Help design my family room!

last year

We are doing a major renovation of our 1962 mid century ranch. We are family of 5 (2 small/medium adults, 3 kids 12, 10, 5 plus 2 cats).

The family room is accessed from the foyer. The house faces south and the entrance to the room is from east…there is a huge unique (non working) fireplace on the south wall, 2 huge windows on the East and West walls. There’s also a ledge under the fireplace that runs the full room so the dimensions below only go to the ledge.

Putting in red oak floors in 2” width. Walls to be repainted the same light beige. White Ceiling fan w light to be installed.

We just purchased the sectional (Jonathan Louis Nova in Napa Teal) & also have 2 cherry bookcases. Everything else must be new or from another room.

Would love feedback on layout & the selections I’m thinking about. Any other suggestions welcome too!

New:

2 swivel gliders (Thinking: Room & Board Ford in Vento Cognac)
Rug — what size??? Love wool with patterns…colors??
Media console under wall-mounted TV (tv 52-60”); thinking: R&B Coles in Walnut
Bookshelf or console (?) matching cherry bookcase in 30” or 48” height??
Floor lamps or table lamp?

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Comments (15)

PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
last modified: last year
Before you comment to beige walls, let's get the natural light down first.

House faces south, but there are huge walls on east and west walls. Which direction gives you the most natural light during the day? And what time of the daylight will your family spend the most time in the room?

Question on the non-working fireplace? Get rid of the heavy hood and put the t v over the firebox.
Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
We love the hood! It’s so unique! It’s actually made of metal.

The light is lovely in the morning from the east window and from the west in the evening. But it’s fairly diffused in the afternoon when we spend most of the time in the room.

Planning to put the TV on the East wall.
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Thank you all for your feedback! @groveraxle I want to keep the couch and furniture arrangement as is and keep the TV above the fireplace. I don't have an outlet to put it on the other wall and I like it this way since it is open to my kitchen and in person it makes the rooms flow rather than cutting it off by having the back of the couch facing the kitchen. I agree with your comment on the vertical sticks and it feeling too skinny..that's sort of what I was getting at in my question with adding more to the room and making it feel more full. The picture with that new coffee table helps a lot! Maybe I should shop for new coffee and end table? Eventually I plan to replace the two chairs with cream colored arm chairs or wingback style chairs. Any other suggestions or help would be so appreciated! Thank you.
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Yeah, I know it’s a tall order to come up with something that accomplishes what I want but I figured I'd see if others on Houzz had some ideas. Both sectionals that I'm considering are pretty spacious. The first one is 144” x 79” and the other is 120” x 110.” msteezzy - here’s a picture of the space you asked about.
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First thought is to move the whole seating area down toward the fireplace so the the end table is centered on the far window. My moving the seating area down, you may be able to have a sofa table behind for some lamps. I would look at plantation shutters although if I could convince you I’d go with drapes too. It will help to balance that wall out and add some softness as well as add some visual ‘pop’ if you chose a pattern. With that said, with drapes you wouldn’t need any artwork because the wall space would be taken up by the drapes. I’d remove the mirrored piece to the right by the entry as it looks like it’s floating out in space. I would also consider doing something else other than artwork. There is so much out there like wall planters, metal art, something 3-dimensional. Just an FYI, there are apps like BeCasso that will take an existing photo and turn it into a watercolor, oil paining, pop art. Then you can order it as print, canvas or whatever. I did some mediocre mock-ups so you can get a feel for what some of this would look like. I also included a pic of a house like yours so that you may want to put something in the entry. I wouldn’t two two items just one.
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Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
Also forgot to ask about coffee table — I’m in love with the idea of an upholstered table/ottoman w patterned and a wooden shelf on the bottom for games…maybe 42 inches round or octagon. But I can’t find one.
PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
last modified: last year
Noah in teal.

Walls B.M. Revere Pewter (you need a green undertone to balance all the different natural light and it is a great pair with teal.

Sherrill Furniture

Woodbine table.

See if you can find a coffee table with tray that has legs to get it up off the rug. That way you can see the color of the rug running under it.

The Rug Decor, wool, Oushak, gorgeous!

Consider this layout with square upholstered coffee table, and t v mounted to wall. Doing that will eliminate one bulky piece (console).

