What on earth do I do with this giant wall?? Help!

2 years ago

We recently moved and are in the process of re-decorating our new home.

We are repaintining the first floor and in the family room we need to include a decorative option on the staircase wall that also provides ample storage. I can either purchase pieces or hire someone to do built-ins. Decorative woodwork is also an option. The air return obviously has to stay but I would like it to be concealed if possible (it will be flipped and painted at the very least.)

Fireplace is being redone, with a tile surround that looks like natural stone and a large rustic beam mantle. Shiplap is being taken down and will be replaced with drywall and painted.

Furniture is being replaced with a cream linen sectional and darker linen swivel chairs in front of the fireplace. Our style tends to be Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware ish.

I am terrible at envisioning design and can't for the life of me figure out which way to go with this wall and any help would be greatly appreciated. Pictures, links, design plan - I'll take whatever you want to offer. :)

Thank you!

Featured Answer

partim

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

To design the storage you need on the staircase wall, first make a list of what needs to be stored. How many square feet of deep lower cabinets if any, or all shallow cabinets? Will most of it be items that should be behind doors, or are they more decorative items? Then see how that can be arranged on that wall. Adjustable shelves are always useful if needs change. Is there an Ikea near you?

Be sure to plan all your storage at the same time. For example, I think your room would be very attractive with deep storage, on either side of the window. It could either be built-in or freestanding pieces of a suitable size. And it could be a storage bench or a taller cabinet. If you can store deep things there, your staircase call can be shallower.

Your room will look larger if you just hang wall art on the staircase wall and find spots for storage elsewhere.

Comments (13)

cawaps
2 years ago
Will there no longer be a chair where the white chair is now? Are the two swivel chairs going on either side of the fireplace? If so, how much space does that leave for foot traffic at the bottom of the stairs?
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Jens Marttinen
2 years ago
If you wanted you could take a look at this book - https://bit.ly/3uKBtD3 - it teaches you everything from space utilization to color scheme in a quick crash course.
elcieg
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
You can't cover over the return, so just paint it wall color.

While you are taking down the phony "shiplap", take down the surround and the top mantle.

The stair wall you to which you are referring looks different in the two photos. The panorama makes the wall look rounded and in the other photo it looks like a flat wall. Which?
Lisa Roman-Lucci
Original Author
2 years ago
@cawaps - There will no longer be a chair in front of the stairwell wall. The two swivels will sit in front of the fireplace and face into the room. They will not impact the base of the stairs. All of the furniture that you see in the room now will be gone.
Lisa Roman-Lucci
Original Author
2 years ago
@elcieg - the entire fireplace is being redone, with both "mantles" being removed.

The stairwell wall is flat - sorry that the pano created distortion.
elcieg
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
My daughter (Navy) was stationed in Japan. I had a stairwall similar to yours and she brought home a Step Tansu. You position it to follow the stair direction. An amazing piece of furniture, as you can also turn it into a console. Notice the top pieces...you take them off, flip to copy the bottom right arrangement.
Lisa Roman-Lucci thanked elcieg
susan49417
2 years ago
I would remove the TV from above the mantle and place on the staircase wall....not an attractive look above the fireplace. You could incorporate the TV into built in for storage.
ptmatthews
2 years ago
I would move the tv to stair wall also, with custom cabinetry.
ptmatthews
2 years ago

Kitchen · More Info
shirlpp
2 years ago
Your room is already cutoff by the staircase wall, so putting cabinetry there will cut it off say....another 2 to 3 feet.

Putting a TV in the cabinetry will expose you to lots of sunglare, however, you can close the window treatments.

Thus, I agree with @partim on just putting art on that wall.
partim
2 years ago
To make this narrow room look even wider, remove a section of the drywall under the staircase and inset a piece of matching flooring. Take some from a closet if needed. Instantly your room will look wider and more proportional. Get your carpenter to remove all the drywall in that wall, support the staircase then remove the uprights in the staircase wall, adding attractive metal horizontal and vertical bars as a visible support to ensure the stair is still well supported.

To finish the back wall with drywall or apply another wall finish. Grasscloth look? A textured fabric wall is very attractive and simple.
PRO
Annette Jaffe Interiors
2 years ago
How much storage do you need? Below we have included a few images of our designs. Please note the storage we used in each. It might be easy to go ahead and move the TV to that wall and have a storage unit made that will include it.

Book storage:
Manhattan Contemporary: Living Room · More Info

Under window seating storage:
White House Blue Water: Living Room · More Info

TV unit/built in storage:
Classic Upper East Side: Family Room · More Info