Lounge/dining room setup - confused what to do next
Hi! I've just moved into my lovely new apartment and would love some advice on how to decorate and configure the area.
It's the main (only) living areas of the apartment and opens up off the kitchen. (PHOTOS - LOTS.. IN COMMENTS FROM ME BELOW THIS ORIGINAL POST)
I'm totally Open to all advice but thought I'd explain what I like/don't like and how I plan to use the space:
*i'm keeping the couch, coffee table, white side table and tv
*in the dining room - the desk is important (I need to work from this space) - but I definitely want to hide the desk from view - I work from home and seeing desk drives me crazy. Ideas?
*dining room table can go (hate it) although like the small size and the dining chairs, which I rescued from street and recovered thanks to my new staple gun :)
* the desk is bulky but I need to keep it cause it's a fancy sit/stand thing - great ergonomics. Need to hide it NOT with that ugly cupboard, which came with the house and I can happily sell. House has plenty of storage elsewhere.
*i love the floorboards, happy with the blinds, and the white walls. Haven't yet put up my art or any books - maybe should build in a bookshelf somewhere? I love books but they are still in boxes (moved in last week!)
*was thinking lots of of plants where that one plant is sitting - like the hanging wall things like this one - www.flowerboxgallery.com.au
*tv needs to stay but I don't think it matters where it goes as I can't find an antenna thing in wall so prob need an electrician in to instal on - i don't watch much tv but when I do it's from the couch. I'd LOVE to disguise the tv in some way not sure what.
*dont really use dining table much - live alone and usually eat around couch and friends visiting do the same (informal, us Aussies!), or in the shared backyard of my building. But I do want to keep a small dining table for odd occassion.
All tips and advice welcome!! I have some budget to buy a few nice bits of furniture or build in a couple of things, not sure how much yet.
It's the main (only) living areas of the apartment and opens up off the kitchen. (PHOTOS - LOTS.. IN COMMENTS FROM ME BELOW THIS ORIGINAL POST)
I'm totally Open to all advice but thought I'd explain what I like/don't like and how I plan to use the space:
*i'm keeping the couch, coffee table, white side table and tv
*in the dining room - the desk is important (I need to work from this space) - but I definitely want to hide the desk from view - I work from home and seeing desk drives me crazy. Ideas?
*dining room table can go (hate it) although like the small size and the dining chairs, which I rescued from street and recovered thanks to my new staple gun :)
* the desk is bulky but I need to keep it cause it's a fancy sit/stand thing - great ergonomics. Need to hide it NOT with that ugly cupboard, which came with the house and I can happily sell. House has plenty of storage elsewhere.
*i love the floorboards, happy with the blinds, and the white walls. Haven't yet put up my art or any books - maybe should build in a bookshelf somewhere? I love books but they are still in boxes (moved in last week!)
*was thinking lots of of plants where that one plant is sitting - like the hanging wall things like this one - www.flowerboxgallery.com.au
*tv needs to stay but I don't think it matters where it goes as I can't find an antenna thing in wall so prob need an electrician in to instal on - i don't watch much tv but when I do it's from the couch. I'd LOVE to disguise the tv in some way not sure what.
*dont really use dining table much - live alone and usually eat around couch and friends visiting do the same (informal, us Aussies!), or in the shared backyard of my building. But I do want to keep a small dining table for odd occassion.
All tips and advice welcome!! I have some budget to buy a few nice bits of furniture or build in a couple of things, not sure how much yet.
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thanks :)
Here's the plan, which I may post bit by bit so as not to lose it as I'm 20 minutes into this with nothing to show you!
1. After you lose the cupboard from your dining room/office, I'd like you to acquire a folding screen and put it on wheels to roll in front of your desk when you don't want it seen. Since you don't really want a dining room, we'll make the room into an office/library, getting rid of the dining table and adding some green Billy bookcases from Ikea. Buy at least 3 of them with the height added pieces that make them nice and tall. You can get some with doors if you want or all without doors.
So here's 1. cont'd: We are using the screen over the desk area only and just when you want to hide it because we want to give the whole apartment an open look to increase its visual size. We've gotten rid of the dining table and chairs, so let's add a comfy reading chair, angled in front of the bookcases that are on the right hand wall. Throw in a smallish rug (1x1.5 meters or 3x5') at an angle.
2. Now poor Sue has no dining table, but then she didn't really want one! So we'll swap out the small coffee table for a larger round one, possibly with a glass top, even tho I believe you said you're not keen on them. However, they take up less visual space. We'll have a stack of floor cushions in a corner for you to use when you and your Aussie buddies want to chow down around the coffee table.
3. I'd slide the TV down the wall one way or the other, if possible. You have a green jungle of plants in the room, so we'll add some artwork to bring in another color on the space we've cleared to one side of the TV. The art should be large and colorful, and with a bit of green mixed in with other colors. Take those other colors and use them for your pillow colors for the sofa and floor pillows.
Best of luck! Keep us informed please and let us know if you have more questions.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
I will come back after the holiday season and post the results! In the meantime, all suggestions welcome as I play with this. Thanks Darzy and Carolyn for all your efforts - I'm off to the beach to contemplate!