What to do with my living room!

7 years ago

We moved in over a yr ago now, knowing the living room was the one room I didn't like, and a yr later still don't like it but don't know how to fix it! I hate the red brick inglenook, it has been 'restored' at some pt to look original bit you can see from the different bricks and pointing it isn't actually original. I find it really dark and overbearing on the room. The breast is too wide to get any meaningful furniture either side, hence the tv on the rickety shelf above. What would you do?

I'm tempted to ditch the dark ceiling beams and inglenook borders too, but would that be sacrilegious (the house is turn of the century and would have had them).

Also love to hear any ideas you have re furniture layout.

Thx in advance.

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K D
Original Author

7 years ago

I've only just joined Houzz and I'm amazed how helpful you all are, THANK YOU.

We have quite a good budget, and the plan is to completely redo the room, so new oak floor, new sofas and I'll def look at shutters, although the windows are leaded in a chequerboard style so not sure if that will result in too many

Hubby wants a big tv as we use the room for films so think it will need to stay on fireplace wall as wall above larger sofa is opposite the window which apparently won't do! Think those of you who've suggested keeping chimney stack are right, so I'll look into plastering and shelving the alcoves (would oak shelves/cupboards be nice with an oak floor, or do you think too samey?). I'll get a builder in to see if we can ditch the wall and beams in front of fireplace to give height and space.

I was thinking a big corner sofa as you come in the door, so you'd have to walk round it to get into room, what do you think re that? Would then put armchairs where current tub chair and sideboard are.

Thanks again all.

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Comments (12)

PRO
AlenaCDesign
7 years ago
Hello, I see what you mean about your sitting room. Before I will suggest anything, can you please tell me if you use fireplace at all? What's there above beams around chimney, is there hollow space between beams and ceiling? do you see your house in more traditional style or you would like to incorporate contemporary?
PRO
User
7 years ago
You'd need a builder round to do a proper investigation. However, at first glance I'd say that a very large percentage of that fireplace is not original. Looking at where the walls end before they go in to the 'inglenookk, i'd say it's quite possible that it has been created rather than being original. Likewise the beam in the third pic, looks like it may well be an RSJ covered in oak overlay. Which makes me suspect that the whole room was subject to a large scale makeover at some point. Therefore, everything marked with a red x in the pic below could well be non-original. The bits marked Yellow are questionable, and a builder will be able to determine how far you will be able to reduce the stack width. As a lot of that is add on, i suspect that the stack has been widened and an inglenook created.
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PRO
User
7 years ago
I'd be interested to see the outcome!
K D
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your thoughts everyone. There are about a dozen of these houses in the local area and the 3 I've seen on rightmove (!) have this same shape and width so there's a good chance the original did look like this, although one had small windows each side of the breast. I will def get a builder to see if the breast can be narrowed. If it can be do you think I should keep the breast red brick to maintain the traditional or plaster over?

I don't love the country beam look, we mostly use this room for formal entertaining and watching tv (we have a family room we use with the kids). Ideally I'd like it to be a wow room, quite plush, with a big tv, wooden floor and nice lighting but I also feel I should retain some original features for history's sake! Just not sure if that is possible!

We haven't used the fire but the people before us find and I think having a fire is a good focal point and future selling pt so would like to keep one.

The room is tricky to lay out with the door and two windows, I wonder if it would be more spacious to lose the beams around the inglenook?

Thanks for all your help.

K
PRO
User
7 years ago
I think you could keep the brick on the stack as it's a nice period feature and re-plaster the alcoves. This will also help with making the room look less dark and a little wider.
Shoba Paireddy
7 years ago
Try lightening up the room with lighter and brighter curtains and sofas. It will make a big difference for sure.
PRO
AlenaCDesign
7 years ago
It is good to have a builder over to check surround construction because I will agree with Man About The House - The DIY & Odd Job Handyman,

it is more likely only chimney breast is original. If frame with beams can be cleared up, it will add up ceiling height and room will look bigger. I will suggest don't change wide chimney breast, especially if you want to keep original architecture. To get max out narrow space on each side of the fireplace you have two options: 1st - if you don't use fireplace - you can do nice classic panelling adding build in shelves on each side. 2nd option, paint break white and order bespoke shelves (even floating shelves will look great).

Here are examples

Colonial Revival · More Info

Lot 77 Parlour · More Info

Regal Reflection · More Info

Example of white break

Design · More Info

Belgian Chic in a 1970's Ranch · More Info
Ellie Telford
7 years ago
I think painting cream or soft grey all wall and long curtains white and cover white sofa and something accessorie decor thing warm colour you like. Or whitewash everything is nice.
minnie101
7 years ago
Hi. I agree with MATH re what's potentially original. The picture rail over the beam looks a little incongruous too so would definitely get a builder round, it would be interesting if above the beam was brick as it immediately gives height to the room as shown. I'd keep the chimney breast, it's nice and an original feature and plaster or even just paint the sides. I'd also paint the ceiling beams as it will give some height in a pale stone or greige colour rather than a brilliant white. How high is the ceiling as I wonder if the pendant is making it feel a little lower? Do the existing wall lights give sufficient light? I'd add table lamps and a floor lamp in any case to cosy it up. A wood floor in light to medium tones would be great. Personally I'd avoid a big tv in a room this size particularly if you want something formal for entertaining. I'd probably try the tv in the corner where the plane is but how many do you need to sit? I think the curtains overpower the room. Shutters may work if in budget or some nice Roman blinds in a light colour. You've only got a couple of pics in your ideabook so would be good to know what styles you like
minnie101
7 years ago
Ok, photos aren't working again, will try again!
minnie101
7 years ago
I might look at blinds in that case :) If you have a healthy budget I would look at underfloor heating with engineered wood so you can remove the radiator and have a chaise sofa on that wall (chaise part facing the door:)) so as not to block the room with the tv opposite (where the sofa is against the wall now). You can then angle an armchair in front of the alcove facing the sofa and perhaps add an upholstered footstool or glass coffee table in front of the chaise as neither of them visually fill space as much as a normal coffee table. However I'd make paper templates or use cardboards boxes to try it out. If you went for shelves I'd personally keep them in the wall colour but oak would also work