll have the balanced look @Maureen suggests. If the empty corner is too empty, @Aneisa Ahmad suggested floral on floor - maybe an interesting red pot with Asian flair & some greenery would look good, tie into red console & not visually block the doorway.
eastautumn
3 years ago
Yes to a nice plant in that corner-- maybe a ficus tree or large umbrella plant.
Holly H
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks, but there is no light there so plants will die.
KW PNW Z8
3 years ago
Silk plants have come a long way! a good fake fiddle leaf fig will cost $100 - $300 depending on size and quality. But, it will never die!

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