Measure the table to the size of the sectional...tip, bottom two on chart.
arcy_gw
last year
I am sooo glad putting the TV over the fireplace is not in the cards. Interesting idea for an ottoman..can't say I have ever come across upholstery with shelf on bottom either. I would add "gas insert" to my list of must haves since you love the fireplace. The fireplace ledge next to the hood is the perfect place for the TV either hanging on the wall or sitting on the ledge.
PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
IMO, too dark, too heavy looking.
Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
Dear JudyG thank you so much!! Will see if we can run electricity to that wall (I’m doubtful bc it’s an outside wall but is a great idea never occurred to us!).

Can you send link or information for that coffee table? It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.

And that rug…I LOVE it so much! You don’t think that is too much teal with the sofa? Please link.

What if we went lighter on the leather barrel chairs? Is it the barrel style that is too heavy?
Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
Oh and Revere pewter is a great suggestion—seems close to the existing color (which we don’t know name of because it was there 9 years ago when we bought, but we have always liked).
Denise Marchand
last year

Good layout and wonderful color sofa! Looks like you are not afraid of color, go for a colorful rug and walls.

Rug 9x12 Colorful or light off white

Sounds like this is your tv room. Consider a darker more dramatic wall to compliment the color of the sectional and vibrant lounge chairs. Keep the fireplace wall white and the ceiling white (Benjamin Moore Decorators White - a clear bright white) as it will bring out the color of the sofa.

The light walls behind the sofa are washing out the color. Here are some inspiration pics.

^ ^ ^ BTW this is wallpaper

^ ^ ^ The color of the wall is the color of your sofa. Note the bright turquoise color on the sofa to consider for the wall color

^ ^ ^ It's all about cozy comfort. Note the colorful rug

^ ^ ^ Note the wall color (your sofa) and the blue green art (for the walls) Light floor and bright yellow accents

^ ^ ^ I wanted you to see the brown tone on tone and the light side wall and light rug. If you do a tone on tone with the blue colors you can achieve this layering.

^ ^ ^ Again the tone on tone color with hot pink accents.
PRO
JudyG Designs
last year
Sara, it looks like the present wall color has a strong yellow undertone, which isn't the worst for east light, but with the teal, I think a green undertone (which I happen to love with east light) is the best way to go.
Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
Denise Marchand, thank you so much for the inspiration pictures — #2 is especially beautiful.

Will think about painting a wall dark & since teal/turquoise/peacock is my favorite color I like the idea of monochrome shades of it!

Also love the magenta accent as that’s my other favorite color. Husband has deemed it too girly and just “too much” but maybe seeing pro inspiration will sway him!
Denise Marchand
last year
Sara, I agree that #2 inspiration pic is the one. I think you will like a tone on tone darker room with that sofa. As long as you keep the ceiling and fireplace wall white, the room won't look like a dark hole. It will give the room a special dimension off the foyer, almost like a vintage mens' club in the 20s.

Men are so cute in magenta and pink shirts! I'm sure you can convince him to go for bright color accents.

Wouldn't if be wonderful to have a whimsical rug in there? Here's a rug from The Rug Company Matthew Williamson Peacock Dark:
Denise Marchand
last year
Don't be afraid of a dark shade of the color you pick. Instinct is to go lighter, but in this case, you will want to make a statement. Go dark, or go home. hehe
Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
I think I found a rug! It’s pretty pink but I think I like it. I would prefer an antique Persian but the thought of shopping for the right one is daunting. Am in love w that peacock one but it’s way too expensive. The one I found from Room & Board for $2400 (8x10) seems to complement my fabrics beautifully! Will see how it goes with the red oak floors.

For the wall color, Im not sure now to begin finding a good complementary teal. I’ve been thinking about painting my foyer SW Gale Force, which is the color we are using on kitchen cabinets on the other side of the foyer. If I do that maybe stick w neutral walls in the family room?

I’m thinking SW Natural Tan — it seems closest to what is there now and we love how that color works throughout our home. What do think??

And for the cocktail ottoman, I found a contender: Bassett Kara…have several fabric & leather swatches coming.
Sara Mir
Original Author
last year
@JudyG I love the Sherill Designs cocktail ottoman and the Rug you suggested but I can’t find them — could you point me please?