Open plan dining/living advice pls (Victorian flat extension)

2 months ago

Hi Houzz community,

My 1st opportunity to decorate my new flat (have saved up for ages) so don't want to make a mistake. Do you have any ideas about whether there is enough space in this open plan living area for a dining table (8 seater), living area (1 x 3 seater sofa + 2 single wingback chairs) and a built in wall unit for tv, books, files and possibly a small work from home space that can be closed behind retractable doors but attached to the wall unit?

Thank you so much in advance for all your advice!

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Comments (5)

Isla Cherry
2 months ago
You could just about squeeze it all in if you reduced the dining table size down. Do you really need an eight seater? Is this a table with an extender for occaisional use or a permanent 8 seater size? If you bought/already have a large dining table could you not use it or part of it like a desk to work? I think it might be a bit tight. Measure all the furniture out on the floor first before buying anything. You also need clearance around items like dining chairs and walkways through rooms.
Snosquirrel thanked Isla Cherry
PRO
Black and Milk | Interior Design | London
2 months ago
Fitting all your desired elements into the open-plan living area will require careful planning. Consider utilising the longest wall for your built-in wall unit, which could incorporate your TV, books, and files, along with a compact, retractable work-from-home space. Position the three-seater sofa and two wingback chairs facing or adjacent to this unit for a cohesive look.

In addition, accommodating an eight-seater dining table might necessitate a more streamlined arrangement, possibly a rectangular table placed parallel to the kitchen area. Hope this gives you some ideas!
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What you might find is that if you take this info to a kitchen designer that the layout provided will be completely different to what your architect has (surprisingly) come up with. Personally as a designer, I’d have a completely different take on this room area - but then I Design Kitchens and space concepts for a living - (but ask me to design a building with roof angles and all that that entails etc and I’d be out of my depth a little ! ) So it’s just a case of choosing someone who specialises in this particular area really - we are independent so we don’t sell products that would include a profit - so we charge for our services and work with you over a week to thrash it out - but then you can shop around easily by dropping in a copy of the plans and asking for their best price and haggle for discounts that are often far greater than our design fee. Alternatively you can book loads of studios to each send over their sales people to each come over and measure and each then design a scheme and each then try to win the sale by inviting you to go through their ideas in their studio. Although this is ‘free’ it’s maybe a tad more time consuming, repetitive and you don’t usually have much input. If you click on my name or icon you can read some comments from past clients who’ve tried this way !
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PRO
PSA Studio Ltd
2 months ago
Using a bench to one side of your dining table can save space. I offer design visits for a small fee and we could look at various options. Good luck.
katlucy
2 months ago
I’m guessing at the depth of the reception room, 3.4m?

I think you need to be wary of the pinch points and consider the styles you go for such as minimal arm width to the sofa to maximise the three seats, wing chairs on castors so you can easily get to the island cabinets and desk cupboard, if you go for bench seating allow enough room at the ends of the table so you can get around the table comfortably. You could perhaps have bookcases either side with lighting buiit in/attached. A mirror tv?
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katlucy
2 months ago
I can’t upload my photo of a suggested plan at the moment but 2.1m sofa and 1.m desk/cupboard by the bifolds on the left, wing chairs at right angles to the sofa and abutting the island and bifolds.

2.2m by 1m table with 2.2m upholstered bench seat for three on the right. Either a second bench or three chairs. you could bring in two additional chairs for the ends when you have 8 for dinner.…and two stools at the end of the island if there is enough depth to the room …i hope it gives you something to play with ….exciting
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Open plan dining/living advice pls (Victorian flat extension)

Comments (5)

Isla Cherry

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

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