Need help and ideas for my living room.
I loved this room the first time I saw it, but after six months here I am tearing my hair out. I wanted to live with it a while before we decorated, but now I just can't see a way to go. The room has a lovely mountain view but there is a door or window in every wall, the ceiling seems pretty low, there are no ceiling lights at all and the fireplace is all the way over at one end. I am sure there is a solution to this, but I'm not seeing it.
The room is 17' 4" by 15' 10" I've uploaded a floor plan and some pictures of the room. The deck can be seen through the full length glass doors, there is a view of the mountains to the North through the other set of windows.
I am stuck as to how to arrange the furniture or which colors to choose. The deck outside is quite large and has a lovely view of the garden below, so my first thought was some sort of indoor conservatory idea, but right now everything is covered in snow so I am wondering if that would look silly. We have antique maps on the walls.
We do most everything in the room, eat, write, watch TV. Any help would be appreciated.
PS the fireplace is a pennisula shared with the kitchen. It is just to the right of the door to the deck.
The room is 17' 4" by 15' 10" I've uploaded a floor plan and some pictures of the room. The deck can be seen through the full length glass doors, there is a view of the mountains to the North through the other set of windows.
I am stuck as to how to arrange the furniture or which colors to choose. The deck outside is quite large and has a lovely view of the garden below, so my first thought was some sort of indoor conservatory idea, but right now everything is covered in snow so I am wondering if that would look silly. We have antique maps on the walls.
We do most everything in the room, eat, write, watch TV. Any help would be appreciated.
PS the fireplace is a pennisula shared with the kitchen. It is just to the right of the door to the deck.
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I've also added a picture showing the fireplace - the surround is not the same color (the picture is from the web) but it's the same unit. Our fireplace is the same mid brown/ginger wood color as the floor.
Thanks for taking an interest, I am happy to answer any other questions you have!
It was just a comment on todays idea book re living rooms with a few tips to consider on seating!
click away!
I love your room but I can see how it is problematic with all the windows and doors . I was reading through the suggestions and am unsure as to whether you already have the sofa and loveseat or are just thinking of buying them ? My suggestions are assuming you don't have them as of yet .
I would put an L-shaped sofa on the long wall (17ft) with the L running along the 6ft kitchen divinding wall. I would put 2 swivel chairs in the middle of the room with a rug and coffee table and the tv on the 8ft wall probably wall mounted with swivel capabilities . You could also do with 2 pouffes (not sure of the american term for these or if its the same ) they can be used for low level seating or leg-rests . I would put these running perpendicular to the kitchen opening but obviously not close to it . So including the sofa you would end up with a large square shaped seating area. (sorry I haven't a plan as don't know how to do one here)
I would also consider a built in cabinet running under the tv for the length of your radiator. Holes could be drilled into the top along the back of the cabinet to allow heat to escape much like a radiator cabinet. This would give the room a modern look - think the ikea look.
I would also put a corner chair beside the fireplace and in the corner by the tv (if not doing the built in cabinet) . These can act as decorative pieces as well as extra seating when needed .
Its maybe a bit of an "out there" suggestion but would you consider an acrylic console table in front of the picture window. You would not be blocking the view and you would still have usable surface space . You could even match it with an acrylic coffee table to tie it into the scheme .
As for colours I wouldn't go too neutral. You can use colours from nature but they don't have to be bland. You could go raspberry, deep taupe and accent colours such as orange . I was thinking a blue scheme too for you which would be nice during the winter months with the snow but your wood floor doesn't look either quite dark enough or light enough for this choice.
Ok this suggestion seems to have gone on longer than I expected so will leave it there. Actually one more thing - lots of low level lighting with one or two task lighting. Have fun whatever you decide :)
I enjoyed the suggestion from beesknees, this room is off the kitchen, but it is our main living room., so that idea is not for us.
I plan to buy furniture which is very neutral, probably black or brown leather as that seems 'right' to me with antique maps. I note your idea with the sofa table behind the loveseat, that gives us somewhere to put a lamp and with no overhead lighting at all, I think we need as many lamps as we can get.
Now I am beginning to see a room come together, so I have a couple more questions.
What can I do with the 'mantle' over my penninsular fireplace? I've never come across one before. We hung a map on the wall behind it, it's OK, but I was hoping for more than just 'OK' from this room.
What sort of colors would you suggest? We are on a mountainside and have a good view. In summer everything is very green, but for the last month or so (and the next) everything has been covered in snow. A warm scheme seems necessary right now! I agree with ideahuntress, the floor seems to limit our choices. I have very little experience with area rugs, I've always lived in carpeted homes before this.
The adjacent kitchen is decorated in deep green, a benjamin moore color called 'Gloucester Sage' and we have botanic prints and antique maps in gold frames for the walls. The floor is wood, mid brown and, as I said before I thought an 'outside inside' idea might be good, but I am very open to other suggestions.
