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Furniture Design Dilemma living room

Family room: where to put focal point (fireplace+TV) and furniture

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I am renovating a 1959 home, trying to give a modern look. I bought 8" wide oak (Champagne color by Oak and Broad). I ordered a new kitchen (white and teal cabinets, white and gray countertops, see model below, it will be installed in one month). I am tearing down 2 walls around the kitchen for a more open space plan and more light coming into the kitchen. Now I have a hard time figuring out what to do of the family room (on the right of the kitchen below, with a view of the pool). Room is 25'3" by 15'7". Pool table is 8' by 4'7". Here is the video of the family room as it is now before the remodeling (and here is a video of the whole open space if you wanna take a look). I will remove those ugly panels with drywalls and will paint the wall white. Now, I am debating how to furnish it and where to put a TV and an electric fireplace. My thoughts:

a) Initially I wanted to put a big TV (75-85") next to the pool table, see the model of the entertainment studio here, and put two couches facing each other on the right of the pool table (OPTION 1 sketch below). Then I thought it doesn't make sense to have a huge TV there, it is too close to the pool players, and only half of the people seating on the 2 couches will face the TV. Also, a fireplace would not be seen unless it is above pool height, but then it would not leave enough space for a TV above it.

b) Then I thought it could be better to have the fireplace and TV on the smaller wall on the right with a sectional or couch+chair facing toward it. This way both people playing pool and sitting can watch the game on the TV. And this would allow the fireplace to be closer to the ground. Next to the pool table I will have a similar bookshelf as in OPTION 1 but without TV (OPTION 2 sketch below)

Questions are:

1) do you see other possible options? moving the pool table to the right could be a third option, with fireplace+tv on the left, but not sure it would leave enough space for couches (OPTION 3 below)

2) I am still debating if I should have a bar with 3-4 stools on the kitchen peninsula. I like it and my girlfriend absolutely loves the idea, but I wonder if space is a bit tight, or is it good?

3) If I remove the bar on the peninsula, I save space, and maybe i can have a couch there, but I think a couch with a sink behind it would be weird, right?

4) If I go for option 1, would you go for a sectional as in my drawing, or would you put a sofa and 1 chair? Or maybe 3 chairs?

5) How do you see the same Pietra Gray countertop on also the family room cabinets, both fireplace and bookshelf

OPTION 1:

OPTION 2:

OPTION 3:

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Comments (5)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
IMO you need 5' all around the pool table so start with that if you must have the pool table . IMO find another spot for the pool table I have no idea the size of the pool table but I am assuming a 4 x8 . That leaves bascically 10 x15 for the LR out of that 15 you need space for the stools to function so not at best you have 10 x12 a pretty small space for anything much in the way of furniture and IMO for sure no FP unless electric and horizontal with the TV wall hung above it on the right wall . I need to see the whole floor plan of the house not just this area and all the windows doorways and measurements of all of that and the kitchen clearly marked .
Maureen
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I can see option 2 working the best, but hopefully there is some flexibility at this point. Consider improved functionality, as well as (eventual) resale.

You can gain a wider area between kitchen/seating area by changing the opening on lower right to be near kitchen. Now seating area can be moved down!

Suggest an island (longer than peninsula if possible) to gain access on both sides, added storage, wider if possible for better entertaining (ie: buffet). I’d move sink/dishwasher to be near dish storage and to keep island/peninsula clear. People will gravite here.

A focal wall with built in electric fireplace would feel spacious, be a great feature in your open concept, and keep that space uninterrupted to get to opposite side of room.

Opposite wall idea.

There is a lot to consider and thinking about overall functionality is key before furniture placement. Hopefully you have a floor plan with exact dimensions, structural components and space requirements to make the best decisions. Good luck.
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Yes those wonderful mounts work well but not for us because we still need the TV to be at eye level and the mounts can't do that. It would have to be pulled into position so it would be in front of the fireplace to get it where we need it to be in order to watch it pain free. Plus over heating the TV and almost frying it was a big problem. Regardless of what went wrong for us folks need to do what ever works best for them. Whether it is to mount it over the fireplace or on another wall. This room does present a complex problem for seating. So J., I wish you the very best in your new home and hope you find many happy days and fond memories to come. MAE
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venexiano
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Hi, I have 4'10 around the pool table (bottom and sides) and it works well, we are not professional. There is a bit less on the corners (top) but never had an issue. There is also 4 feet toward the couch on the right, it is not a big deal to have the clue above the head of people sitting on the couch. So worked out well so far. @Patricia Colwell Consulting, I added the full floor plan. Pool table is 8' by 4'5". @Maureen, there is already an island, I added it. If you wanna move up the door that connects family room with the master bedroom, I feel like it will be very awkward to enter the bedroom, because the placement of the bed is the only possible one given doors and windows (all windows facing the pool are actually sliding doors, also in the master bedroom).
Maureen
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Full floor plan is really helpful. If fine with clearance, I think that set up above makes the most sense.
venexiano
Original Author
2 years ago
I feel like with sectional or 2 couches there is more sitting but I think it would make everything feel too crowded. Plus it will cover the view/light coming from the sliding doors that open to the pool. What do you think that overhang on the peninsula? Putting one couch there is pretty bad right?

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