Updated room layout and could use more input
UPDATED: We have rearranged our furniture based upon one of the layouts suggested in one of the comments and we are thrilled! There are so many advantages to the new layout: overall room appearance, traffic flow, and when we swivel our chairs to watch tv we can now read the subtitles (we were definitely too far away from the TV before. Best of all I can now see the mountains from my chair when turned to face the sofa. Besides rearranging the furniture, we replaced the coffee table with an inexpensive round one, removed the ottoman for the corner chair and left the chair as a reading nook. I also moved some art around and rearranged on the wall. I'll add a comment to the end of this thread with new pics of the living room and questions for finishing off the room.
ORIGINAL POST: The living room is our only space for both entertaining and tv viewing. We do have a separate dining room. Currently the tv sits on a console against the largest wall perpendicular to the fireplace wall. We don’t think we want to put the tv over the fireplace, but have considered moving it to sit above cabinets to the left of the fireplace. That would require some rework of the shelves as they are stationary and don’t fit the tv as they are.
So we’re not sure if we should keep the tv where it is, or if we should relocate. We’re also hoping to replace a good bit of our current furniture, and don’t know if we should be shopping for sectional, sofa, loveseat, chairs or what so that we can make the best use of the space. I’m including i pic of the fireplace wall showing the cabinet space (this is a listing photo, so not our stuff), and also a floorplan showing our current furniture arrangement. Any help would be appreciated. We are lost!
Comments (13)
houssaon
last year
Cynthia
last yearRelated Discussions
Swag update...need more input
Comments (4)Would it be possible to simply get some yellow and white gingham ribbon and trim the shade, perhaps down the sides and across the shade above the scallops? I guess you could use some fabric in a gingham to do the same thing. Or you could be funky and stamp on yellow squares with craft paint to make a yellow check pattern on the shade. I think a valance would be too much....See MoreUpdated layout (3D pics), input please?
Comments (17)measurements of appliances would help. It's difficult to know how they would fit into the space w/o them. is the m/w used a lot? in cooking process or just for snacks? the first thing I'd do is draw up a layout of a galley type kitchen/work area with a 3.5 - 4' doorway to the DR/FR centered on that wall. That gives you about 4' on either side of the work area. I'd put the fridge about where it is (w/o cab to it's left), move the sink a bit (a foot?) to the the right of where it is. that's gives you several ft of work space between fridge and sink. fridge is close to prep/cook area and to DR/FR. On the stove side I'd move the stove a bit to it's left (hard to tell how much w/o knowing size of the stove). put a 'wing' on the corner to the right of the stove w/ a prep sink on the end that turns (so is 'backed' to the DR wall). if mw is needed for cooking process, possibly it could be smaller and put on an 'under an upper cabinet' shelf - be it to the left or right of the stove. My choice would be putting it in the corner area. I'd consider another short cab/counter 'wing' on the right end of the sink run. That gives a bit more counter space at the end of that run and a slight barrier to a table put in front of the window. I wouldn't put a bench up against a peninsula there - that places the heads of people (and their hair) too close to counter range for me. The other end and opposite the table area could be a baking/other work space with pantry area. Possible 2nd oven/wall oven. on the end wall (in front of ext door - that goes where? garage? backyard?) I'd put a halltree/bench w/hooks over it for my sweater, sun hat, dog leash. open space under bench for incoming dirty/muddy shoes/boots. what I call an end 'wing' - I think this is from buehl's kitchen. it's at the end of a run. it's just a short 'turned' section of cab and counter. The corner area of it can open (doors or drawers) into the space behind it, be it the DR or the kitchen table area. this is another sample - from a gw'er whose name i don't remember. to the left of the dw (if I remember correctly) the cab/counter angles off to the back door. it's just a bit of a triangular cab (you can see the knob on it). i wouldn't use a diagonal across the corner area tho - it cuts into the space too much....See MoreLaundry room layout - would love input
Comments (14)It's going to be very, very nice, Jenswrens. I think the window will definitely pull its weight. It's going to be a good work room, and it'd be a shame if you were forever carrying stuff off to some more inviting place to finish up. Definitely that recommended extra-deep counter, which you have good room for. So extremely desirable, I'd put it right at the top of my list and start working from there. Probably under the window... A sink large enough to soak a large heavy blanket in would be nice, but maybe not worth sacrificing other function for anyone who has a bathtub. Unless you find yourself needing one fairly often? Even if you would choose to do lengthy sewing and ironing tasks elsewhere, it would be very nice to have a fold-up board and sewing machine readily available for those quickie single jobs. I'd definitely design them in, the board on a swivel and the closer to the window the better. My wall board gets only dim natural light, and even with the light on I have to walk dressy items into the bedroom to see if I've done a good enough job for them. On the plus side, I can see the TV from the board. :) For sure, extend the counter right across the washer and dryer, wherever they are set, to maximize work space. And for pretty. Would it work to convert the washer and dryer's current location to an ironing/hanging rack (+ rolling laundry cart?) area, gaining good use of cabinets to the corner to offset some of what you'd lose? Now that it's occurred to me, I'm thinking I'd definitely want that because, if the counter were to run over the W/D and the window portion was nice and deep, you'd already be counter-rich with just the L. The ironing area'd be nicely out of sight from the hall and, after all, ironing's an important function well worth investment of space in a laundry room, given its obstinate refusal to become obsolete (will it ever?)....See MoreFinalizing Kitchen Design - Could Use Your Input