Thanks for pointing me to the valance company, I feel the windows need some sort of covering, but why just a valance rather than drapes or blinds?
Thanks to everyone who has added suggestions, I really appreciate your interest.
After finding your sofa, you'll need a pair of chairs and the green velvet one below looks like it would work well with your kitchen color nearby. While searching for a dark green rug for you, the rug below popped up and I quite liked it. It made me think of your comment about a conservatory look.
I'd love to see you paint your walls a nice light pumpkin such as Sherwin-Williams Chivalry Copper. It would look wonderful with white trim, or you could be brave and paint your trim the dark green color of your kitchen, nicely tying the rooms together.
Let's see a photo of that fireplace so that we can all think about what to put on top of it. Is it flat all across the top and if so, what are the dimensions. One thought I had was a framed map print on a short easel. But I don't know if there's actually a wall behind it.
I'll upload a picture of the fireplace as soon as I find my camera.
The TV could go on the wall to the left of the deck doors, but another kind of WOW location might be to suspend it - and make it swivel into the kitchen - over the FP. Just an idea (this would also free up that wall for a large map). Add built-ins along the back bedroom wall, as others have suggested. I can't find a photo of exacty what I have in mind, but something similar to this, but with a panel behind (so that the back, whichever way it's facing, is finished)
Venice Canals
As far as a color palette goes, if you are planning on neutral furniture, then I would put some color on the walls. A darker neutral in the same intensity as your kitchen green and would work with whatever upholstery you end up with. It would be warm for winter but neutral enough for summer. I'm thinking of kind of a sand or wheat color (but substantial color - not just a light tint) This would also really let your maps stand out. Since you like the botanical idea, but not with snow on the ground, how about keeping all the major pieces neutral and adding your summer/winter colors through accessories.An alternative would be to pick up the green of the kitchen in the sectional. You could still keep the botanical idea - just switch it to evergreens in the winter ;-) I personally think a light color sectional - lighter than the wall - would be nice with the swivel chairs in a geometric pattern (a trellis pattern would be pretty). I would add a very textured rug, maybe a shag.
I would do a much more graphic print, but this kind of gives a monochromatic idea:
Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc
Lovely Living Room
Camilla Molders Design
Plaza
This is more what I had in mind, but picture the solid parts as a screen.
North End Townhouse Guest Room
I'd suggest placing the TV on the wall with the slider, and the couch facing the TV, this allows visibility to the window views too (left). By adding an area rug you can create it into its own seating area in front of the TV, then add 2nd seating area by use of a game table and two comfy chairs in the corner for other family activity. Also, a stack of floor pillows near the fireplace to allow for close enjoyment of the fire. And an addition of a credenza, sideboard, or armoire to use as a food, drink, snack service area, and additional storage. Placement of corner bookcase by the game table also makes for a reading area and an optional bookcase in the corner or wall between the TV and Windows.
Hope all these ideas people are submitting help! Best of luck!
I suggest you to hang curtains in sort of light-colored and not noisy designs. Cheery Curtains have lots of nice curtain designs you may like. For more curtain designs, welcome to my Houzz page!
I think I would remove the small door with the curtains, unless it is a necessity. And replace the baseboard heater with the new and more effcient wall mounted units. That will give you a lot more wall
space and make it a lot easier to arrange your furniture.
To answer the questions:
There are four of us. The youngest is 15, plus we have two dogs.
Yes, we had thought of getting rid of the curtained door, but at the moment it is the only real access to the bedroom,, so it stays.
I'd love to do full length drapes but the door to the deck open inwards, and I thought that would cause a problem.
Adding a desk seems like a good idea as my 15 year old is home schooled and does a lot of her work in that room, though I can see us arguing over who gets to use it!
I find the door to the deck is annoying. it looks really wide, but only half of it (3ft) swings open. Does anyone make folding doors in glass? It would be great to be able to really open the space to the deck in the summer. The deck has a lovely view.
Once again, thanks to everyone for their input.
About the folding glass doors, I think that sounds like an ideal solution. No promises, but I would bet these exist. I would ask at Lowes or Home Depot for advice on that, because such a great space shouldn't be limited due to stupid doors! :)
Best of luck. I know it's troublesome, but with the right furniture, that room will look fantastic!
I'm attaching a picture of the fireplace, because I said I would. I've always had some sort of ornamentation on my fireplace, candlesticks, vases, something, but this one really has me stumped. Any suggestions would be welcome. I love all the colors that have been suggested for the room, and will be trying them out as soon as I can brave the snow to go and get samples.
1. Large handmade ceramic bowl into which you can throw the mail.
2. Large lantern.
3. A sculpture such as the wood one shown below.
4. An antique trunk.
5. An old saddle.
I too have a family room with five doors and windows on two other walls. Back/outside door, living room opening, basement door, entry hall door (fortunately swings into entry hall), kitchen door opening. There is one more outside door, but I put a huge Hosier in front of it!