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Design Dilemma Living Room

Long Living Room Design Help

last month

I cannot envision how to design this long living room. Specifically, I have no idea where to put the couch/TV? There are two doors in this area in awkward spots. We also wouldn't be able to mount the TV on the fireplace. We already have a space for the dining room table and chairs, so we wouldn't need a space for those! THANK YOU!

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Comments (9)

PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last month
Without knowing the exact dimensions, it's difficult to give you specifics. However, with a long, narrow room, the best approach is usually to divide the room into 2 parts. If you want a TV viewing area, and can mount the TV over the fireplace, then place it next to the f/p and face a sofa to that wall. If you have room add 2 chairs facing each other on either side of the sofa. Then the other side of the room could have a game table, a piano, or just a sitting area in front of the window. The area in front of the sliding doors should be kept clear of any furniture since it looks like a walkway.

You might post a floor plan with dimensions of all walls, doors, and windows for better advice.
Lyn Nielson
last month
I would mount the TV to the right of the fireplace (centered at eye level, approx. center at 41" off the floor. Sofa in front of fireplace & TV build out the space around as needed.
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If you want useful -- I highly recommend a small table with two chairs in the one end. Also, bookcases with glass fronts, or, like I did -- one bookcase and one secretary that closes up to hide the paper and computer monitor. I use my 36" square table for so many purposes -- morning coffee, afternoon tea with a friend, making jewelry, drawing, computer, solving jigsaws. Mine has two leaves that pull out, so I can also bring chairs in from the dining room if I want to have four people in the space. My space isn't crowded. There's at least 4' of space between my table and the rug. You're fortunate to have fewer doors and windows, and a 15' width. My 1939 living room is 12' x 21', so it's divided into three spaces instead of two. My secretary and bookcase had to be on the other end of the room.
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Comments (30)
Is the living room fireplace a wood burning fireplace that you will actually use? Is the cover in front of it a solid fit that will keep any warm/cool air from heat/AC system from going up the chimney? Since the living room is open to much of the rest of the house, consider having the living room fireplace converted to a gas log fireplace. No "smoking up" the more formal living space. Put your more formal living room seating area in the front half of your living room. You could put a (round) table with chairs (that could be part of indoor/outdoor living and entertaining including the patio or, since it adjoins the kitchen, even be used as a family breakfast table) on the patio end of the living room between the fireplace and the door to the patio. Rather than create built ins in the formal living room, you might consider enlarging your door to your patio and centering it. Alternately, on the exterior wall nearest the kitchen, you could create a home office area for your computer for communicating and meal planning -- even to be able to hear the news while you're prepping a meal and, instead of built ins, add furnishings suitable to how you will use that space -- perhaps including a barrister bookcase. Is the family room fireplace is a wood burning fireplace that you will actually use? Is there a cover in front of it that is a solid fit that will keep any warm/cool air from the heat/AC system from going up the chimney? Since the family room can easily be closed off from the rest of the house, keep that fireplace as wood burning fireplace but do add a suitable cover to the firebox to protect against having a spark start a fire. In the family room, you could paint the beams the same color as the ceiling, however, unless it is damaged or there is another issue, consider keeping the paneling. Would put the tv in the family room on the wall between and below the two high windows opposite the fireplace. If the room is too dark, you could add light painted) colored thin wood (luan) panels to the wall behind the shelves without painting the walls ... or removable peel and stick wallpaper -- without damaging the value of the wood paneling and, potentially, damaging the resale value of your home. The base cabinets of the built ins could be perfect toy cabinets. You could also add doors to cover the shelving above and create yet more hidden storage. Is that brick flooring actually vinyl rather than brick? Unless you truly hate the current family room flooring, consider keeping it at least until your children are older so that the family room can be where the children play without worrying about damaging the flooring. Adding a camera to the family room could enable you to watch over young children from anywhere else in the house. Using the family room as a play area means you could focus on comfortable furniture there and put your more upscale furnishings in the living room and dining room where guests will more likely be entertained.
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Design help for a long living room
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Comments (6)
Agree move the couch closer to the fireplace. Unless your TV is super huge that was waaay too far away. Behind the sofa is the dining area you said you want more room for...put a credenza behind the sofa for dishes storage and lamps for reading from the couch... I too would not rehang a TV over the fireplace it's a look that's storming the world that's driven by small spaces and flat tvs. You have the space to do better.
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Need help! Long living dining combo design
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Comments (15)
I think the dining table really style wise does not work with that fabulous kitchen so maybe start here with a not no so country table and if you have a TV somewhere else then maybe no TV in this space .The solar shades in 10% will help a lot with the heat and if those upper windows are tinted do they help it does not look like they are doing much so maybe those could have fixed solar shades installed . I think LRs that are not used have a reason for not being used so maybe try to have the kids play somehwere else and start using this space for adult entertaining , I often serve dessert in the LR or just begin a dinner party by having appies and wine in the LR I think this could be a nice spot . I might look at a Saarinen ding table with some color of chairs that can be chosen from a rug in the LR for instance Maybe the credenza used in the DR with a nice piece of art above it The kids stuff IMO needs to go somehwere else if you really want to have this a space that is used. As for furniture sofa and 2 chairs are always a nice choice for conversation . I dao garee the drpes to the ceiling would be a very formal look and the space is not really large enough .If the kids have to be there then a nice looking storage unit with all closed staorage can handle all the toys for after dinner when you are entertaining. Mayeb a bit more info as to how you live .
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PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
last month
May we have a rough sketch of the room with measurements of the depth and width of the room? If you can include the measurements of the fireplace, it's location on the long wall, doors, and window as well that would be so very helpful. then we can draw up a 3D rendition with suggestions or even show what anyone else is suggesting.
freedomplace1
last month
last modified: last month
If you mount the tv on the wall to the right of the fireplace, you may possibly be able to use an articulating arm mount.

Do you have an actual dining room? If so, how big is the dining room? Could that room be used as living/tv room instead? Or is there another room that could be a tv room, and you could use this space with fireplace as the dining room?
0
PRO
JAN MOYER
last month
"Do you have an actual dining room? If so, how big is the dining room? Could that room be used as living/tv room instead? Or is there another room that could be a tv room, and you could use this space with fireplace as the dining room?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"We already have a space for the dining room table and chairs, so we wouldn't need a space for those! THANK YOU!"
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PRO
JAN MOYER
last month
last modified: last month
To get an accurate and concrete plan? You really need to post a jpeg drawing of the room..........

Every wall, window, doorway, fire w raised hearth......all of it in exact feet and inches.

If you have existing furniture you plan to use? You should include dimensions and what those are, in a list., and add pictures of those as well.

You will get a LOT more help if you do that: ) Do as this. Please and thank u
0
freedomplace1
last month
It would be helpful if you post a floor plan of the entire first floor. If there is ANY other room/area that could feasibly be used as a living room/tv room, it would really be worth considering. The room you are inquiring about is not only long and narrow - but has multiple entrances and very little usable space for the purpose you are trying to use it.
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jackowskib
last month
Just curious, why is there a door at each end of the room? One of them looks like it leads to an entryway perhaps. If so, I would take that door out. Is the door by the sliders a garage door or something else?
0
ShadyWillowFarm
last month
It looks like a nice space. I would consider removing the door at the fireplace end of the room, as long as the connected space is not a bathroom or bedroom or another room that needs a door.
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