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Woodworking Design Dilemma living room

How to design asymmetrical built ins around fireplace

last month

Hello all!

We just moved into our new home (traditional style but built in 2004), and we lack storage and display space in the living room. There are two alcoves flanking the fireplace where we want to add built in bookshelves and cabinets with doors below, but the walls are different widths AND one side has a bump-out space, probably due to a chase in that corner.

How would you design the built ins to look good -- we're not looking for symmetry here, just a way to perhaps mask the differences a bit to fool the eye. The wall sconces are staying, so they'll be about 60" high. Left side is 39" wide; right side is 51" wide, with the bump out part being 17" of that.

Once built ins are done, we'll change out the decor to go with the new sofa. Any ideas much appreciated! Thank you!

Featured Answer

Kendrah

last month

Are the built-ins for practical storage and books or more as a decorative element? I cannot imagine built-ins that stop that far from the ceiling and have sconces above them. It seems like they will be boxed into a recess. Can you tape out your sizes and where the shelves and cabinets would be with blue tape in the space and post a pic?

If book storage is not your goal, I might put a chest on either size with artwork between the chest and sconces.

What are you hanging above the fireplace?

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Comments (8)

housegal200
last month
You could have closed cabinets built to size (or maybe find some that happen to fit the space). These below have panels that echo the fireplace surround style with open shelves up above.
Barrington Farm House · More Info

Another version of same idea. I hope with your elegant grand piano within view that you put art above your fireplace.
Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade · More Info

You could do just white shelving on the left and a console cabinet on the right with shelves above.
Cosmetic updates on 1980s home · More Info

Park Slope Brownstone · More Info

Model Home · More Info
T Kaplan thanked housegal200
housegal200
last month
Your palette is monchromatic so art work with suggested motion for over the fireplace would bring dynamic pattern into the room:
Art Painting, Black/White · More Info

HORSEHEAD Contemporary Fine Art Gallery Wrapped on Giclee Canvas, 40"x40" · More Info

Soothing Contemporary Woodland Wall Art Painting Soft White Gray Tan Blue Green · More Info

"Crossline" Large Contemporary Original Art · More Info
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PRO
RappArchitecture
last month
Both of the above are good ideas. I don't think you need to mask the differences or "fool the eye". Assymetry is much more interesting visually than symmetry.
T Kaplan thanked RappArchitecture
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last month
Each side doesn't have to match in size.
PRO
Martin & Calloway LLC
last month
If the sconces are staying, I agree with housegal200. Some simple built-in base cabinets with a counter will work well. The different widths aren't a problem. As RappArchitecture mentioned, it adds some visual interest. The bump out shouldn't present a problem either. The counter will be scribed around it to fit the wall.
T Kaplan thanked Martin & Calloway LLC
Sammie J
last month
If you want to keep the sconces, maybe just try a bookshelf on the wall facing your sofa?
T Kaplan
Original Author
last month
Thank you, all, for the fantastic ideas and the photos showing so many asymmetrical rooms with cabinets. I just couldn't picture it and didn't want to spend the money on built in cabinetry only to have it look "off." It's nice to know that it's done all the time. I love so many of the ideas shown in the photos: painting the wall behind the shelves a contrasting color, or painting the lower cabinet, or using warm wood for floating shelving above the cabinets. Also, I like the artwork examples given very much. This gives me lots to go on. Thank you again!

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