What to do with this living room?
Alison Young
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Our living room is north facing and so pretty dark despite having two large windows. We've put quite a bit of time and money into it so far, but it's not working quite right, with 2 main flaws:
Firstly, what do we do with the 1960's fireplace, which is dominating the room? Replace? Somehow update? It has a small wood burning stove squeezed into it currently, which sticks out and doesn't look great. We can't afford to replace the existing wooden floors, so need to go with the same shape at least regarding the lower hearth.
Secondly, the wall to the right of the 4 square shelves looks really bare (ignore the temporary floor light) beside the curtain. We use the seat there as a little reading nook so it needs some sort of lighting, but as the square shelves make such a statement I don't know what I can get away with on this wall. Should I drop a dramatic coloured pendant light? Would some artwork conflict with the strong lines of the shelves?
Also, I'm wondering if the walls are too white? Would something with more soft grey tones work better in this dark room? We're stuck with the mahogany window frames, and also mahogany doors (although decent doors).
Thanks!
PS - not sure if dropping a pendant light would conflict with the floor lamp already over the sofa (this has green shades - can't tell from the photo). Would a second floor lamp also be a no-no and too much?
Firstly, what do we do with the 1960's fireplace, which is dominating the room? Replace? Somehow update? It has a small wood burning stove squeezed into it currently, which sticks out and doesn't look great. We can't afford to replace the existing wooden floors, so need to go with the same shape at least regarding the lower hearth.
Secondly, the wall to the right of the 4 square shelves looks really bare (ignore the temporary floor light) beside the curtain. We use the seat there as a little reading nook so it needs some sort of lighting, but as the square shelves make such a statement I don't know what I can get away with on this wall. Should I drop a dramatic coloured pendant light? Would some artwork conflict with the strong lines of the shelves?
Also, I'm wondering if the walls are too white? Would something with more soft grey tones work better in this dark room? We're stuck with the mahogany window frames, and also mahogany doors (although decent doors).
Thanks!
PS - not sure if dropping a pendant light would conflict with the floor lamp already over the sofa (this has green shades - can't tell from the photo). Would a second floor lamp also be a no-no and too much?
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pjlhome
9 years agoAlso instead of more pattern in the rug how about one of these soft textured rugs from overstock.com
Alison Young thanked pjlhomeRelated Discussions
What to do with living room?
Comments (1)You need to start with a base colour, or a favourite item like a cushion or picture and then build a design around it. Like the navy and white in the picture below....See MoreWhat to do with my living room!
Comments (12)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...See Moreliving room with stairs layout
Comments (2)Thank you, yes it would work as there is nothing the other side of the wall. Where the arch is, would you have a solid wall or a glazed double door - living room window is west facing and shutters are great for privacy but make the room look dark. I don't even know how expensive it would be to do something like that?...See MoreWhat to do under stairs in living room?
Comments (4)Now i can understand your space, though yes full room could be more conducive to ideas. Hmmm I think the TV itself would place nicely under the stairs, just not using that cabinet. Yes the depth could be used better. It might have to be bespoke, but it doesn't have to be grand . Could be just MDF, painted. It could be in two parts. Draws, shelves or cupbards the full height at the back, then a second unit on low wheels which could be the TV unit. These days TV's don't need much depth. Or shelf unit with a mix of cupboards, open shelves with a shelf on a pivot point which can be drawn out to bring the TV into a viewing position, but when placed back takes the TV into a ready made area. Hmmm let me see if i can draw it out…. This is exactly what I was envisaging.......See MoreAlison Young
9 years ago
Cristina Hopper
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agopjlhome
9 years agoHi Alison, What did you decide to do on the fireplace? I personally like the stone on the fireplace and before I would go to the expense of replacing it I would try painting the walls
so that it compliments it. It's hard to tell exactly what color blue and green is in the drapes since the lighting plays a big part in the appearance, but I have attached some samples that might go well with it all.
Alison Young thanked pjlhome
zweiback
9 years agoTONS of good advice as well as conflicting advice here! My head is spinning for you!
The shape of your stone fireplace wall puts me in mind of adobe fireplaces, like the one I'm attaching. I think with your white couch and a slight color on the walls it would be striking.
Also, about those square shelves - what about two on either side of the wall with one low, floating shelf mounted between them, with a mirror or large piece of art above it?
Alison Young thanked zweibackAlison Young
9 years agolnicol8
9 years agoI would switch your current rug out for a big white shag rug, that will brighten the space a lot. And in the wall right of the four box shelves I would do a large leaning mirror which also might reflect more light into the space. If you don't like the mirror idea you could do a large canvas art piece with an art light above it...
cbear33
9 years agoI think a fireplace screen would give the illusion the opening is bigger than it is. It would really even out the space. They come in all different sizes and designs.
Alison Young thanked cbear33
PROAlison Young
9 years agopjlhome
9 years agoI know the focus has always been on the fireplace but what if you moved the tv to the wall where the bookshelves are now add some artwork around it and turn the sofa facing that way. Then move the shelves to the opposite wall. You could run some additional storage from the extended part of the hearth down that blank wall to store toys in and put cushions on top for additional seating. Then place a chair or two in front of the fireplace so that that half of the room is more of a reading/play area. Just a thought. Is there enough width in the room for the sectional to basically float since you can't place it against the wall with the low radiator? Just a thought.