Comments (8)Great feedback here so far. Thanks to everyone who has responded. @Kristin S - yes, the appearance of the low ceiling with the railing is rather 'unique' haha. We have lived here for a few years and both agree that, despite the look, it is very functional to have that space open. That being said, I am open to reconsidering. One earlier idea that I had was to put bottom cabinets in with a countertop for a little seated bar, but I was not convinced at the time. Our general plan for the new nook is to let it continue to be the heart of the house. It is just organically the center of the house for everyone. @lucky998877 - slider to the dining room is definitely an idea I'd considered earlier, just not interested in changing the backyard that much, and we love seeing through to the backyard when we walk into the house. The dimensions from the back (sink) wall to the range wall are 11'6", so I am just not sure what kind of island I can get in there?? Open to that idea for sure. @herbflavor - you seem to understand that the nook is the heart of the home. Considering the kitchen's 11'6" depth, how would you situate an island in that space while maintaining flow to access the back door (whether slider of single swing)? @Woody Vaughan or Shaun Fogarty - thank you! Out swing door would be nice, I am afraid that if it were a comfortable width, the final few inches would be exposed (no protective overhang - but I will double check that. @Buehl - Good points, ones that we have considered. At one point I was thinking about designing some hidden gates to keep the kids out of the kitchen (no matter where the range is located or how it is designed) - 2 little ones already and a third could be in the works, haha. Regarding the nook table, my plan is open. I was going to replace it at a minimum, but totally drop it in the event of a convincing design. Regarding railing, as I mentioned above it will be replaced with new railing or something else altogether. @Jan Moyer - Guilty as charged :). We do some design work on our own projects and I am very attracted to it, so I figured my own little project would be a great way to get some practice, feedback etc. I don't know why planning space is so much fun?? That being said, we have collaborated with some great designers on our projects and I figure at some point I will get one of them involved - great idea. Thank you....See MorePatty C
last yearPatty C
last year
tracefloyd
last yearlast modified: last yearThat's cool! Here's another idea...a sectional with the side next to the fireplacce as a chaise. In other words no backrest or armrest...sit near to the fire or just lounge, etc. Add a coffee table or ottoman. A small side table for the armchairs.
Still thinking...it's hard to tell how big your room is but if the set-up is too far from the TV, you could move everything closer and place a game table and two chairs in front of the French Doors and don't use the middle doors.
StPatty C
last yearAlso, my husband and I both have bad backs and pretty much live in the 2 recliner chairs you see in the pics. They are getting worn and we were thinking of replacing with Stressless recliners. But there is also a 3 seater sofa that would work for us that we could place facing the TV.
tracefloyd
last yearlast modified: last yearWell that's a whole other story. I would stick with your new Stressless recliners idea. I don't know what a Stressless recliner is but they sound wonderful. Comfort is king in your case, right? So you each will want your own chair with your own armrests to ease getting up and down.
So, center the seating and rug on the TV with four chairs, two of them your recliners and two swivels. I still like the game table by the windows for games or tea time with a view to the outdoors, plus just extra seating.
P.S. Remove the little bookcase by the door...you have a whole wall of them. The white armchair/ottoman could go in the window corner where you have a round table. You could then move the TV and seating a little further away from the fireplace if you need more room to get by in front of the fireplace.Patty C
last yearThe 3 seater sofa I pictured is also Stressless and all 3 seats recline. The only thing we'd need to add is something we could rest our feet on. They do have a double ottoman that pulls out with a table in the middle, but something else might work better. The Stressless recliners are wonderful but very bulky. Adding a sample of recliner and the double ottoman.
I do like the game table idea and had originally thought of putting one where the TV and chair are currently if we moved the TV next to the FP. We are in the mountains, so it's all about comfort and casual entertaining. And we do like to play games and do puzzles, which we currently do in the dining room. The chair, ottoman and small bookbase will probably be moved to another room. Not crazy about the console the TV is on, so would eventually like to replace that. We would also need to mount the TV on the wall so it's up higher if we go with your option 1, sofa facing TV and 2 swivel chairs across.
tracefloyd
last yearPatty C
last yearPatty C
last yearNew pics after rearranging. We will be replacing the swivel recliners with new ones and need to pick a color. We would also like to add some small end/drink tables for the sofa. I'd prefer they didn't match. My current selection for the recliners is a honey gold color. I could use some suggestions for tables and input on the recliner color. I'm also adding pics of the area rug and of the recliner in the honey color..
tracefloyd