Design help for front entrance/living room
Hello all,
I recently moved into a cool little brick ranch (~1250 sq ft) in a midwest suburb that was well maintained and upgraded by the previous owners. It's 90% furnished but I'm having a heck of a time trying to figure out what to do with the front entrance/living area as you enter the home. As you enter the door, straight ahead is the kitchen/living area and to the right is the hallway to the bedrooms/bathroom. The layout is a bit funky and I am just trying to figure out what to do to make this an inviting spot when people enter the home. I currently just have a fold out cabinet I use for work during the day and then it gets tucked away when done. Some ideas I had were a bench table/built in type unit for the nook or perhaps a couple comfortable chairs and a coffee table. Any ideas or help to point me in a direction is very much appreciated. I definitely am a visual person and seeing other rooms is a super helpful starting point.
Thank you all for your help!
Comments (13)
PRORL Relocation LLC
11 months agolast modified: 11 months agoMichael
11 months agoI would use this more of a sitting area than TV viewing as that is already set up across from the kitchen. Light fixtures would definitely be upgraded down the line, they are a bit funky right? As for the workstation, there really isn't too great of a place to put it and it's nice to be able to look out the window while working. The other not so great thing about the house is I really don't have a true kitchen table area. I was hoping the nook could take something there but then it interrupts the flow into the kitchen. Very hard layout here to figure out!
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Comments (19)This is not the ideal location for a piano, as far as the piano itself is concerned. However, it may be the only place to put one in the house. Add a nice big rug under it with strong padding to absorb vibrations. i wouldn't put it on the angled wall, it would get bumped by people coming in the door. It looks like a console-spinet-upright could go between the two windows on the outside wall. Me, I'd be uncomfortable playing with my back to the house (experience with sneaky siblings when we were kids lol), but your family may be comfortable, and it allows for placement of a couple of chairs on the wall where the passthrough is. Move the console table to the angled wall. You will want a cabinet or basket or something for music. A small sofa would NOT be the best choice; a couple of small "occasional" chairs and perhaps a chair from the dining room would be best. A baby grand would look nice tucked in the corner where the plant is. Maybe put plantation shutters on the pass-thru. Will a teacher come to the house, or will the students go to the teacher? Will other music be performed? I've seen local houses where the living room, which otherwise wouldn't be used, is the music room, with stands, music storage, and chairs, as well as instruments, ready for playing. Definitely consider plantaion shutters, sheers, or solar blinds on the windows to protect the piano. Will the digital piano stay? Or be moved? Beautiful floor!...See MoreLiving Room/Front Entry layout help!
Comments (14)Yes! I worked on it some yesterday and will take measurements when I get home and can update pictures. The built in wall is 13' long. Drawer units are standard depth, 24", and the narrower cabinets are 12" upper cabinets, however we bumped them out a little, so closer to 16" deep. To the left of the pax wardrobe wall (if facing) is the kitchen. To the right is the front of our house. The third pictures in original post has labels for all exits....See MoreHelp with front entryway design
Comments (1)I would default to a bright white. Another option is to do a tall wainscoting painted white and have your accent color above....See MoreLayout help living room w/3 entrances: front door & 2 large doorways
Comments (5)@decoenthusiaste sorry I should have clarified. I moved knowing that I would be buying new furniture, specifically new couches and a dining room set. I was looking more for advice on potential layouts rather than how to layout the room with the furniture I already have. My initial though was to angle a curved couch kiddy corner to the front door or maybe get an L shaped sectional, but I thought it would be weird to have part of a couch sticking out into the living room. It doesn't help that the supply chains are so backed up that most couches won't get in until February at this point. I have a 9 by 12 Persian rug for the room, as well as a runner to differentiate the entrance, though I don't know if both will fit (they're getting cleaned). I had four matching chairs, but one broke on the move here, and the prior move was not too kind to them either. I currently have no idea what to do with the screen; my place is more windows than walls. it has three panels and is the heaviest thing ever....See More- PRO
RL Relocation LLC
11 months ago Michael
11 months ago
PROSabrina Alfin Interiors
11 months agoWow. This looks almost exactly like my son's home in the Denver suburbs. Here's what I suggested for him:
In that little alcove next to the entry closet, they put in open shelving. Their place doesn't have a window there, so theirs are taller, but you could put open shelving or a credenza for more storage under the window. With your bay window, I might take out that window seat and put the sofa there instead.
ladybug74
11 months agoJT7abcz
11 months agoYou could make the window seat functional and attractive by adding cushions and a few pillows for overflow seating, then place a table (or two small, round tables) in front of it with chairs that can be used for dining, coffee or as a work table.
You can then place an accent cabinet or table in the nook which will keep your path to the kitchen open, and style it to make it inviting for your guests. There are lots of possibilities - a table with a lamp, and a closed bench underneath for shoe storage, or maybe an accent cabinet to store placemats or dog leashes out of sight. Raise (or better yet, remove) the blinds and dress the window above with drapes or a woven or Roman shade. Add a large rug and other items that will make the space feel welcoming.
Michael
11 months ago@ladybug74, here is the kitchen and living room area. I'm currently using the backside of the kitchen counter as the "dinner table" with some bar height stools. It works OK but not ideal for close family dinners. In reality, I'd probably use a kitchen table a handful of times per year, so it's not a dealbreaker to not have.
ffpalms
11 months agoI find a bench very useful for putting on shoes (stored in baskets beneath). Three hooks on the closet wall would be handy as well.
Michael
11 months agoladybug74
11 months ago
PROAmy Peltier Interior Design & Home
9 months agoThere are plenty of things you can do with this entryway/living room area. You could easily add a sofa and two chairs. Depending on if you need a TV or not, that could dictate the layout. If you need a TV, you could use the blank wall across from the windows, if not, you could set the sofa up to face the windows and have the two chairs flanking either side of the window.
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West Coast Modern on the East Coast · More InfoYou might also be able to place a bench near the entryway under the small window.
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ladybug74