Advice for design, colors, etc, for sunken/vaulted living room 1976
Anyone have design advice for this new to me living room? Home built in 76. It’s a vaulted ceiling with sunken floor. I have tile I’ll be installing on main floor level throughout, no tile for sunken area. i w
ould like to retain the chevron wood paneling in wall, might be original, just not sure on colors/stains? What would you do with the space? As for my “style” I lean towards the mid century modern look. Would like a ceiling fan & some sort of lighting, have heard combo of fan & recessed lighting not always ideal?
thanks!
Comments (10)
PROSabrina Alfin Interiors
5 years agoEmbrace it! Leave the herringbone paneling as is, but paint out the ceiling beam to the same white as the ceiling. Replace the big black track lights with smaller ones that are just as bright but less in-your-face. (Tech lighting makes great options.)
I like the hardwood you've selected for the space; get a lovely, shaggy Moroccan-style area rug to round it out.
Some inspiration:
West Village apartment · More Info
Mid Century Modern Living Room - Small Bungalow · More Info
Eclectic Living Room · More Info
tartanmeup
5 years agoI like the colour of your chevron wall. It's warm, cozy and makes a standout feature wall. I'd take my flooring cues from it. Greys can go with warm coloured woods but I think you need a deft hand. Have you been Googling midcentury living rooms for decor inspiration? Can you share more pictures of the whole room? It'll help people give you design direction. For example, perhaps the ceiling beam and wall should be the same colour.
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Comments (289)Lol, Jesse, I had to study that photo AVSinteriors posted forever to figure out what you meant about the tile direction but after I did I do see what you mean. I never thought of it that way but logic states the water would run off the vertical lengths of grout far more successfully than it will the horizontal! I went in the current family bathroom and had a look at the tiling - very interesting. And a plan changer. I'm glad we hadn't gone too far in planning the shower area yet. Well spotted you on that tile, this is the first time I've heard anyone mention that! I love the inset teak mat-floor for the shower area of that wetroom, too....See MoreHelp me with floor plans - modernise bungalow
Comments (16)After getting inspiration and ideas from your layout, I threw a budget out the window and started asking myself what would I do if money was no object. I started by tackling one of my bigger issues with the house - the 1970's facade. See front elevation view of house as it stands now: Current Facade: The layout below modernizes the face of the house (something I didn't think was possible) by making the main entrance on the ground floor - the 'Wow factor' comes from a double staircase on leading up to either the main hall or the sitting room, double height single pane windows mean both staircases are visible from the outside (Also letting tons of light through). The ground floor entrance is large enough to be used as a separate living space by itself (which is no harm as the staircase into the sitting room reduces its size. The only planning changes are to the centre section of the front facade. Updated Facade and Layout: Thinking the new front would look well finished with stone. Per your advice the fireplace is now moved to the side of the sitting room leaving a large centre window and the kitchen is now utilising the old utility space by removing the old kitchen W.C I also took the advice on Bed 3 but I have left the original master as is. The hotpress is now in Bed 3's old ensuite. I couldn't even hazard a guess on the cost of works detailed above........See More2 sofas - matching or non matching?
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5 years ago- PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago 
Greg G
5 years agoGreg G
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoHere are a few more pics of room:
This is view when you open front door and are walking down hallway.
So you guys would keep track lighting but something more modern/smaller?
View to south, guess that’s why they had these big windows put incalidesign
5 years agoUser
5 years agoGreg G
5 years agoThanks again everyone for the feedback. Below are a few pics of the room from the listing, show the room better than I could.
Sounds like:1. Leave wood paneling intact and "as is"
2. Continue flooring down into sunken area
3. Replace track lighting w/ modern design but retain existing location
4. Paint wood ceiling beam to match ceiling color Would staining beam to match the wall be too much of one thing?
I was originally thinking of making the flooring in the sunken area different, like a lighter white as a contrast to everything else? Pic below is sort of what I was thinking of, it's sort of an off-white, can't tell definitively but the main level flooring kind of sort of like what I have now.
What sort of ceiling fan would work? I don't think it will need a light, not sure on the blade size though, don't want to overwhelm the room with fan but conversely don't want to put something in just for the sake of putting something in.
As for the style I like, I'm not trying to necessarily "re-create" a particular genre but like aspects of several styles.
Sabrina Alfin Interiors