Would you do a sunken family room in an older home?
Hillary
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (36)
HALLETT & Co.
2 years agochiflipper
2 years agoRelated Discussions
What do you think of sunken living rooms?
Comments (36)Hello All. We bought a home in Ca. built in the mid 70's that has a sunken living room. We did not really think too much about it when we bought it. Yes, I think it is a 70's dated look but the views, school district and location were the selling points. I LOVE my house. It has been 12 years since we bought it and I have entertained a lot! No one has ever fallen. My Mom and Dad moved in with me in their 90's and can navigate the step down. That said my foyer is sautillo tile in a reddish brown color and there are 3 steps down to the cream carpeted living room directly opposite the large foyer. I too have large floor to ceiling windows opposite the entrance probably for dramatic effect, a huge floor to vaulted ceiling fireplace with large hearth on the left and a wrought iron railing to the right dividing the foyer level dining room from the living room. Rather odd in today's design world. The wrought iron railing extends down the stairs on the dinning room side. So with the railing, several steps and a cream carpet in the living room there may be enough visual cues for the transition. This room did have a sunken bar within it when we bought it. That was very odd as the bartender/bar was at waist height when standing in the room. LOL we floored it over to make the room all one level!...See MoreWhat would you do in this family room?
Comments (20)OK, I will try to make modifications after I get off work today and post pics. I have often wondered about putting arched mirrors on each side of the fireplace, like these: Do you think these would work in the place of shelves? My hold up on the mirrors was wondering just exactly what they would reflect. I tried mirror on mantle, but it just reflected the fan, which wasn't a good reflection. To be honest, I am just afraid the shelving would give a good excuse to put out too much stuff. Groveraxle - thank you for the visual help! It shows a lighter sofa (whether it be leather of Flexsteel) would brighten up the room. Plus, it shows me that I wouldn't want an all white rug in front of lighter couch. Katinparadise - I really like those rugs, with copper in them. What the pics do not show is the room is open into brunch area with a copper ceiling. Will post pics, as I make progress. Thank you!...See Moredo older buyers prefer carpet or hardwood in family room?
Comments (28)The 'Return On Investment' (ROI) is a local one and a personal one. A basic 3" wide red oak strip hardwood has a relatively low installation cost. It is the closest in cost to 'new carpets' being installed. The regular red oak in a narrow plank (with labour and materials) will cost around $10/sf. A HIGH END carpet is going to be in the same range $7-$9/sf (with high end pad and labour). You will 'maintain' the value of your home with the new carpet (no increase in price; no speedy turnover). The ROI is very little. The one thing it prevents is loss of value (or a home with 'flooring allotment' built into the price). The hardwood will offer 25% - 40% ROI. That means the house can be slightly higher (in the mid-upper range for size and location) and can be expected to have a shorter time on the market. There is NOTHING like the advertising that states, "Solid hardwoods throughout". That's a buzz phrase that every Realtor LOVES to use...'cause it moves inventory!...See MoreSunken family room -HELP with flooring!!!
Comments (4)I would say that in general carpet is an unpopular floor surface for the first floor. I like it in bedrooms, and it is used more frequently upstairs (if you have a two story house) and in bedrooms. The drawback to it is that it shows traffic patterns more readily than either wood or LVP. That being said, some people definitely like it in their family rooms, so if that is really what you prefer, it's your money and your house, you should please yourself. If you're concerned about getting an area rug in a standard size and having it work in your space, keep in mind that carpet retailers can cut remnants to a custom size and bind the edges to make an area rug, and in fact can do that with any of their stock or special order carpet. I did that in my living room and I have a 9 X 12. So I could have gotten a standard size but a custom order pattern was closer to what I wanted. And it didn't cost any more than a standard rug. More than the cheap polyester ones, but not as much as an expensive wool one (it's nylon). It is not bedroom plush. There is a lot of variety available if you have a large retailer near you....See Morejust_janni
2 years agoValinta
2 years agobpath
2 years agoNorwood Architects
2 years agoworthy
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoPatricia Colwell Consulting
2 years agoorangecamera
2 years agoptreckel
2 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
2 years agoHillary
2 years agoUser
2 years agobpath
2 years agolyfia
2 years agoHillary
2 years agolyfia
2 years agoHillary
2 years agolyfia
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agopricklypearcactus
2 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
2 years agoartemis_ma
2 years agoHillary
2 years agoHillary
2 years agodecoenthusiaste
2 years agolittlebug zone 5 Missouri
2 years agolyfia
2 years agobisondaktelcom
2 years agochiflipper
2 years agoelcieg
2 years agoLittle Bug
2 years agores2architect
2 years agoJennifer
2 years agoWestCoast Hopeful
2 years agoHillary
2 years ago
Related Stories
MOST POPULARHouzz Tour: Gracious Older Home Updated for a Young Family
A Texas designer lightens up and repurposes rooms, creating a welcoming space that suits this family’s casual lifestyle
Full StoryCONTEMPORARY HOMESHouzz Tour: Family Has Room to Spare in New Rural Home
A builder and his wife design a streamlined house for their family that embraces the land and shows careful planning
Full StoryKIDS’ SPACESThe Family Home: Wallpaper Kick-Starts Kids' Rooms
Encourage imaginations and budding personalities with delightful wallpaper designs for children's bedrooms
Full StoryECLECTIC HOMESHouzz Tour: Room for Fun in a Sophisticated Family Home
Eclectic touches combine with elegance in a London interior designer’s light, bright family residence
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESRoom of the Day: Adding Comfort and Style to a New Jersey Family Room
Layers of natural textures and pops of color help create a welcoming and cozy space for a couple and their baby
Full StoryMY HOUZZDesigner Breathes Life Into Her Family’s Historic Home
Take a look inside this lovingly renovated former barn in suburban Chicago
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSMy Houzz: A Midcentury Home’s Remodel Lets a Family Breathe
By overhauling the layout and saving on finishes, a Seattle family gets the home it has always wanted
Full StoryPETSPet-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide
Not all pet dangers are obvious. Keep furry friends safe and sound by handling all of these potential hazards
Full StoryMY HOUZZMy Houzz: Happy Pink Palette in a Family’s South Carolina Home
Elegant kid-friendly furnishings and a vibrant palette stand out in a blogger’s new build on Daniel Island
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDHouzz Tour: Home Away From Home for an Irish Family in Australia
A contemporary new build nods to Irish residential design while embracing its natural surroundings
Full Story
User