Family room dilemma - help needed.
Sven
7 years ago
Hi,
We have a family room open plan to the kitchen and dining areas. It overlooks the garden and has sofas and a TV and bookcase in it but we rarely sit there, if anything I have sat on those sofas 3 times. I need something or to do something to make me use the space.
The L shaped sofas are difficult to reconfigure the space. I think some art would help but am open to anything. The ceiling height is 3m and the wall 4.5m or so, sowe have a lot to work with and do something with. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can use this area better?
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (6)
PRODub M
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Advice needed on new kitchen/family room extension
Comments (27)Check list for kitchen planning may help. Planning a Fitted Kitchens Step 1: Getting Started Designing the most important room in your home requires careful planning. So, before you do anything else there are some key questions to ask yourself. As you do so keep a record of your ideas so you can refer back to them as your project progresses. Step 2: How and when you want to use the space What do you and don’t like about your existing kitchen. What really works for you in the current kitchen layout and what frustrates you? The negatives are just as important as the positives as they can help you form a clear idea of what you do or don’t need in your new fitted kitchen. Step 3: Key areas of the kitchen There are four vital zones that will create a natural and efficient flow to your kitchen design; cooking, food preparation, sink and storage. However, increasingly kitchens are used for all types of activity. Do you need a room that can cope with the rigours of a busy family? Are you going to dine in your kitchen? If so, plan enough room for a dining table, breakfast bar or island is a great place to congregate. You may be a keen cook and if your cooking for a large family a range cooker may figure in your plans along with plenty of worktop space. You may want turn your kitchen into a open-plan design in which case a area to relax, and room for a sofa and TV may be important. Ultimately, it’s your kitchen, and the most important thing is how you and your family are going to use the space. Design the space and features (must have items) around the activities that will take place in your kitchen, and most of all ensure you match your kitchen to your lifestyle. Step 4: Finer details As you become clear on the demands you will be placing on your new kitchen make a wish-list of your preferred products and materials. From a practical perspective consider what you will require from you appliances, worktops, storage solutions and sink and tap. You may already have a look in mind of the kitchen in terms of colour, style and finish, but it’s a great idea to gather ideas from magazines or websites. Enjoy creating a scrap-book with cuttings of furniture, flooring, taps, even paint finishes, crockery or vases- anything that inspires you. Even just images with right ‘feel’. Step 5: Budget With a kitchen the cost of key elements such as appliances, units and worktops can vary dramatically. For instance, appliances may account for a considerable percentage of the total cost of the kitchen, however if branded top-end ovens, hobs and extractors are specified this percentage can escalate dramatically to become the most expensive element of the project. Similarly the choice of worktops materials and door material may increase the budget substantially. There may be areas of the project where you may have to be prepared to consider a compromise to stay within your budget. Step 6: Layout As a rule of thumb this will be dictated by the existing dimensions of you room, or you may be lucky enough to be planning to extend. If you are extending you amy wish to consider an open-plan kitchen to seamlessly link through to the living area. Whatever the shape there are clever design options that will ensure you can make the most of the space available to you. Even in a tight space a clever designer can still work miracles....See Moreneed design help on family room walls
Comments (1)Fabulous, go for something like F& B Railings - very popular and then maybe a mirror to catch the light? A Big clock for the second one?...See MoreHelp with layout and furniture placement in kitchen/diner/family room
Comments (8)Good morning Hazel, Here's a link to a guide on small extensions under permitted development, if you haven't already looked at. https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/extensions-single-storey/0 Once you have more idea on the construction of the extension and the exact dimensions, you'll be able to properly assess the internal space you have. You are correct in saying that it wouldn't be ideal to have to walk through the living space into the extension for the dining room. The proposed extension itself may not be ideal for a living/family area once a sofa and TV are in, as this won't leave much space for an external bi-fold/sliding door. Another option to explore is moving the kitchen to the left and having the living/family room to the right hand side (where the kitchen is currently situated). This will then mean the extension will hold the dining space....See MoreKitchen, diner, family room layout dilemma
Comments (5)Thank you for your suggestions. We’ve got an architect coming round tomorrow so hopefully he’ll be able to tell us which walls are possible to take out. That’s a good idea to dig out the ground and maybe put glass doors along the back. I’d really like to be able to step straight outside without steps and it would let a lot more light in. The downside is the loss of wall space to fit kitchen units. Both rooms have large chimney breasts so i think it will either have to be a bespoke kitchen which is fitted around them or take out the chimney breasts. Not sure which one would be in our budget. I was also thinking a large island unit, but then that would block the view of the glass doors from the dining and sitting area....See Morestrawberry47
7 years agoSven
7 years ago
PROOrchestrate
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
PROCorinne Natel Art Ltd
7 years agoHi Sven, yes I think the walls need some art! It would really help bring everything together and give the room an identity. I create abstract contemporary pieces. These examples work look fantastic in your room. For more artworks please visit: www.corinnenatel.co.uk and feel free to email me: design@corinnenatel.co.uk
Carolina