Alison Young thanked pjlhomeAlison Young
9 years ago
PROVicki Simon Interior Design
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years ago- PRO
Vicki Simon Interior Design
9 years agoAlison, I read your update. Sounds like your living room is coming together nicely. I'm glad you are working with those fab drapes in your accessories colors you speak of! in reading your search for a coffee table, this recently pinned find of mine comes to mind as an option for you because it picks up on the lovely arched doorway while respecting very loosely the rectangular format of the sofa.
cavgirl
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agoOK - grab a strong coffee (or a big glass of wine) - I'm throwing this post open for more ideas again!!!!!
I have made progress this week!! Found some nice material to cover the brown foot stool which brings that in better. Hoping for a pre-Christmas delivery!!! Now, I have some key questions for you clever people out there:
1. There are differing opinions on bringing in a hit of black v a hit of white. I have a cheap purchase to make of a couple of IKEA wooden kids chairs (where they sit around my lamp table currently sometimes for a treat at dinner time). Do I go for black or white, as whatever I go for I know I need to start bringing in elsewhere? Or, crucially would both go and this is just a question of personal taste rather than what makes the room work?
2. The fireplace saga - for a complete replacement, I'm drawn towards the modern fireplaces where the low hearth is maybe in a mid to dark grey and the rest of the fireplace is a lighter more neutral tone. As I need to keep the floor print of the existing fireplace due to flooring issues, I also thought of lowering the TV stand so it's the same height as the rest of the hearth, but maybe growing the fireplace out to the right over where the TV currently is so that there's almost a little nook beneath that the TV is in. I can't find a pic of what I mean - maybe I'm going crazy. But I've added a few pics of the kind of style I mean. Thoughts?
OR
Will add a separate post below as running out of pics space, but I saw this picture as an interim step where someone had painted their fireplace in an Annie Sloan wash. Cute, but maybe too country cottage for my style? Not that I've ever been successful in applying Annie Sloan paint to anything yet.
Thank you!!!!
Alison Young
9 years agoSorry - one last idea (save me from myself if necessary!!!). Instead of buying a floor stand for the lights, if I reposition them as a 3 along the lower level, what if I create the lighting from the bookcase itself? There are quite cheap little small coloured lamps in Ikea that would fit (or I could go for black), or I could put in hidden lighting. Thoughts?
(If you're just seeing this post please check out the other 2 posts I just added in this thread in case you can help me with that too!!!).
Alison Young
9 years agoCristina Hopper
9 years agoAlison - glad to hear and see you are making progress.
On the picture you posted with the Annie Sloan paint. That mantel appears too rustic to you because of the weathered wooden mantel. Your fireplace is different. Also, you will need to choose your color wisely, because that can make a difference. Here is a thought - try painting the stone anyway.
Here is an idea I like.
Mix it up · More Info
Your firebox is disproportionately small, and once you paint the stone a very light color that will be even more obvious. Building a "frame" around it with a flat stone or tile, could be a way to change that with little effort or too much money.Alison Young thanked Cristina HopperAlison Young
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agoThanks all. Dina G - I'm just about talking my husband into grey. I think a matt black might push him over the edge! I'm loving all the really dark colours in Elle Decoration, though, and get where you're coming from.
Cristina - the first photo is Purbeck Stone which I'm going to use on the wall (Gina - against that back wall it's definitely adding more depth). The second photo is the Mole's Breath(!) suggested by the F&B guy for the fireplace. I like the colour on the swatch I did, but I really feel the fireplace would look really flat. It's almost putting me off painting the fireplace full stop. As it's not a flat surface I can't hang a picture or anything on it, so think it might end up looking a bit blah.
Interested in your thoughts (and anyone else's!!).
Cristina Hopper
9 years agoI feel like if you use Purbeck Stone on your walls, you might not need to add Mole's Breath on the stone. Look at the attached picture. The color in the stone is now complementary, and not something you have to fight. I would still consider trying to rebalance the proportion of the firebox in relation to the rest of the fireplace.
Alison Young thanked Cristina HopperAlison Young
9 years agoAlison Young
9 years agoAlison Young
8 years ago
Hi andersonw, thanks for your comments. Believe it or not, this room is STILL work in progress. Funny enough, I was just saying to my husband a few days ago that plaster boarding over the fireplace and putting down something nice for the hearth could make a big difference for a lot less cash. I have been sold on moving the shelves for ages - I'm only dithering because I want to paint the walls a soft grey when I take them down, and want to figure out if I can sort out the fireplace at the same to save re-painting again in a short period of time.
I have attached a photo that gave me a bit of inspiration around the plaster boarding idea - we couldn't go exactly the same direction, but thought something similar might work.
Comments welcome!!dotdavis
8 years agoAlison Young
8 years agoAnca Rizescu
6 years ago
PRODreambath Sanitaryware Factory
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