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Home Decorating Design Dilemma

What can I do with a blank wall with a window butting up to it?

last year

trying to decorate my front room. on one wall, there is a window that butts right up to the back wall. l had my heart set on built in bookcases wall to wall along the back wall, but there is no way to do them without blocking about 7 inches of the window all the way up. Im now at a loss of what to do along this back wall (approximately 12 feet wide total) There is a piano in the front of the room by the windows and a couple chairs im not wild about. any ideas on how to fill that wall?

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BeverlyFLADeziner

last year

Center the canvas over the chairs and add a plant at the window.

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Comments (14)

PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
last modified: last year
Why on EARTH must they go wall to wall? Pick an "end point" both sides, such as a foot and a half from the window wall. Nine linear feet of built in is quite a VISUAL. I won't "build in" for a client unless there is a need. Meaning a ton of reading and books.

Why must they even be "built in" when so many moveable options are available??
palimpsest
last year
Do you already have things, books, to go on the shelves? I ask because there are regular questions about what people should put on their built in shelves.

Why not just decorate the walls with artwork?
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To everyone who commented: Thank you!! Lots of ideas and things to consider here. Rearranging the furniture is something I haven't given much thought to. I did what I did because I like my sofa to be close to the tv (well, I'm nearsighted), and coming from a studio apartment, that's how it was previously - everything close together. So it's hard to change. Yes, I should eventually get a new tv stand. The tv is actually safe on the stand, as the tv legs are less wide than the stand itself and the stand is pure wood, so its construction is quite good. It's a relic of the tube tv days, but it worked for the new tv when I bought it a couple of years ago, so I didn't bother changing it. As to the stuff I have all around (especially in the corner) - those are things I want on display. They are model buses from England, many in their own display case. Eventually, I want to get a curio cabinet as I have a much larger collection not yet on display. As for the curtains, I chose that color because it matched the color of the wood floor and the wood furniture. But I may have to re-evaluate that also. I agree about having the curtain rod pulled out on top. However, if you look at the photo of the left side of the window, there's no space to install a curtain rod just to the left top of the window, as the original window frame and the corner of the wall are extremely close. If there's a solution to that, please post!! And thanks for the guide to hanging pictures...I will definitely be taking this info into consideration...I also have my bedroom to work on!! Thanks again!
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Bingo! Just what I thought. So, here's some thoughts for furniture arrangement. Place the love seat on the wall where the sofa is now and place the sofa facing the tv/fireplace. I can't tell how close to put the sofa to the love seat, but I think using the ottoman in front of the sofa is a better placement. Now, with the smaller seating on the wall, you can have a narrow shelf/sofa table behind the love seat for a couple of lamps and décor. Another option is to place the love seat on the window wall and use a sofa table behind it. Adding a bit of color and texture can bring it all together. Any of this of interest? I would have to see the pieces arranged before I could offer any more suggestions.
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I was thinking of painting the inside a dark color that picks up on the bricks. You could also add a trellis and plant vines and perennials in the planter.
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Jillie
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
I have TONS of books including collectibles and first editions i would like to display. And i also very much like the look of built-ins.
jaja06
last year
Brainstorming a little bit. Perhaps find an intentional way to end the shelving.
PRO
Norwood Architects
last year
It doesn't seem necessary to have newly built bookcase span the entire wall width. You can stop them short of the window by a couple of feet. That might allow you to put a large sized plant or a small size decorative tree. A plan should certainly get a lot of light from the adjacent window. Good luck!
Jillie thanked Norwood Architects
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I have no idea from those pics about the space and I agree unless you wonderful stuff to display the last thing I would do is a bunch of bookcases or shelves. I think a huge piece of art you love would be amazing from what I see of the space but please at least post a flooorto scale and some more pics.
Fori
last year
I think your dog feels threatened by the faux doggie. You need some thought bubbles. "Am I next?" or maybe "Wasn't I enough?"

I like freestanding units because I can't commit, but you might want your bookcases builtin to go to the ceiling (which I can't see). Whatever you get, like everyone says, you just don't go to the ends. If that impacts the feel of a builtin, you can panel the remaining wall with bookcase material.
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last year
Could you move the piano and add the built-ins on that wall? Hard to tell anything without photos of the entire space and a floor plan.
PRO
Darci Hether New York
last year
You could potentially try a large book shelf in place of built-ins or just a large piece of artwork. Below are some designs of ours which might help you more with your dilemma.

Financiers Pied-à-Terre: Living Room · More Info

Riverside Drive: Living Room · More Info

Light Renovations: Living Room · More Info
Jillie thanked Darci Hether New York
Jillie
Original Author
last year
Love the ideas! thank you!
ffpalms
last year
If you have a lovely view out that window, I’d place a mirror near that corner. It would add light and views. It would look fantastic behind that potted plant BeverlyFLADeziner just posted.
ffpalms
last year
Here’s a rather impressive view extended by a mirror.

Hillside · More Info
Jillie
Original Author
last year
Wow, love these! thank you! i have a view of my garden and birdbath out that window!

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